There isn’t a singular ‘right’ way of thinking, behaving, and learning. “Diverse minds are just as much a part of humanity as other types of diversity, such as gender and sexuality. The concept of neurodiversity includes all of these variations — including ASD (autism spectrum disorder), ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), dyslexia, or Tourette’s syndrome — framing none of them as better or worse than the other,” explains Dr Jalpa Bhuta, consultant psychiatrist at Global Hospital. “These conditions should not be viewed as ‘deficits’.”

April is designated as World Autism Month to spread awareness about the developmental condition that impacts over 1 percent of the global population as per WHO estimates. Although it varies from person to person, autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is associated with differences in learning, communication, and behaviour. The term ‘neurodiversity’ has been used by advocates to reinforce the idea that individuals experience and interact with society in different ways.