For too long, societal understanding of neurodivergence has been clouded by misinformation and misattribution. We’ve seen prevalent media narratives, for instance, suggesting mobile phones were responsible for a rise in autism, or social media for an increase in ADHD diagnoses.
This, so the conspiracy theories say, is because the world has become too loud, too fast. TikTok and short-form media have supposedly eroded our ability to focus or cope with the world. But, of course, we now know it’s all paracetamol’s fault, so never mind…
Regardless of one’s stance on the ADHD Hunter-Gatherer theory, ample evidence suggests that neurodivergent individuals have always been present in society; we simply lacked the terminology to describe these experiences. The historical concept of ‘changelings’ offers a poignant example of this past misunderstanding.
Consider your own family tree: perhaps a great-grandfather who meticulously collected Haynes manuals despite never driving (obviously neurotypical, right?). Or a great-great-great aunt who was an excellent cook but couldn’t follow a recipe to save her life (again, totally neurotypical, right?). These examples highlight how traits we now recognise as neurodivergent were once simply categorised as typical; if a little quirky.
Today, as our understanding and perception of neurodivergence continues to evolve – acknowledging there is still much to learn – so too does technology. What some once viewed as a source of blame, technology, particularly AI, is now emerging as a powerful tool to foster a more neuroinclusive world for those of us who are not ‘typical’.”
A peer and friend of mine has a non-verbal son; when Dan and I first met, we talked a lot about the challenges Joshie (his son – best known as #TheJoshieMan online) was facing. A few years ago, Joshie got an iPad with software he could use to help him ‘talk’, and it has been amazing to see how technology has enabled him to find his voice. This has led Dan to set up the #LetThemHavetheirVoices campaign to spread the use of ‘talkies’ to other non-verbal children around the globe.
The current boom in Artificial Intelligence (AI) is leading to the development of numerous products and services specifically designed and marketed to support neurodivergent folks; tools that can help reduce cognitive load, enhance communication, and provide personalized assistance for challenges like executive function, sensory processing, and time management.
As someone with ADHD, I’ve found the ability to use AI to provide meeting notes/summaries and even write me to-do lists at the end of a conversation life-changing. Being able to take my hodgepodge, eclectic collection of thoughts and notes and feed it into AI to pull together a coherent write-up has not only made my written communication more effective but has also saved me a lot of time and stress I would normally face when staring at a blank page, having no idea how to turn my jumble of thoughts into anything useful. I no longer have to open an email to understand if I need to read or action it; AI now provides me with a summary that helps me prioritise my time and effort better, reducing the cognitive burden that comes from constant context switching. I have always relied on reminders to help me take medication, to know when to leave the house on time, to remember to join a meeting, attend an appointment, or ring the GP. The primary challenge, however, has always been the act of remembering to set these reminders. Now, with voice assistants like Siri, I can simply issue a command, and the task is handled, significantly reducing that cognitive hurdle.
However, this isn’t a quick fix, and just because something uses AI doesn’t automatically mean it’s neuroinclusive. I’ve tried a number of products in the last couple of years that, on the package, seemed like they would be great, only to be left tearing my hair out in frustration. While they might market themselves as being great for neurodivergent people, it’s been clear they haven’t actually had any neurodivergent people in the design team.
This underscores a critical principle: true neuroinclusion in technology is not an automatic outcome of AI integration. It demands a proactive and deliberate design process, fundamentally requiring the active involvement of neurodivergent individuals in both the design and testing phases. Only then can we ensure these innovations genuinely serve their intended purpose and contribute to a truly neuroinclusive world.
If you want to support Dan’s work and the #LetThemHaveTheirVoices campaign – please find more info here: