Neurodiversity Matters!

Neurodiversity is a viewpoint that brain differences are normal, rather than deficits. Neurodivergent people experience, interact with, and interpret the world in unique ways and some of this diversity may be due to variations in neurocognitive functioning. There is no current definitive list of neurodevelopmental conditions that should be included under this umbrella term although it may include; ASD, ADHD, OCD, developmental disabilities, learning disabilities, dyslexia, dyscalculia, and more. This concept can help reduce the stigma around learning and thinking differences.

The Woodsworth Wellness team has put together a list of resources to inform students about neurodiversity and direct students to available resources to best support neurodiverse individuals and their peers.

Resources:

UofT clubs on neurodiversity

• The Mindful Project: a club that aims to increase awareness and acceptance of neurodivergence and educate others about the neurodiversity paradigm as a disability rights movement.

• The Social Association for Students with ASD (SASA): provides students with Autism Spectrum Disorder a chance to connect and develop new friendships.

  • The group meets up to play board games and enjoy light snacks and plans occasional outings based on mutual interests.

• Peer connections: safe space to connect with your peers and discuss topics relevant to your neurodivergence

  • ASD Peer Connections for Women & Trans Students

  • ADHD Peer Connections

  • Mental Health Peer Connections

Educational resources on neurodiversity

Articles, reports, and tools: you are encouraged to read these articles online through the UofT libraries website

• What is neurodiversity?

• Clearing up misconceptions surrounding neurodiversity

• How to Build and Support Neurodiversity in the Workplace

• Neurodiversity as a competitive advantage

• Neurodiversity as a vector for creativity and innovation

• Autistic self-advocacy and the neurodiversity movement

Books: you are encouraged to check out these books in UoT libraries or at your local/municipal library

• The Neurodiversity Reader: Exploring Concepts, Lived Experience and Implications for Practice, Damian Milton 2020

• Divergent Mind: Thriving in a world that wasn't designed for you (Jenara Nerenberg 2020)

• The Power of Neurodiversity: Unleashing the Advantages of Your Differently Wired Brain (Thomas Armstrong 2011)

• NeuroTribes (Steve Silberman 2016)

Movies, tv shows:

• The reason I jump (Apple TV)

• Everything’s gonna be okay (Apple TV)

• Love on the Spectrum (Netflix)

• Keep the Change (Youtube)

• Life, Animated (Youtube)

• Lady Dynamite (Netflix)

TeDTalks:

• Understanding neurodiversity

• The world needs all kinds of minds - Temple Grandin

• Debunking the myths of OCD

• What its really like to live with OCD

• What is dyslexia

Podcasts

• Exploring different brains

• Neuroverse

• Noncompliant

• Spectra-cast

• Spectrumly speaking

• The Neurodiversity podcast

• Dyslexic Professional podcast

Instagram accounts:

• @adhdbutterfly, @adulting_with_autism_, @autismcanada, @dyscalculiablog, @dyslexiaida, @iampayingattention, @madebydyslexia, @notjustclumsy, @the_mini_adhd_coach, @the_ocdproject, @this.tourettes.guy, @tourettecanada

If you have any questions or require any accommodations, please do not hesitate to reach out to ninon.freidel@mail.utoronto.ca.