Do you know anyone around you who has a unique conversational tempo, or who pays attention to details but quickly forgets important things?
These traits are known as “adult developmental disorders” and are generally seen as negative factors in social life.
In fact, it is said that adults with developmental disorders (ASD, ADHD, LD, etc.) often feel that it is difficult to live in society.
But is this really “their problem”? Is it simply that society is not making the most of their abilities?
In recent years, the idea that these characteristics are not “weaknesses” but rather “individuality” and that they should be utilized has become widespread. This is called “neurodiversity,” and it is attracting attention from many companies and society.
What are developmental disorders in adults?
Although developmental disorders are often diagnosed during childhood, there are an increasing number of cases where they are discovered in adulthood.
In particular, traits that may be considered simply “personality traits” in childhood often manifest themselves through adjustment difficulties in social and work environments .
The main elements here are:
ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder): People with this condition tend to have strong logical thinking and attention to detail, but struggle with interpersonal relationships and teamwork.
ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder): People who fall into this category have excellent creativity and quick thinking, but also have problems such as difficulty concentrating and managing their time.
LD (Learning Disability): People who fall into this category may have difficulty reading, writing, and calculating, but are said to have excellent spatial awareness and intuitive problem-solving abilities.
These developmental disorders are often perceived as negative factors, just as they are called “disabilities.”
However, if we look around the world, we find that there are many famous people who have developmental disorders but have demonstrated incredible talents.
For example, the physicist Albert Einstein is said to have had characteristics of ASD, and although he had delayed language development as a child, he later demonstrated genius mathematical intuition.
The inventor Thomas Edison had characteristics of ADHD and was treated as a “problem child” at school, so he ended up hardly attending school at all and was essentially a “school dropout.” However, he used his hyperactivity (impulsivity) and curiosity to create many inventions.
Even in the modern IT industry, Microsoft founder Bill Gates and Tesla’s Elon Musk are said to have characteristics of ASD and ADHD.
Their logical thinking, creativity, and passion for innovation can unleash their great potential if harnessed properly.
In other words, the negative factors of developmental disorders are problems that arise when they are forced into an environment where they have difficulty adapting, and it is actually more appropriate to think of them as people with different thinking patterns and characteristics than other people.
For this reason, the concept of “neurodiversity” has recently emerged, which views developmental disorders as “personal characteristics” rather than “disorders.”
“Neurodiversity” – a society that utilizes the strengths of people with developmental disabilities
This idea was proposed by sociologist Judy Singer in the 1990s , and has since spread as a movement to utilize the abilities of people with developmental disabilities, particularly in the IT industry and research positions.
This concept regards neurodevelopmental differences as neurodevelopmental diversity rather than medical “deficiencies,” and holds that by utilizing each individual’s characteristics in an appropriate environment, they can maximize their individual strengths.
So how can we utilize the strengths of people with developmental disabilities?
In order for people with developmental disabilities to maximize their abilities in society, it is important to understand their characteristics and create an environment that supports them.
People with ASD tend to be more adept at analyzing their data when they are given clear instructions and work under consistent rules, so they are well suited to jobs that involve detailed work and logical thinking, such as software development and data analysis.
In contrast, people with ADHD are said to have difficulty managing their time and multitasking, but they are more likely to be creative in a changeable environment or in a workplace with a high degree of freedom, making them suitable for marketing or creative work.
Microsoft has a special recruitment program for people with ASD, putting them to work in software testing, where they can take advantage of their strong analytical skills.
SAP, a major German software company, provides a quiet work space to help people with ASD who have hyperacusis feel less stressed and concentrate. They also break down tasks into smaller tasks and short steps to clarify instructions and prevent confusion.
In addition, if employees have difficulty keeping to time and are often late, they can make good use of a flextime system, or if they have concerns about interpersonal relationships, they can utilize telework. If flexible working methods can be provided to suit each individual’s characteristics, they can work during times when they are most likely to concentrate, which can reduce the burden of face-to-face communication and lead to increased productivity.
Towards a society where diverse individuality can be utilized
It is also essential to spread correct knowledge about developmental disorders throughout society.
Through corporate training and awareness-raising activities at educational institutions, it is necessary to eliminate prejudice and foster a culture that recognizes developmental disorders as an individual characteristic.
In addition, the government is also working to match people with developmental disabilities with suitable jobs and to strengthen counseling support. Utilizing these support systems may be the key to promoting the social participation of people with developmental disabilities.
What’s important is for society to provide an appropriate environment and for individuals to find the right place for themselves.
It is not easy to get someone with ADHD to do a job that requires them to be punctual or to follow detailed rules. This is a personality trait, and forcing them to do it will only make both the employer and the employee unhappy.
A society in which people with developmental disabilities can live comfortably is one that accepts differences and uses them as strengths. To achieve this, understanding from companies, support from society, and self-understanding from the people themselves are essential.
Recent research has also shown that turning neurodiversity into an organizational strength can contribute to improving a company’s competitiveness.
Respecting diverse talents and not being bound by what we consider to be “normal” is the first step to realizing a richer and more creative society.