Neurodiversity
Book - 2024
"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 neurodiverge...nt 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. 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"--
Saved in:
- Subjects
- Published
-
Hoboken, NJ :
John Wiley & Sons, Inc
[2024]
- Language
- English
- Main Author
- Other Authors
- ,
- Item Description
- Includes index.
- Physical Description
- xiv, 366 pages ; 24 cm
- ISBN
- 9781394216178
- Introduction
- About This Book
- Foolish Assumptions
- Icons Used in This Book
- Beyond the Book
- Where to Go from Here
- Part 1. Understanding Neurodiversity
- Chapter 1. What Is Neurodiversity?
- The Normalcy of Neurodiversity
- Variations in the human condition
- Variations in the human brain
- How biodiversity informs neurodiversity
- The benefits of embracing neurodiversity
- Understanding Neurodivergent Conditions
- What is a neurodivergent condition?
- Brain injuries, aging, and mental health
- Exploring the Neurodiversity Movement
- A concept emerges
- A growing community
- The goal of the neurodiversity movement
- Chapter 2. Disability Is Not a Dirty Word
- First Things First: Why We Fear Disability
- What Disability Actually Means
- Understanding impairment
- Understanding disability
- Neurodivergence and Disability
- The Disability Rights Movement
- You're Not Alone: Building Community
- How the disability community empowers individuals
- How the disability community supports parents and caregivers
- Chapter 3. Someone You Know Is Neurodivergent
- Neurodiversity Has Always Been Here
- Discovering a tale as old as time
- Seeing that neurodiversity means all of us
- Neurodivergence Is Rather Common
- Breaking down the statistics
- Understanding why statistics vary
- Understanding why numbers increase
- The Role of Neurodiversity Today
- Understanding its rote in our culture
- Appreciating its role in the community
- Valuing its role in the economy
- Extraordinary People: Ordinary Traits
- Chapter 4. Why Is Our World Not Yet Neuroinclusive?
- The Myth of Normality
- In education
- In therapy
- In the workplace
- Why Things Are Designed to Look Like Us
- Falling Into a Fixed Mindset
- Acknowledging Barriers to Inclusion
- Barriers society places in front of neurodivergent people
- Additional barriers neurodivergent people must navigate
- Part 2. Recognizing the Types of Neurodiversgence
- Chapter 5. Understanding Neurotypes
- Introducing Neurotypes
- Understanding How Neurotypes Differ
- Communicating thoughts
- Socializing with others
- Making sense of things
- Getting things done
- Sensing the world
- Uncovering Neurodivergent Strengths
- Seeing How Doctors Label Neurotypes
- Determining what gets labeled what
- How diagnostic labels help (or hurt)
- Why an accurate diagnosis can be hard
- Moving beyond the diagnosis
- Chapter 6. Understanding Autism
- What is Autism?
- Understanding spectrum conditions
- Feeling for the common thread
- Speaking versus nonspeaking
- How Society Talks About Autism
- Discarding functioning labels
- What about Asperger's?
- Honoring how people describe themselves
- How the Autistic Brain Thinks
- Patterns of thinking
- Focused interests
- How the Autistic Brain Organizes Thoughts
- The use of routines
- Disruptions in routine
- How the Autistic Brain Uses Focus
- Entering the flow state
- Transitioning out of hyperfocus
- How the Autistic Brain Uses Memory
- How the Autistic Brain Uses Senses
- How the Autistic Brain Processes Emotions and Exercises Empathy
- How the Autistic Brain Communicates
- Using spoken language
- Using body language
- How the Autistic Brain Socializes
- Making and maintaining friends
- Needing alone time
- Navigating additional challenges
- How Autistic Bodies Respond
- Stimming
- Understanding masking and autism
- The autistic body under stress
- Empowering Autistic People
- Shifting our perspective
- Taking strengths and challenges seriously
- Encouraging self-advocacy
- Deciding on therapy
- Closely Associated Conditions
- Conditions similar to Autism
- Intellectual disability
- Epilepsy
- Sleep differences
- Myths and Misconceptions
- Autistic people lack empathy
- Autistic people have superpowers
- We're all a little autistic
- Nonspeaking autistics are "not there"
- The myth of severe (profound) autism
- Parents are responsible for autism
- Chapter 7. Understanding ADHD
- Talking about ADHD
- Navigating outdated terms
- Distinguishing between ADD versus ADHD
- Understanding ADHD Traits
- How the ADHD brain thinks
- How the ADHD brain uses energy
- How the ADHD brain uses impulse
- How the ADHD brain processes emotions
- How the ADHD brain communicates
- How the ADHD brain socializes
- Understanding ADHD sensory traits
- Enhancing Daily Living
- Understanding trauma and ADHD
- Understanding RSD and ADHD
- Understanding masking and ADHD
- Understanding burnout and ADHD
- Nurturing one's wellness
- Advocating for oneself
- Deciding on medication
- Empowering Those with ADHD
- Shifting perspective
- Taking ADHD seriously
- Trusting people with ADHD
- Myths and Misconceptions
- ADHD people are unmotivated
- ADHD people are "scatterbrained"
- ADHD people are rude
- ADHD people share "too much" info
- Chapter 8. Understanding Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, Dysgraphia, and Dyspraxia
- Understanding Dyslexia
- Dyslexia and human history
- Dyslexia in our modern world
- Decoding information
- Areas of dyslexic strength
- Understanding Dyscalculia
- We didn't understand it for a longtime
- Different expressions of dyscalculia
- Difficulty with numbers
- Strengths associated with dyscalculia
- Understanding Dysgraphia
- Organizing thoughts
- Areas of dysgraphia strength
- Understanding Dyspraxia
- Motor coordination
- Spatial awareness
- Speech and language
- Strengths
- Myths and Misconceptions
- Dyslexics see words backward
- Dyslexia is only about reading
- Dyscalculia is math anxiety
- Dysgraphia is poor handwriting
- Dyspraxia is just clumsiness
- You're not that smart
- You're just lazy
- You'll grow out of it
- Chapter 9. Understanding Associated Conditions
- Understanding Tourette's
- Breaking down tics
- Recognizing social difficulties
- Realizing strengths
- Understanding OCD
- Demystifying obsessions (thoughts)
- Demystifying compulsions (actions)
- Conflict with daily life
- Applying empathy to social difficulties
- Finding support
- Valuing strengths
- Understanding Bipolar
- Understanding shifts in mood
- Understanding impulse
- Finding success in health management
- Being aware of social difficulties
- Realizing strengths
- Understanding Cerebral Palsy
- Understanding Multiple Sclerosis
- Understanding Intellectual Disabilities
- Aging and Acquired Impairments
- Thinking About Mental Health
- Where and how trauma intersects
- How to approach mental health
- Myths and Misconceptions
- People with ID can't learn
- Everyone with Tourette's "swears"
- Bipolar means "manic" or "depressed"
- People with OCD are just "neat freaks"
- Part 3. Navigating Life as a Neurodivergent Person
- Chapter 10. Understanding Yourself as a Neurodivergent Person
- Seeking a Diagnosis
- Understanding the diagnostic process
- Navigating barriers to diagnosis
- Coping when diagnosis isn't possible
- Profiling Your Neurodivergent Traits
- Seeing the way you think and learn
- Decoding how you communicate
- Getting to know how you socialize
- Learning how you get things done
- Exploring how you experience the world
- Uncovering your strengths
- Finding Success
- Chapter 11. Understanding Others
- Recognizing How Others Think and Experience the World
- Practicing Compassionate Curiosity
- First things first: Seek to understand
- Build bridges
- Chapter 12. Improving Personal Effectiveness
- Understanding the Impact of Trauma
- Trauma and PTSD
- Trauma and neurodivergenee
- Choosing a Productive Mindset
- Looking at fixed versus growth mindsets
- Adopting a growth mindset
- Cultivating Habits of Effectiveness
- Valuing yourself
- Focusing on the things you can control
- Starting with your destination in sight
- Prioritizing essentials
- Seeking mutual benefits
- Listening first before speaking
- Contributing to shared success
- Achieving Your Goals
- Managing yourself effectively
- Spotting glitches in executive function
- Tuning up your executive function
- Building Resilience to Overcome Setbacks
- Coping with daily stressors
- Building your long-term resilience
- Part 4. Thriving as a Neurodivergent Person
- Chapter 13. Discovering What It Means to Thrive
- The Keys to Thriving: Coping and Resilience
- Understanding What You Need to Thrive
- Understanding yourself
- Understanding the neurotypical world
- Understanding your normalcy
- Accepting your right to thrive
- Tapping Into Support Systems
- Using accommodations
- Utilizing resources
- Mapping your support network
- Community: Finding People to Nurture You
- Cultivating Self-Advocacy
- Understanding self-advocacy
- Understanding neurodivergent self-advocacy
- Chapter 14. Thriving in Educational Settings
- Understanding Yourself or Your Child as Neurodivergent
- Enhancing the Elementary School Journey
- Advocating for Yourself in High School
- Navigating Post-Secondary Education
- Chapter 15. Thriving in the Workplace
- Formulating a Strategy for Employment
- Assessing your strengths
- Setting goals (and acting on them)
- Monitoring your progress
- Nurturing your professional network
- Exploring Career Opportunities
- Scoping your job opportunities
- Searching for roles
- Building a great resume
- Developing a stellar profile on LinkedIn
- Interviewing with confidence
- Being Effective at Work
- Exercising a solid work ethic
- Being assertive in your conversations
- Resolving conflicts with confidence
- Working well with your team
- Giving and receiving feedback
- Evaluating your performance
- Continuing to learn
- Becoming a Great Employee
- Embracing your normalcy
- Being authentic
- Chapter 16. Thriving in Relationships and Communities
- Thriving in Personal Relationships
- Our parents and caregivers
- Our spouses and partners
- Dating as a Neurodivergent Person
- Our Children: Parenting as a Neurodivergent Person
- Parenting our neurotypical children
- Parenting our neurodivergent children
- Thriving in Friendships
- Seeking friendships
- Understanding and accepting those friends different than us
- Nurturing friendships
- Thriving in Communities
- Why you need community
- The benefit of neurodivergent community
- Accessing services
- Utilizing accommodations
- Understanding your legal rights
- Navigating health care
- Part 5. Empowering Neurodistinct People
- Chapter 17. Discovering Universal Perspectives and Helpful Strategies
- Take Time to Understand Your perspective
- Adopt a Broad Understanding of Neurodiversity
- Understanding that neurodiversity is normal
- Understanding neurodiversitys role
- Accepting the challenges people face
- Understanding how society is designed
- Realizing your community responsibility
- Practice Strategies That Empower
- Establishing your awareness
- Raising awareness in others
- Exercising compassionate curiosity
- Accepting differences
- Including for abilities
- Chapter 18. Understanding Differences and Embracing Strengths
- Understanding Executive Functioning
- Embracing Communication Differences
- Decoding Social Behavior
- Making Sense of Sensory Differences
- Saying "Heck, Yes!" to Stimming
- Appreciating Neurodivergent Strengths
- Chapter 19. Caring for a Neurodivergent Child
- Understanding Common Barriers
- If only you knew
- What you wish they knew
- Lack of financial support
- Limited availability of time and energy
- Coping as a Parent or Caregiver
- Unpacking coping
- Understanding yourself and your needs
- Maintaining who you are as a person
- Understanding your child and their needs
- Balancing the needs of all children
- Mapping and Securing Your Support
- Advocating for Your Child's Needs
- Understanding the needs of your family
- Understanding your legal rights
- Advocating for support services
- Advocating in the classroom
- Aiding academic progress and success
- Advocating for medical needs
- Planning for the Future
- Planning for advanced education
- Planning for employment
- Planning for independent living
- Planning for lifelong care
- Planning for financial security
- Chapter 20. Supporting Neurodivergent Students
- Valuing Neurodiversity in the Classroom
- Understanding Barriers Educators Face
- Lack of information
- Lack of support
- Lack of societal understanding
- You only have so much energy and time
- Coping and Succeeding as Educators
- Understanding yourself and your needs
- Understanding students and their needs
- Empowering Students in a K-12 Setting
- Elementary school
- Middle school
- High school
- Empowering Students in Post-Secondary Education
- Colleges and universities
- Trade programs
- Boot camps and training courses
- Ongoing education
- Chapter 21. Empowering Neurodivergent Employees and Colleagues
- Appreciating the Rote of Neurodiversity in the Workplace
- Brain variation and human progress
- Neurodiversity fuels innovation
- Updating How We Work
- Understanding how we got where we are
- Adjusting workplace mindsets
- Updating workplace policies
- Modernizing workplace processes
- Employing Affirming Practices
- Exploring the complexities of cognition
- Supporting communication differences
- Supporting executive functioning
- Leveraging neurodivergent strengths
- Adopting inclusive recruiting practices
- Implementing inclusive hiring practices
- Demystifying accommodations
- Leveraging resources for employers
- Part 6. Building a Neuroinclusive World
- Chapter 22. Designing for Universal Inclusion
- Adopting Principles of Universal Design
- Scoping the principles
- Infusing empathy in design
- Benefits of universal design
- Putting Universal Design into Practice
- Centering and amplifying voices
- Ensuring neuroinclusive design
- Practicing neuroinclusive design
- Chapter 23. Supporting Parents and Caregivers
- Practicing Empathy
- Understanding the parent as a person
- Recognizing parent and caregiver needs
- Helping caregivers navigate a diagnosis
- Providing Support
- Providing caregivers with better information
- Connecting parents and caregivers to neurodivergent adults
- Incorporating Families into Daily Life
- Chapter 24. Shaping Society
- Laying a Firm Foundation
- Centering neurodivergent people
- Constructing a common-sense approach
- Creating a Solid Frame
- Exercising our advocacy
- Developing our leadership
- Installing Networks
- Connecting our communities
- Involving parents (and vice versa)
- Working with allies
- Beginning to Build
- Modernizing schools
- Modernizing workplaces
- Building effective nonprofits
- Conducting Accurate Research
- Understanding the priorities
- Understanding research barriers
- Composition of research bodies
- Turning the Power On
- You're more powerful than you think
- Using your power
- Renovating How We Provide Therapy
- On the individual level
- At the industry level
- Making Sure Everyone's Work Is Seen
- Part 7. The Part of Tens
- Chapter 25. Ten Key Concepts about Neurodiversity
- Neurodiversity Is Normal
- A Shift Is Needed in Our Perspective
- Self-Advocacy Is Essential
- People and Families Need Better Support
- Compassionate Curiosity Is Key
- Accepting People for Their Differences
- Including Others for Their Abilities
- Expanding Awareness of Neurodiversity
- Supporting Identity and Community
- Making Society Accessible for Everyone
- Chapter 26. Ten Ways to Help Neurodivergent People Thrive
- Understand Neurodiversity as Normal
- Appreciate Everyone's Differences and Strengths
- Practice Compassionate Curiosity
- Believe in Neurodivergent People
- Rethink How You View Accommodations
- Advocate with Neurodivergent People
- Work to Include Everyone
- Help Neurodivergent People Overcome Barriers
- Educate Others about Neurodiversity
- Practice Universal Design
- Appendix
- Index