Judy Singer

As the daughter of a Jewish mother who survived World War II, Judy Singer grew up in Australia. For many years, she worked as a computer consultant and later became a single mother. She noticed traits in her daughter that resembled the social difficulties of her mother. Later, Singer's daughter was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome.[2][3] Singer has also described herself as "likely somewhere on the autistic spectrum."[4]

Before the diagnosis, Judy began studying sociology at the University of Technology Sydney and delved into British and American disability studies.[5][6] While following the virtual activism of autistic and other neurologically different people in the mid-1990s, particularly on the Independent Living Mailing List (ILMV) forum, she met journalist Harvey Blume.[7] Singer coined the term neurodiversity to represent both the idea of neurological diversity and to think about the existence of a social movement of neurological minorities that would also include the autism rights movement.[8][9][10]

In Australia, Singer also created ASpar, a group to support families of autistic people. In 2016, she published the book Neurodiversity: The Birth of an Idea.[11][12]

• Neurodiversity: The birth of an Idea (2016)