{"id":24902,"title":"What is Neurodiversity?","description":"When we started telling friends and family about our hopes and dreams for LEMON + SMASH,  the same question typically followed? What is NEURODIVERSITY anyway? And that\u2019s a fair question.  I mean let\u2019s face it, this isn\u2019t something we are taught about from birth.  It\u2019s also a complex one to answer","content":"<p>When we started telling friends and family about our hopes and dreams for LEMON + SMASH,  the same question typically followed\u2026 <\/p><p>Sounds great, but what is <strong>NEURODIVERSITY<\/strong>? <\/p><p>And that\u2019s a fair question. Let\u2019s face it, this isn\u2019t something we are taught about from birth. <\/p><p>It\u2019s also a complex one to answer. <br \/><br \/>You see, there\u2019s no set definition or exhaustive list of what\u2019s not <strong>NEUROTYPICAL<\/strong>.<br \/><br \/>Around here, we believe there is <strong>NO SUCH THING AS NEUROTYPICAL<\/strong> there are just certain central nervous system and physical body combos that society (and all it\u2019s supporting ecosystems) are set up to serve. <br \/><br \/>The reality is though\u2026. <\/p><p><em>No two humans are the same. <\/em><\/p><p><em>No two lived experiences are the same. <\/em><br \/><br \/>How you present, regardless of your CNS\/Physical Body combo can be impacted by: <\/p><ul><li><p>Injury <\/p><\/li><li><p>Trauma <\/p><\/li><li><p>Genetics <\/p><\/li><li><p>Lifestyle (including external factors like stress and alcohol\/drug consumption\u2026 heck even the food you eat)<\/p><\/li><\/ul><p><\/p><p><strong>\u2026and changes all the time. <\/strong><\/p><p>What is to be treated and what is to be accepted is not universal across all presentations and is (ideally) a personal choice where possible (and we can do more to make this possible)<\/p><p>One can\u2019t help but feel we are all walking around with some remarkably sophisticated and unique kit designed with intention, but unfortunately missing it\u2019s owners manual. <br \/><br \/>So, you\u2019ve got to study it and feel it out.<\/p><p>This is an individual journey in need of community support - for everyone.<br \/><br \/>There are no short cuts to being human and it can be really taxing for all involved (the individual human, educators, employers, parents, medical staff, clinicians, policy makers, partners and the list goes on\u2026.). <br \/><\/p><p>In our humble opinion this systemic burnout has lead to less than desirable global levels and considerations in community and ecosystem design. <br \/><br \/>The trait groups that we know are having a particularly tough go of it? <br \/><br \/>(list not exhaustive)<\/p><ul><li><p>Autism <\/p><\/li><li><p>ADHD<\/p><\/li><li><p>OCD<\/p><\/li><li><p>Developmental Disabilities <\/p><\/li><li><p>Intellectual Disabilities <\/p><\/li><li><p>Auditory Processing <\/p><\/li><li><p>Speech Delays <\/p><\/li><li><p>Sensory Integration Disorder (aka Sensory Processing Disorder) <\/p><\/li><li><p>Pervasive Developmental Disorders <\/p><\/li><li><p>Learning Disabilities <\/p><\/li><li><p>Down Syndrome <\/p><\/li><li><p>Cerebral Palsy<\/p><\/li><li><p>Dyspraxia <\/p><\/li><li><p>Anxiety Disorders <\/p><\/li><li><p>Depression (chronic) <\/p><\/li><li><p>Dyslexia <\/p><\/li><li><p>Hyperlexia <\/p><\/li><\/ul><p><\/p><p>We can\u2019t say enough how NOT exhaustive this list is. We feel strongly that getting to an exhaustive list is just not possible. <br \/><br \/>Training in medical neurobiology taught us a lot about the central nervous system (you\u2019ve got at least 85M million neurons in your CNS (that we know of) and they developed in a way unique to you - MIND BLOWN) and the mind\/body connection\u2026 but it also taught us just how much we don\u2019t know (and can\u2019t assess, diagnose and support with point in time questionnaires and a serious lack of everyday neurobiology training in key global ecosystem areas!!!)<br \/><br \/>But I digress. <br \/><\/p><p>What we are really trying to do here is generate compassion - for everyone. <\/p><p>Because we are all working with sophisticated kit we don\u2019t understand. <\/p><p>For some of us that kit is less researched and more complicated to decode and support than others. <br \/><br \/>We also know that we can all do and say things that are difficult for others to deal with. <\/p><p>We can need support that requires considerable energetic resource from those that set out to help the most. <\/p><p>But if we can all commit to a base level of compassion and acceptance, we believe we can deliver on the advocacy (and subsequent action) required for meaningful systemic change and in service of all of humanity. <br \/><br \/>We can make this more accessible, easy and joyful.<\/p><p>It is exciting to envision this supportive variation of Life on Earth. <br \/><br \/>One that is agile and allows for all of the glorious nuance that comes with being a human here.<\/p><p>And we are committed to playing our part in making it real. <br \/><br \/>Are you with us? <\/p><p><\/p><p><\/p><p><\/p><p><\/p>","urlTitle":"what-is-neurodiversity","url":"\/blog\/what-is-neurodiversity\/","editListUrl":"\/my-blogs","editUrl":"\/my-blogs\/edit\/what-is-neurodiversity\/","fullUrl":"https:\/\/lemon-smash.co\/blog\/what-is-neurodiversity\/","featured":false,"published":true,"showOnSitemap":true,"hidden":false,"visibility":null,"createdAt":1676536018,"updatedAt":1676545399,"publishedAt":1676545399,"lastReadAt":null,"division":{"id":268781,"name":"Lemon Smash"},"tags":[],"metaImage":{"original":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/spixufaomp6exyvoq5ii9rvpiho6org3itef2xibq3azxdwm.png","thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/spixufaomp6exyvoq5ii9rvpiho6org3itef2xibq3azxdwm.png.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/spixufaomp6exyvoq5ii9rvpiho6org3itef2xibq3azxdwm.png.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"metaTitle":"","metaDescription":"","series":[],"similarReads":[{"id":24877,"title":"Our Values","url":"\/blog\/our-values\/","urlTitle":"our-values","division":268781,"description":"Inclusive. 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But, if this co-occurring neurotype is more common than most realise, what can be done to support folks in reaching their unique full potential in education and work?","published":true,"metaImage":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/pwrqo65ljt7ydrzfjair0gjz28ary8rwa2buvuz3g0xbgu0h.png.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/pwrqo65ljt7ydrzfjair0gjz28ary8rwa2buvuz3g0xbgu0h.png.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"hidden":0}],"labels":[]}