As someone who is dyslexic and dyspraxic, I was initially drawn to the loud voices on social media proclaiming themselves experts on various neurological conditions. I too wanted to share my experiences, having struggled at times with self-esteem and mental health impacts. But after working in special education for more than 5 years, I've come to realise the real experts are the practitioners working directly with neurodiverse people daily. They operate quietly, without much fanfare online. From them, I've learnt so much more about dyslexia than from any hashtag activist.
Recently, I responded thoughtfully to an influencer's post and quickly got hundreds of likes, sparking discussion. Unfortunately, they blocked further dialogue. It seems some influencers are more interested in self-promotion than nuanced discussion about the neurodiversity they claim to represent. I've seen many use their conditions to plug a book or podcast, rather than raise awareness.
On the other hand, some social media presences like Dyslexia Mum share self-tested strategies and push for easier diagnosis access, rather than self-promotion. They have first-hand struggles with neurodiverse children and aim to drive real change.
We want a more inclusive world, yet I sometimes feel people want to be neurodiverse exclusive. As with any movement, we must elevate marginalised voices and recognise the difference between performative activism and advocacy creating real change. The solutions lie in recognising legitimate expertise over self-appointed influencers unwilling to engage in thoughtful dialogue.
