I did a poll here for a week. 141 people responded. I was interested in #mastodon users' preferred categorization of the term "neurodiverse." The results generally confirmed my a priori predictions but had some surprises. Some takeaways for me, right now:

• Autism was in a tie for top position, unsurprising as, in my experience, autism was the first condition to be labeled "neurodiverse" or "neuroatypical", and is, I suspect, something of a prototype for the category.
• ADHD was tied (given the sample) with autism. I was mildly surprised. I think a few years ago this would not have been the case; ADHD awareness, activism, and acceptance have increased dramatically over the past few years.
• Schizophrenia, anxiety disorders, and #bipolar disorders were the next group. The inclusion of anxiety disorders surprised me; I suspected it would be tied with depression disorders.
• Personality disorders being endorsed at the same rate as depression and intellectual disability was a mild surprise.
• Psychopathy being tied with depression and intellectual disability was a pretty big surprise for me. This poll was largely about opinions and preferences, so stigma is (IMO) a big part of it. "Being a psychohpath" seems to be less stigmatized (in a specific way) than I thought... it's also possible the results would change if I'd used the word "psychopath" instead of "psychopathy."
• Intellectual disabiity (until pretty recently labeled "mental retardation" but, you know, the euphemism treadmill) was a wild card for me; I didn't know where it would end up. I would like to do a different survey sometime, with a different response format, so I could see the variability in responses. I suspect this condition (and a few others) would result in a lot of variability.
• Pedophilia was of particular interest to me. The results confirmed my strong a priori hypothesis, and this (plus psychopathy) was a major reason for wording the poll as I did, prompoting for preferences instead of a more objective assessment of the research-based fitness of each condition for the "neurodiverse" category.

More about #pedophilia: a nice, big mountain of research strongly suggests that it is a condition of altered brain development; in fact, it is probably a sexual orientation. A better survey than this simple poll might assess participants' understanding of pedophilia in addition to the question I did ask. I suspect many people confuse pedophilia with child molestation/abuse (nb: pedophilia is a pattern of attraction, not a set of behaviors, though many pedophiles have also abused children).

Both the left and right political meta-groups in the USA have latched onto "pedophile" as a label for child molestation--usually of post-pubescent children, where pedophilia is very specifically a pattern of attraction to prepubescent children. There was flirtation during Trump's first term with the more correct(ish) labels "hebephilia" and "ephebephilia", but I think the need for a stronger, more dehumanizing label won in the end, and "pedophile" packs a bigger cultural/emotional punch than "child molester."

Anyway, thanks to everyone who participated. This is fascinating enough for me that I might even do a real survey sometime. If I can get my dean to stop giving me extra classes for calling him out on his anti-labor nonsense.

Notes:

1. I phrased the question as *Which of the following conditions do you personally think should be included under the #neurodiversity umbrella? * instead of asking which conditions would be classified as neurodiverse, etc. for reasons noted above.
2. I chose "neurodiverse" instead of "neuroatypical", believing that the latter would produce more restricted categorization.
3. This is not (I hope) research according to federal definitions. It's a demonstration of a concept and I won't be trying to disseminate these results in scientific journals or at science conferences.

#neurodiverse #neuroatypical #poll #adhd #autism #schizophrenia #anxiety #bipolar #PersonalityDisorder #psychopathy #depression #IntellectualDisability

Following discussions elsewhere, I'm interested in who we think is #neurodiverse. Which of the following conditions do you personally think should be included under the #neurodiversity umbrella?

(one billion hashtags to include relevant communities and individuals)

#mentalhealth #psychology #autism #intellectualdisability #adhd #anxiety #depression #bipolar #schizophrenia #PersonalityDisorder #psychopathy #pedophilia

https://www.fogolf.com/1106177/world-first-tournament-hopes-to-break-down-barriers-between-the-golf-and-disability-communities/ World-first tournament hopes to ‘break down barriers’ between the golf and disability communities #Disability #Golf #GolfNews #IntellectualDisability #pga #SpecialOlympics #SunshineCoast

Poor cancer survival rates for those with learning disabilities
https://northwestbylines.co.uk/news/health/poor-cancer-survival-rates-for-those-with-learning-disabilities/
#IntellectualDisability #cancer

i have medium support needs or something. idk how to describe it.

i want to have my own place, but have ended up hospitalized both times i tried.

so supportive housing (not a group home tho) would be a good step i think. even if i have to prove i'm ready for it at a more supported level. as long as it isn't an institution.

but i need a #medicaid waiver. and they talk is all directed at parents. not directly to the client. i am doing this by myself.

#autism #IntellectualDisability

AMP just published!
"A Complex Case of Koolen-De Vries Syndrome Associated with Hypopituitarism and Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus"

A Case Report by Mafalda Félix Cabral, Francisco Branco Caetano, Carla Conceição, Diana Antunes and Lurdes Lopes – A work from Unidade Local de Saúde São José, in Lisbon.

Full paper here:
https://www.actamedicaportuguesa.com/revista/index.php/amp/article/view/22709

#multipleabnormalities #chromosomes #diabetesmellitus #hypopituitarism #intellectualdisability #genetics #actamedicaportuguesa

Tuyệt vời! Lớp học Pickleball miễn phí dành cho trẻ tự kỷ, khuyết tật trí tuệ và hội chứng Down được tổ chức vào mỗi thứ Sáu hàng tuần tại phường An Lạc, TP.HCM. Một hoạt động ý nghĩa và bổ ích! 🥰
#pickleball #tựkỷ #khuyếttậttrítuệ #hội chứngDown #AnLạc #TPHCM #hoạtđộngmiễnphí #autism #intellectualdisability #Downsyndrome #freeactivity

https://vietnamnet.vn/lop-hoc-pickleball-mien-phi-cho-tre-tu-ky-va-khuyettat-tri-tue-2433286.html

Every Saturday, Katherine and her mother, Frances, share a cherished routine: thrifting, browsing the hardware store and working side by side on their intricate miniature-house projects. From England to Hong Kong to Calgary, and finally to Whitehorse, Yukon, they’ve built a full and joyful life together defying the lifelong doubts others cast on what a child with an #IntellectualDisability can achieve.

Directed by Jessica Hall, Saturday is a tender tribute to the filmmaker’s sister and mother, blending present-day moments with intimate home movies that trace their #immigration journey and family history. With warmth, creativity and quiet resilience, the film celebrates Katherine’s independence and the powerful bond between mother and daughter. It offers a moving sense of hope—for every child whose unique qualities are seen, supported and nurtured.

https://www.nfb.ca/film/saturday/

#PeopleWithDisabilities #DisabledKids #FamilyBonds #Documentary #CanadianFilm #NFB #ParentingDisabledChildren

Someone with Down syndrome is more than a collection of test results and evaluations. They are more than a list of physical characteristics. They are a person who has the right to enjoy a full and rewarding life with dignity and respect. #Downsyndrome #intellectualdisability #disability

Because someone has Down syndrome, it does not lessen their worth as a person, and it does not change the fact that they are entitled to the same dignity and respect as anyone else. #Downsyndrome #intellectualdisability #developmentaldisability #disability #disabilityawareness #DisabilitySky

Today I had the pleasure and honor to present some of my ongoing work at #ICPLA2025 in Patras, Greece. I'd like to thank my PhD supervisor @LoevenbruckLN for her support, not only in the intellectual elaboration of this work but also throughout the exhausting, nerve-wracking organization of this trip (my fellow French researchers know what I'm talking about)... 😅
#psycholinguistics #SpeechPathology #IntellectualDisability #cognition

I really love seeing other people point out that intelligence and intellectual disability have *nothing* to do with the worth of a human being. I've said it many, many times, and it's hugely important to me that people see the truth of it. Too often, I see people who would be mortified to say something ableist, causally shaming someone for making poor or immoral choices by calling them an IQ-related slur -- without even batting an eye.

This is a shout-out to two specific folks I've seen make this point:

@JustGrist @grimalkina

I hold you both in high esteem.

#egalitarianism
#IQ
#intelligence
#IntellectualDisability
#disability
#ableism
#MoralWorth
#IQShaming

Anyone can be an advocate. You just need the courage to care. #chronicillness #invisibleillness #dementia #Alzheimer’s #mentalhealth #Downsyndrome #intellectualdisability #developmentaldisability #disability #homelessness #GunViolence

#Dementia #Alzheimer’s #intellectualdisability #disability #disabilityawareness #DisabilitySky #health #mentalhealth

#developmentaldisability #intellectualdisability #disability #Downsyndrome #inclusion #diversity #disabilityawareness #disabilitysky

Explore what cognitive disabilities are, why they matter in digital accessibility, and how to make the web more usable for everyone.

https://buff.ly/3Y7x6AW

#Accessibility #Cognitive #CognitiveDisability #DigitalAccessibility #IntellectualDisability #WebAccessibility #A11y

From: Inclusion Australia

We've written a song to help you remember to book a yearly health check with your GP. It's Doctor Time! Listen to our song and visit http://inclusionaustralia.org.au/health-checks to find out why yearly health checks are so important.
#ItsDoctorTime #IntellectualDisability

If yor research interests are #cognition, #development or #intellectualdisability, let us know, and please share to anyone who might be interested!