When brain differences aren't deficits

Neurodiversity suggests that there are benefits to brains that think differently.

In this recent piece in WIRED, Steve Silberman looks at the strengths and skills that result from the unique brain wiring of people with autism, ADHD and dyslexia.

"One way to understand neurodiversity is to remember that just because a PC is not running Windows doesn't mean that it's broken," Silberman writes. "Not all the features of atypical human operating systems are bugs. We owe any of the wonders of modern life to innovators who were brilliant in non-neurotypical ways. Herman Hollerith, who helped launch the age of coputing by inventing a machine to tabulate and sort punch cards, once leaped out of a school window to escape his spelling lessons because he was dyslexic."

I tweeted Silberman to ask whether he includes intellectual disability in the neurodiversity fold. He tweeted back that he did, but hadn't written specifically about it yet. Did I have any pointers?

I've often felt that my son Ben's way of thinking conveys certain benefits.

He's real, for example, because he doesn't wear the deceptive social mask we 'neurotypicals' don to project an image of invulnerability, impress others and trick ourselves.

Ben is also able to live in the moment and he's able to slow down a moment to appreciate it.

He also doesn't wish to be someone else, which I think is very rare in our world. I remember a school assignment I did with him and in answer to: "If you could be anyone in the world, who would you be?" his no-brainer answer was: "Me."

What do you think are positives that come from intellectual disability?

I plan to write to Silberman more about this and would love to include your ideas. Thanks!