Reducing discrimination and tackling the stigma against neurodivergent people are top research priorities, as discovered in a groundbreaking priority-setting workshop from Embracing Complexity.

Embracing Complexity has collaborated with neurodivergent people to identify the 10 most-pressing research priorities for neurodiversity. To our knowledge, this is the first research priority-setting exercise for neurodiversity, rather than specific neurodivergent conditions, and marks the beginning of a step-change for research on the topics that matter most to neurodivergent people.

For Neurodiversity Celebration Week, Embracing Complexity has released the Top 10 Priorities for Research on Neurodivergence today. The priorities were developed through workshops with people with various neurodivergent conditions and diagnostic statuses.

Embracing Complexity is a coalition of over 60 organisations working together to create a world where every neurodivergent person can reach their potential. The coalition aims to identify and address the challenges neurodivergent people face beyond the restrictions of pre-defined diagnostic categories. We’re proud to lead the project, which The Waterloo Foundation kindly funds.

Although neurodivergent people are an inherently diverse group, with the term ‘neurodivergent’ referring to someone who may have experience of one (or more) of over a dozen neurodevelopmental conditions, many neurodivergent people share experiences of similar systemic barriers. Neurodivergent people wait too long for initial diagnoses and often face barriers in multiple areas of life, including school, work, and interpersonal relationships. Often, many neurodivergent people have personal experience of more than one neurodevelopmental condition, while services and policies focus on one condition, which doesn’t capture the complexity of someone’s experience.

Currently, most of the research on neurodivergence does not reflect the priorities of neurodivergent people. However, to create real change for neurodivergent people, researchers need to focus on what matters most to this community. These new priorities will guide future research to help transform our understanding of neurodivergence and address the systemic barriers many neurodivergent people face.

Topics in Embracing Complexity’s top ten priorities include reducing discrimination, tackling stigma, mental health, service provision and support, diagnoses and inclusivity in schools and universities. Read the full report to see the list of priorities, learn why these issues are the most pressing, and share the priorities on social media to help spread the word.