neurodivergence is not a modern invention natural part of human diversity maybe particular neurotypes have evolved in different ways over time but there has always been a range no neurotype is inherently more or less valuable than another the rise in diagnoses is due to spreading awareness, changing socioeconomic conditions, an increasingly connected world, etc it is not a fad to be ‘suddenly autistic’, the language and conversations are just becoming more public past treatments of people diverging from the neuro-norms varied wildly psychiatric asylum harmful psychiatric treatments infant abandonment acceptance and understanding and community support placed into a specific niche role that fulfils requirements with their talents isolated roles away from human interaction or similar disabled people considered divine across several religions and belief systems examples of how this could look changelings and sheepherds ...