The Library > Profiles and traits

Neurodivergence is not one thing. It is a landscape of profiles, traits, and lived experiences that overlap in messy, human ways.

This section helps you understand the major neurodivergent profiles (such as autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and dyspraxia) and the cross-cutting traits that often sit underneath day-to-day challenges (for example executive functioning, sensory processing, and alexithymia).

These profiles are not intended as fixed descriptions of individuals. They reflect patterns that emerge in interaction with environments—particularly where expectations, communication, and structure are unclear or inconsistent. The intent is practical understanding, not diagnosis. You do not need to become a clinician to build a kinder life or a better system. You do need language that is accurate enough to reduce guessing.

How to use this section

If you are exploring neurodivergence personally, you may find it helpful to start with the profile that resonates most strongly, then read the cross-cutting traits. Many people discover that the trait pages explain more than any single label.

If you are supporting others, start with the trait pages first. They tend to translate more cleanly into practical adjustments and better design.

Core profiles

These pages explain what each profile can look like in everyday life, common strengths, common friction points, and what tends to help.

Cross-cutting traits

These pages focus on underlying mechanisms that often explain lived experience across multiple profiles.

Executive functioning (initiation, working memory, prioritisation, switching)
Sensory processing differences (overload, under-responsiveness, sensory seeking)
Attention regulation and focus (including monotropism as a useful lens)
Alexithymia (emotion identification and labelling)
Social communication and processing (difference, not deficit)
Processing speed and cognitive load
Sleep and recovery patterns
Aphantasia and mental imagery differences (where relevant)
Interoception (reading internal body signals)

Overlap and co-occurrence

Many neurodivergent people have more than one profile, or a blend of traits that does not fit neatly into one category. That is normal. We've explored that here. This addresses common intersections that affect support needs, such as:

autism + ADHD (often called AuDHD)
neurodivergence and trauma
neurodivergence and anxiety/depression
neurodivergence and hormonal transitions (for example perimenopause)

Understanding these patterns is only the first step. The more important question is how systems can be designed to reduce misinterpretation and improve alignment in practice.

Where to go next

If you want practical support ideas, move to Practical guides. If you want ready-to-use resources, go to Tools and templates. If you want clean definitions and language guidance, go to Glossary.