Mark your calendars!

Our first in-person gathering of the Fall semester is happening on October 13 from 1:00 – 2:30 PM in the Women’s & Gender Equity Center.

Come grab a bite (light lunch is on us!), connect with fellow community members, and chat about how we can support one another, raise awareness around neurodiversity at UMBC, and build a more neuroinclusive campus. 

Keep an eye on this space—more details are coming soon! 

External Events & Opportunities

(Note: The following events are not affiliated with UMBC)

Neurodiversity Dialogues: Exploring Sense of Belonging Among Neurodivergent Students in Higher Education (Virtual) (free)

Wednesday, September 16, 2026 3pm to 4pm

This session focuses on a sense of belonging for neurodivergent students in higher education. Findings presented are the result of Dr. Mollie Rubinstein’s dissertation titled: Exploring Sense of Belonging Among Neurodivergent Students in Higher Education. In this session, we will discuss accommodations, friendship, the impact of faculty, campus activities and acceptance, and ultimately, how a sense of belonging was found at the intersection of academic and non-academic experiences. 
Link to more information and registration.

 

Mid-Atlantic ADA Center Webinar (free)
Planning Accessible Events: Building Accessibility into Every Stage (Virtual)

 
September 30, 2026, 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. Eastern

Creating an accessible event takes more than meeting minimum ADA requirements. This webinar will explore how to thoughtfully incorporate accessibility into every stage of event planning—from initial design and communications with event organizers to ticket purchasing, accommodations, and on-site support. 
Whether you are planning a small meeting, training, conference, or stadium event, this webinar will provide tools and considerations to help make accessibility an intentional part of the planning process from the start.
Link to registration. 

5 Steps for Bringing Fitness-Integrated Learning Into Your Classroom

Getting students moving can help them learn while building classroom community. 

Link to Inside Higher Ed article

The next College Autism Network research presentation will be held on Tuesday,  Aug 11, at 12pm ET. 

Presenter: Jess Monahan, Ph.D. (Assistant Research Professor, University of Maryland, College Park)
 
Autistic College Students and Disclosure: Understanding Student Experiences and Factors Contributing to Decision Making
 
In this session, Dr. Jess Monahan will explore the complexity surrounding autistic college students and their decision to disclose their autistic identity. We will review the most current literature in the field, with a focus on a study conducted by Michaela Hodges-Fulton and Dr. Monahan. The presentation will wrap with thoughts on how we best support students in this decision-making process and a Q&A.

Meeting Link: https://pitt.zoom.us/j/99708176228

This event is not affiliated with UMBC.

The Neurodivergent Affinity Group holds a membership to the College Autism Network. 

NDAG Community Roundup: July 24, 2026

In early July, our faculty co-chair, Dr. Tiffany Banks was invited by CNMS to present on the topic Understanding Neurodiversity in Higher Education: Awareness and Language.  A second presentation on neurodiversity is scheduled for CNMS later this summer. If you are interested in assisting with the presentation, or would like to help us to develop a series, please contact the co-chairs at tbanks4@umbc.edu or ghoaglan@umbc.edu. 

External Events & Opportunities

(Note: The following events are not affiliated with UMBC)

Colleges Serving More Autistic Students Than They Realize, Researchers Say (Inside Higher Ed)

New research from Michigan State University finds that enrollment among autistic students is far higher than previously estimated, underscoring gaps in how campuses identify and support students.

Research Presentation: Autistic College Students & Disclosure: Understanding Student Experiences and Factors Contributing to Decision Making (virtual) College Autism Network

Presenter: Jess Monahan, Ph.D. (Assistant Research Professor, University of Maryland, College Park)

Date & Time:Tues, Aug 11 at 12pm ET

Meeting Link: https://pitt.zoom.us/j/99708176228 

In this session, Dr. Jess Monahan will explore the complexity surrounding autistic college students and their decision to disclose their autistic identity. We will review the most current literature in the field, with a focus on a study conducted by Michaela Hodges-Fulton and Dr. Monahan. The presentation will wrap with thoughts on how we best support students in this decision-making process and a Q&A.

ADHD and Inflammatory and Immune System Disorders: Exploring Links and Risks - ADDitude Webinar

Presenter: Beth Krone, Ph.D.

DATE & TIME: Tuesday, August 18, 2026 @ 1pm EDT

Registration required to attend or to watch replay
ADHD and conditions such as asthma, food or skin allergies, and other immune-related disorders may be more closely connected than previously thought. A growing body of scientific evidence suggests that ADHD is associated with inflammatory and immune system conditions.

College Autism Summit Student Experience - 

Sunday, November 8, 1:00-5:00 pm ET (Free, In Person)

This year, the Summit Student Experience will be focusing on graduate students and high achieving undergraduate students with a direct interest in practice or research in autism support in higher education. The Experience will start with a (free) pre-conference workshop focusing on connecting practice to research through the lens of policy development. This will provide an opportunity for networking and connection among the next generation of CAN's membership.

The Student Experience is free for full-time students who register at the student rate and answer “yes” to the Student Experience question when registering.

https://www.collegeautismnetwork.org/events/2026-summit

Kanopy

This month, through the streaming app kanopy (available free through most local libraries), you have access to a number of programs featuring neurodiversity. Available for a limited time, they include:

• BBC’s Inside Our Minds S2 - delve into the lives of ADHD and dyslexic people (2025)
• Neurodivergent - follow the filmmaker’s journey as she discovers her ADHD diagnosis (2020)
• Autism Goes to College - schools and students alike are trying to figure out how to manage the unique challenges experienced by this community (2020)
• The Reason I Jump - based on the best-selling book by Naoki Higashida (2020)

June 18 is Autistic Pride Day

Created in 2005 by the self-advocacy group Aspies For Freedom, Autistic Pride Day is observed annually on June 18. Wikipedia states: It is a global, neurodiversity-affirming celebration created by and for autistic individuals to embrace their identities, challenge outdated medical stereotypes, and promote self-advocacy.

June 11-17 is Neurodiversity Pride Week

You can go here to see some of the week's events, held all over the world. (These events are not affiliated with UMBC)

Autism-focused documentary on Netflix “ Room to Move”

Available to Netflix subscribers

Room to Move is a 2026 autism-focused documentary currently airing on Netflix. It follows celebrated dancer and choreographer Jenn Freeman as she channels her recent Autism Spectrum Disorder diagnosis, received at age 33, into creating her first full-length dance show. The film provides an intimate look into adult neurodivergence, identity, and the creative process. 

Body/mind Affirmation - welcoming the whole person in the room - Stimpunks Glossary

Body/mind affirmation is the practice of welcoming the whole self — body and mind together — into a space, and inviting bodymind’s needs to be met instead of suppressed.

Body/mind refuses the split between body and mind. The two are not separable. How we think, sense, move, and regulate happen together, as one entangled bodymind. The term comes from disability studies, where it names what the mind/body divide erases.

Stimpunk’s example of a Body/mind affirmation that can be read out loud or included via text:

Please do what is most comfortable for your body/mind!

I invite you to do whatever your bodies and minds need to be more comfortable and safe.

You can lie down, take notes, don’t take notes, get some water, stretch.

Check in with yourself right now and what you need, whatever helps your body and mind in this moment, in this space.

*Programs denoted with an asterick are not affiliated with UMBC. 

The College Autism Network’s Complex Conversations: Navigating the Digital Dating Landscape*

Wednesday, June 10, 2026, 3:00 – 4:00 pm EST - Virtual

registration required (use this link) Free for CAN members; $40 for non-members.

 Dating is hard. For autistic and neurodivergent college students, it can also be isolating, confusing, and really easy to get it wrong without the right support. This session features two complementary resources that support students in this often-overlooked dimension of life. Uneepi, is a dating platform built with autistic users in mind and Introflirt University is a practical educational series on dating - online and off. Together, they aim to give autistic students the knowledge and confidence to find connection on their own terms. Participants will gain an understanding of how to support students navigating online relationships, along with safety considerations across environments.

Neuroinclusive Design: Beyond Compliance Toward Sensory-Responsive Accessibility*

Wednesday, June 24, 2026, 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. Eastern - Virtual

registration required (use this link) Free

 This webinar, presented by The Mid-Atlantic ADA Center, introduces neuroinclusive design as an evidence-informed extension of ADA accessibility practice. Explore how lighting, acoustics, color, wayfinding, predictability, and sensory load shape access for neurodivergent individuals, older adults, veterans, and people with invisible disabilities.

TransCen Virtual Transition Conference* (virtual)

June 16, 2026: 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Eastern

June 17, 2026: 12:00 noon - 7:00 p.m. Eastern

registration required (use this link) Registration is $75.

 The goal of this conference is helping students with disabilities move into adulthood with dignity, choice, and real options. Whether you are a family member, educator, transition coordinator, or service provider, this conference is designed to equip you with ideas that turn planning into meaningful action.

This full-day conference will be offered on two different dates, at times adjusted to accommodate participants in different time zones. Note: the same information will be shared each date; please register for only one date.

Trauma-Informed Care for Autistic and Transgender People*

Tuesday, June 23, 2026, 7 pm - 8:15 pm Eastern - Virtual

registration required (use this link) Free

 
The presentation will cover practical suggestions for accessibility in a therapeutic environment, intersectionality, the overlap between autism and gender expansiveness, common barriers faced by autistic and trans autistic people, and more. Sponsored by the College Autism Network. 

*Programs denoted with an asterick are not affiliated with UMBC. 

Neurodiversity-Affirming Psychotherapy Practices study*

Temala Baker, an autistic doctoral student in the  Clinical Psychology PhD program at Idaho State University is part of a research lab focused on improving psychotherapy experiences for autistic
adults. They are conducting a research study about what therapy is like for autistic adults. The goal of the study is to better understand what therapy practices feel supportive, respectful, and helpful from the perspective of autistic adults themselves.

Participants must:
- Be age 18 or older
- Identify as autistic
- Have participated in psychotherapy/counseling in the past 10 years (or currently)
- Be in the United States or Canada

The survey is anonymous and takes about 20–30 minutes to complete.
Participants may also enter a drawing for a chance to win a $25 gift card.

Thank you for your time and consideration. 

https://isu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bI11BAIXDQEZmsu

*Programs denoted with an asterick are not affiliated with UMBC. 

Researchers at the University of Michigan are recruiting neurodivergent (ND) faculty (e.g., lecturers, adjunct, full-time professors, etc) who are familiar with GenAI tools for a 15-20 minute online survey on experiences with GenAI tools. See attached flyer for details or visit the study website: https://hirajamshed20.github.io/DisabilityScholarshipInitiative/flyer.html

If interested, please fill the following survey: https://myumi.ch/bVJNk. No identifying information will be collected in this survey. Results will be reported only in aggregate form and all responses are delinked using a separate form for incentives. Contact Hira Jamshed (hiraj@umich.edu) if you have questions.

NDAG Community Roundup: May 19, 2026

Neurodiversity Dialogues: Removing Barriers to Learning Through Intentional Course Design (AV Links Included)

May 20th, 3:00-4:00 pm - Zoom

registration required: https://cornell.zoom.us/meeting/register/JSpSy-HJTYK3FoVkujL1Uw

Brought to you by Neurodiversity@Cornell (this is not a UMBC event)

Join us to hear from Beth Parrott, Director of Student Disability Services and Kim Benowski, Instructional Designer/Developer at the Center for Teaching Innovation (CTI) speak about how, by proactively designing courses with access and inclusion in mind, faculty can create classroom experiences that may reduce the need for some students to seek academic accommodations. Learn about both disability-related and non-disability-related barriers that can affect how students engage with lecture material, and how applying Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles can support all students in accessing what they need to learn.

More information: https://events.cornell.edu/event/neurodiversity-dialogues-removing-barriers-to-learning-through-intentional-course-design

Two new books added to Women’s, Gender & Equity Center Library:

• ADHD & Me: What I learned from lighting fires at the dinner table by Blake E.S. Taylor

• Parenting Children with ADHD: 10 Lessons that Medicine Cannot Teach by Vincent J. Monastra, PhD

2025-2026 Year-End Update: Building a Neuroinclusive UMBC

We’d like to thank our members and allies for gathering this week for a wonderful discussion and to revisit the mission and values of our community. We also took time to recognize and thank our interim co-chairs Dr. Karen Chen (faculty) and Dr. Tory Williams (staff) – without them, this group would not have been possible. 

Our “wins” this year included:

• Physical Accessibility and Neuroinclusivity: We partnered with Facilities Management on the Gathering Space Annex renovations and coordinated with The Commons to paint stairwell handrails in contrasting colors for better navigational safety.

• Sensory Mapping: We collaborated with the Neurodivergent Student Club to begin drafting a sensory map of The Commons.

• Virtual Support: We held virtual body doubling sessions on Friday afternoons

• Campus Presence: We represented our community at New Faculty/Staff events, the Faculty Senate, HR’s “Thriving Thursdays” and in other areas.

We’ve expanded the Neurodiversity section of the Women's, Gender & Equity Center library. Visit to borrow:

• A Practical Guide to Teaching Neurodivergent College Students

• The Canary Code: A Guide to Neurodiversity, Dignity, and Intersectional Belonging at Work

• Neurodiversity at Work: Embracing the Strengths of Diverse Minds: Strategies for Inclusive Workplaces and Unlocking the Potential of Neurodiverse Talent

• Designing Neuroinclusive Workplaces: Advancing Sensory Processing and Cognitive Well-Being in the Built Environment

We are officially members of the College Autism Network (CAN). This gives our community access to monthly virtual research sessions, specialized newsletters, and higher-ed resources.

SAVE THE DATE: The 2026 College Autism Summit will be held November 8-11 in Baltimore. The call for proposals ends May 29, 2026.

Finally, we’d like to thank the Women’s Gender & Equity Center for being such gracious hosts to our community. 

Thank you for a great year! If you have any suggestions or would like to join our planning meetings, please reach out to the new co-chairs, Dr. Tiffany Banks (Faculty) and Gina Hoagland (Staff). 

NDAG Community Roundup: March 24, 2026

Resources at UMBC

Mind Spa

The Mind Spa is equipped for the practice of mindfulness, meditation, relaxation, and overall self-care. Items inside the spa include: Massage Chair, Meditation Cushions/Zafus. For more information, please reach out to Tiffani McGronan, tmcgron1@umbc.edu.

Where: Albin O. Kuhn Library, 367 and The Center for Well-Being, 116; Monday – Friday:  8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.

National & Virtual Learning (AV Links Included)

The following events are hosted by external partners and are not affiliated with UMBC.

Pathologically Genuine: Lived Experiences of a Late-Diagnosed Autistic Professor, Former Provost, Dean, and VP Research with Dr. Jim Coleman.

Dr. Coleman will share his experiences as a late-diagnosed autistic professor and former senior administrator. Diagnosed at 59, he has since taught over 1,000 students, including more than 100 neurodivergent students, and volunteers at schools serving autistic children and students with learning disabilities. The presentation has two parts: first, observations comparing support for neurodiverse students at a traditional university versus a specialized autism school; second, themes from his book project "Pathologically Genuine," exploring concepts like being pathologically genuine, "unwelt," stimming, loneliness, and the gap between research and lived autistic experiences.

When: Mar 30, 2026 1:00 EDT

To register, contact jessica.s.stasik@Vanderbilt.edu

Kennedy Krieger Institute & MCCEI Webinar Series: Neurodiversity in the Workplace

Successful Business Model: Inclusive Practices

Hear first-hand from employer–employee pairs about how inclusive hiring, retention, and management practices have led to mutual success. These interviews will showcase practical examples of what works in building and sustaining diverse teams.

When: April 14, 2026, 12 –12:45 p.m.

Information: https://eventscalendar.kennedykrieger.org/event/kennedy-krieger-institute-mccei-webinar-series-neurodiversity-in-the-workplace-5950

Emory University Virtual Research Symposium

Featuring a panel of neurodivergent and autistic researchers from around the country. Zoom link will be available soon on our ACM events page <https://med.emory.edu/departments/psychiatry/autism/acm/index.html>

When: Thursday, April 16 (6 p.m., EST, zoom)

CUNY Neurodiversity Conference 2026 - Virtual Session

Registration for the CUNY Neurodiversity Conference, which is focused on neurodivergent joy this year, is open. Keynote by Dr. Vikram Jasawal of UVA, who does groundbreaking work focused on nonspeaking autistic people. There will be sessions throughout the day. 

This event is hosted at CUNY and is not affiliated with UMBC. For more information, please refer to their website: https://cunysps.swoogo.com/cunyneuro26?ref=PER&i=b2dvQqtNT-QI3q6A8Y4qWCz7zWF8YG19 

When: April 17, 2026

Opportunities & Research

The Neurodiversity Alliance: Paid Remote Internships for ND Students

The Neurodiversity Alliance offers over 50 paid national internship opportunities for neurodivergent students and recent graduates ages 18 to 26. Interns get the opportunity to work alongside national staff mentors and peers from across the country to advance our mission in meaningful ways, while developing core leadership and professional skills for life. Intern roles are available in various functional areas of our organization and will include everything from marketing and social media, to developing resources for our online community, to helping grow our community, or serving on our national advisory council.

Applications open until April 15th, 2026.

Updated because the student event is tomorrow, March 4!!

NDAG Community Roundup: March 3, 2026

March 4: Student Neurodiversity Club Mixer 

Support the student Neurodiversity Club at their March mixer

UMBC's student Neurodiversity Club is hosting a mixer in Lower Flat Tuesdays for their members to build connections with neurotypical students. Faculty and Staff are encouraged to drop in. 

• When: March 4. 4:30 - 7:30 pm

• Location: The Commons, Lower Flat Tuesdays

• The Vibe: There will be stations for board games, special interests, and pizza.

• Be an Anchor: The student group e-board would very much like for neurodivergent faculty and staff to drop by and lend their support. 

National & Virtual Learning (AV Links Included)

The following events are hosted by external partners and are open via webinar.

ADHD and Procrastination

Understand why we may intentionally put off tasks and how in-the-moment thoughts can distract us from our goals. Can't watch it live? Sign up and receive the free replay link. 

When: March 5, 2026, at 1pm ET. 

Link to free registration

The Quickly Changing Digital Landscape: Implications of Digital Engagement with Cognition and the ADHD Mind

Presented by CHADD of Northern Virginia; Learn from Michael Reiter, Ph.D. and Edward Spector, Psy.D. about the Implications of digital engagement with cognition and the ADHD mind, including variables that make someone vulnerable to using technology in an unhealthy or compulsive way and considering the engagement with and impact of different technology formats/mediums.

When: Friday, March 6 from 12 pm to 1 pm EST

Link to free registration

Opportunities & Research

Neurodiversity Summer Program from Stanford University: SNP-BRIDGE

SNP-BRIDGE, "Bridging Resilience, Inclusive Dialogue, Growth in advocacy, & Empowered

leadership," is a virtual two-week summer program specifically for college-bound and

early college students to engage in neurodiversity advocacy. Students will develop hands-on neurodiversity advocacy projects that will not only enhance their own college experience, but also build leadership and community that can contribute to the broader efforts of the neurodiversity movement.

Please see the website for more details about SNP-BRIDGE, including how

to apply, *here* or reach out with questions at snp-reach@stanford.edu. 

Acceptances are sent out on a rolling basis and they encourage early applications.