Neurodiversity: The Birth of an Idea-Judy Singer

During this episode, Judy Singer shares about her family story, her marriage, and her thesis that was the "groundbreaking sociology thesis that prefigured the last great liberation movement to emerge from the 20th century". In her book: "Neurodiversity-The Birth of an Idea" Judy states, “The internet is the prosthetic device that binds isolated socially unskilled autistics into a collective social organism capable of having a public voice.” Some of the other topics dicussed are:

• Judy's work in disability studies.
• Her research at the local library to better understand her mother.
• Her relationship and experiences with her neurodivergent mother and her neurodivergent ex-husband.
• Judy facilitated one of the first support groups for adult children of autistic parents. She called them "daughters of engineers".
• Challenges at job interviews before understanding her neurodivergence.
• Not being able to maintain eye contact at work.
• Different parts that come out in different circumstances.
• Worked in computer programming and hated it!
• She systematizes information about people and that is why she is a sociologist.
• After 8 years on the waiting list for public housing she got a subsidized apartment and then was able to return to college.
• Consider what neurodiversity means to each individual and understand each other’s traits and accommodate each other.

You can contact Judy at: Neurodiversity2.blogspot.com

To learn more about Judy's groundbreaking thesis you can buy her book: NeuroDiversity-The Birth of An Idea.