Why “Curing” Neurodivergence is a Dangerous and Misguided Goal
Bridgette Hamstead
For centuries, society has treated neurodivergence—autism, ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia, and other cognitive differences—as disorders to be corrected rather than natural variations in the way human brains function. The pervasive goal of "curing" neurodivergence, whether through medical interventions, behavioral therapies, or genetic research, has caused immeasurable harm to neurodivergent individuals while failing to recognize the profound value that neurodivergence brings to society.
The idea that neurodivergent people need to be “cured” stems from a fundamental misunderstanding of what neurodivergence actually is. It assumes that the challenges neurodivergent individuals face stem from their neurology rather than from an ableist society that refuses to accommodate diverse ways of thinking and being. This cure-focused mentality not only dehumanizes neurodivergent individuals but also fuels harmful treatments, stigmatization, and policies that seek to eliminate rather than support neurodivergent people.
The Roots of the Cure Mentality
The medical model of disability has long shaped how society views neurodivergence, framing conditions like autism and ADHD as disorders that need to be treated, controlled, or eradicated. Historically, neurodivergent people have been subjected to cruel and inhumane treatments in the name of "curing" their differences. From institutionalization to forced sterilization, electroshock therapy, and abusive behavioral interventions, the push to make neurodivergent individuals conform to neurotypical standards has been deeply rooted in oppression and eugenics.
Even today, many so-called treatments for neurodivergence focus on suppressing natural behaviors rather than providing meaningful support. Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), one of the most widely used autism therapies, is heavily criticized for teaching autistic individuals to mask their traits rather than fostering genuine self-acceptance. The idea that neurodivergent traits should be eliminated rather than accommodated ignores the fundamental reality that neurodivergence is a valid and natural form of human diversity.
The Harm of Pathologizing Neurodivergence
When neurodivergence is framed as something that must be cured, it sends a clear message to neurodivergent individuals: who they are is inherently wrong. This creates a culture of shame, self-doubt, and internalized ableism that leads to severe mental health consequences. Many neurodivergent individuals grow up believing that they must suppress their natural ways of thinking, communicating, and experiencing the world in order to be accepted, which leads to masking, burnout, and heightened rates of anxiety, depression, and suicide.
The push for a cure also fuels the rise of dangerous pseudoscientific treatments. Parents, desperate to "fix" their autistic children, have turned to harmful and unethical interventions, including bleach-based "cures," restrictive diets, and experimental drugs. These so-called treatments not only fail to “cure” neurodivergence but actively harm those subjected to them, reinforcing the idea that neurodivergent individuals exist only to be modified to fit neurotypical expectations.
Neurodivergence is Not a Disease
At its core, neurodivergence is not a disease or a malfunction—it is a different way of processing and interacting with the world. Autism, ADHD, and other forms of neurodivergence are not medical conditions that need to be eradicated but are instead variations in cognition that have existed throughout human history. Many of the world’s greatest thinkers, creators, and innovators were neurodivergent, and their unique perspectives have contributed immeasurably to science, art, literature, and social progress.
Rather than searching for a cure, society should be focusing on creating accessible environments that allow neurodivergent people to thrive. This means challenging ableist systems, advocating for accommodations in schools and workplaces, and promoting a neurodiversity-affirming model that recognizes the strengths, needs, and dignity of neurodivergent individuals.
A Cure Mentality Ignores the Real Barriers
One of the biggest misconceptions about neurodivergence is that the difficulties neurodivergent people face are inherent to their condition rather than the result of systemic exclusion and inaccessibility. Many of the struggles autistic and ADHD individuals experience—difficulty in school, challenges in the workplace, social misunderstandings—are not the result of being neurodivergent but of living in a society that refuses to make space for neurodivergent needs.
For example, autistic individuals often struggle in workplaces not because they are inherently incapable of working but because workplaces are designed for neurotypical communication styles, sensory environments, and social norms. ADHD individuals struggle with deadlines and time management not because they lack ability but because society prioritizes rigid scheduling over alternative productivity models. Instead of trying to force neurodivergent individuals to conform, society should be working to remove these barriers and create inclusive environments where everyone can thrive.
The Future of Neurodiversity Advocacy: Acceptance, Not Eradication
The neurodiversity movement is built on the idea that neurological differences should be respected and accommodated rather than eliminated. True advocacy does not seek to cure neurodivergence but to change the world to be more accessible, inclusive, and affirming of all neurotypes.
A world that embraces neurodivergence would:
Prioritize support over suppression: Instead of trying to eliminate autistic traits, workplaces, schools, and healthcare systems should focus on providing the tools and accommodations that allow neurodivergent individuals to succeed on their own terms.
Shift funding away from cure-based research: Instead of investing millions into finding ways to “prevent” autism or ADHD, research should focus on improving quality of life, increasing accessibility, and addressing the mental health needs of neurodivergent individuals.
Center neurodivergent voices in policy and advocacy: The people who should be leading conversations about autism and ADHD are the people who live those experiences—not researchers, not parents, and certainly not organizations that have historically dehumanized neurodivergent individuals in the pursuit of a cure.
Challenge stigma and misinformation: Society must move away from the idea that being neurodivergent is inherently negative and recognize that different ways of thinking, communicating, and experiencing the world are valid and valuable.
Neurodivergent People Do Not Need to Be Cured
The push to “cure” neurodivergence is based on fear, misinformation, and a deep-rooted inability to accept human diversity. Neurodivergent people are not defective versions of neurotypicals; they are individuals with unique strengths, perspectives, and ways of existing in the world. The challenges they face are not the result of their neurology but of a society that refuses to accommodate them.
Rather than seeking to eliminate neurodivergence, society must focus on acceptance, accessibility, and respect. The future of advocacy must be about empowering neurodivergent individuals, not erasing them. The goal should never be to make neurodivergent people more palatable to neurotypical society—it should be to create a world where neurodivergent individuals can exist as they are, without shame, without suppression, and without the threat of being “cured.”