Is Neurodivergence a Disability? (And Why We Need to Reclaim the Word)

This is a question that starts fights in comment sections. Some people say, “I’m not disabled, I just have a superpower!” Others say, “My struggles are real, do not minimize them.”

So, is it a disability?

Yes.

But before you recoil from that word, we need to talk about what “disability” actually means. It doesn’t mean “broken.” It doesn’t mean “unable.” It describes a specific dynamic between a person and the world they live in.

The Social Model of Disability

To understand this, we have to look at the Social Model.

The old way of thinking (The Medical Model) says: You are disabled because your brain is wrong. You are the problem.

The Social Model says: You are disabled because the environment isn’t built for you.

Think of it this way:

If a wheelchair user tries to enter a building that only has stairs, they are disabled by the stairs, not by their body. If you build a ramp, the disability—in that moment—disappears.

For neurodivergent people:

  • We are not disabled by our ability to focus; we are disabled by open-plan offices that demand constant noise tolerance.
  • We are not disabled by our sensory processing; we are disabled by clothing with scratchy tags and rigid fabrics.

When you change the environment (add the ramp, quiet the office, wear the sensory-friendly hoodie), the “disability” creates less friction.

Why “Superpower” Rhetoric Can Be Harmful

It is tempting to call Autism or ADHD a “superpower.” And yes, our strengths (hyper-focus, creativity, pattern recognition) are incredible.

But if we only call it a superpower, we ignore the days when we can’t get out of bed. We ignore the meltdowns. We ignore the fact that living in a neurotypical world is exhausting.

Calling it a disability is not an insult. It is a legal term that gives you rights.

  • It protects you under discrimination laws.
  • It grants you access to accommodations.
  • It validates that you are playing the game of life on “Hard Mode”.

The Verdict

You can be talented, successful, brilliant, and disabled. They are not mutually exclusive.

Acknowledging the disability doesn’t mean you are giving up. It means you are admitting that the world wasn’t built for you, so you have permission to build your own corner of it that actually works.