The Reality of Neurodivergence: Knees Don’t Lie
Neurotypicality is as simple as stairs.
“Yeah, but isn’t everybody neurodivergent?”
It’s one of the most common questions heard in conversations about ADHD. Sometimes dismissively, and sometimes well-meaning, the reasoning goes something like this: If everybody has trouble with executive function sometimes, then doesn’t that mean that everybody’s a little bit ADHD?
If it’s dismissive, it’s usually trying to avoid or ignore some kind of accommodation that has been requested or given. You don’t really need or deserve special treatment, the reasoning goes.
If it’s well-meaning, it’s usually intended as comfort. You aren’t really different than the rest of us, they want to imply. Why separate people into categories that are fuzzy at best? It’s an empathetic We’re all in this together, and I personally appreciate the effort.
It doesn’t help.
I can prove that neurodivergence — and neurotypicality — exist.
Because I understand knees. In particular, I understand my bad knees.
The Bad Knees Analogy for Neurotypicality
Let’s agree that most humans, barring a genetic anomaly or physical trauma, have knees.
