Neurodiversity Washing
An Insidious Betrayal of Inclusion
Neurodiversity, a concept that celebrates the spectrum of human cognitive diversity, has gained increased visibility in recent years. Yet, corporations and institutions are increasingly exploiting it to present a facade of inclusivity, practicing neurodiversity washing. This phenomenon replaces meaningful action with hollow gestures, allowing systemic barriers to persist while institutions profit from a misleading image of progressiveness.
Neurodiversity should signal a movement toward genuine inclusion, but instead, we are witnessing an insidious betrayal where token initiatives and shallow advocacy undermine the struggles of neurodivergent individuals.
Corporate Virtue Signaling: PR Over Real Progress
Corporations today are some of the worst offenders when it comes to neurodiversity washing. While many companies tout diversity as a core value, the reality often falls short. For example, Microsoft's Autism Hiring Program is frequently praised as a model for corporate inclusion, yet broader systemic changes in performance evaluations remain necessary across industries. Traditional performance reviews often rely on neurotypical standards that can marginalize neurodivergent employees and limit their advancement opportunities.
The unemployment rate for autistic adults remains alarmingly high, with up to 85% unemployed in the U.S., highlighting the gap between corporate PR campaigns and the lived realities of neurodivergent workers. Meanwhile, corporate lobbying groups like the U.S. Chamber of Commerce have resisted reforms that would mandate more inclusive workplaces, citing economic burdens despite evidence showing that accommodations typically cost less than $500 per person.
The Medical-Industrial Complex: Pathologizing for Profit
The pharmaceutical and medical industries play a significant role in perpetuating neurodiversity washing by pathologizing neurodivergence for profit. The ADHD medication market continues to expand, driven by aggressive marketing and an increasing reliance on medication as the default solution for neurodivergent conditions. This focus on deficits reinforces harmful narratives that neurodivergent traits need to be "fixed."
Research supports the effectiveness of strengths-based approaches that focus on environmental accommodations and interventions, leading to better long-term outcomes for neurodivergent people.
However, insurance companies often refuse to cover these alternative therapies, nudging patients toward pharmaceutical solutions instead.
The ABA Industry: Compliance at the Expense of Autonomy
The behavioral therapy industry, particularly the use of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), also contributes to neurodiversity washing. ABA is often hailed as the "gold standard" for autism treatment but is grounded in compliance-based methods that aim to make autistic individuals conform to neurotypical norms. Despite increasing opposition from the autistic community, ABA continues to dominate autism therapies.
Critics argue that ABA prioritizes behavior modification over autonomy, teaching autistic individuals to suppress their natural behaviors in favor of socially acceptable ones. Many who underwent ABA therapy report long-term psychological harm, including heightened anxiety and depression. Despite these concerns, influential organizations continue to lobby for expanded insurance coverage of ABA therapy.
Educational Institutions: Stubbornly Clinging to Exclusionary Norms
Neurodiversity washing is also rampant in educational institutions, where schools and universities often tout their commitment to inclusivity while perpetuating systemic barriers. Despite laws mandating accommodations, many institutions resist implementing Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), citing cost or administrative burden. This resistance leaves neurodivergent students without necessary support.
Reliance on standardized testing disadvantages neurodivergent learners by favoring neurotypical cognitive styles. Neurodivergent students are nearly twice as likely to drop out due to inadequate accommodations. Despite evidence showing that alternative learning models benefit these students, educational institutions remain wedded to outdated standards of success.
Political Resistance: Weaponizing Inclusion for Division
In the political sphere, neurodiversity has become a battleground for conservative groups who weaponize the concept to fuel division. Some frame neurodiversity inclusion as part of a broader "leftist agenda," using this rhetoric to justify legislative efforts to roll back disability rights protections under the guise of deregulation.
Several U.S. states have introduced bills seeking to limit the scope of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which would disproportionately affect neurodivergent individuals. By framing neurodiversity as a political battleground, these groups contribute to stagnation in genuine progress.
Real Change Demands Collective Action, Not Tokenism
Neurodiversity washing is more than a broken promise—it is a calculated strategy to maintain systemic exclusion while profiting from an appearance of inclusivity. As corporations, educational institutions, and political groups engage in tokenistic gestures, neurodivergent individuals remain marginalized by structures that fail to accommodate their needs.
Real change requires collective action beyond superficial virtue signaling. Corporations must implement systemic reforms empowering neurodivergent workers; healthcare systems must embrace strengths-based approaches; educational systems must adopt flexible learning models; and political efforts must ensure inclusion remains non-partisan.
At the core of this movement, neurodivergent individuals must lead the way in shaping policies affecting their lives. True inclusion means recognizing the right to be different and dismantling systems suppressing neurodivergent voices.
The fight for neurodiversity inclusion is not just about accommodations; it’s about ensuring dignity, autonomy, and freedom to live authentically in a world too often demanding conformity.