The Theory of Recovery Psychology/Psychological Disorders/Neurodiversity

Neurodiversity

Neurodiversity is a concept developed by people with autism and those in the Autism Rights and the Neurodiversity Movements as an alternative view of the condition. The proponents of Neurodiversity feel that certain conditions are not necessarily a developmental disability or mental disorder which requires curing or recovery. Members of these groups believe that Developmental Disability Psychology should acknowledge Neurodiversity and other concepts developed by those in the Autism Rights and Neurodiversity Movements as deserving equal discussion and should be recognized as valid sources of information on the phenomena of these conditions.

In human services mental disorders are separated from developmental disorders. Recovery psychology recognizes anti-psychiatry and pro-psychiatry views to sort out how clinical psychology can further produce recovery. Clinical psychology itself only focuses on pathological and remission, not on recovery. Recovery psychology would acknowledge the perspectives of those who call themselves "Aspies" who feel that they are not broken or in need of recovery. The concept in which persons with autism refer to non-autistic persons as neurotypical, or persons who force treatment on them as being a "curebie". parallels many anti-psychiatry views. An academic course on the psychology of developmental disability might focus more on adaptability rather than recovery. Recovery in this context could mean anything from adaptability, to being liberated from forced, unnecessary treatment that is not wanted by the person with autism, to the fight against prejudice.