Historically, neurodiversity has been regarded with a fixed mindset—physicians in medical settings and peers in social settings have deemed neurodiversity limiting. However, with the introduction of new practices, the strength-based model of neurodiversity (SBMN), the stigma around neurodiversity has begun to shift.
SBMN emphasizes the equal weighing of positive attributes of neurodivergent individuals. Its four primary components include Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences, positive psychology, positive psychiatry and Chickering’s Seven Vectors of Development.
Comparatively, the medical model is conventionally used to dictate disadvantages present in an individual.
“Doctors only know about the medical model and only give a very dark path, no positive kind of outlook, as expectation,” Lawrence Fung, associate professor at the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University, said.
The core concept of SBMN, which emphasizes the positive aspects and inherent strengths of neurodiversity, can extend beyond clinical applications and diagnoses, finding relevance in everyday situations outside the medical setting.
Within media and entertainment industries, there are attempts to include neurodiversity, however, the inclusion is often a skewed interpretation. Neurotypical individuals are often cast as neurodivergent characters. In turn, their acting inaccurately portrayed the neurodiverse stereotype through previous false attributes of neurodiversity as a result of the medical model adoption.
“(Neurodivergent castings are) just not very representative,” Fung said. “(It’s) best to have an autistic individual to be playing the roles.”
Fung believes that beyond castings inconsistencies, the media often places emphasis on a singular neurodivergent experience rather than displaying experiences across the spectrum. Each is different, however, as there are a variety of conditions (e.g. autism, ADHD, dyslexia, savant syndrome, etc.) across the neurodiversity spectrum.
A neurotypical individual acting neurodiverse might not be interpreted accurately. As the medical model is so prevalent, many neurotypical people perceive neurodiversity negatively, therefore they may consciously think they are exhibiting neurodiversity when they are not.
“We will lose our car keys or whatever, and we may not be as organized as we want to do; usually, that’s considered as part of ADHD symptoms, but it doesn’t mean that the person (has) ADHD,” Fung said. “When the person is really having enough symptoms and the symptoms actually occur in multiple settings, not only in a particular setting … then there is a higher chance to justify the diagnosis.”
Despite the autism representation issue, social media campaign #ActuallyAutistic has advocated for authentic representations on media. This movement has been gaining tract, encouraging neurodivergent individuals to amplify their unique voices. According to Discovery ABA Therapy, through true autistic representation, personal experiences of autistic individuals themselves can greatly contribute to the authenticity of the portrayal. In turn, promoting the quality of the storytelling and contributing to inclusive and equitable media landscapes.
Although the concept of SBMN is relatively ne— as it was introduced by Fung approximately six years ago—more awareness has been directed toward this revolutionary model.
“I think gradually the community has grown and more people are embracing the strength-based model,” Fung said.
