Neurodiversity For Dummies

A quick and easy way to understand neurodiversity as written by neurodivergent people and our families

Neurodiversity For Dummies is your essential guide in understanding neurodivergent conditions like autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and more. This quick and easy guide is perfect for anyone needing to know more about neurodiversity. And that's all of us--because recent estimates say that 15-20% of the world's population have some form of neurodivergence. Your life is filled with neurodivergent people that you know and love, whether you realize it yet or not.

It's time to learn to support and include the neurodivergent among us, and to understand how neurodiversity impacts society and the workplace. This is for the neurodivergent person wanting to thrive in life, for parents and caregivers seeking success for their child, and for teachers who are working to make a difference in their students' lives. Filled with practical advice, Neurodiversity for Dummies also provides a helping hand to service providers, assistance for workplace managers and colleagues, and understanding for family members and friends.

Imagine a world where we all understood ourselves better and appreciated more deeply the differences in others. No matter how your own brain thinks, Neurodiversity for Dummies is for you. Check out this jargon-free introduction for an essential overview.

• Explore the Spectrum of Neurodiversity: Understand in plain language the world of autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and other neurodivergent conditions.
• Unlock Hidden Talents: Move yourself beyond common myths and misconceptions to discover how neurodiversity actually works. Learn how neurodiversity has always been with us, why society needs neurodivergent traits, and how neurodiversity can be a wellspring of innovation, creativity, and out-of-the-box thinking.
• Discover Yourself: Whether you are a neurodivergent person or not, learn how to understand your own normalcy, advocate for your needs, and build meaningful connections with those who think and experience the world differently than you.
• Change the World Around You: Be empowered through simple steps you can take to create inclusive environments for neurodivergent individuals in your school or workplace. Uncover proven strategies that cultivate a culture of acceptance and respect, where the unique perspectives of all individuals are valued and celebrated.

We believe in providing parents with better supports, empowering individuals with information, and shaping a world where we are all seen and understood. With an author team composed of neurodivergent individuals and parents writing together, Neurodiversity for Dummies is an example of the power of neurodiversity when put into action. It's why we wrote this for you.

Don't miss your chance to embark on this transformative journey. Order your copy of Neurodiversity for Dummies now to better understand yourself and others, and to join the movement that is revolutionizing how we understand and support the diversity of the human mind.

Autorentext

John Marble is a workforce policy, innovation, and neurodiversity strategist. He is the founder of Pivot Neurodiversity. Khushboo Chabria is a neurodiversity specialist, career coach, and speaker on a mission to advocate for disability rights. Ranga Jayaraman is director of Neurodiversity Pathways and a leader in digital transformation.

Klappentext

Understand, appreciate, and empower our neurodiverse world Around one-fifth of the world's population is estimated to have some form of neurodivergence--autism, ADHD, dyslexia, sensory disorders, and a range of others. Neurodiversity For Dummies demystifies this not-so-rare variation of the human experience, showing you how neurodiversity impacts society and the workplace. As a leader or parent of a neurodivergent person--or as a neurodistinct individual yourself--you'll gain the understanding, strategies, and tools you need to thrive and empower others in a neurodiverse world. **Inside...

• All about ADHD, autism, and other conditions
• Thriving in school and at work
• Empowering neurodivergent students and colleagues
• Navigating daily life as a neurodivergent person
• How to create a more neuroinclusive world
• Neurodiversity resources

Inhalt

Introduction 1 About This Book 2 Foolish Assumptions 3 Icons Used in This Book 3 Beyond the Book 4 Where to Go from Here 4 Part 1: Understanding Neurodiversity 5 Chapter 1: What Is Neurodiversity? 7 The Normalcy of Neurodiversity 8 Understanding Neurodivergent Conditions 16 Exploring the Neurodiversity Movement 19 Chapter 2: Disability Is Not a Dirty Word 21 First Things First: Why We Fear Disability 21 What Disability Actually Means 22 Neurodivergence and Disability 25 The Disability Rights Movement 26 You're Not Alone: Building Community 27 Chapter 3: Someone You Know Is Neurodivergent 29 Neurodiversity Has Always Been Here 30 Neurodivergence Is Rather Common 31 The Role of Neurodiversity Today 33 Extraordinary People: Ordinary Traits 35 Chapter 4: Why Is Our World Not Yet Neuroinclusive? 37 The Myth of Normality 37 In education 38 In therapy 38 In the workplace 39 Why Things Are Designed to Look Like Us 39 Falling Into a Fixed Mindset 40 Acknowledging Barriers to Inclusion 41 Barriers society places in front of neurodivergent people 41 Additional barriers neurodivergent people must navigate 42 Part 2: Recognizing the Types of Neurodivergence 43 Chapter 5: Understanding Neurotypes 45 Introducing Neurotypes 45 Understanding How Neurotypes Differ 46 Uncovering Neurodivergent Strengths 48 Seeing How Doctors Label Neurotypes 49 Chapter 6: Understanding Autism 53 What Is Autism? 53 How Society Talks About Autism 57 How the Autistic Brain Thinks 58 How the Autistic Brain Organizes Thoughts 61 How the Autistic Brain Uses Focus 63 How the Autistic Brain Uses Memory 64 How the Autistic Brain Uses Senses 64 How the Autistic Brain Processes Emotions and Exercises Empathy 65 How the Autistic Brain Communicates 66 How the Autistic Brain Socializes 70 How Autistic Bodies Respond 73 Empowering Autistic People 78 Closely Associated Conditions 79 Myths and Misconceptions 81 Chapter 7: Understanding ADHD 83 Talking about ADHD 84 Understanding ADHD Traits 85 Enhancing Daily Living 91 Empowering Those with ADHD 96 Myths and Misconceptions 97 Chapter 8: Understanding Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, Dysgraphia, and Dyspraxia 99 Understanding Dyslexia 100 Understanding Dyscalculia 106 Understanding Dysgraphia 110 Understanding Dyspraxia 112 Myths and Misconceptions 114 Chapter 9: Understanding Associated Conditions 117 Understanding Tourette's 118 Understanding OCD 119 Understanding Bipolar 122 Understanding Cerebral Palsy 125 Understanding Multiple Sclerosis 126 Understanding Intellectual Disabilities 127 Aging and Acquired Impairments 129 Thinking About Mental Health 130 Myths and Misconceptions 132 Part 3: Navigating Life as a Neurodivergent Person 133 Chapter 10: Understanding Yourself as a Neurodivergent Person 135 Seeking a Diagnosis 136 Profiling Your Neurodivergent Traits 138 Finding Success 146 Chapter 11: Understanding Others 147 Recognizing How Others Think and Experience the World 147 Practicing Compassionate Curiosity 149 Chapter 12: Improving Personal Effectiveness 153 Understanding the Impact of Trauma 154 Choosing a Productive Mindset 157 Cultivating Habits of Effectiveness 160 Achieving Your Goals 167 Building Resilience to Overcome Setbacks 169 Part 4: Thriving as a Neurodivergent Person 171 Chapter 13: Discovering What It Means to Thrive 173 The Keys to Thriving: Coping and Resilience 174 Understanding What You Need to Thrive 174 Tapping Into Support Systems 178 Community: Finding People to Nurture You 182 Cultivating Self-Advocacy 183 Chapter 14: Thriving in Educational Settings 185 Understanding Yourself or Your Child as Neurodivergent 1…