Neurodiversity and the Myth of Normal

We’ve all been told, at one point or another, to “just be yourself”. Whether you are starting school, beginning a new job, attending a party—any time you are trying to find your place in a new or unfamiliar environment—well-meaning advisors offer this nugget of wisdom. But what if being your authentic self means you don’t fit in with what society or your peers may consider “normal”? What is “normal”, anyway?

Join Dr. Kyler Shumway and Dr. Daniel Wendler to explore these questions and many others in Neurodiversity and the Myth of Normal. In six lectures, Dr. Shumway and Dr. Wendler will help you understand the nature of neurodiversity, a growing school of thought that seeks to embrace the range of differences in individual brain function and behaviors rather than “correct” them, with a focus on empathy, acceptance, and accommodation. To help you better understand neurodiversity, your instructors will guide you through three core concepts:

• Neurodiversity is a natural part of human diversity.
• Environment affects our definitions of ability and disability.
• It is possible to create environments that allow everyone to thrive, regardless of differences.

Once you have a better idea of what neurodiversity is and why approaching it with empathy and understanding is so important, Dr. Shumway and Dr. Wendler will dive into the specifics of the most common neurotypes that fall into the category of neurodivergent—autism and ADHD—followed by a look at learning disabilities, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and even psychosis. Along the way, your instructors will share what they’ve seen and learned as psychologists—and one of them will share his own experiences as a neurodivergent individual.

We often fear what we don’t understand. To combat this fear, the concept of neurodiversity can help us recognize the vast spectrum of human experience, embrace that people are people no matter how they are wired, and realize that there’s no such thing as “normal”.