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Neurodiversity (the word) is derived from the combination of neurology, and diversity. The fusion of the two words is smooth; they amalgamate without a tussle just as their subjects do in real life. The conjugate recognizes a reality that’s been part of humanity for all time – neurological diversity.
People exist on all sorts of continuums. Intelligence . . . eye or skin color . . . disposition . . . height and weight . . . pick a human trait and there is a range of “typical.” We describe people on the basis of what we can see, measure, or describe. Bob has a dark complexion, Sal is tall, and Jen is exceptionally bright.
Individuals who are within the accepted range are described as typical. If it’s their neurology that’s typical, they are said to be neurotypical. While there is a certain comfort to “being in the middle of the range,” and such people may be bright and capable, the odds of true exceptionality among the most typical are by definition smaller because exceptionality is less often found in the center of any range.