United Church of Christ Mental Health Network

Working to reduce stigma & promote the inclusion of people with mental health challenges and neurodiversity.

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
DONATE
  • About
    • Who We Are
    • Board Members
    • Our Partners
    • Request Our Logo
    • Join Our Board
  • WISE Certification
    • What is Becoming WISE?
    • How to Begin the WISE Process
    • WISE Congregations / Synagogues / Organizations
    • Contact WISE
    • Stories
  • Resources
    • Congregation / Synagogue / Organization Toolkits
    • What is Mental Health?
    • What is Neurodiversity?
    • Mental Health Resource Links
    • Suicide Prevention Awareness
    • Resources to Host Your Mental Health Sunday Year-round
    • The Genesis Project
    • Affinity Group
  • Open & Affirming
    • Announcement of Our ONA Designation
    • Our ONA Covenant
    • Video: Why We Became ONA
    • Support for Ban on Conversion Therapy
  • News
    • Sign Up for MHN News
    • MHN at UCC General Synod
    • Response to the Overturning of Roe v. Wade
    • UCC Mental Health Network Offers New Resources to Address Youth and Trauma
    • UCC Mental Health Network Designated Open and Affirming Ministry
    • Caring for Our Communities Amid Tragedy
    • Condemning Violence Against AAPI Community
  • The Journey Continues Blog
  • Trauma & Youth Resources
  • Contact the MHN

What is Neurodiversity?

Neurodiversity

This term, simply put, is that each of us is unique in our psychological makeup. The word first appeared in 1998 by the American journalist Harvey Blume to describe the growing concept of natural diversity in humanity’s neurological expression, especially as it applies to online communication. It was popularized later by Judy Singer, an Australian sociologist, and defined further in 2014 by Nick Walker who talked about the idea that “all brains are to a degree unique.” 

The concept has been connected to the study of autism and has gained traction in the scientific community who argue that autism researchers are too ready to interpret differences as deficits.

The term will no doubt continue to evolve in its meaning and usage. Currently, at the Mental Health Network we take it at face value and believe it’s a wonderful term for a general description of the range of God given, awe-inspiring variations in our human personality and psychological composition. (What is Neurodiversity?, 2021)

What is Neurodiversity? Harvard Publishing: Harvard Medical School November 23, 2021

Quick Navigation

  • Congregations, Synagogues, and Organizations Toolkit
  • Donate
  • Who We Are
  • Becoming WISE
  • WISE IKC Fall Webinar 2020
  • Contact

Our Partners

  • The United Church of Christ
  • UCC Disabilities Ministries
  • Advocate Aurora Health – The Center for Faith and Community Health Transformation

Stay Connected

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
NEWSLETTER SIGN-UP
Request to Use WISE Logo

Copyright © 2025 · United Church of Christ Mental Health Network · Log in