HNY Inclusive Language Guidance > ‘Inclusive language: neurodiversity’ – video transcript

‘Inclusive language: neurodiversity’ – video transcript

[ON SCREEN: Inclusive language: neurodiversity]

The word ‘neurodiversity’ conveys the idea that there is no single right way of thinking, learning or behaving.

Neurodivergent is an umbrella term and is often used by people with a broad range of learning differences. This can include dyslexic people, autistic people, those who are ADHD and many other neurodevelopmental conditions.

It can feel more comfortable to use this word rather than sharing individual conditions and is a way of describing difference from those who are neurologically typical or neurotypical.

Just as we use the term ‘disabled person’ instead of ‘person with disabilities’, we use ‘autistic person’ or ‘dyslexic person’.

However, always take your lead from the person themselves and use the language they prefer.

Top tips…

• We avoid referring to a person’s learning difference if it is not relevant to their care.
• We never refer to someone as ‘special’ or as ‘special needs’.
• We avoid using the term ‘on the spectrum’ when describing non-autistic people or ‘dyslexic’ when describing non-dyslexic people.
• We avoid negative language and assumptions.

You can find out more in the Humber and North Yorkshire Inclusive Language Guidance.

[ENDS]

This page was last updated on Monday 7 April 2025.