Neurodiversity Advocacy in Turkey and the Paradigm Shift
The structural transformation of neurodiversity advocacy and the civil society map in Turkey in the transition from a medical to a rights-based model.
Neurodiversity Advocacy in Turkey and the Paradigm Shift
The concept of neurodiversity argues that differences in the biological and neurological functioning of the human brain should be seen as a natural and enriching reflection of human diversity, rather than a clinical deficit or pathology. Neurodiversity advocacy in Turkey is experiencing a significant structural transformation, moving away from the long-dominant medical model towards a rights-based (human rights) model.
Transition from the Medical Model to the Neurodiversity Paradigm
In the traditional medical model, individuals with neurological differences (autism, ADHD, dyslexia, stuttering, etc.) were positioned as passive objects that needed to be "treated," "fixed," or "rehabilitated." This situation fueled the ideology of ableism, which shapes the social structure and institutions. Ableism idealizes conformity to certain standards of neurological and physical functioning (neurotypical normalcy) and subjects those outside these standards to discrimination.
The neurodiversity paradigm, on the other hand, places its basic assumption on a completely different point:
Medical Model: The individual is an object of tutelage and rehabilitation. Decisions are made by experts, and the goal of intervention is to transform the individual into "neurotypical" norms.
Neurodiversity (Rights-Based) Model: The individual is a subject of rights with the autonomy to determine their own destiny. The goal of intervention is not to fix the person, but to remove social barriers in the environment, ensure accessibility, and make reasonable accommodations.
This interdisciplinary shift is also strengthened by the concept of cognitive liberty. Cognitive liberty, which defends the individual's right to absolute autonomy over their own mental processes, is a new protective shield for rights advocacy.
Civil Society Map and Advocacy Network in Turkey
Civil society organization in Turkey is historically transforming from charity and parent-centered association models to self-advocacy-oriented structures. Various institutions and networks have strategic positions in this transformation:
1. Foundations Working for the Public Good: They have been a pressure group in expanding early diagnosis and special education opportunities for many years. The transformation of awareness campaigns from simply raising awareness to emphasizing rights-based acceptance is a concrete indicator of the change in mentality.
2. Academic and Professional Expert Associations: They support education professionals with evidence-based research, medicine, and multidisciplinary approaches.
3. Umbrella Civil Society Networks: They participate in policy-making, National Action Plan design, and legislative/regulatory advocacy before ministries.
4. Rights-Based Associations: They conduct active legal and social advocacy to protect the educational rights of neurodivergent individuals and their families. They fight for the monitoring of legal adaptations in schools and exam measures.
5. Self-Help and Self-Advocacy Organizations: They constitute the most transformative leg of the neurodiversity movement. They apply the philosophy of "Nothing about us without us", seen in global examples like the Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN) or PAS-Nederland. By coming together against social stigmatization, they advocate for the right of individuals to have differences, rather than being forced to conform to norms.
Future Projection
Neurodiversity advocacy is not just a process of "raising awareness." The ultimate goal is to create governance processes where neurodivergent individuals have direct voting rights, to negotiate with decision-makers, and to guarantee sustainable reasonable accommodations that can be implemented in both legal (public policies) and social spheres.