Jan 2026 – Written for Ability Beyond Borders (www.abilitybeyondborders.org)

Neurodivergence, a mode of being in which an individual’s mind operates differently to what is considered “typical” by many people in society, is inherently a highly political subject. In understanding the roles taken by neurodivergent individuals in society, it is important to consider how neurodivergence can be a significant part of their political identity and worldview. Neurodivergence can be an important motivator for constructive political action such as social justice advocacy and activism, becoming a powerful catalyst for social change. The marginalisation and political experience of neurodivergence is also so powerful that it can give way to radically different ways of viewing society, as discussed in the latter half of this overview.

Political Positioning of Neurodiversity

Throughout history, disabled and neurodivergent individuals have been marginalised and subjected to pervasive oppression in a society that views them as being “outside of the norm”. Legault, Bourdon & Poirier, however, write that while neurodivergent individuals are often viewed as those with a cognitive makeup that exists outside of what is “typical”, this idea of “typical” is illegitimate and “not an objective statistical fact of human neurological functioning but a standard established and maintained by socio-political processes” (Legault, Bourdon & Poirier, 2020, p. 12843). In simpler terms, the idea of a “typical” brain is not a neutral, scientific fact about how human brains actually are; it is a socially-created standard that is shaped and kept in place by politics, culture and power.

Neurodivergent individuals also often experience significant forms of social “othering,” through which they are positioned as fundamentally distinct from the normative majority. Within this, Botha & Frost explore the ways in which the autistic community experiences “minority stress”, the chronic added stress experienced by those that belong to a disadvantaged group. For example, autistic individuals may:

• Experience victimisation and discrimination, often moreso if they present with a high degree of “outness” (frequently disclosing that they are autistic).
• Have an expectation of rejection
• Internalise stigma

(Botha & Frost, 2018)

Factors such as these may contribute to strong feelings of anger and exacerbate poor mental health, with many neurodivergent individuals being made to feel like “outsiders”, or even that they are “unfit” for today’s society. As well as this, another notable aspect in the political positioning of Autism is that it can contribute to anti-establishment thought and Autistic people are more likely to question or resist some social conventions, particularly around hierarchy. Caldwell-Harris & Schwartz state that a lack of interest in social status among autistic people is often accompanied by the expression of egalitarian views that emphasise “fairness, equal treatment for everyone and the condemnation of unjust uses of power”. In the same study, one autistic individual stated that one of their “favourite” aspects of being autistic is “not conforming to the hivemind/groupthink and seeing that the emperor has no clothes” (Caldwell-Harris & Schwartz, 2023, p. 78, 81).

The double empathy problem is also of significant relevance. The double empathy problem, coined by Milton (2012), challenges the idea that the social “difficulties” in autism are caused by a one-sided lack of empathy in autistic individuals, instead framing them as a mutual breakdown in understanding between two differently neurotyped groups (neurodivergent and neurotypical individuals). It states that because autistic and non-autistic individuals often have markedly different life experiences, communicative styles and ways of interpreting the world around them, both parties can struggle to relate and make sense of each other, especially within a society modelled around neurotypical expectations (Milton, 2012). This mutual “misattunement” further cements the marginalisation and misunderstanding of neurodivergent people. Thus, it contributes not only to interpersonal misunderstanding but also to broader sociopolitical polarisation around neurodiversity, and can be used as a lens for understanding how neurodivergent individuals are positioned differently in society.

Another lens through which the marginalisation of neurodivergent people can be viewed is in Foucault’s concept of biopower. In simple terms, biopower refers to ways in which modern states and institutions manage people’s lives and bodies, especially through “disciplinary institutions” such as schools, clinics and workplaces (Gisney & Morar, pp. 4-5). Through biopower, these institutions attempt to shape neurodivergent individuals so they can conform to the dominant standards of “normal” behaviour, functionality and productivity. In today’s society, neurodivergent people are governed through diagnostic criteria, behavioural expectations and concepts of “burden” and “risk”, which operate as political techniques for producing norms and regulating populations that are deemed to be “problematic” or “in need of control”.

Medicalisation is another highly important facet of the political positioning of neurodiversity. “Normality” serves as a powerful instrument of social control, and the medical model of disability is, in many ways, the perfect framework to support this control. The medical model of disability has, throughout history, framed neurodivergence as an individual “deficit” rather than something society is responsible for structurally excluding. While diagnostic labels can be empowering, it is important to take into account that they may grant social and institutional actors the authority to separate the “desirable from the undesirable”. The modern neurodiversity movement, which has seen significant growth throughout the last decade, has however now become a prominent alternative to the medical lens of viewing disability (often referred to as the “medical model of disability”) (NAS, n.d.). As a profoundly positive force in individuals’ understanding of who they are, the neurodiversity movement is allowing for a major political reframing of neurodivergence, from a deficit to be suppressed to a way of being that is equally worthy of being present in society. The recent rise of the neurodiversity movement is a watershed moment in disability advocacy and the liberation of hundreds of millions of people worldwide, as it is now a highly prominent and organised social justice movement that seeks acceptance beyond harmful so-called “norms”. An area of great importance, however, is to ensure that the goals of the neurodiversity movement are truly accepted by those in positions of power, instead of neurodivergence simply being viewed as a source of competitive advantage in business, with neurodivergent individuals being valued only as enhancers of innovation, efficiency and therefore profit (Chapman, 2023, p. 18).

It can also be argued that the areas of incompatibility with neurodivergence and the ideology of neoliberalism play a large role in the troubles experienced by neurodivergent individuals in countries such as the UK. Put simply, neoliberalism is a political and economic ideology that favours minimal government intervention, free markets, deregulation and, highly importantly, individual responsibility (Shepley, 2025). Under neoliberal systems, inequalities faced by groups such as the neurodivergent community are framed as matters of “personal choice” rather than structural injustices. As a result, neurodivergent individuals are led to believe that, instead of accepting themselves for who they are, they must “work on themselves” to become the ideal, employable subject in the capitalist economy (Hunt, 2024, p. 731).

Interactions of Neurodivergence and Political Views

Neurodivergence may be a prominent factor in the political views of an individual, and it may also contribute to someone having a highly unique view of what society should look like. This can take a highly positive form, such as in an individual’s engagement with activism or otherwise promoting a more inclusive world outside of the socio-economic norm. Negative life experiences such as ostracisation, poor material conditions and struggling to “find a place” within society, often faced by neurodivergent individuals, may also be contributors to an individual developing very strong political views. Little et al. also suggest that, for some neurodivergent people, a preference for concrete information and clear structure can make certain rigid, black‑and‑white worldviews feel especially appealing (Little et al., 2021, p. 7).

Community Views

The following are quotes from neurodivergent individuals detailing the role neurodivergence plays in their political views (Note: the following opinions do not reflect the views of the author or Ability Beyond Borders).

Firstly, this forum user describes his suspicion of governmental pledges to protect the autistic community:

“I am libertarian – socially liberal but financially conservative. The main reason is that I don’t trust the government to protect autistic people like me – they will promise us the moon but end up exploiting us like everyone else does” (Reddit, 2022).

This forum user, identifying as a communist, describes a common view on why neurodivergent individuals deserve greater recognition and protection in the political landscape:

“Because they have needs that the average person does not have, they may need more accommodation on the part of the government, community, or workplace… To the capitalist class this is a weakness that must be weeded out. A communist however should recognize that neurodivergent individuals have been some of the most oppressed people in history, having been systematically killed in societies both ancient and modern. Because of this we as communists have a responsibility to uphold the rights of neurodivergent people” (Reddit, 2020).

This user describes aspects of Autism they view as being well-aligned with Anarchist principles:

“What does all this have to do with autism? Well, I think autistic (and ADHD) people generally live with less of a filter on life. We tend to work things out based on key principles of right and wrong rather than what is best for our careers or for our group to win power. That means we often tend towards being the local anarchists, whether we call ourselves that or not” (Christodoulou, 2024).

Conclusion

It is important to remember that the role of neurodivergence in society cannot be fully understood without taking its political implications into account. Neurodivergence and political identity share a complex, deeply personal relationship that can add a significant amount of context to the political identity and activity of an individual, although it does not fully explain it alone. Political expression should never be medicalised, but this interplay must be recognised and considered in building a society that serves the needs of each and every individual.

Neurodivergence shapes how we perceive fairness, power and our place as global citizens. Whether it is expressed through rights-based activism, anti-establishment sentiment, distrust of institutions that do not suit our needs or engagement with lesser-known ideologies, neurodivergent political activity is in many ways shaped by lived experience in a society that often does not accommodate or value difference. Ultimately, building a society that is truly inclusive of neurodivergent ways of being requires significant structural change, and there are of course many schools of thought across the left and right in exploring how best to achieve this. As major strides are made in advancing the rights of neurodivergent individuals, such as in worldwide popularity of the neurodiversity movement, political actors and wider society must also be willing to take seriously the political views that arise from neurodivergent life experiences and engage with the community itself on how to build a more inclusive society.

References

Autism and Right-Wing Politics (2022) Reddit. Available at: https://www.reddit.com/r/AutisticPride/comments/slgxwb/autism_and_rightwing_politics/ (Accessed: 02 January 2026).​

Botha, M. and Frost, D. (2018) ‘Extending the Minority Stress Model to Understand Mental Health Problems Experienced by the Autistic Population’, Society and Mental Health, 10(1), pp. 20–34. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1177/2156869318804297.

Caldwell-Harris, C.L. and Schwartz, A.M. (2023) ‘Why Autistic Sociality is Different: Reduced Interest in Competing for Social Status’, Ought: The Journal of Autistic Culture, 5(1), pp. 78–95. Doi: https://doi.org/10.9707/2833-1508.1145.

​Chapman, R. (2023) Empire of Normality: Neurodiversity and Capitalism. London: Pluto Press.​

Christodoulou, L. (2025) Autism and Anarchy: The Importance of Autistic Anarchism, Freedom News. Available at: https://freedomnews.org.uk/2024/04/10/autism-and-anarchy-the-importance-of-autistic-anarchism/ (Accessed: 02 January 2026).​

Gisney, V.W. and Morar, N. (eds.) (2015) Biopower: Foucault and Beyond. Chicago, Illinois: University of Chicago Press.​

Hunt, J. (2024) ‘Will psychology ever “join hands” with disability studies? Opportunities and challenges in working towards structurally competent and disability-affirmative psychotherapy for energy limiting conditions’, Medical Humanities, 50(4), pp. 728–739. doi:10.1136/medhum-2023-012877.​

Legault, M., Bourdon, J. and Poirier, P. (2021) ‘From Neurodiversity to Neurodivergence: the Role of Epistemic and Cognitive Marginalization’, Synthese, 199(1), pp. 12843–12868. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11229-021-03356-5.

​Milton, D. (2012) ‘On the Ontological Status of Autism: the “Double Empathy Problem”’, Disability & Society, 27(6), pp. 883–887.​

The Neurodiversity Movement (no date). Available at: https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/topics/identity/the-neurodiversity-movement (Accessed: 30 December 2025).​

What Is Neoliberalism? A Guide to the Ideology Behind Modern Capitalism (2025) Explaining History Podcast. Available at: https://explaininghistory.org/2025/05/27/what-is-neoliberalism-a-guide-to-the-ideology-behind-modern-capitalism/ (Accessed: 02 January 2026).​

What’s the Vision of Communists about Disabled and Neurodivergent People? (2020) Reddit. Available at: https://www.reddit.com/r/communism101/comments/j6hsbo/whats_the_vision_of_communists_about_disabled_and/ (Accessed: 02 January 2026).