Lens Not Label
See things differently.
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Happy Friday, Reader! This is the 7th edition of our weekly email at our new home here at Kit. You can see our past editions here. As you can see, we're finding our feet and figuring things out as we go. So, without further ado, let's get onto today's post…
None of this is new.
There have always been people whose brains and nervous systems work differently from the majority.
Millennia before the Autism label was developed by Eugen Bleuler in 1910, historical evidence going back to the Stone Age points to the awareness and benefits of different ways of thinking and being among groups of people. Professor of Archaeology Penny Spikins argues:
While the “story” of Autism is nearly always told as beginning with its labelling in diagnosis by Kanner and Asperger in the early 19th century… Autism may have much older roots, and a more significant role to play in the emergence of our species.
For as long as there has been diversity of thought, there have been new sparks of connection and of invention. Also misunderstanding, miscommunication and misinformation.
We started writing Lens Not Label to raise awareness and bust some myths. In the time it has taken us to bring it to life, the landscape has changed.
You can see this in the way that people talk about neurodiversity, in their language, understanding, and attitudes.
For some people, being neurodivergent (ND) is an identity, intersecting with other identities they hold. For some, it is a disability. For some, it is simply the way we process information or see the world. For others, it is inconsequential. And some people see it as a fad.
How do you see neurodiversity? How might your perspective differ from those around you?
Is it a rising trend?
Nope, not really. Neurodivergence in the human population is not increasing, but awareness – and therefore diagnosis and dialogue – is on the rise. The latest estimate is that 15–20% of the human population is ND.
So, while the size of this neurominority isn’t actually getting bigger, more people are realising they’re a part of it.
What's this all about?
To make better sense of the seeming increase of neurodivergence, let’s distinguish between two terms:
- Prevalence: The number of people identified as ND at a point in time, which is approximately 1 in 5 people.
- Incidence: The rate of new diagnoses or identification for various forms of neurodivergence over time.
So while the prevalence of neurodivergence remains steady, the incidence is rapidly increasing. This is explained by raised awareness, broader support and better, more inclusive identification.
For the next one…
Your next conversation may be with someone (or as someone!) who is ND. It won't be the first ND person you have worked with.
The difference now is you more about it, and you're approaching the conversation with a bit more awareness and intention.
This awareness may also spark some new wonderings, worries, and questions.
That's why we wrote Lens Not Label, the conversational guide for managers, leaders and coaches who want to overcome their discomfort when working with neurodivergent people.
And this is not only for small interactions between two people. Because just like different ways of thinking enabled transformational progress thousands of years ago, we know that diverse minds are the rocket-fuel for meaningful change today.
We want to enable you to make the same transformational progress in your teams, organisations, and communities right now. Your next conversation is a great place to start.
Now onto the book updates…
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