Is Neurodivergence a Disability?

Sometimes — but not always.

Neurodivergence can be a disability for some people, depending on how it impacts daily life, mental health, relationships, or access to education and work. But it doesn’t have to be. And not everyone experiences it that way.

Some people:

• Feel empowered by their neurodivergent traits
• See their differences as strengths
• Have found environments where they can thrive
• Don’t relate to the word “disabled” — and that’s okay

Others:

• Face significant barriers to functioning or participation
• Experience burnout, shutdowns, or medical trauma
• Can’t access the support they need without a disability label
• Live in systems that actively disable them — socially, financially, or physically

There’s no single answer — and no requirement to use (or reject) the word “disability” if it doesn’t fit how you see yourself.

You might identify as:

• Disabled
• Not disabled
• Sometimes disabled
• Reluctantly disabled (because that’s how the system sees you)

All of those are valid.

Disability isn’t just about diagnosis. It’s about how your body or brain interacts with a world that isn’t always built to support you. And it’s okay if that relationship changes over time.