Neurodivergence: From Witch Hunts to Workplace Diversity (Sort Of)
Once upon a time—okay, more like several centuries ago—being neurodivergent was a bit of a liability. If you were an autistic child in medieval Europe, you might have been considered “touched by the gods” or, less charmingly, possessed by demons. Either way, you were unlikely to get a proper diagnosis, and accommodations consisted of either exile or an exorcism. Not ideal.
Fast forward to the 19th and early 20th centuries, and things didn’t exactly improve. The emerging field of psychiatry took a stab at understanding people who thought, behaved, or functioned differently. Unfortunately, this mostly involved slapping labels like “childhood schizophrenia” onto autistic traits and assuming ADHD was just bad parenting. Rather than recognising differences as a part of human variation, the medical world focused on getting everyone to conform to a narrow version of “normal.” Spoiler: it didn’t work.
The Shift from ‘Disorder’ to ‘Diversity’
By the mid-20th century, researchers like Leo Kanner and Hans Asperger started to put autism on the map, though their descriptions leaned heavily towards the idea of deficits rather than differences. ADHD made its debut in the DSM-II in 1968 as “Hyperkinetic Reaction of Childhood” (catchy, right?), finally acknowledging that some children weren’t just naughty—they had brains that functioned differently.
Throughout the 70s and 80s, researchers such as Uta Frith and Simon Baron-Cohen started refining our understanding of autism, while Russell Barkley paved the way for ADHD being recognised as an executive function disorder rather than just an inability to sit still. This was progress, but it still framed neurodivergence as something to be diagnosed and treated, rather than understood and accommodated.
Enter the 90s, when Judy Singer coined the term neurodiversity, shifting the conversation from “How do we fix these people?” to “Maybe they’re not broken.” This was revolutionary. Rather than viewing autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and other neurotypes as problems, the neurodiversity movement argued that they were natural variations in human cognition—variations that had existed for millennia.
The Evolutionary Perspective: Maybe We Were Just Built Different?
Ever wonder why traits like hyperfocus, impulsivity, and pattern recognition persist in human populations? Evolutionary psychiatrists have some theories.
Autistic traits—such as deep focus, a keen eye for detail, and resistance to peer pressure—might have made certain individuals highly skilled at tracking, tool-making, or identifying edible plants (a useful skill before supermarkets were a thing). ADHD traits, like risk-taking and high energy, probably helped our ancestors when it came to hunting, exploring, and not getting eaten by predators. In short, neurodivergence may have been essential for survival—until modern society came along with its fluorescent lights, rigid school systems, and an obsession with sitting still for eight hours a day.
Neurodiversity in the Modern World: Progress, But Also… Not
Despite the growing recognition of neurodivergence as a form of diversity rather than a disorder, society is still catching up.
• Workplaces are slowly getting better at recognising neurodivergent talent. Companies like Microsoft and SAP have launched hiring initiatives for autistic employees, realising that hyperfocus, attention to detail, and creative problem-solving are actually valuable skills. Who knew?
• Education is trying to be more inclusive, with sensory-friendly classrooms and flexible learning methods. But let’s be honest—many schools are still operating on a “one size fits all” model, and that size is usually neurotypical.
• Healthcare remains hit-or-miss, with many neurodivergent adults still struggling to get diagnosed, let alone accommodated. If you’ve ever had to explain your ADHD symptoms to a GP who thinks you just need to “try harder,” you know the struggle.
The Future: More Awareness, Less Stigma, Better Support?
The neurodiversity movement is gaining traction, but there’s still a long way to go. Advocacy groups are pushing for changes in education, employment, and public spaces to make society more accommodating. The goal? A world where neurodivergent people don’t have to burn out from masking or fight for basic accommodations just to function.
At the end of the day, recognising neurodivergence as part of human diversity rather than a collection of disorders is key to creating a society that works for everyone—not just those who fit neatly into neurotypical expectations.
So, next time someone tells you to “just focus” or “stop overthinking,” remind them that neurodivergent brains have been shaping human progress for centuries. And if all else fails, ask them how well they’d have fared in the Palaeolithic era without an ADHD hunter spotting danger or an autistic innovator perfecting fire-making.
Evolution was on our side all along.