Introduction

The concept of neurodiversity usually refers to perceived variations seen in cognitive, affectual, and sensory functioning differing from the majority of the general population or ‘predominant neurotype’, more usually known as the ‘neurotypical’ population. Authors are working at the crossroads between sociology, critical psychology, critical medical humanities, disability studies, and critical autism studies to expand each of these fields, but also to define a new field of enquiry: neurodiversity studies. Meanings of neurodiversity also gain force from political movements in different national and global contexts, which are commonly associated with the autistic self-advocacy or ‘autism rights’ movements. Ideas formulated within the neurodiversity movements have also impacted the reformulation of other social categories such as gender and sexual subjectivities, meanings of citizenship, and of the redistributive aims of the welfare state. This chapter serves as an intervention in methodological discussions around neurodiverse collective knowledge production.