What is Neurodiversity? Definition and Neuropsychological Assessment

💡 The term neurodiversity refers to the principle that society could benefit from recognizing and strengthening people's strengths, rather than focusing solely on weaknesses (Doyle, 2020).

For this reason, it is a movement that promotes equal rights among people, recognition of human cognitive diversity, breaking down any type of exclusion structure, and valuing the neurological differences between human brains (The Education Hub, 2019).

Neuropsychological assessment serves as an ally when identifying the characteristics of the cognitive profile of the people evaluated, determining areas of strength and areas for improvement, thus allowing individualized recommendations to be offered according to the needs of the people.

Classification of Neurodivergences (Doyle Model)

🔎 A classification model of neurodivergences according to Doyle (2020) stipulates the following classification:

1. Applied Neurodiversity

✅ Applied neurodiversity: includes conditions a person is born with, not necessarily considered a health condition. It refers to differences in the application of certain skills, such as gross motor control, manipulation of numerical concepts, and reading or writing processing. It usually refers to specific reading difficulties (dyslexia), specific mathematical difficulties (dyscalculia), or specific writing difficulties (dysgraphia or dysorthography).

2. Clinical Neurodiversity

✅ Clinical neurodiversity: This includes neurological differences among individuals from birth, and those with certain health conditions. The concept of clinical neurodiversity can often encompass differences in communication, social skills, behavior, and impulse control. Some examples of clinical neurodiversity are: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Autism, and Intellectual Disability.

3. Acquired Neurodiversity

✅ Acquired neurodiversity: This includes neurological differences resulting from health conditions or injuries. Acquired neurodiversity relates to conditions that may improve as an illness or injury heals, as well as the possibility of health conditions that may worsen as an individual's health deteriorates. Examples of acquired neurodiversity include: acquired brain injury caused by an accident or event, neurological disease processes (such as Parkinson's disease, cancer treatments, or strokes), and mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, or obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Legal Framework and Inclusion in Panama

🇵🇦 In Panama, several initiatives have been implemented at various stages of human development to provide flexibility and educational, psychological, and employment support to individuals who may be neurodivergent. The following legal initiatives are highlighted:

Curriculum Adaptations and Educational Regulations

✅ Executive Decree No. 1 of February 4, 2000 - Panama Ministry of Education Procedure Manual: This manual stipulates guidelines to be followed in the educational setting regarding learning modifications that can be implemented by faculty and staff to benefit diversity within the classroom. It addresses concepts such as individual educational needs, special educational needs, good pedagogical practices, curriculum access adaptations (didactic organization of information), curricular adaptations (non-significant or significant), and considerations for carrying out an adaptation process (in objectives, timing, content, and methodology/didactic organization).

✅ Resolution No. 709 of February 25, 2016, which creates the Program for Outstanding Aptitudes and Specific Talents: a program designed to identify school-age children who may be exhibiting indicators of specific talents or outstanding aptitudes. This program focuses its actions on ensuring that, after identification, the National Directorate of Special Education of the Ministry of Education of Panama may, as stated in Article 7 of Resolution No. 709 of February 25, 2016, "provide educational support through curricular adaptations using the following alternatives: deepening or expanding the curriculum of the academic grade being studied, a comprehensive and interdisciplinary approach to different areas or subjects of the curriculum, grouping with students from higher grades, and any other methodology that fosters their intellectual, emotional, and social development."

Rights and Equal Opportunities (Law 15 and 42)

✅ Law No. 15 of May 31, 2016 - Law that amends Law No. 42 of 1999, which establishes equal opportunities for people with disabilities: Regarding education, we wish to highlight Article 18, which focuses on Access to Education and mentions the right of people with disabilities to receive education in general, vocational training, adult education, and lifelong learning. Article 18 also emphasizes that public and private educational institutions must have the budget to obtain the necessary resources, tools, and specialized technological equipment.

✅ Law No. 15 of May 31, 2016 - Law that amends Law No. 42 of 1999, which establishes equal opportunities for people with disabilities: Regarding employment, we wish to highlight Articles 41, 42, and 44, which express the right of people with disabilities to obtain paid and productive employment. Therefore, private companies with between 25 and 50 employees are encouraged to employ at least one person with a disability. In the case of companies with more than 50 employees, the proportion of workers with disabilities in the company's workforce must not be less than 2%.

Neurodiversity and Innovation at Work

🧐 Lefevre-Levy et al. (2023) in their scientific article relate the concept of neurodiversity and workplace, and mention that having neurodiverse perspectives in work scenarios can provide benefits to companies in areas related to innovation, problem solving and creativity.

Neuropsychological Assessment Services

🤩 At our Center, we offer neuropsychological assessments and specialized mental health follow-up to provide individuals with a greater understanding of their strengths and areas for improvement, allowing us to offer personalized recommendations tailored to their needs. For more information about our services, please contact us by phone or email at +507 6535 6362.

📚 Bibliographic References

✴️Doyle, N. (2020). Neurodiversity at work: a biopsychosocial model and the impact on working adults. British medical bulletin, 135(1), 108-125.

✴️ LeFevre-Levy, R., Melson-Silimon, A., Harmata, R., Hulett, AL, & Carter, NT (2023). Neurodiversity in the workplace: Considering neuroatypicality as a form of diversity. Industrial and Organizational Psychology, 16(1), 1-19.

✴️ The Education Hub. Neurodiversity: An overview. (2018). Retrieved December 27, 2024, from https://theeducationhub.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Neurodiversity-An-overview.pdf