In 1998, Judy Singer, an Australian autistic sociologist, coined the term neurodiversity, similarly to “biodiversity”, to define the diversity of human minds; She thus intended to highlight the variability of thoughts, behaviors, skills and difficulties that human beings experience.

The Pact for Neurodiversity aims to establish with partners a commitment to understanding, supporting and helping to develop autistic people or people with other neurodivergent conditions, that is, those who present different aspects that are considered normal. Neurodivergent people have always existed and many have made important contributions to the Academy and to Humanity, often being described in a caricatural way, or seen as “eccentric”. In this implementation project, we are focused on the academic environment. What we propose, therefore, is that Brazilian Universities consider a step towards their full accessibility, working to fight prejudice and giving such citizens the possibility of having an active participation.

This project is carried out by Abraça – Brazilian Association for Action on the Rights of Autistic People -, with the support of IDA – International Disability Alliance -, as part of the program to implement the “commitments for change” of the Global Disability Summit (GDS).

The GDS is a summit meeting held periodically since 2018 to propose and promote actions in favor an inclusive development for persons with disabilities. Each event is organized by two countries, one from the North and one from the South, in partnership with the International Disability Alliance (IDA), an international organization that represents organizations of persons with disabilities from all around the world. Government bodies, organizations and other stakeholders can, in this meeting, discuss and establish commitments for change. The next GDS will take place in 2025. Between one event and another, a series of initiatives keep society engaged, support and monitor the actions.

Thats the context is which we can find the Project to Implement the Pact for Neurodiversity. This is a commitment to develop support for autistic people, people with intellectual disabilities, psychosocial disabilities, dyslexia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and other neurodivergent conditions.

Despite all the advances regarding the rights of people with disabilities in general, for specific segments we still have a lot to achieve: either because some topics have been historically invisibilized, or because the concept of disability has also evolved and continues to evolve. The general objective is to build respect for neurodiversity, allowing the inclusion and full development and participation of neurodivergent people in the various actions and opportunities offered in the academic environment.

The implementation of the Pact is also aligned with the

A implementação do Pacto também está alinhada a GDS Youth Charter for Change in its actions 3, 8 and 9, and with Sustainable Development Goals 4 and 10.