There are three compelling reasons for American society to better educate the neurodiverse so that they have the opportunity to reach their full learning potential and lead dignified, meaningful, and productive lives. 

First, we have a need for diverse points of view to solve difficult, even intractable problems. These vexing issues might be social or economic, such as entrenched racism or endemic poverty. Or, it might be a complex environmental quandary that defies a quick fix like climate change. Then there a range of diseases and medical challenges that defy simple resolutions. Sometimes we see progress in one area create new challenges in another. For example, Americans now live longer than previous generations, but living into ones 80s, 90s or even past 100 gives rise to new quality of life issues. Problems such as these are extraordinarily complex in their origin. Their solutions will likely be intricate and nuanced in their implementation. In the social and political realms, simple slogans offering facile solutions will not likely be sufficient. If the fixes were easy, we’d have them by now! 

Differing perspectives on an issue are a good thing and often lead to breakthroughs that would otherwise elude us. Simply put, we need people who think differently to reveal our own “neurotypical” blind spots and biases. Someone who thinks differently and, therefore, approaches complex problems in a unique way may just find a cure for some disease or invent a medical device that could save your life or mine! We cannot afford to leave intellectual capital on the table and unused. To borrow a term from economics, we could call this “lost opportunity cost.” I would argue that there is a serious and harmful cost to society for not providing the opportunity for the neurodiverse to address these issues. Imagine the possibility of dying from a disease that someone, perhaps on the autism spectrum, could have found a cure. Imagine what marvelous safety devices might go “uninvented.” Imagine the works of art that might never be created. 



Speaking of economics, there is another compelling economic case to make for robust spending for the neurodiverse as a future investment. If the neurodiverse do not receive the education and opportunities necessary for independent, meaningful lives working in the careers to which they aspire, then these citizens will end up living on public assistance. No only will our society lose the rich contributions they would otherwise make - scientific, social, artistic, etc. - we will also lose their direct economic contribution. If our neurodiverse citizens are unable to engage in successful careers that allow them to become taxpayers, save for retirement, and become economic producers and consumers, then neurotypical taxpayers will instead be responsible for addressing the resulting poverty. Over a lifetime, that financial burden is significant! 

Third, it’s simply the right thing to do. The neurodiverse are our fellow citizens - our neighbors. Loving your neighbor as yourself is partly foundational to the Jewish Torah. Doing unto others as we would have them do unto us is the Golden Rule of Christianity. Muslims know that the Quran speaks directly to the importance of charity and helping others. Most of the world’s major religious traditions and secular ethical systems espouse caring for and empowering others who are in need or disadvantaged. 

Finally, I would ask the neurotypical reader, consider the following mental exercise: Imagine a world in which the overwhelming majority of people were on the autism spectrum and you were in the minority. Imagine society - especially education and employment opportunities - organized solely around what the majority preferred and found comfortable. Imagine being labeled as “different” merely because of the way your brain functioned. Imagine being denied opportunities based on the fact that you process information and think differently!