Why do we define such a thing as “normal” behavior? No one is normal, everyone is unique, everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses, quirks and faults, likes and dislikes, and so no one is really “normal”, everyone is “abnormal”. So why do we define some people as more abnormal than others? Where do we draw that line between what is the norm and not? What about this person has offended you so much that you need to stick a label on them and say they should act more normal?

I think it should be a goal of society to get to a point where we just are accepting of peoples individual needs without judgement and without setting certain people apart from others. For instance, I would not question someone wearing headphones on their way to class any more than I would someone who was stimming while on their way. Everyone has their own needs, no matter a diagnosis. If someone in our class needed the windows to be unshaded, or the noise level to be low, we would happily conform to allow that. However in some circumstances, such as a business setting or a less relaxed class, people may be less inclined to provide these accommodations.

This is not to say that I do not support the diagnosing of mental illness or neurodivergency, I am simply saying that we shouldn’t treat diagnosed people any differently than people without diagnosis. Everyone has needs and it is up to us whether we accommodate for those needs and to what degree. As a society we can decide to accommodate the best we can, and just as importantly we can not isolate people with greater needs than others and not oust them from society.