Stop using neurodivergent just to refer to ADHD/autistic people
Brought you by someone with autism!
I have a story from my recent wedding I'd like to share.
The ceremony and reception were held at The Ridges, an old mental asylum turned art museum in Athens, OH. I made a point of giving a brief history of the property to our guests, acknowledging the cruel treatment mental patients have faced at the facility, and honoring their humanity. I didn't want the venue for shock value, especially considering that our wedding party was made up almost entirely of mentally ill queer people.
During the reception I was talking to my spouse's grandmother, who had performed our ceremony, and learned that she herself had been locked up in an asylum! She was thankful for my little intro, and when I offered my condolences for her traumatic experience, she expressed how her mental struggles were a part of who she was. In fact, she said: "I wish there was a word to describe it other than mentally ill."
I told her there was a word! Neurodivergent!
And let me tell you, the way this little 89-year-old woman lit up.
"Neurodivergent! I love that!"
What a gift that is. What a gift it is to be able to give someone language to describe themselves. Just because she's not autistic or ADHD, it doesn't mean she hasn't faced adversity for the way her head works. I think she has every right to call herself neurodivergent, and I think we'd do well to accept all mental differences into our community.
