The neurodiversity movement is a social justice initiative promoting the acknowledgment, acceptance, and inclusion of people with neurological differences. It aims to change how our society views neurodivergence so we can replace stereotypes with a more holistic view of people’s unique strengths and needs. Neurodiversity awareness allows the opportunity for more inclusive workspaces, schools, and communities, so that neurodivergent individuals can more fully engage in life.

One reason for the stark rise in popularity of the neurodiversity movement is social media. Social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, Reddit, and YouTube give people access to a wide range of information, including people’s stories. The overabundance of information has pros and cons, but one benefit that researchers have found is that people who would otherwise go overlooked are starting to recognize their own neurodivergence.

The organization Understood, a nonprofit that provides resources and support to people who learn and think differently, conducted a survey exploring neurodiversity awareness and social media use in the U.S. They found that social media is helping some neurodivergent people connect, feel seen, and be understood.

Neurodivergence is a beautifully broad term that refers to anyone whose brain works differently than what is deemed the norm. It can include learning disabilities like dyslexia or neurological differences like Tourettes.

But in this article, I’m going to focus on autism and ADHD—because those are my specialties—and the possible benefit of neurodiversity-affirming assessments for individuals whose diagnoses have historically been missed. Populations in which autism or........

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