Presumed Competence

The principle that all individuals should be assumed capable and intelligent regardless of whether their abilities are displayed in ways that conform to societal norms. Advocated particularly by nonspeaking neurodivergent individuals and those with intellectual disabilities, presumed competence challenges the common practice of equating communication ability with cognitive ability. In technology design, this means building tools that respect users' agency and intelligence rather than assuming incompetence, and designing for diverse forms of expression and interaction rather than only those legible to neurotypical expectations.