Neurodiversity and Legal Advocacy: Introduction

Neurodiversity is a relatively new term applied to the range of differences in the human brain regarding social interaction, learning, attention, mood, and other mental functions. Rather than seeing a learning difference (like dyslexia) as a disability, neurodiversity looks at that difference as a point on a continuum of human perception and function. That perspective allows us to see the diagnosis as a difference, not a deficit.

Educators are increasingly aware of certain diagnosed differences because of the accommodations offered to address them. But simply allowing for extra test time or reading software does not address the opportunities that these differences can bring to the table. See Jennifer Kindred Mitchell, Teaching to Neurodiverse Law Students, 29 NO. 2 Persp. Teaching Legal Res. & Writing 49 (2022).

I know. I was diagnosed with dyslexia at a young age. I continue to rely heavily on spelling correction and third-party editing to address my difficulties with spelling and grammar. But I have also come to realize, over the years, that I have attendant strengths that make me a better advocate. My long-term memory, attention to narrative, empathy, and spatial reasoning are different, and often stronger, than those without dyslexia.

Each student is, of course, different. Some present with clear diagnoses. Some have learned to live with, or mask, their neurodiversity without disclosure to their teachers. Awareness of the different presentations of neurodiversity helps educators identify difficulties and strengths and address them head on.

Over the next few weeks, I will address three categories of neurodiversity from a strengths-based approach so we can be better at identifying and helping students and young lawyers with those differences cultivate their strengths and cope with their difficulties. I will start with dyslexia, since that is my experience and an area of some personal study, then address ADHD and autism.

If you have experience with neurodiversity in advocacy, either as a teacher or learner, I would love to hear from you as I prepare those posts. This is a young area and I think we would be well-served by putting our heads together and learning how to better help those who see the world a bit differently.

(Photo attribute: Bill Sanderson, 1997. Credit: Wellcome Collection. CC BY 4.0)