Why are accommodations treated as exceptions rather than defaults?

Many systems are built around a narrow idea of “normal” functioning, where everyone is expected to work, learn, and perform in the same way. Accommodations then get framed as special treatment rather than access tools. This reflects stigma and misunderstanding, not the reality of neurodiversity. Clinicians emphasize that accommodations don’t lower standards. They remove barriers. When systems are inflexible, people who need support are forced to ask repeatedly, which reinforces the idea that they’re exceptions. Shifting toward universal design reduces this tension, but many institutions are still catching up.