Neurodivergence as a Trend: The Rise of Aesthetic Advocacy and Its Pitfalls
Bridgette Hamstead
In recent years, neurodivergence has become more visible in mainstream culture, with platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter amplifying conversations about autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and other neurodivergent experiences. This increased awareness has led to both positive and problematic developments—on the one hand, it has helped neurodivergent individuals find community and language for their experiences, but on the other, it has also led to the commodification and aestheticization of neurodivergence.
What was once a movement rooted in advocacy and systemic change is increasingly being repackaged as a curated online identity, complete with color-coded planners for ADHD, pastel stim toys, and viral memes that reduce complex neurodivergent struggles to quirky, relatable soundbites. While visibility is crucial, the rise of "neurodivergent aesthetic" raises an important question: does this trend actually empower neurodivergent individuals, or is it another form of exploitation that flattens real experiences into marketable content?
The Positive Side of Increased Visibility
There is no denying that social media has played an essential role in advancing neurodiversity advocacy. In a world where many autistic and ADHD individuals have been historically overlooked, misdiagnosed, or gaslit by medical professionals, online spaces have provided a platform for self-advocacy, education, and community-building. Viral posts about sensory sensitivities, executive dysfunction, and masking have helped countless people recognize their own neurodivergence, leading to late diagnoses and increased self-understanding.
The normalization of neurodivergence through social media has also helped challenge outdated and harmful stereotypes. Instead of the limited, pathologized depictions of autism and ADHD that have long dominated medical literature, neurodivergent individuals themselves are shaping the narrative, sharing their lived experiences in ways that resonate with others. Representation in media, books, and even fashion has begun to shift, acknowledging that neurodivergence is not a singular, monolithic experience but a broad spectrum of identities and ways of being.
However, with increased visibility comes the risk of dilution and distortion. What happens when advocacy turns into an aesthetic, and real struggles become branding opportunities for corporations and influencers?
The Pitfalls of "Neurodivergent Aesthetic"
As neurodivergence has become more widely discussed, certain elements of it have been co-opted and turned into marketable trends. The rise of the "neurodivergent aesthetic" often centers around a romanticized version of neurodivergence that prioritizes aesthetic appeal over substantive advocacy. This manifests in various ways, including:
The trivialization of neurodivergent struggles – Many viral posts reduce autism and ADHD to "cute" or "quirky" traits, ignoring the very real systemic barriers neurodivergent people face in employment, education, and healthcare. Memes about "ADHD hyperfixations" and "autistic infodumping" often omit the reality that these traits can cause significant distress and difficulty in daily life.
Commodification by corporations – Companies have taken note of the increasing popularity of neurodivergent discourse and have begun using it as a marketing strategy. Sensory-friendly products, fidget toys, and "ADHD-friendly planners" are now widely advertised, often with little to no input from actual neurodivergent individuals. While accessibility tools can be genuinely helpful, they are often sold at inflated prices, turning accommodations into luxury goods.
Influencer culture and performative neurodivergence – Some social media influencers have adopted neurodivergence as a brand identity, curating their content to fit an aestheticized version of what it means to be autistic or ADHD. In some cases, this leads to the spread of misinformation, where complex medical and psychological concepts are oversimplified or distorted for engagement.
The danger of aestheticizing neurodivergence is that it risks erasing the deeper realities of neurodivergent life—especially for those with higher support needs, those who are multiply marginalized, and those who do not fit the trendy version of neurodivergence portrayed in social media.
Who Gets Left Behind?
The mainstreaming of neurodivergence often centers around certain narratives while ignoring others. The "neurodivergent aesthetic" tends to favor those who can present their neurodivergence in a socially acceptable, palatable way—often white, middle-class, and with lower support needs. This leaves out:
BIPOC neurodivergent individuals – Black and brown neurodivergent people are already underdiagnosed and face higher rates of criminalization and medical neglect. When neurodivergence is portrayed as a quirky, harmless identity, it ignores the systemic racism that prevents BIPOC individuals from receiving diagnoses, accommodations, and proper care.
Non-speaking and high-support autistic individuals – Many viral conversations about autism center around those who can mask their neurodivergence and function independently in neurotypical spaces. Those with higher support needs, including non-speaking autistics, are often left out of the conversation entirely.
Neurodivergent individuals in poverty – The commodification of neurodivergence turns accommodations into consumer goods, but many neurodivergent individuals live below the poverty line and cannot afford expensive planners, stim toys, or subscription-based productivity tools. Accessibility should not be a privilege—it should be a right.
Moving Toward Authentic Advocacy
The rise of neurodivergent visibility is not inherently a bad thing, but it must be approached with care. Advocacy should not be about aesthetic appeal or trendy branding; it should be about systemic change. This means:
Prioritizing lived experience over marketability – Neurodivergent voices must be centered in conversations about neurodivergence. Advocacy should focus on improving accessibility, workplace rights, healthcare equity, and educational inclusion, rather than just making neurodivergence look "cool."
Holding corporations accountable – If a company profits from neurodivergent branding, it must actively support neurodivergent communities. This includes hiring neurodivergent employees, consulting neurodivergent experts, and donating to organizations that work toward disability justice.
Challenging misinformation and oversimplification – While social media has made information more accessible, it has also spread myths about neurodivergence. Advocacy should focus on nuance and accuracy, ensuring that the complexities of autism, ADHD, and other neurodivergences are not reduced to bite-sized, oversimplified content.
Ensuring accessibility is not a luxury – Accommodations should not be monetized beyond reach. Schools, workplaces, and public spaces should be investing in accessibility as a standard, not as an expensive add-on.
More Than an Aesthetic
Neurodivergence is not a brand, a trend, or an aesthetic. It is a lived reality that comes with both immense strengths and systemic barriers. While visibility can be a powerful tool for advocacy, it must not come at the expense of real, substantive change. The goal of neurodiversity advocacy should not be to make neurodivergence look appealing to neurotypical audiences—it should be to create a world where neurodivergent people are respected, accommodated, and allowed to thrive as they are.
If the neurodivergent movement is to maintain its integrity, it must resist the pull of commodification and remain focused on what truly matters: amplifying marginalized voices, demanding systemic reforms, and ensuring that neurodivergent people—of all identities and support needs—are given the space to exist authentically and without exploitation.