About
The UCD CHAS Neurodiversity Project is a working group of the CHAS EDI Committee, established in 2020. The UCD Neurodiversity Project aims to emulate a similar project, led by Stanford University, in recognising, supporting, valuing and celebrating Neurodiversity across the UCD community.
In 2021 the university established its own Neurodiversity Working Group and the members of the college group joined this new committee. The college group continues to work with its national and international partners on research and public outreach, including webinars and conferences.
You can read about the work on Neurodiversity at UCD in the most recent edition of UCD Connections by clicking on this link.
Dr Blanaid Gavin, Neurodiversity Project Lead.
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The UCD Neurodiversity Project, along with its national and international partners, cohosts an online monthly Masterclass Series. The Neurodiversity Masterclass Series takes place online on the fourth Thursday of every month. A full schedule including links to watch back previous sessions is listed below. Register for future sessions via Eventbrite click here . You can watch back the most recent session with Dr Tim Beechey on "Autistic Researcher normal communication" here.
Prof Simon Baron Cohen ( Univ Cambridge)
Ronan McGovern - Neurodiversity champion, advocate and innovator : Managing and Succeeding with ADHD
Judy Singer - Sociologist, Researcher, Author on the origins of the term and a socio-economic perspective
Prof Lawrence Fung (Stanford) – Neurodiversity in Higher Education
Damien Milton - Academic and Chair, Participatory Autism Research Collective on ‘Double Empathy why Autistic People are often misunderstood’
Beth Radulski - Autism and Neurodiversity Advocate
Sonya Girdler –Prof Occupational Therapy, Curtin Univ Australia
Mary Doherty – Founder Autistic Doctors International
Ginny Russell – Snr Research Fellow, Exeter
Aidan Healy – Lexxic, Psychologists supporting Neurodiversity
Tara O'Donnell Killen, Thriving Autistic, and Davida Hartman, The Children's Clinic.
Dr Seonaid Anderson on Tics and Tic Disorders
Prof Sara Rankin on Neurodiversity in Higher Education
Dr Magda Mostafa, "Spectrum Space©: The Architecture of Autism-Centered Design"
Dr Amanda Kirby, 'Developmental Co-ordination Disorder.'
Sinead Lawless, 'A path to painting: Learning to see through adopting a beginner mindset.'
Prof Susanne Bruyere, " Neurodiversity in the Workplace: Inclusive Recruitment."
Justin Carrero 'Neurodiversity and the Workplace : Inclusion and Intersectionality."
Sue Johnston Wilder, 'Maths Anxiety - A Consequence of Neurodivergence?'
Nathan Hughes, 'Ensuring rights to justice for children affected by neurodisability.'
Victoria Sweetmore, "Reflections of a late diagnosed autistic mental health nurse."
Elaine McGoldrick, My Autism Learning Journey
Charlotte Valeur, Leadership and Disclosure
Dr Shae Wissell, "Dyslexia the hidden neurodivergence in the workplace."
Neurodiversity - Shifting Paradigms in Mental Health : May 2023
Our most recent conference took place on 25th and 26th May 2023. You can watch back sessions at our dedicated conference page.
Neurodiversity and the Legal System : May 2022
The UCD Neurodiversity project, together with its partners, hosted an online conference in May 2022, titled 'Neurodiversity and the Legal System : Towards Equality for All.' This follows on from the successful conference in 2020 on Neurodiversity and Higher Education. You can see the full schedule and recordings of sessions at this link.
Neurodiversity: A Paradigm Shift in Further Education and Beyond - December 2020
In December 2020 the UCD Neurodiversity Project co-hosted a conference , ‘ Neurodiversity : A Paradigm Shift in Further Education and Beyond,’ which took place online over two days. The conference aimed to start a strength-based conversation about neurodiversity in third-level institutions and amongst employers and was co-hosted by NUI Maynooth, Stanford University, Untapped Holdings and ADHD Ireland. You can access recordings by clicking on this link.
A new professional Certificate / Diploma in Neurodiversity was launched in December 2020. Designed for those who work with neurodivergent individuals in any settings, such as clinical practice, education, or other workplaces. Further information can be found here
The UCD Neurodiversity Project recognises the value of collaboration and sharing resources and is proud to work closely with partners in Ireland and internationally. In Ireland, the group works with ADHD Ireland and Etain Quigley of NUI Maynooth.
In 2020 UCD CHAS signed an MOU with Neurodiversity Hub an Australian organisation which brings together third level institutions and provides resources to assist in the support of neurodiverse students and staff.
The group also now collaborates with the Institute of Neurodiversity as its Research and Development unit.
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