Neurodivergent glossary
Neurodivergent
A person whose brain functions differently from what society considers typical—including people with ADHD, autism, dyslexia, Tourette syndrome, and other neurological variations.
What it means
Neurodivergent means your neurology diverges from the dominant societal standard. The term was coined by Kassiane Asasumasu, a multiply-neurodivergent activist, as a way to describe individuals within the neurodiversity framework. Where "neurodiversity" describes the fact that brains vary across populations, "neurodivergent" describes a specific person whose brain works differently from the norm.
The term is intentionally broad. It can include people with ADHD, autism, dyslexia, dyspraxia, Tourette syndrome, OCD, epilepsy, and other neurological variations. Some people also include acquired neurological differences like traumatic brain injury. There's no official checklist—the term is a self-identification tool, not a clinical diagnosis.
What makes the term useful is its neutrality. It describes difference without implying deficit. Saying "I'm neurodivergent" doesn't carry the same weight as listing diagnoses, and for many people it provides a way to talk about their experiences without pathologizing language.
In practice
What this can look like
- You're filling out a workplace survey and see "neurodivergent" as an option. You check it without having to decide which of your three diagnoses to disclose.
- A friend says "I think I might be neurodivergent." They're not sure which label fits, but they know their brain doesn't work the way most people's seems to. The word gives them a starting point.
Context
Community note
Kassiane Asasumasu coined "neurodivergent" to fill a gap—there was a word for the concept (neurodiversity) but not for the individual. The term spread through activist communities and is now widely used in clinical, educational, and workplace settings.
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