neurodiversity

The rainbow-colored infinity symbol represents the diversity of the autism spectrum.

From neuro- (prefix denoting the nervous system) +‎ diversity,[1] coined by the Australian sociologist Judy Singer (born 1951) in her 1998 Bachelor of Arts dissertation, and popularized by Harvey Blume in a September 1998 article in The Atlantic:[2] see the quotations.

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˌnjʊəɹə(ʊ)daɪˈvɜːsɪti/, /-dɪ-/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˌn(j)ʊɹoʊˌdaɪˈvɝsəti/, /-də-/, [-ɾi]
• Hyphenation: neu‧ro‧di‧vers‧i‧ty

neurodiversity (usually uncountable, plural neurodiversities)

1. The variety of configurations of the brain, especially with regard to autism.
   • 1998, Judy Singer, “What is the Autistic Spectrum?”, in Odd People In: The Birth of a Community amongst People on the ‘Autistic Spectrum’: A Personal Exploration Based on Neurological Diversity‎ (unpublished B.A. (Social Science) dissertation), Sydney, N.S.W.: Faculty of Humanities and Social Science, University of Technology Sydney, archived from the original on 25 March 2023, pages 13–14:

     For me, the significance of the "Autistic Spectrum" lies in its call for and anticipation of a "Politics of Neurodiversity". […] The rise of Neurodiversity takes postmodern fragmentation one step further.

   • 1998 September, Harvey Blume, “Neurodiversity: On the Neurological Underpinnings of Geekdom”, in William Whitworth, editor, The Atlantic‎, Washington, D.C.: The Atlantic Monthly Group, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 2023-02-05:

     Neurodiversity may be every bit as crucial for the human race as biodiversity is for life in general. Who can say what form of wiring will prove best at any given moment? Cybernetics and computer culture, for example, may favor a somewhat autistic cast of mind.

   • 2021 October 14, Nancy Doyle, “Neurodiversity is Not a Pollyanna Concept: Judy Singer Says Get Realistic”, in Forbes‎, New York, N.Y.: Forbes, Inc., →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 2021-11-22:

     The Neurodiversity movement is progressing towards an acceptance in mainstream business. Neurodiversity inclusion is increasingly likely to be present in EDI [equality, diversity, and inclusion] policies alongside gender, race and LGBTQIA+ in many leading industries (though I note that disability more broadly is lagging behind).

• Regarding hypernymy, see neuroatypical § Usage notes.