Characters

A sensory individual lives in the world of “real world” sensory data – sight, sound, touch, taste, smell, and body movement. They experience sensory stimuli intensely, both in a positive way (calming or energizing) and a negative way (irritating or overwhelming). Their attention is immediately caught (or distracted) by sensory stimuli, they remember in their preferred sensory channel (often visual, but could be tactile or auditory), and they learn best when information is presented in a sensory “hands on / learn by doing” approach. They prefer to live in the “now” moment – doing something rather than thinking or talking about it. Their mood is most positive – and they are also the most social – when they are engaged in one of their preferred sensory activities. Their emotional moods also reflect a 100% commitment to the “now” moment – their joy will be intense (and appealing to others) but their negative mood will also be intense (a failure at some activity can lead to a feeling or belief that they as a person are a failure and live is not worth living). Their interests typically involve sensory activities – such as art, music, nature, animals, baking, collecting objects, etc Because they focus on the sensory “now” moment, they usually struggle with verbal multi-step directions (and remembering verbal information they were given), abstract concepts, and planning / organization. When the sensory sensitivities significantly interfere with some aspects of functioning (along with other criteria) , they may receive a diagnosis such as sensory processing disorder or autism spectrum disorder. Check out our Sensory Specific Resources

A cognitive individual prefers to use thinking (facts and logic) to understand the world and interact with others. As children, they quickly amass a lot of factual information about their preferred area of interest, and often prefer to speak with adults rather than children. They thrive on mental problem-solving (if it involves an area of interest), and value truth, fairness, and following the rules. When others do not follow the “rules”, they can become anxious / stressed or angry. They are usually uncomfortable in informal social situations where the “rules” and expectations are not clear (or not followed), and would prefer to be in control (organizing the activity and directing others). They may also struggle with perfectionism, since it is only logical that things be done in the correct or best way. As adults, they typically experience career success by becoming an “expert” in some area, which enables them to tell others facts, answer questions, solve problems, and teach others. They are typically seen as very competent by their peers, but may be viewed as struggling with some social skills (reading nonverbal cues, engaging in small talk). Others may describe them as “being honest to a fault” – speaking the truth (or their belief about what is true) without compromise or any “sugar coating”. When these cognitive traits are linked to an impairment in life and/or social functioning (along with other criteria), they might receive a diagnosis of anxiety and/or autism spectrum disorder (asperger’s). Check out our Cognitive specific resources

The emotive individual experiences intense emotional states, which can involve either positive energy (energetic, productive, social, stimulated or agitated) or negative energy (sadness, guilt, depression). They may alternate between positive and negative states, or they may living primarily in periods of intense negative energy. In a positive state (which can also present as irritable), they are usually more active, productive, social and/or risk-taking. Shifts in mood state affect energy level, sleep, and ability to think clearly / make good decisions. They may be very sensitive to the energy level of the social situation – and “feed off” the feelings of the group (either positive or negative). Many emotive individuals enjoy focused social-emotional interactions one-on-one (such as a hairdresser talking to / listening client talk about their feelings) or in a group (such as a team working intensely together on a task that involves people or feelings). When these mood phases significantly impact their life functioning (along with other criteria), they may be diagnosed with a disorder of mood (such as bipolar). Check out our Emotive Specific Rersources

The imaginative person experiences strong sensory perceptions (hearing / seeing / sensing things others do not) and / or beliefs about the world that other people do not generally hold (such as a conspiracy). These individuals may have visions or lucid dreams which they believe provide special (or hidden) messages about the world. They may view themselves as having special abilities / skills (which could involve the mystical / supernatural) which others do not possess, and / or believe that they are being uniquely targeted by others (such as a paranoid or conspiracy sense of being targeted). These sensory perceptions and / or beliefs are experienced very intensely, so that it “feels real”. They tend to hold on to these beliefs even when others present facts or evidence that contradicts it, and even when close friends do not share those beliefs (or share them to that level of intensity). They tend to function normally in most of their life, with the exception of these “pockets” or instances of intense sensory perception (such as a “vision” or “prophetic dream”) and / or beliefs (such as receiving a “prophetic message” or seeing a conspiracy that others do not). They can provide a lot of supportive energy to a group with a strong sense of mission / purpose. However, when they become disconnected from reality (along with other criteria), they may be diagnosed as experiencing sensory hallucinations and / or cognitive delusions. Check out our Imaginative Specific Resources

A parent, spouse, sibling, or friend may recognize both the positive qualities of someone close to them – and also the sensory, cognitive, emotive, or imaginative traits that trigger some struggles in life (and perhaps social alienation from others). This individual recognizes the perspectives of “both worlds” – the default “neurotypical” worldview of most individuals in society, the unique lived experience of their “neurodiverse” loved one, and the “neuro-cultural” clash that happens when these two worlds collide. Their heart feels for their loved one who may be misunderstood by others, and they are committed to being a support and advocate (or ally) for their loved one. They may serve as the “go between” in “explaining” the characteristics of their loved one to others (including friends, teachers, co-workers, physicians), and take on the responsibility of helping their loved one resolve the challenges that come with their unique neurological profile. At some point, they reach the limit of what they are able to accomplish by good intention and accommodation, and would benefit from relevant information and practical strategies from a more experienced or expert resource. This individual also needs support, because they can easily become exhausted and overwhelmed with the “responsibility” of being the sole or primary support and advocate for their loved one. Their own needs can be lost / neglected / overlooked in this task of caring for others. Check out our Ally Specific Resources