Why the Neurodiversity Movement Struggles to Translate in Russia and Japan: Towards Internationally Inclusive Advocacy

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Ovcharenko, A. & Shinomiya, S. (2025). Why the Neurodiversity Movement Struggles to Translate in Russia and Japan: Towards Internationally Inclusive Advocacy. Neurodiversity, 3. https://doi.org/10.1177/27546330251409239

Publication date: 1 Dec 2025 Added to AutiHub: 26 Sep 2026 Type: Article Article language: English
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Authors

Publication authors
2
Publication authors identified as autistic
1 / 2 (50.0%)
  1. Anya Ovcharenko *
  2. Sawako Shinomiya

Abstract

The neurodiversity movement, which advocates for the acceptance of neurodevelopmental diversity as a natural human variation, has gained substantial traction in Western contexts. However, its Western roots raise questions about its applicability in other contexts. Scholars have increasingly called for decolonial approaches to resist the imposition of a Global Northern White paradigm, as well as culturally sensitive adaptations. This article explores the challenges of adapting this movement to non-Western contexts, focusing on Russia and Japan. As Russian and Japanese migrant researchers in the UK, we examine the movement's inclusive potential within our home countries’ cultural and political landscapes. We address resistance to applied behaviour analysis, anti-medicalisation sentiments and structural issues caused by linguistic differences, considering how neurodiversity's core values might be preserved while adapting to local sociocultural and political dynamics. We conclude by outlining strategies to decolonise the neurodiversity movement and amplify the voices of neurodivergent individuals in non-Western settings.

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Cited references
67
With a DOI
44
Without a DOI, from raw bibliography text
23
12 / 67 (17.9%) cited references include at least one author identified as autistic.
References with data to complete
11 / 67 (16.4%)
References with detected author names
57 / 67 (85.1%)
Without detected author names
10
Without a structured title
10
Without a stable identifier
22
References with raw author names still to review
9
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
130
From DOI or external metadata
129
From validated raw bibliography text
1
Raw names already validated
1
Raw names still to review
10
45 / 130 (34.6%) names are linked to an author already present in AutiHub. 85 / 130 (65.4%) names are not yet linked.
Names linked to a person identified as autistic
18 / 130 (13.8%)
Calculated across all author names detected in the cited bibliography. Among names linked to an author already present in AutiHub: 18 / 45 (40.0%). Distinct people identified as autistic: 16 / 126 (12.7%).
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