Yes, I really am that person ๐ฎโ๐จ
From I Guess My Roommate Is Pretty? by Senukin69
"Neurodivergent" is a bit different though. The r-word says something normative about people's mental development. It's saying that the person has been prevented from being normal; that something is wrong with them. "Special needs" indicates that someone requires different resources than what is typical. Much like IQ when it was developed, it's a way to sort people's needs on an economic basis, which isn't poorly intentioned. However, it still labels people by how we need certain things within our socioeconomic system.
Disorder classification systems like the DSM or ICD seek to normalize people, making sure we "function" in society. It measures us by a set of standards to ensure that we can live independently with our environment. It is very much defined by how society is structured; the environment of industrial capitalism. It doesn't matter how fulfilling your life is, only that you are a functional cog.
"Neurodivergence" seeks to avoid the pathology based approach. It says nothing about us having disorders. It instead focuses on us as different and divergent from the norm, but not inherently ill because of who we are. It's invariant to economic systems or cultural norms, only saying that we are different.
I'm this sort of ally to the American Democratic party โป๏ธ