Neurodivergence‐informed therapy

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Chapman, R. & Botha, M. (2022). Neurodivergence‐informed therapy. Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology, 65(3), 310-317. https://doi.org/10.1111/dmcn.15384

Publication date: 9 Sep 2022 Added to AutiHub: 5 Jul 2026 Type: Article Article language: English
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Authors

Publication authors
2
Publication authors identified as autistic
2 / 2 (100.0%)
  1. Robert Chapman *
  2. Monique Botha *

Abstract

The neurodiversity movement is a social movement that emerged among autistic self-advocates. It has since spread and has been joined by many with diagnoses of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, dyslexia, and developmental coordination disorder among others. By reconceptualizing neurodiversity as part of biodiversity, neurodiversity proponents emphasize the need to develop an 'ecological' society that supports the conservation of neurological minorities through the construction of ecological niches-that is, making space for all. This is an alternative to the drive to eliminate diversity through attempts to 'treat' or 'cure' neurodivergence. So far, neurodiversity theory has not been formally adapted for psychotherapeutic frameworks, and it is not the role of the therapist to make systemic changes to societal organization. Still, there is room for fruitfully drawing on a neurodiversity perspective for therapists working with neurodivergent people in clinical settings. Here, we draw on the example of autism and synthesize three key themes to propose the concept of neurodivergence-informed therapy. First, the reconceptualization of dysfunction as relational rather than individual. Second, the importance of neurodivergence acceptance and pride, and disability community and culture to emancipate neurodivergent people from neuro-normativity. Third, the need for therapists to cultivate a relational epistemic humility regarding different experiences of neurodivergence and disablement.

Bibliography cited by this reference

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Cited bibliography overview

These indicators describe the bibliography cited by this publication. An author name is counted each time it appears in one cited reference, so the same person can be counted more than once. Names not yet linked to an author already present in AutiHub are treated as unknown, not as non-autistic. Last computed: 2 Oct 2026 11:54.

Cited references
70
With a DOI
55
Without a DOI, from raw bibliography text
15
19 / 70 (27.1%) cited references include at least one author identified as autistic.
References with data to complete
1 / 70 (1.4%)
References with detected author names
69 / 70 (98.6%)
Without detected author names
1
Without a structured title
0
Without a stable identifier
14
References with raw author names still to review
0
References with external metadata lookup issues
0
These indicators apply to cited references displayed on this page, after technical duplicates have been merged. A reference without a DOI can still support author statistics when a title and author names are available.
Author names detected in the cited bibliography
146
From DOI or external metadata
146
From validated raw bibliography text
0
Raw names already validated
0
Raw names still to review
0
76 / 146 (52.1%) names are linked to an author already present in AutiHub. 70 / 146 (47.9%) names are not yet linked.
Names linked to a person identified as autistic
21 / 146 (14.4%)
Calculated across all author names detected in the cited bibliography. Among names linked to an author already present in AutiHub: 21 / 76 (27.6%). Distinct people identified as autistic: 11 / 129 (8.5%).
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