Introducing Decentering Neuronormativity

I'm Sonny and I'm multiply neurodivergent which means I diverge in many, many ways. It isn't just my Autism and ADHD that diverges from neuronormativity but my plurality, my eating differences, my learning differences, my mania, my perception of time, my sleep, my empathy, my trauma adaptations and more.

As a result, I've become passionate about unpacking neuronormativity because I simply cannot understand why we label certain things as a deficit or disorder. I've even written a very large chapter on unpacking neuronormativity in my upcoming book, We're All Neurodiverse but for me, it just isn't enough.

So I’m excited to announce that I am now starting a regular newsletter on Decentering Neuronormativity, here on Substack and LinkedIn because I believe we need more conversation around neuronormativity.

I genuinely believe we cannot create a neurodiversity affirming society or fight for neuroinclusion without unpacking and decentering neuronormativity.

If you haven’t heard about neuronormativity before, neurormativity is a set of norms, standards, expectations and ideals that centre a particular way of functioning as the right way to function.

It is the assumption that there is a correct way to exist in this world; a correct way to think, feel, communicate, play, behave and more.

These neuronormative ideals, standards and expectations are enforced and normalised everywhere; from our relationships with each other and ourselves to our classrooms and workplaces.

And I'll go as far to say that neuronormativity disadvantages everyone including neurotypical people.

Just a couple of examples of how neuronormativity shows up:

• Expecting individuals to learn or gain knowledge by reading or writing.

• Associating low empathy with having low morals or values.

• Expecting everyone to communicate using spoken communication.

• Labelling hearing voices as a sign of illness.

• Enforcing linear clock time and a 9 to 5 work schedule.

Neuronormativity is centered in such a way that when we diverge from neuronormativity and how society expects us to function, we are labelled as having a disorder; we are seen as abnormal, unwell or having deficits.

I don’t believe we can create a neuronclusive society and make room for all the different ways we function and exist unless we start to decenter neuronormativity.

In order to decenter neuronormativity, we need to start identifying it and unpacking it but we can’t do that without talking about it.

I hope this newsletter can be a spark for more discussions around neuronormativity and hopefully, we can begin to decenter neuronormativity.