The Pictorial is Neurodivergent: A Case for More Fidgets and Fewer Fixes

This pictorial presents a case for designers of interactive systems to focus on supporting self-determined behaviors instead of aiming to “fix” behaviors deemed abnormal or problematic by society. It proposes a decision map to help determine whether it is ethical or appropriate to design a product or system for behavior intervention. Through the lens of neurodiversity, this work considers how designs for behavior intervention often mirror techniques utilized in behavioral therapies aimed at preserving neurotypical social expectations at the expense of individual autonomy. This pictorial also examines devices used for behavior intervention through photographs of existing products and technologies that support self-stimulatory behaviors (stimming). It utilizes a fictional narrative with digital illustrations and AI-generated imagery to explore the impact of an imagined technology designed to modify the behavior of neurodivergent individuals. “Fidgets” are presented as a product exemplar that supports and celebrates self-determined, intuitive behaviors rather than suppressing or modifying behaviors to conform to social norms.