Neurotypical

A term used to describe individuals whose neurological development and cognitive functioning fall within the range considered typical by prevailing societal standards — that is, people who do not have autism, intellectual disabilities, learning disabilities, or other neurodevelopmental conditions. The term originated in the autism community as a way to describe non-autistic people without framing neurological differences as deficits. In accessibility research, the distinction between neurotypical and neurodivergent participants is important for understanding how cognitive and developmental differences affect technology use, interaction preferences, and design needs.