What is neurodiversity? Who is really normal? How do we address the strengths of those who’ve been labeled with ADHD, dyslexia or other ”disabilities”? These questions get addressed in a new Canadian Broadcasting Company Radio One program. Entitled: ”The Myth of Normal,” it aired Part 1 on April 29, 2022 and Part 2 on May 9, 2022.
The show brings together voices in psychiatry, psychology, medicine, evolutionary biology, and the neurodiverse community to explore how what are considered ”mental disorders” may in prehistory have been advantages important for survival. In today’s fast-paced world these traits may actually be assets for working in a range of emerging disciplines.
List of Those Interviewed:
- Steve Silberman, journalist and best-selling author of NeuroTribes: The Legacy of Autism and the Future of Neurodiversity;
- Temple Grandin, animal scientist, autistic individual, and author of Visual Thinking, and The Autistic Brain;
- Thomas Armstrong, psychologist and author of The Power of Neurodiversity: Unleashing the Advantages of Your Differently Wired Brain;
- Gabor Maté, physician, trauma expert, and author of Scattered Minds: A New Look at the Origins and Healing of Attention Deficit Disorder;
- Ed Hallowell, psychiatrist, ADHD expert, and co-author of Delivered from Distraction: Getting the Most out of Life with Attention Deficit Disorder;
- Suzanne Antonetta, poet and author of A Mind Apart: Travels in a Neurodiverse World;
- Judy Singer, sociologist, autism activist, originator of the term ”neurodiversity” and author of Neurodiversity: The Birth of an Idea;
- Bernard Joseph Crespi, evolutionary biologist and professor at Simon Fraser University in British Columbia, Canada.
The two-part series is part of Radio One’s weekly radio program ”Ideas” hosted by Nahlah Ayed. Listen to archived editions of this program: Part 1 – Part 2.
This program is a great way for opening up discussions about disabilities, the meaning of normality, neurodiversity at work, special education, and a range of other issues with family, friends, and colleagues. I hope you listen and share (links are available for posting on Twitter, Facebook, and email)! Enjoy!
[…] to a CBC program about Autism. It was good, included Temple Grandin, apparently the 2nd part focusing on neurodiversity, believe […]
The article you shared highlights the launch of a new CBC radio show that aims to raise awareness and promote the understanding of neurodiversity. It’s great to see initiatives that seek to educate the public on the unique experiences and perspectives of individuals with neurodiverse conditions. The more people know and understand about neurodiversity, the more accepting and inclusive our society can become. Kudos to the CBC for their efforts to shed light on this important topic.