Mark Neurodiversity Celebration Week with Wonderfully Wired Brains
As we enter Neurodiversity Celebration Week (18–24 March) and with World Autism Awareness Week (2–8 April) approaching, it’s the perfect time to talk about why books like Wonderfully Wired Brains are so important and can pave the way for a more understanding, acceptance and inclusivity.
We’ve talked to the author of the book Louise Gooding, to tell us more about it and her experience with Neurodiversity.
Louise Gooding
Hello all, I’m Louise Gooding and the author of Wonderfully Wired Brains, illustrated by Ruth Burrows and published by DK books.
It may come as a surprise that the word “neurodiversity” is still, to some, a somewhat scary “label”. When I chose to seek a diagnosis for myself and my children, some folks shared their concern about what a diagnosis could mean for us.
Would it hold us back, make others treat us differently, give the “wrong impression”, or restrict our opportunities?
The fact is that none of these things are true, the more we know about ourselves, how our brains work, and their strengths and their weaknesses, the more we have the opportunity to thrive and find our way socially, in education, and with planning our future.
But how was I going to show my children and help others see that neurodiversity was something we could all relate to?
Because, at the end of the day, we are all neurodiverse. Not one of us is wired the same as anyone else, whether due to our genetics or our upbringing – not one single brain is the same as another.
And why were some folks thinking that neurodiversity was a “new thing”? Where was the history?
It couldn’t possibly be something that had only been around for the last few decades.
Just because we nowadays have access to technology that can take a closer look at brain diversity, it doesn’t mean diverse brains didn’t exist before.
Just because we nowadays have access to technology that can take a closer look at brain diversity, it doesn’t mean diverse brains didn’t exist before.
Wonderfully Wired Brains was a way to discover and explore neurodivergent and neurodiverse history, to break down how our brains work, and to hopefully start to bridge the often-misunderstood gap between neuro-minorities and neuro-majorities.
It was a way to allow a starting point for everyone to understand the basics of neurodiversity and start to show that neurodivergent brains are just another way brains can be uniquely and differently wired, not just a “label”.
For you to know you aren’t alone. To feel empowered by the fact you are the owner of your own very wonderfully wired brain, with its own unique challenges, strengths, likes, dislikes and more! It’s what makes you you!
I hope that, whatever your age, you enjoy exploring the wonderful world of our brains.
I hope that, whatever your age, you enjoy exploring the wonderful world of our brains.
I also hope it answers previously unanswered questions and you have just as much fun reading it as I did writing it.
View the book
