One of the reasons this paper stood out to me was not only because of its arguments, but because of the visual frameworks and key quotations used throughout. I have selected the extracts below as they represent the ideas that I found most influential and would like to revisit during future research.

Figure 1 – The Concept of Neurodiversity

Description

This figure provides an overview of neurodiversity, illustrating the range of neurodivergent conditions that fall within the neurodiversity paradigm. The figure reinforces the idea that neurodiversity represents natural human variation rather than deficits.

Table 1 – Medical Model vs Social Model of Neurodiversity

Description

This table compares two contrasting ways of understanding neurodiversity. The Medical Model frames neurodivergence as an individual condition requiring treatment, whereas the Social Model argues that disability arises largely from barriers created by society.

Figure 2 – Autism as a Heterogeneous Condition

Description

This figure demonstrates the complexity and diversity of autism by illustrating the wide range of characteristics and co-occurring conditions that may be experienced by autistic individuals.

Table 2 – Proposed Future Research Agenda

Description

This table presents the authors' proposed research agenda for tourism and neurodiversity. Rather than offering solutions, it identifies key gaps within the current literature and suggests areas requiring further investigation.

Quote Bank

Tourism and Neurodiversity: A Problematisation and Research Agenda (Jepson et al., 2023)

Stars were added for ranking for later use. The more stars, the more useful the quote. ⭐⭐⭐

"The term ‘neurodivergent’ is a neologism that refers to people who have neurological development conditions."

Section: Introduction – Defining neurodiversity

"The aims of this paper are, therefore, first to review the concept of neurodiversity through the lens of the social model of disability."

Section: Introduction

"The tourism industry with respect to recognizing and meeting the needs and wants of neurodivergent people can also be seen to be in conflict with the UN Sustainable Development Goals by not offering inclusive products and services to reduce inequality (SDG 10)."

Section: Introduction

"The tourism industry organizations are potentially losing market share by not offering inclusive and equitable products and services."

Section: Introduction

"One publication contained specific discussion of neurodiversity and tourism."

Section: Literature Review / Existing Research

"The use of the term ‘neurodiversity’ is relatively new among scholars."

Section: Defining Neurodiversity

"Autistic people should not be stereotyped as disabled or ‘abnormal’, but be considered diverse and different, and treated with the same respect as everyone else."

Section: History of Neurodiversity

"Around one in 10 people is neurodivergent."

Section: Defining Neurodiversity

"The social model problematizes neurodiversity not as an individual medical condition but as a phenomenon that is socially constructed."

Section: Medical Model vs Social Model

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"The medical model treats people who have neurodivergent conditions as patients or ‘sufferers’ of an impairment that can only be overcome through individual medical intervention."

Section: Medical Model

"The social model views neurodiversity as a cluster of conditions and argues that the severity of conditions is an unrealistic way to classify neurological differences."

Section: Social Model

"It also requires action with regard to the broader political and human rights agenda."

Section: Social Model

"Personal impairments are not the problem, but society is."

Section: Social Model Discussion

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"When something is everybody's job, it becomes nobody's job."

Section: Responsibility

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"Human rights are intended to encourage the core principles of equality, non-discrimination, participation and inclusion."

Section: Human Rights

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"Governments, policymakers and third-sector organizations are responsible for making tourism governance ‘fit for purpose’."

Section: Responsibility

"The tourism industry is currently not offering inclusive products and services to reduce inequality for neurodivergent consumers."

Section: Tourism Industry

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"Future research into relevant policy for specific sectors, including for the tourism industry, is needed."

Section: Policy & Future Research

"The most important consideration for families with an autistic child when planning a holiday is finding a peaceful, quiet, and uncrowded location."

Section: Autism & Tourism

"There is substantial heterogeneity in the experiences of those with this condition."

Section: Autism & Tourism

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"Travellers often have tight luggage limits, making it impossible for them to bring a range of bulky and easily damaged equipment."

Section: Practical Tourism Barriers

"Virtual reality could be used to create online resources for neurodivergent travellers to be able to ‘look around’ the vehicle they are to be travelling in or the hotel room in which they are to be staying."

Section: Future Design Opportunities

"Researchers should examine the wider neurodiversity discourse before positioning themselves and their study."

Section: Future Research Agenda

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"This should include questions around the language they use, their ethics of care, as well as inclusion and equity of participation."

Section: Future Research Agenda

"Our current understanding of neurodiversity and tourism fails to identify what changes are required and who should have responsibility for effecting them."

Section: Conclusion

⭐⭐⭐

"A framework for action was thus developed through this paper that identifies three tiers of responsibility: governments, the tourism system, and neurodiverse families."

Section: Conclusion

"Deep social and ethical concerns have been raised throughout this paper in relation to neurodivergent consumers and their rights to fair and equitable treatment while on holiday."

Section: Conclusion

⭐⭐

"Table 2 therefore proposes some theoretical and practical questions researchers will need to integrate into their studies."

Section: Conclusion