I was pointed to a fascinating book at an EMCC webinar on supervision and neurodivergence. We’re all neurodiverse by Sonny Jane Wise explores the modern history of neurological difference in society. Its starting point is that neurodiversity is the norm. Neurodivergence describes behaviours or traits that do not conform to a cultural norm – yet cultural norms are social conveniences that have no scientific basis.
Wise explains how pathologising traits that do not conform to social norms became an industry in the 1990s. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders or DSM has been forced to make frequent changes as deviations from a mythical norm (for example, homosexuality) have been recognised as just part of the human kaleidoscope. Much the same is now happening in the context of neurodivergence, but Wise argues that widening the scope of what is considered “normal” misses the point – normality changes according to who observes it and the cultural priorities and assumptions they hold.
In her chapter on a Universal Design for Neurodivergence, Wise argues that we need to redesign workplaces and education to accommodate as wide a diversity of neurological traits as possible. She provides practical examples of how this can be achieved. It caused me to reflect on a pioneering programme I, my wife Polly and another parent with an autistic son created more than 20 years ago. We brought together a group of socially excluded autistic young men to have regular gatherings with “normal” young professionals in a relaxed social environment. The intent was twofold: to help the young professionals become familiar with how to put at ease neurodivergent colleagues at work; and to enable the autistic members to practise social conversations. We helped the latter develop rules they could follow to navigate social situations – like limiting themselves to two minutes talking about their passionate interests (as Wise would point out, calling these “obsessions” is a social judgment).
Looking back, I realise that we focussed primarily on how the autistic young men could adapt and develop coping mechanisms, rather than asking them how they would like the social environment to adapt to them. This duality of accommodation is at the heart of Wise’s view of the future.
It’s also something I and Francoise Orlov have taken into the design of our supervision groups for ND coaches. Coming with multiple different combinations of ND traits, the coaches are using the safe space provided by supervision to establish their own accommodations – and hence to find diverse ways to capitalise on their strengths and enable their own ND clients to navigate a complex and often unsympathetic world.
We all have so much to learn!
©️David Clutterbuck, 2026