Hear from our student community this Neurodiversity Celebration Week (13-19 March) – a time to celebrate differences and shine a spotlight on the many strengths of being Neurodivergent. From study tips and advice for university life, to understanding neurodiversity and the barriers to inclusion, here’s what you told us.
Understanding neurodiversity – We asked students what they understood by neurodiversity, and what they wished others understood about it:
| “Individuals with neurological differences may face unique challenges, but they also possess unique strengths and perspectives that can contribute to society in meaningful ways.” |
| “I wish people could understand that my communication difficulties do not make me a standoffish or boring person.” |
| “Thank you for your kindness, but sometimes kindness can be a burden, and moderation is important.” |
Tips for success – We asked students to give advice for university life to their younger selves:
| “Set clear goals: It’s important to have a clear understanding of what you want to achieve from the course.” |
| “Create a schedule: Develop a schedule that works for you, taking into consideration your personal and work commitments.” |
| “Take care of yourself: Remember to take breaks, exercise, and get enough sleep. Taking care of your physical and mental health is essential for success in your course.” |
| “Neurodiversity can be a superpower. Hyperfocus helps me write assignments very quickly, and if your special interest interlines with your degree subject, you will definitely enjoy university more!” |
Inclusion and support – We asked what the biggest barriers to inclusion are, and how these might be removed:
| “People do not understand the unique needs and perspectives of Neurodivergent individuals, which can lead to exclusion and discrimination.” |
| “[We need] neurodiversity-affirmative education at earlier ages, to build a neurodiversity friendly culture.” |
| “Listen and learn: It’s important to listen to the experiences of Neurodivergent individuals and to learn about their unique needs and perspectives.” |
Poster competition winner
We are also delighted to announce the winner of the Neurodiversity Celebration Week poster competition as student Cherry Zhao (Design Management MA). View the winning poster and the reason behind it on SharePoint.
Ways to get involved:
Neurodiversity Inclusion Webinar, Tuesday 14 March, 12:00–13:00
An online webinar is taking place today to explore neurological differences, the strengths and challenges of each, and practical ways to be more neurodiversity inclusive. Register for the webinar via Teams.
Books available from Hartley Library and local libraries
To celebrate and understand Neurodiversity, the library has put together a list of fiction books featuring neurodiverse characters or written by neurodiverse authors:
- ‘The curious incident of the dog in the night-time’ by Mark Haddon
- ‘Fall down 7 times get up 8’ by Naoki Higashida
- ‘That’s the way I think’ by David Grant
- ‘NeuroTribes’ by Steve Silberman
- ‘Thinking in pictures: and other reports from my life with autism’ by Temple Grandin
- ‘Anxiety’ by S J Rachman