As the global community recently observed Neurodiversity Celebration Week, South Africa finds itself at a crossroads of awareness and action.
This annual initiative aims to honour the diverse ways neurodivergent individuals experience the world uniquely due to conditions, such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), as they navigate their everyday lives.
Examples of neurodivergent conditions:
Neurodiversity encompasses a range of conditions, including:
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Dyslexia
Dyspraxia
Dyscalculia
Tourette's Syndrome
Neurodivergent individuals are estimated to represent around 20% of the population. Yet, services tailored to meet their needs remain limited, often leaving them misunderstood and underserved.
To gain deeper insights into this complex issue, "Independent Media Lifestyle" spoke to Wisdom Mkandawire, the CEO and founder of Invisible Diversity, whose personal journey reflects the broader struggles experienced by many neurodivergent individuals in South Africa.
A long road to diagnosis
For Mkandawire, the journey to an autism diagnosis was both challenging and liberating. After years of struggling with what he now understands as executive dysfunction and sensory sensitivities, he was diagnosed with autism in February 2022.
"My anxiety was shooting through the roof and I was hospitalised a couple of times. I started trying to find the root cause of my anxiety, going through hypotheses like asthma or other chronic conditions but none of those explained my challenges."
He added: "I went through an ADHD screening and later an autism diagnosis process. When I received the diagnosis, it was a relief it gave me meaning and understanding," he says.
For many neurodivergent adults, late diagnoses are common. "We grew up in an age where there was little awareness. If you were highly functional, you were seen as odd or lazy. If you weren’t, you were dismissed entirely."
A significant challenge Mkandawire faces is executive dysfunction, a common struggle for neurodivergent individuals. "Executive functioning is like the brain’s CEO it governs planning, organising, and communicating tasks," he explains.
Tasks like responding to emails or planning meetings can feel overwhelming. "As an autistic person, I have sequential processing, which means it takes me longer to process all the different aspects of a situation. By the time I plan something, it might already be too late.
This creates a double whammy of anxiety failing to execute and being upset with myself for it."
This experience is common among anyone with similar struggles who may remain undiagnosed and unsupported. The lack of awareness has led many to mask their difficulties, a process that can exact a severe physical and emotional toll.
The toll of masking
Masking is a coping mechanism where neurodivergent individuals hide their challenges to fit into neurotypical environments. Mkandawire describes how masking manifests in his own life:
"I’m highly sensitive to light and noise. In meetings, I might act like everything is fine but I’ll leave with eye strain that takes days to recover from. Networking events are equally debilitating. I may force myself to have conversations with everyone but by the end of the day, I’m completely drained and unable to function."
Autistic individuals may experience a range of symptoms that manifest in different ways. Some common traits include:
Social communication challenges: Difficulty in understanding social cues, making eye contact, or initiating conversations.
Repetitive behaviours: Engaging in specific routines or repetitive movements, which can provide comfort and predictability.
Sensory sensitivities: Over or under-responsiveness to sensory stimuli such as light, sound and touch.
For those unaware of their neurodivergence, masking can become a way of life, leading to burnout, anxiety and depression.
"When you don’t know why you’re struggling, it’s easy to blame yourself. Awareness is key it allows you to stop masking and start advocating for what you need," Mkandawire shares.
Awareness and allyship
One of the primary goals of Invisible Diversity is to raise awareness about neurodiversity in workplaces and communities. According to Mkandawire, the lack of awareness is a significant barrier to accessing services.
"When I shared my diagnosis with colleagues, I found incredible allyship. For example, during meetings, someone would notice I wanted to contribute but couldn’t interject and they would create space for me to speak. Facilitators also gave me a heads-up before asking me questions, allowing me time to process and respond."
This kind of support is invaluable but it requires education and understanding. He believes workplaces can do more to accommodate neurodivergent individuals, such as providing pre-meeting materials and creating sensory-friendly environments.
Mkandawire also highlights the importance of assistive technology, such as AI tools that provide meeting transcripts and summaries. "These tools help me process information at my own pace and contribute more effectively," he says.
"When we become aware of how we function, we can develop strategies to thrive. But more importantly, we can give ourselves permission to be who we are."
As Mkandawire concluded our conversation, he said: "Awareness isn't just about diagnosing; it's about creating an environment where everyone can succeed, whether they're neurodivergent or not."