Hari Srinivasan
(2025).
Neurodiversity 2.0 - Harnessing cross-disciplinary disability insights.
Research in Autism, 127, 202652.
Elsevier BV.
Abstract
The neurodiversity movement has reframed cognitive and behavioral differences as natural variations rather than deficits, advocating for social inclusion and systemic change. However, as the movement has gained traction, it has also revealed tensions surrounding independence, economic valuation, medical research, the representation of high-support-needs individuals, and intersecting disabilities. This paper introduces Neurodiversity 2.0, an expanded framework that integrates insights from disability studies, social justice, and policy to address these gaps. By analyzing key tensions, drawing from theoretical perspectives such as relational autonomy, Crip Theory, and Disability Justice, and proposing systemic policy shifts, the paper argues for an approach that balances opportunities (leveraging strengths), with solutions (to address challenges). The current discourse often presents false binaries—social vs. medical models, autonomy vs. dependence, strengths vs. deficits—when, in reality, inclusion requires an integrated approach. This paper advocates for proactive, flexible, and participatory systems across research, education, employment, and healthcare that center both access and agency. By moving beyond reactive accommodations to proactive systems design, Neurodiversity 2.0 seeks to create structures that recognize and support the full spectrum of neurodivergent experiences.