Who We Are
The UNT Neurodiversity Initiative provides access to and information about a variety of groups, training opportunities, and research efforts that are designed to promote awareness, understanding, and acceptance of neurodivergent students, faculty, and staff in our university community.
"Neurodiversity is the diversity of human brains and minds – the infinite variation in neurocognitive functioning within our species.” (Nick Walker)
Neurodiversity is a term that refers to a natural variation in the "wiring" of the human brain. UCLA Lab School defines neurodiversity as "the range of differences in individual brain function and behavioral traits, regarded as part of normal variation in the human population" (LEAP, 2017). Neurodiversity ranges from being a single variation in thinking or actions (a person who is a little "quirky") to more involved neurological diversity, usually warranting a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Tourette Syndrome, and/or learning differences such as dyslexia and dyscalculia.
Even though a person can self-identify as neurodivergent, several formal diagnoses that are considered neurodivergent include:
- Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- Tourette Syndrome
- Learning differences such as dyslexia and dyscalculia
- OCD
- Epilepsy
- Anxiety