It's something I get asked a lot, so here's a quick breakdown of neurodiversity and all its related terms.

Most of us are familiar with other types of diversity – biodiversity, for example, describes a variety of different plants and animals in a certain area. So, neurodiversity means a group of people with a variety of different neurotypes.

Now, don't worry, I know what the next question is going to be, which is, “well, what is a neurotype?” This is something that’s still being defined - it’s a relatively new term, so exactly what falls under it is going to change a little over time. But essentially, a neurotype is a way of thinking or a particular way that your brain works.

Being neurotypical is a neurotype and, as the name suggests, it refers to people whose experiences, whose ways of thinking, are considered standard - are considered “normal” (and I use that term in the scientific sense of ‘being the norm’). Those whose brains work differently are referred to as neuroatypical or neurodivergent.

Those neurodivergent neurotypes are things that have historically been considered to be disorders or conditions. We're talking about things like autism, ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia, and dyscalculia (which I always struggle to say – probably because of the dyslexia).

So why do we refer to these as neurotypes and not disorders or conditions? Well, that's because there is a stigma that comes with calling something a disorder or a condition, and it implies that it needs to be gotten rid of. Having a different neurotype is not a deficit. It is not a problem to be solved. It is not something that is wrong with you. It is simply a different way of thinking.

And this is incredibly valuable in a business context. Having people who think differently is rocket fuel when it comes to innovation. But just like rocket fuel, we need to be used appropriately - which is why it is important that you set up your business in a way that is neuroinclusive.

And that's going to be our last term of the day. Neuroinclusive refers to a space or practice that is actively inclusive and supportive of neurodivergent people.