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Archive for the ‘Neurodiversity’ Category

The Neurodiverse Connections of the Harry Potter World

J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter books and the film saga have received widespread acclaim from millions of fans around the world, as the magical world of Hogwarts not only captured the imagination of a generation of young readers but has also inspired many activists who found parallels between the...

Painful Conversations: Unconscious Neurodiversity Bias in Higher Education

NOTE: This article is an adaptation of a lecture given at Northeastern University on August 9, 2024. For the full, hour-long video of the presentation, please click here. A shorter version was co-hosted by Vanderbilt University and UCONN on December 13. When I was researching my last book (The...

A Key Brain Difference Linked to Autism Is Found for the First Time in Living People

For decades, researchers have relied on animal models and post-mortem subjects to help unlock the key to certain social and communication differences that are hallmarks of autism. Now, a new study has uncovered a molecular difference in the brains of autistic people that is linked to the central...

Voices from China: Psychology Students Reflect on Autism Awareness and Advocacy

Wenzhou-Kean University is one of three Sino-US universities, with Kean University being the only public university that has a campus in China (Stern, 2024). The mission of this alliance is to foster cooperation and encourage people, especially youth, to get to know each other better (Zhang, 2024)....

Yes, We Can Socialize

Throughout my life as an autistic person, I have been fortunate to have experienced great moments where I have been able to socialize with others and gain long-lasting friendships. There were also times when, due to my misunderstanding of certain social situations and the anxiety that comes with...

Enhancing Communication Skills in the Workplace: Strategies for Autistic Employees and Employers

Communication in the workplace is a vital key to increasing employee engagement and allowing new perspectives and voices to be heard. Once a work environment exists where all members of staff feel comfortable communicating, you are likely to see greater innovation, growth, and more effective teams...

The Problem with Calling Neurominorities “Neurodiverse”

Calling individuals neurodiverse spreads neurodiversity lite. Neurodiversity lite is the pathology paradigm in disguise. The pathology paradigm marginalizes/medicalizes neurominorities. Using the word “neurodiverse” to refer to individual people spreads neurodiversity lite...

What Neurodiversity Means to This Late-Identified Autistic Adult

I lived the first 40 years of my life as an autistic individual who didn’t know it yet. In a sense, lost because I lacked a complete picture of who I was. Confused because I faced too many questions as to why I was contending with challenges that were foreign to just about all of my peers, which...

Expanding Horizons: Tips for Life-Changing Inclusive International Travel

“Travel makes one modest. You see what a tiny place you occupy in the world.” - Gustave Flaubert Anyone who has traveled abroad knows the feelings of wonder and excitement that come with exploring new places. Experiencing other cultures, customs, landscapes, food, art, and architecture...

Three Artists with Autism. Three Voices with Purpose: Laura Nadine, Blair Bunting, and Stuart Neilson

Artists invite their audiences into conversation. A piece of music, a photograph, a painting—each is a personal statement created to connect emotionally or intellectually with listeners and viewers. These expressions and the methods used to create them are shaped by lived experiences, some...