Deficit Narrative

A framing approach that characterizes disability or neurodivergence primarily in terms of what individuals lack, cannot do, or do poorly compared to a non-disabled norm. Deficit narratives are embedded in many clinical assessment tools through language that pathologizes natural variation—for example, describing ADHD emotional responses as failures of control rather than differences in emotional processing. In accessibility and disability studies, deficit narratives are critiqued for perpetuating stigma, undermining self-perception, and leading to interventions focused on "fixing" individuals rather than removing environmental barriers or supporting diverse ways of functioning.