Infinity/What is neurodiversity?

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About Infinity

Infinity - The Network for Neurodivergent Public Servants is an interdepartmental network for neurodivergent employees within Canada’s federal public sector. It currently has over 2,000 members across 84 institutions and is the largest government-wide neurodiversity network in the G7.
Infinity organizes a wide range of activities to connect, support, and empower neurodivergent employees across their careers in the federal public sector, including online communities on GCcollab, GCxchange, and Discord, learning workshops on neurodiversity in the workplace, a neurodiversity resource library, and social and networking events for its members.

What we do

Some of the events and activities the Network has organized include:

• Social and networking events,
• Engagement sessions with members about workplace issues and accommodation tools
• Panel discussions on neurodiversity-related topics
• Participation in government-wide consultations
• Learning workshops on neurodiversity in the workplace
• Briefings to senior management about neurodiversity in the workplace

Collaboration

Infinity also works with a variety of stakeholders to advance inclusive workplaces for neurodivergent employees across Canada and globally.

Infinity collaborates with other employee networks, such as the Federal Youth Network (FYN) and the Public Service Pride Network (PSPN) to advance shared goals and interests toward workplace inclusion. Infinity also engages with unions and bargaining agents to help build capacity for better representation for unionized neurodivergent employees.

Infinity engages with non-profit organizations such as LiveWorkPlay that help with facilitating supported employment opportunities to autistic people and persons with intellectual disabilities in the federal public service.

Infinity maintains working relationships with neurodiversity employee networks in the governments of Australia, New Zealand, and the United States.

Organizational memberships

Infinity participates in the following cross- network tables in the federal government:

• Interdepartmental Network for Disability and Accessibility Chairs (INDAC)
• Employment Equity Chairs and Champions Committee (EECCC)
• Persons with Disabilities Chairs and Champions Committee (PWDCCC)

Outside of the federal government, Infinity is a collaborator organization with the Canadian Accessibility Network (CAN.

Introduction

We hear a lot about the term "neurodiversity" these days, but we may only have a passing understanding of it.

This resource seeks to explain key terms, concepts, and definitions that relate to neurodiversity.

Key terms

• Neurodevelopmental condition or difference: A condition or difference affecting the development of the nervous system, leading to abnormal brain function that in turn may affect emotion, learning ability, self-control, and memory.
• Neurodivergent: a term to describe people whose neurological function differs from what is considered typical, including but not limited to neurodevelopmental conditions such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), Tourette’s syndrome, dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, dyspraxia, and Down syndrome.
• Neurodiversity: a concept where neurological differences are to be recognized and respected as any other human variation.
• Neurodiverse: a term to describe a group containing both neurotypical and neurodivergent people.
• Neurotypical:  a term to describe people whose neurological function is considered to be 'normal'

Neurodiversity

A concept where neurological differences are to be recognized and respected as any other human variation. National Symposium on Neurodiversity (2011)

The concept of neurodiversity was coined in the 1990s by autistic sociologist Judy Singer, challenging the medical model through which neurodevelopmental conditions have been viewed.   Neurodiversity frames brain differences in neurodivergent people as more than simply a disability, but a difference worthy of acknowledgement and respect.

Neurodiversity does not deny that neurodivergent people may experience challenges in their lived experience but seeks foremost to celebrate the extraordinary talents and abilities that neurodivergent people have.

Who is neurodivergent?

Someone is considered to be neurodivergent if they have a neurodevelopmental condition or difference, which affect how the nervous system develops, which in turn, shapes a person's emotion, learning ability, self-control, motor skills, and memory.  

This includes:

• Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
• Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• Communication disorders
• Down syndrome
• Epilepsy
• Learning disorders (e.g., dyscalculia, dysgraphia, dyslexia)
• Motor disorders (e.g., dyspraxia, Tourette's syndrome)

The above list is not exhaustive and includes other conditions and differences not explicitly mentioned above.

What do neurodivergent people need?

The lived experience of being neurodivergent varies from person to person.  There's a saying that when you've met one neurodivergent person, you've met one neurodivergent person.  While the talents, skills, and experiences can differ, there are some common areas of need, which can include:

• Grasping non-verbal communication
• Making and keeping relationships (e.g. friends, co-workers)
• Managing changes to routine
• Planning and organization
• Time management
• Differences in sensory processing (e.g. lighting, sound, crowds)
• Communication differences (e.g. difficulty with reading, math)