Neurotypical vs Neurodivergent: What Do These Terms Mean?
Neurotypical means someone who typically thinks and processes information in ways that are considered typical or normal for the culture. Neurotypical’s possess what’s known as the “majority brain” and tend to reach developmental milestones at around the same time as their peers.
Neurodivergent means someone whose brain works slightly differently to the majority of people. The differences can be very obvious or very subtle. Neurodivergent’s often have spiky skills profiles – with individual strengths and struggles like peaks and troughs on a chart – in comparison to the flatter skills profile that most others have. They possess what’s known as the “minority brain”.
The most common types of neurodivergent conditions are:
- Autism
- ADHD
- Dyscalculia
- Dyslexia
- Dyspraxia
A Quick Note About This Story
The following story explores neurotypical vs neurodivergent differences, focusing on autism. Please don’t take it too seriously! It’s written as a bit of fun and is of course highly generalized to illustrate the point. It’s important to remember that we’re all individuals and that no two people – neurotypicals or neurodivergents – are the same. With that said, I hope you enjoy it!
A Day in the Life of Oliver and James
Oliver and James are the best kind of neighbors—friendly, close, and, as you’d expect, very different.
Over the years, they’ve spotted more than a few ways in which their lives, habits, and minds don’t exactly sync up—some big differences, some small.
Oliver is neurotypical, which basically means he operates like most people you know. Nothing too complex, just the usual thoughts, feelings, and interactions that everyone can relate to.
James, however, is autistic, so he sees and processes the world through a different lens. It’s not a bad thing—it’s just, well… a little more interesting.
Monday Morning at 52 and 54 Mill Lane, Hawksworth-on-the-Hill, England
7:00 AM – Waking Up
Oliver’s alarm goes off, and bam—he’s awake. He’s one of those annoying people who springs out of bed with no hesitation. A stretch, a “Good morning, honey! Looks like a beautiful day out there!” and off he goes to the shower.
James, on the other hand, is no fan of the abrupt beep beep beep of an alarm. It’s too much, too soon. He prefers a gentle wake-up with soft music instead. None of that jarring, heart-stopping noise. Slowly, he rises, gives his wife a kiss, and heads towards the shower with the grace of a man who’s already bracing himself for the day ahead.
7:15 AM – Showering
Oliver is pretty straightforward about his morning shower. He’s in and out, getting the water temperature just right with a few adjustments, then grabbing whatever shower gel is closest. It’s a casual affair. As he lathers up, he belts out “I Will Survive”—loudly—completely ignoring the fact that his wife, still half-asleep, is using the pillow as an escape route.
James, however, has a very specific routine. The temperature must be just so. Not too hot, not too cold—anything in between is not acceptable. He uses the same brand of shower gel every day, because any other brand might irritate his skin. And when it comes to washing, it’s an exact sequence—right arm, left arm, body, left leg, right leg, head—no exceptions. Think of it like a showering ballet, only with more soap and a lot less grace.
7:30 AM – Breakfast
After his shower, Oliver throws on his dressing gown and saunters downstairs to the kitchen. No time to be picky—he’s in a rush, so it’s whatever’s easiest. None of the cereals catch his eye, so he settles for toast. He’s happy to multitask: browsing the news on his phone, munching away, and wondering, for the 20th time this week, how the USA ended up with these two as politicians.
James, meanwhile, opens his cupboard to find the same three boxes of cereal, lined up with military precision. He picks the opened box, pours it into his bowl, and sits down to eat. It’s the same brand he’s eaten for three years in a row —no deviations. He’s tried others, sure, but the texture and flavors can be overwhelming, so he sticks to what he knows. Variety, as it turns out, is not the spice of life for him.
8:00 AM – Brushing Teeth
Oliver heads upstairs to brush his teeth, lazily squeezing some toothpaste onto his brush. He’s not really thinking about the process—his mind is already on the weekend ahead and all the things he’s got planned. He brushes, spits, and daydreams about that sweet, sweet freedom.
James, on the other hand, takes a more deliberate approach. He’s got what’s called a Collis Curve toothbrush. It’s specially designed with bristles that curve over the head to meet in the middle, which means he needs fewer strokes to clean his teeth, reducing sensory discomfort. It’s a toothbrush with purpose, a true unsung hero of his daily routine.
8:30 AM – Leaving the House
Oliver throws on his suit, effortlessly straightening his tie in the mirror. He admires himself for a moment—looking good —and gives his wife a quick kiss goodbye, like the charmer he is. Grabbing the car keys from the bowl by the front door he strolls out, shutting the door quietly behind him.
James opens his cupboard to find a neatly organized lineup of five identical white shirts—because variety is overrated, right? He’s got a system. Today’s shirt is… well, always white, but it’s the tie that gets the twist. He rotates between the same five ties, but the Monday tie is non-negotiable—blue. After all, he can’t let his colleagues think he’s too predictable. He gives his wife a quick kiss, heads out the door, and immediately feels the familiar sense of anxiety about the chaos that is the day ahead. But hey, at least he has his blue tie.
9:00 AM – Commuting
Oliver’s car practically drives itself as he enters autopilot mode on the freeway, heading toward the office. His mind is already somewhere else—specifically in the world of homebrewing. He’s recently caught the brewing bug and has big plans for transforming the garden shed into a mini brewery. Of course, he hasn’t told his wife about this grand vision yet. He’s still mentally preparing for the inevitable “you’re doing what with the shed?” conversation. For now, he drowns out the anxiety with a podcast about hops, barley, and yeast.
James, a few cars behind, is going in the same direction but with a completely different approach. While Oliver is immersing himself in podcasts, James prefers complete silence. It’s one of the rare moments in his day where he can just be, no background noise, no distractions. He appreciates the peace, even if it’s just for a few minutes. In his world, the only thing louder than the freeway noise is his own thoughts—and today, he’s having some serious internal debates about whether to buy a new notebook or just stick with the one he’s been using for the past three months. Decisions, decisions.
10:00 AM – Busy at Work
Oliver strolls into the office and greets everyone with a casual hello. He sees his friend Tim and they start up a conversation about the football game over the weekend—because, of course, that’s the most important thing to discuss before anything else. As they chat, they agree to meet up for a beer tomorrow after work. Because why not turn a perfectly good Tuesday into a pub night? Oliver then heads to his desk and checks his schedule for the day. A meeting, a session with the boss, another meeting… nothing he can’t handle. He doesn’t sweat the details. After all, he’s a master of winging it.
James walks into the office and says hello to some of his colleagues but he doesn’t look them in the eye and isn’t smiling back at them. His colleagues know him well enough to know that he’s not being rude and that it’s nothing personal. He heads over to his desk. It doesn’t occur to him to chat with his colleagues first, just the thought of it is enough to get his anxiety racing. So instead, he logs onto his computer and checks his work schedule. James also has a meeting followed by a session with his boss. He struggles to focus on more than one thing at a time so for now he focuses completely on the meeting, writing down a few pre-prepared ideas about things he wants to say.
12:30 PM – Lunch Break
At lunchtime, Oliver heads over to the cafeteria. He doesn’t worry about what he wants to eat as he’ll work it out when he gets there. Today, he’s thinking about something light, maybe a sandwich, but he’s open to whatever is on the menu. After grabbing a few items and balancing them on his tray, he walks over to the table where his favorite colleagues are sitting. The table is loud as the group share jokes and gossip about the new boss who started last week.
James, ever the forward planner, brings a packed lunch from home. His meal is neatly arranged in a vacuum-sealed Tupperware, each item placed in its spot where it belongs. He heads to the canteen and makes a beeline for a quiet corner table, avoiding eye contact with anyone to prevent having to do small talk. As he takes a bite of his sandwich, James is in his own world, and he catches up on the news on his phone.
2:30 PM – Processing Information
Oliver is fully immersed in the afternoon grind. With two screens on his desk, he’s juggling tasks like a seasoned professional, tidying up a financial report on one screen while responding to emails on the other. His phone rings, and it’s his boss, asking for a client report by the end of the day. No problem. Oliver thrives on this kind of fast-paced environment. The chaos energizes him, and he’s perfectly content bouncing between tasks.
James only has one screen on his desk, anymore would be a distraction. He’s fully absorbed in creating a PowerPoint presentation for tomorrow, his concentration face in full effect. It’s a look that could be mistaken for mild anger, but really, it’s just the intense focus he needs. All of a sudden, the phone rings. It’s his boss asking about a report that’s due in the morning. This pulls James out of his work with a jolt, and while he answers the query, he finds it hard to reset and get back into the groove. Determined to finish the PowerPoint, he places his noise-canceling headphones on, takes the phone off the hook, and shuts the door to distraction, because even the smallest interruption could derail him.
6:00 PM – Post Work Routine
After work, Oliver drives to the gym to work out with a couple of work friends. There’s a group of three (including Tim) who meet regularly for a workout on their way home. It’s not just about keeping fit, it’s also a chance to bond and network. Oliver enjoys chatting with people between his sets and is quite happy talking to strangers.
James, on the other hand, prefers a quieter way to relax after work. He puts on his running shoes and heads out for a jog on his own. He prefers working out alone with just his headphones and the rhythm of his footsteps on the road. As he passes a fellow runner, he offers her a polite nod, but that’s about it. He uses this time to recharge before he goes home, free from the stress of social interaction.
9:00 PM – Relaxing Before Bed
As the evening draws to a close, Oliver gets ready for bed with his wife and cat. He’s busy multitasking on the couch, scrolling through Facebook to catch up on everyone’s lives, while at the same time half-watching an action film at full volume. His wife, predictably, tells him to turn it down. They eventually head upstairs together and Oliver puts in his earphones and quietly listens to his secret home brewing podcast as he drifts off to sleep.
James, on the other hand, has a much calmer bedtime routine. He prefers to keep the sensory input to a minimum to avoid any disruption to his sleep. He’s relaxing on the sofa with his favorite novel as his wife watches her TV drama. Eventually, they head off to bed, and James puts in his headphones and listens to the soothing sounds of ocean waves.
