Sheffield Institute of Education, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield, UK.
Department of Psychology, University of Stirling, Stirling, UK.
Dev Med Child Neurol. 2023 Mar;65(3):310-317. doi: 10.1111/dmcn.15384. Epub 2022 Sep 9.
The neurodiversity movement is a social movement that emerged among autistic self-advocates. It has since spread and has been joined by many with diagnoses of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, dyslexia, and developmental coordination disorder among others. By reconceptualizing neurodiversity as part of biodiversity, neurodiversity proponents emphasize the need to develop an 'ecological' society that supports the conservation of neurological minorities through the construction of ecological niches-that is, making space for all. This is an alternative to the drive to eliminate diversity through attempts to 'treat' or 'cure' neurodivergence. So far, neurodiversity theory has not been formally adapted for psychotherapeutic frameworks, and it is not the role of the therapist to make systemic changes to societal organization. Still, there is room for fruitfully drawing on a neurodiversity perspective for therapists working with neurodivergent people in clinical settings. Here, we draw on the example of autism and synthesize three key themes to propose the concept of neurodivergence-informed therapy. First, the reconceptualization of dysfunction as relational rather than individual. Second, the importance of neurodivergence acceptance and pride, and disability community and culture to emancipate neurodivergent people from neuro-normativity. Third, the need for therapists to cultivate a relational epistemic humility regarding different experiences of neurodivergence and disablement.
神经多样性运动是一场在自闭症自我倡导者中兴起的社会运动。此后，它得到了传播，并得到了许多其他诊断为注意力缺陷/多动障碍、阅读障碍和发育协调障碍等人士的加入。通过将神经多样性重新概念化为生物多样性的一部分，神经多样性的支持者强调需要发展一个“生态”社会，通过构建生态位来支持神经系统少数群体的保护，也就是说，为所有人创造空间。这是一种替代通过试图“治疗”或“治愈”神经多样性来消除多样性的方法。到目前为止，神经多样性理论尚未被正式纳入心理治疗框架，治疗师的角色也不是对社会组织进行系统性变革。尽管如此，对于在临床环境中与神经多样性人士合作的治疗师来说，从神经多样性的角度汲取有益的经验还是有空间的。在这里，我们以自闭症为例，综合三个关键主题，提出了神经多样性知情治疗的概念。首先，将功能障碍重新概念化为关系性而非个体性。其次，接受和自豪的重要性，以及神经多样性社区和文化，使神经多样性人士从神经规范中解放出来。第三，治疗师需要培养一种关于不同神经多样性和残疾经验的关系认识论谦逊。
