Understanding Neurodivergence and Neurodiversity: A Key to Connection
If you spend time in the Kula community, you’ve probably heard the terms neurodivergence and neurodiversity. These words are popping up more and more in conversations about work, education, relationships, and mental health—but what do they actually mean? And why do they matter so much to the way we connect with each other?
Neurodiversity vs. Neurodivergence: What’s the Difference?
Neurodiversity is the idea that human brains are naturally wired in different ways. Just like biodiversity makes an ecosystem stronger, neurodiversity enriches our communities and workplaces by bringing in a variety of perspectives, talents, and ways of thinking. It’s a fact of human existence—not a flaw to be fixed.
Neurodivergence, on the other hand, refers to individuals whose brains function differently from what society considers the “typical” way. Some common neurodivergent neurotypes include:
Autism
ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)
Dyslexia
Dyspraxia
Dyscalculia
Tourette Syndrome
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
Highly Sensitive Person (HSP)
By contrast, neurotypical refers to individuals whose brain function aligns with societal expectations of focus, communication, learning, and processing. But let’s be clear—being neurotypical isn’t better or worse than being neurodivergent. It’s just a different way of experiencing the world.
Image Credit: Author and Lived Experience Educator, Sonny Jane Wise
Why This Matters
At Kula, we believe that when we embrace neurodiversity, we build bridges of understanding that change the world. Too often, workplaces, schools, and communities are built with neurotypical standards in mind, leaving neurodivergent individuals struggling to fit in rather than set up to thrive. Speaking from experience, trying to keep up in a world that wasn’t designed for how you’re wired can feel exhausting and lonely.
But what if we flipped the script? What if, instead of trying to “fix” neurodivergence or get people to conform to a standard, we focused on making environments more inclusive for everyone?
Understanding neurodiversity makes us better communicators, more compassionate leaders, and more curious human beings. It invites us to approach each other with more compassion and curiosity. We shift from frustration to understanding, from judgment to support.
At Kula, we create spaces where neurodivergent folks don’t have to mask, where differences are honored, and where we build a world that works for all of us. Because when we understand each other better, we connect deeper. And when we connect deeper, we thrive.
A Call to Curiosity and Compassion
Imagine a world where instead of assuming someone is “too much,” “too scattered,” or “too sensitive,” we got curious. What if we asked, How does this person process the world? instead of Why can’t they just do things the way I do? The beauty of neurodiversity is that it invites us to expand our perspectives. It challenges us to lead with empathy, to ask better questions, and to build connections that might not have been possible otherwise.
Rather than assuming someone is being “difficult” or “lazy,” we can recognize differences in sensory processing, executive function, and social energy. Instead of labeling people as “too much” or “not enough,” we can celebrate the fact that we all bring something valuable to the table, especially when we have opportunities to live and work in ways that are aligned with our innate wiring.
This is the bridge we’re building at Kula—a space where differences aren’t just accepted but celebrated. Where we’re not trying to fit into someone else’s mold but instead shaping a world that works for all of us.
So, whether you identify as neurodivergent, neurotypical, or somewhere in between, know this: You belong here. And together, we can change the world—with curiosity, compassion, and one moment of understanding at a time.
