Understanding Neurodiversity: Recommended Reading

The resources on this list reveal the intricacies of diverse neurocognitive experiences and acknowledge and celebrate the unique perspectives and strengths that neurodivergent individuals bring to our communities. Beyond raising basic awareness, this list emphasizes the fostering of genuine understanding, empathy, and inclusion for individuals whose neurocognitive functioning differs from societal norms. We hope that this list will help to dismantle misconceptions, promote acceptance, and amplify neurodivergent voices.

This list has been curated by Melvin (Jai) Jackson and Shaun Bennett, 2024.

Books

Neurodiversity: Discovering the Extraordinary Gifts of Autism, ADHD, Dyslexia, and Other Brain Differences

Thomas Armstrong. 2010.

This book emphasizes positive dimensions and shows that people with ADHD, bipolar disorder, and other conditions have inherent evolutionary advantages that, matched with the appropriate environment or ecological niche, can help them achieve dignity and wholeness in their lives. 

The Pocket Guide to Neurodiversity 

Daniel Aherne; illustrated by Tim Stringer. 2023. 

At least one in seven people are thought to be neurodivergent. So what exactly is neurodiversity? What does “executive functioning” mean? What are “spiky profiles?”

Good Autism Practice for Teachers: Embracing Neurodiversity and Supporting Inclusion

Karen Watson. 2022.

This is an accessible guide for all trainees and teachers, including SENCOs, providing practical, evidence-informed ways to support neurodivergent learners that will benefit all pupils.

College Success for Students on the Autism Spectrum: A Neurodiversity Perspective

S. Jay Kuder, Amy Accardo, and John Woodruff; foreword by Zosia Zaks. 2021. 

Helping college faculty and student affairs staff enlarge their understanding of students' experiences on the autism spectrum, this book provides a guide to to increasing college success.

Neurodiversity in Higher Education: Positive Responses to Specific Learning Differences

David Pollak. 2009. 

This edited collection offers screening, teaching, and practical support for specific learning differences in higher education. Through the use of international case studies, Neurodiversity in Higher Education seeks to explain how psychologists identify, assess, and support a range of specific learning differences in students. 

Who Understands Comics? Questioning the Universality of Visual Language Comprehension

Neil Cohn. 2021.

Drawings and sequential images are so pervasive in contemporary society that we may take their understanding for granted. But how transparent are they really, and how universally are they understood? Combining recent advances in linguistics, cognitive science, and clinical psychology, this book argues that visual narratives involve greater complexity and require a lot more decoding than widely thought.

Articles

• “Supporting neurodivergent talent: ADHD, autism, and dyslexia in physics and Space Sciences” by Niescja E. Turner and Heather Haynes Smith.
  • "While there is a long history of famous scientists identified or speculatively indicated to be neurodivergent, identification on an individual basis has been limited until fairly recently. Definitions have changed and broadened, and people are being identified or are identifying themselves as neurodivergent and are learning about their paths and their brains in a way that was unavailable to people two decades ago."
• “Helping Neurodivergent Employees Succeed” by Russo, Emily R; Ott, Dana L; Moeller, Miriam.
  • How welcoming is your organization to neurodivergent employees and how successful is it at engaging them effectively in the workplace?
• “Neurodivergent intersubjectivity: Distinctive features of how autistic people create shared understanding” by Brett Heasman and Alex Gillespie.
  • Autistic people are neurologically divergent, yet neurotypical definitions of being social frame approaches to studying autism. Using the concept of intersubjectivity, which conceptualizes various ways of socially relating, we investigate distinctive features of how autistic people build social understanding.
• “What is neurodiversity?” by Nicole Baumer and Julia Frueh.
  • Neurodiversity describes the idea that people experience and interact with the world around them in many different ways; there is no one "right" way of thinking, learning, and behaving, and differences are not viewed as deficits.
• “Neurodiversity and What It Means to Be Neurodiverse” by Ariane Resnick.
  • Neurodiversity describes differences in brain function from person to person that affect daily mental functions. Neurodiversity embraces differences in brain function and behavior as a natural manifestation of humanity's variety rather than viewing them as wrong or problematic.
• “How to design visual learning resources for neurodiverse students” [Blog] by Evan Brown.
  • To help your institution provide an education that’s accessible for all, here are a few guidelines that designers should consider when creating learning resources.
• “The experiences of students with learning disabilities in a higher education virtual campus” by Nancy Hollins and Alan R. Foley.
  • This is a helpful paper that offers real-life examples of the challenges faced by students in the “virtual campus” environment, which has become so prevalent in the post-COVID world.

Podcasts

The Neurodiversity Podcast
The Neurodiversity Podcast introduces you to these brilliant, quirky, amazing people, and brings you thought-provoking conversations with leaders in psychology, education, and technology, as we work to broaden the definition of normal.

Uniquely Human: The Podcast
Uniquely Human: The Podcast expands the conversation on autism and neurodiversity by amplifying the voices of autistic individuals and thought leaders in providing insightful, cutting-edge, and practical information about the autistic experience.

Noncompliant: A podcast about neurodiversity
This podcast covers the topics of autism and neurodiversity, health disinformation, and children’s rights, featuring experts in a range of related fields.

Neurodiversity in a Nutshell
Neurodiversity in a Nutshell uses various sources to educate other neurotypical individuals about neurodiversity and help create inclusive mindsets rather than sidelining individuals across the spectrum. 

Perspectives on Neurodiversity
Neurodiverse individuals discuss their experiences and their identities. We will also speak to family members, support providers, experts, and others interested in the neurodiversity community.

Videos

A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE: Getting Social with the Learning Difference Community (26:00).
How do we become conscious of embracing and developing all aspects of ourselves?

ABOVE THE NOISE: Is Autism A Disorder Or A Difference To Be Celebrated? (10:00).
In this episode, we talk to people with autism and explore what acceptance of neurodiversity could look like. Watch and then let us know: How can the social model of disability change how society views autism?

Autism and Neurodiversity: Different Does Not Mean Broken | Adriana White | TEDxPaloAltoCollege (10:00).
In this talk, Adriana discusses the idea of neurodiversity. Many people are labeled incorrectly because their brains are wired differently. Adriana offers awareness and an alternative way to see people as unique and valuable, regardless of their neuro-diversity. 

What is Neurodiversity: A Video for Children (1:17).
This video is aimed directly at teaching young kids the concept of neurodiversity. The colors, animals, and animations are all great ways to keep kids engaged with the material. Not to mention it’s short and very easy to digest!

Nano Tips for Working Inclusively with Neurodivergent Employees
Welcome to our Nano Tips series, where LinkedIn Learning creators deliver impactful lessons in literally seconds. In this installment, explore practical strategies to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace and collaborate more effectively with neurodivergent employees.

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