Thinking Differently About Neurodiversity

This article was originally published by The National Diversity Council on Nov 15, 2019.

Diversity and inclusion has been a strategic initiative for some time. Organizations are finally understanding, measuring and benchmarking the positive impacts to recruiting and retention and to the bottom line of their business. However, only recently has neurodiversity come to the forefront and been realized as thinking styles that foster innovation, problem solving and creativity in business rather than being regarded as a disadvantage. Dyslexia is a common form of neurodivergence. This neurological difference has nothing to do with intelligence; it simply describes a different kind of cognitive processing. People with dyslexia possess many strengths due to the unique way in which their brains process stimuli, including language. Many individuals with dyslexia are right-brain dominant and are often holistic thinkers rather than linear thinkers.