The neurodiversity concept was developed collectively: An overdue correction on the origins of neurodiversity theory.

Monique et al. (2024) wrote a short letter to the editor. They traced old forum posts, blogs, and early zines from the 1990s.

The authors show that neurodiversity ideas came from many autistic voices, not one lone writer.

The paper finds no single founder. Instead, a crowd of self-advocates built the idea together online.

The story corrects past articles that named one person as the creator.

Bölte et al. (2019) and Pellicano et al. (2011) asked clinicians to adopt a neurodiversity view. Monique et al. give the history that backs up that call.

Graber et al. (2023) and Mathur et al. (2026) urge ABA to heed neurodiversity critiques. The new origin story shows those critiques grew from lived experience, not ivory-tower theory.

Jackson et al. (2025) and Lee et al. (2025) already use neurodiversity frames in clinics and jobs. Monique et al. supply the historical proof that the frame is community-owned, not a top-down label.

When you cite neurodiversity, credit the collective, not one hero. Share the back-story with team members and families. It shows why autistic voices must stay at the table when you set goals, pick targets, or design supports.