Understanding Neurodiversity and ADHD Awareness Month

What Neurodiversity Really Means

What comes to mind when you hear that October is ADHD Awareness Month?  For many, it’s a flood of stereotypes — hyperactivity, disorganization, or “too much coffee.”  But ADHD, and neurodiversity more broadly, is about something deeper: understanding the many ways human brains are wired to think, feel, and engage with the world.  These different ways of interacting have both advantages and challenges, and it’s important to acknowledge both.

Why This Matters to Me

As a neurodivergent coach, I’ve seen firsthand how understanding neurodiversity can transform self-acceptance.  For me — and for many other neurodivergent people — this awareness has shaped self-compassion, confidence, and relationships.  While stereotypes about being neurodivergent sometimes contain a grain of truth, they are too often used to punish, shame, or judge. More often than not, misunderstandings come from a lack of knowledge.  Studies show that between 15–20% of Americans are neurodivergent, with higher rates among people under 30.   And while so many people are diagnosed or self-identify as neurodivergent, there is still confusion about what neurodiversity really means and how it shows up in everyday life.

What Is Neurodiversity?

Neurodiversity simply means there is a natural variation in how human brains function — in attention, learning, communication, and social interaction.  It’s often thought to refer only to autism and ADHD, but it also includes conditions such as Tourette Syndrome, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, and learning differences like dyspraxia (movement), dyslexia (language), or dyscalculia (math).  With so many forms of neurodivergence under one umbrella, it’s clear there are countless ways to interpret and experience the world — and much for the average person to understand.

Understanding Neurotypical Privilege

In contrast, neurotypical describes the way most people’s brains function.  The “typical” in neurotypical is defined by culture and often comes with unrecognized privileges.  Many neurotypical people are unaware of the effort it can take for neurodivergent people to navigate aspects of daily life.  For instance, for an ADHD individual, managing the college, job, or Medicare application process can be daunting — tasks that may feel far more straightforward to a neurotypical person.

The Many Sides of ADHD

ADHD, or Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, is one form of neurodivergence.   It’s often associated with challenges in organization, time management, planning, and maintaining structure.  Yet often overlooked are its strengths: creativity, spontaneity, generosity, playfulness, and humor.  Ned Hallowell, a well-known clinical psychologist and ADHD and dyslexic individual, calls ADHD a “disorder of paradoxes.”  In his book ADHD 2.0, he describes these contrasting characteristics and how they coexist.

A New Way to Describe ADHD

Hallowell also suggests a more descriptive term: VAST, or Variable Attention Stimulus Trait, a phrase coined by Carrie Feibel.  He explains that VAST captures the essence of how attention fluctuates — not from lack of effort, but from how the neurodivergent brain is wired.  The variability of focus reflects the brain’s biochemical processes, particularly involving neurotransmitters like dopamine.

Why Awareness Matters

No matter which term you use — ADHD or VAST — awareness matters deeply.

• If you’re a neurodivergent person, understanding your brain can lead to greater self-awareness and compassion.

• If you’re a parent or caregiver of a neurodivergent person, learning about the condition and its impacts can foster connection instead of correction.

• If you’re a partner of a neurodivergent person, awareness can shift conversations from blame and shame to support and open communication.

• And for educators, healthcare professionals, justice system workers, and employers, awareness promotes empathy and support for differences in attention, self-regulation, and daily management.

How You Can Support Neurodiversity

With this growing awareness, what can you do?

• Continue to educate yourself and others about the many sides of ADHD and neurodiversity.

• Choose to see and empower people through their strengths, not just their challenges.

• Recognize your own biases when thinking about neurodivergence.

Together, we can build connection and community through compassion — and celebrate all the ways our brains work.

A Final Reflection

If this message offered new insight, I invite you to connect with me:

• Reply or reach out to explore if coaching might be right for you.

• Subscribe for future posts.

• Share this article with someone who might appreciate a new perspective on neurodiversity.

What would change if we saw neurodiversity not as a challenge to fix, but as a strength to understand?