2/27 Rethinking the Definition — Neurodiversity Beyond Autism

Based on: Earp et al. (2024) Neurodiversity beyond autism: Mapping research gaps and future directions — Trends in Cognitive Sciences

The neurodiversity movement changed how we think about brains—but, as Earp et al. argue, it’s still too narrow. Most research stops at ADHD and autism, leaving out a huge range of neurological and systemic conditions.

We’ll discuss:

• Why current research often ignores conditions like epilepsy, POTS, Ehlers–Danlos Syndrome, chronic migraine, ME/CFS, and dysautonomia.

• How “neurodiversity” has been defined socially vs scientifically, and why those definitions clash.

• What inclusive neurodiversity research should look like: integrating psychology, neurology, and chronic-illness biology.

• The ethical challenge: expanding inclusion without turning neurodivergence into a catch-all diagnosis.