5 Effective Ways To Communicate With Neurodivergent People

Whether you’re hoping that they’ll understand you better

or that you’ll understand them better,

these 5 proven strategies will make neurodivergent-inclusive communication a piece of cake 🍰

Communicating with neurodivergent people is easy… most of the time. 

Neurodivergent conditions come with a variety of skills and deficits. While verbal and physical communication might not be an issue for some neurodivergent people (people with ADHD or dyscalculia, for instance), communication with a neurodivergent friend or acquaintance might prove difficult if they are autistic, have Down syndrome, a non-verbal learning disability, or any other neurodivergent condition that impedes communication skills. 

Inclusive communication refers to a communication approach that ensures all individuals, regardless of their neurodivergent conditions, can participate and feel valued throughout a discussion. 

We’ve listed 6 ways you can practice inclusive communication with neurodivergent people.

(Note: Make sure you experiment with these strategies and see what works best since no neurodivergent person is exactly alike!)

1. Don’t Rely on Nonverbal Cues – Speak Clearly and Directly

This strategy is especially helpful for people on the Autism Spectrum, including people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and people with Asperger’s syndrome. While nonverbal cues, such as facial expressions, are a major part of human communication, many neurodivergent people struggle to interpret them. Make sure that you convey meaning through clear and direct speech. 

(Note: While it’s important for neurotypical people not to rely on nonverbal communication, it is crucial that they remain aware of the neurodivergent person’s nonverbal communication cues. This is especially relevant when communicating with people who struggle to interpret and convey verbal communication, such as people with Down syndrome or an Intellectual Disability. (ID))

2. Practice Active Listening 

In order to speak clearly and directly throughout a conversation with a neurodivergent person, you’ll need to practice active listening. 

Active listening is a communication tool that involves being fully engaged with the speaker, through paying attention, withholding judgment, and asking for clarification when necessary.

Active listening will allow you to maintain clear and direct communication with a neurodivergent person with little chance of misunderstanding or confusion. 

3. Use Written Communication 

Writing is organized thinking, which can come in handy when neurodivergent people need to express their thoughts and ideas in a clearly. Communicating over text, online messaging, e-mail, or written notes can be especially helpful for some people who have a lot going on in their minds at once. This might be the case for some people on the autism spectrum, or in some cases, for people with attention deficit/hyperactive disorder (ADHD) or attention deficit disorder (ADD).

4. Use Visual Aids 

Visual aids range from pictures to drawings, to written instructions. Not only are they an incredibly effective communication tool, but they are also versatile. Visual aids can be useful for all sorts of neurodivergent conditions, including   

We’ve got a blog post that delves deeper into how visual aids can be beneficial for each of these conditions. Check it out if you’d like!

5. Respect the Person’s Intelligence 

Neurodivergent brains don’t have anything wrong with them- they just work differently than neurotypical brains, and that’s okay. 

Neurodivergent people are by no means stupid. People with intellectual disabilities, for instance, aren’t unintelligent. They just can’t communicate and interpret the world around them the same way we do. 

Make sure that you continue to show respect throughout a conversation with a neurodivergent person, even if you have to adopt these measures to communicate with them. Just because neurodivergent brains are wired differently does not make them any less capable than neurotypical brains.