NeurodiVERSE anthology by poets who think differently
An anthology of poetry by more than 50 neurodivergent writers from the UK and across the world is being published by Manchester’s Flapjack Press. ‘Neurodivergence’ is defined as a variance in mental or neurological function from what is considered ‘typical’ or ‘normal’. The book is being published to coincide with Autism Awareness Month in April.
It is curated by Janine Booth, Kate Fox, Rob Steventon, and Flapjack editor Paul Neads. The anthology includes eight sections with introductory notes about definitions, issues and societal perceptions: Growing Up, Home & Family, Work, Fitting In, My Brain, Communication, Senses, and Social Interaction.
Other poets featured in the anthology include Laura Taylor, Barry Fentiman Hall, Sarah L Dixon, Thick Richard, Henry Normal, Robert Garnham, Andy, Steven Waling, Jill Abram, Alain English, John G Hall, and Finola Scott.
In their introduction the editors say: “While we might call people with the most common form of brain ‘neurotypical’, those with a minority neurotype are ‘neurodivergent’. This includes autistic, dyspraxic, dyscalculic and dyslexic people, and people with ‘conditions’ such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and Tourette syndrome – but there is no definitive list of conditions that count as ‘neurodivergent’!”
They add: “Sadly, our society persists in seeing neurodivergent people as faulty, as people to be written about and pitied rather than as people who write and speak for themselves. Society disables us even if our brains do not.”
