"Fixing" a Deficit vs. Supporting a Difference: Why the Neurodiversity Paradigm is a Game-Changer
- erinmiggantz
- Sep 30
- 3 min read
Updated: Oct 6
The rise of the neurodiversity movement is what brought me to clinical work after 11 years as a research psychologist—a shift driven by a desire to help people who, for most of their lives, have felt like they were running on a different operating system than everyone else.
While the world seemed to run on Windows, you were running on Linux—powerful and creative, but fundamentally incompatible with the standard user manual. You spent years trying to force yourself to run Windows programs, a process that was clunky, exhausting, and left you feeling defective.
This feeling of being "broken" or "less than" is the direct result of an outdated but deeply ingrained perspective: the medical model of disability.
The Old Map: The Medical Model and the "Deficit" Lens
The medical model has been the default for a century. It views the individual as the problem. It sees any deviation from the "typical" brain as a deficit, a disorder, or something to be corrected.
When viewed through this lens:
ADHD is a deficit in attention.
Autism is a deficit in social skills.
Dyslexia is a deficit in reading.
The goal of this model is to make the person "normal"—to fix the deficits so they can better fit into a neurotypical world. While it often comes from a place of wanting to help, the emotional cost is immense. It fosters a lifetime of shame, anxiety, and the feeling that you are a problem to be solved—and when the "treatment" doesn't work, it's easy to feel like you're the one who has failed.
Think of it this way: for a long time, left-handedness was seen as a deficit. Children were forced to write with their right hands, a practice that was frustrating, shaming, and ultimately, tried to "fix" a natural variation. We now understand this is absurd. The neurodiversity paradigm applies that same logic to the brain.
The New Compass: The Neurodiversity Paradigm
The neurodiversity paradigm is a revolutionary and profoundly simple idea: there is no single "right" or "normal" way for a brain to be. Brain differences are as natural and vital to our species as biodiversity is to an ecosystem.
This paradigm shifts the focus from "fixing" an individual to supporting their differences. It proposes that:
Neurodiversity is a natural and valuable form of human diversity.
The idea that there is one "normal" type of brain is a social construct - not a truth.
The challenges neurodivergent people face are often caused not by their deficits, but by a society that is inflexible and not designed to accommodate their needs (this is called the social model of disability).
Under this new model:
An ADHD brain isn't a deficit; it's an "interest-based" nervous system that can achieve incredible hyperfocus on things it's passionate about.
An autistic brain isn't socially deficient; it communicates and connects differently, often preferring deep, authentic interaction over superficial small talk.
A dyslexic brain isn't broken; it processes written language differently, and often excels at 3D spatial reasoning and big-picture thinking.
The Paradigm Shift in Action: How Your Thinking Changes
Adopting this new perspective is more than just a semantic game; it changes everything. It’s the difference between shame and self-acceptance.
Old Thought: "Why can't I just focus on this boring report? I'm so lazy."
New Thought: "This task isn't engaging my interest-based nervous system. What support or tool can I use to get it done, so I can move on to work that energizes me?"
Old Thought: "I'm so awkward at parties. I never know what to say."
New Thought: "Large group small talk is draining for me because I thrive on deep connection. I will seek out one-on-one conversations or feel empowered to leave when my social battery is low."
Old Thought: "I'm too sensitive. I need to toughen up."
New Thought: "I have a highly perceptive nervous system. This is a strength that makes me empathetic and creative, and it means I need to intentionally create a sensory environment that supports me."
Finding Your User Manual
This is where a neurodiversity-affirming psychological assessment comes in. It’s not about collecting deficit-based labels. It’s about getting a detailed, personalized user manual for your unique brain. A good assessment will give you the data to understand both your incredible strengths and the specific areas where you need support.
It provides the language and the clarity to stop fighting your operating system and start designing a life that works for it.
You are not a problem to be solved. You are a person to be understood. Embracing the neurodiversity paradigm is the first, most powerful step on that journey of understanding.
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