What Can Stutterers Learn from the Neurodiversity Movement?

Area of Science:

• Disability Studies
• Neurodiversity Movement
• Speech-Language Pathology

Background:

• Neurodiversity emphasizes natural variation and unique skills, shifting focus from pathology.
• Traditional disability models include the medical model (individual pathology) and social/relational models (societal oppression/environmental mismatch).
• The neurodiversity paradigm is increasingly applied to understanding and supporting neurodivergent individuals, including those who stutter.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the history and core concepts of the neurodiversity movement.
• To examine conventional and alternative models of disability.
• To apply neurodiversity principles to stuttering and illustrate a case example of therapy.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of neurodiversity history and disability models.
• Conceptual analysis applying neurodiversity to stuttering.
• Presentation of a case study demonstrating neurodiversity-informed therapy for stuttering.

Main Results:

• Neurodiversity offers an alternative to pathology-focused views of disability.
• Disagreements exist within the neurodiversity movement regarding intervention and cure.
• A neurodiversity-informed therapy approach prioritizes client well-being and self-acceptance.

Conclusions:

• Therapy for stuttering should prioritize the individual's overall well-being.
• Focusing on normalization of superficial behaviors is less beneficial than supporting subjective well-being.
• The neurodiversity framework provides valuable insights for speech-language pathology practices.