What next for neurodiversity?

The British Dyslexia Association hosted a conference 'Neurodiversity and Learning Differences.'

A stitching of 'There is NO them!'

A range of speakers from education, psychology and psychiatry spoke about how the term neurodiversity is understood and how this might impact on people who attract or claim labels such as dyslexia, ADHD and autism.

Professor Katherine Runswick-Cole, from The School of Education and iHuman at the University of Sheffield, spoke about the future of neurodiversity.  

Katherine talked about the opportunities and the limitations of organizing socially and politically around the idea that some brains are wired differently from others.

Katherine concluded by asking the audience to imagine advocacy otherwise by moving beyond campaigns for ‘awareness’ or ‘acceptance’ of neurological difference to a celebration of difference in itself as a validation of lived experience.

For more information, contact Katherine via email

Robot reading books

iHuman

How we understand being ‘human’ differs between disciplines and has changed radically over time. We are living in an age marked by rapid growth in knowledge about the human body and brain, and new technologies with the potential to change them.

Centres of excellence

The University's cross-faculty research centres harness our interdisciplinary expertise to solve the world's most pressing challenges.