How to Navigate the Stigma of Neurodivergency & Learning Disabilities ; We All Have Our Gifts

Each of our minds are as unique as our fingerprints. A beautiful and vibrant complexity that transcends limits of understanding and wonder. Capable of creation, imagination and magnificent feats in each and every instance and individual. We use words to try and create bridges from one mind to the next, finding common ground often but never once meshing fully and completely across the board. This is why ‘one size fits all’ approaches to societal systems make little sense (especially where education is concerned).

Those who fall outside of the narrow parameters set for these systems are met with a stigma that makes them even harder to navigate than they already are for them. Neurodivergent people (and those with learning disabilities, but since I feel the word ‘disability’ and ‘disorder’ to be disempowering, I’ma use ‘neurodivergences’ to encompass both moving forward) tend to unendingly clash with these systems, finding them especially frustrating because of the stereotypes attached to their specific diagnosis and label within them.

Diagnoses have their ups and downs. On one hand, it’s invaluable to know what type of mind you’re working with so that adjustments can be made where needed. Especially in school settings. On the other hand, a diagnosis gets you a…