Diversum is the Latin word for ‘different’. neurodivergent minds diverge from typically expected development cognitively, emotionally as well as with communication and behaviour. When Nat had the vision of starting a mental health service for neurodivergent people across the lifespan, the word Diversum summed it all up, services for ‘different’ thinking people.
I knew I was ‘different’ from ‘the others’ growing up, I was acutely aware, especially in the playground when their games and topics of conversation seemed so boring.
Growing up I was sporty, arty and highly creative, but was let down by my ability to demonstrate my knowledge in the school environment. I struggled with auditory processing, time management, reading, and written communication. I could quickly divert their attention off my inadequacies by presenting my work extra neat, with patterned borders and colour coding of concepts.
However, as I reached adolescence, it became harder to distract others from the areas I was struggling to keep up with. I was a floater between all the friend groups in my school level and found it difficult to reach those deeper and lasting relationships.
Loneliness became an unwanted guest that never seemed to leave. Loneliness was intolerable at times and had me positioned on the edge of most social interactions and as a permanent ‘fringe dweller’.
As a ‘fringe dweller’ you get to watch from the outside and become accustomed to people underestimating you and your abilities. This was frustrating and hard at times; however, this position was also where I watched and learned to recognise the social and behavioural patterns of others. It is where I would work out how ‘the game of life was played’, and the ‘side quests’ I would need to take to accommodate my differences.
Diversum was born out of many years of dreaming about a place I could offer others who diverge from typical development, support and community, a place where they can experience a sense of belonging and acceptance, just for who they are.
One of the most magnificent quotes that will always stick with me from Wicked the movie, spoken by Elphaba “Some of us are different… and that is okay”.
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