What is Neurodiversity?
Neurodiversity is a concept that regards individuals with differences in brain function and behavioral traits as part of normal variation in the human population.
The movement of Neurodiversity is about uncovering the strengths of neurodiverse individuals and utilizing their talents to increase innovation and productivity of the society as a whole.
Key Objectives
- Establish a culture that treasures the strengths of neurodiverse individual
- Empower neurodiverse individuals to build their identity and enhance their long-term skills of daily living throughout the lifespan
- Attract talented neurodiverse individuals to study and work at Stanford
- Train talented individuals to serve the neurodiverse population
- Disseminate the Stanford Neurodiversity Model locally and nationally
- Maximize the potential of neurodiversity
NEW COURSE: PSYC 223B - Topics in Neurodiversity: Design Thinking Approaches
The course provides essential background about neurodiversity, the design thinking process and the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework to guide students in developing projects that maximize the potential of neurodiversity. Through case studies, field trips, guest speakers, and community engagement, students will explore approaches to maximizing inclusivity in realms such as education, employment, community and beyond. Students will use their knowledge to design and develop (or revising and enhance) processes, systems, experiences and/or products to maximize inclusivity and the potential of neurodiverse individuals. Based on student's interests and areas of focus, projects may include digital tool development such as app concept and design, redesign of standard processes such as job interviews/ candidate evaluations, design and development of physical products or spaces such as sensory-sensitive dorm rooms, "stim tools" and more. This course will meet for two hours on Wednesdays for all students; students taking this course for 4 units will also attend "lab hours" on Mondays to support with project development. This course is open to undergraduate and graduate students in all schools.
2018-2019 Spring
- PSYC 223B | 2-4 units | Class # 34265 | Section 01
04/01/2019 - 06/05/2019 Mon 9:30 AM - 11:20 AM at 200-013 with Lawrence Fung, MD, PhD (PI); Nicole Ofiesh, PhD (SI); Mary Hurlbut, MA
Upcoming and Current Events
Apr April 08 Mon 2019
Meeting of the Special Interest Group for Neurodiversity
Yudi Bennett
Exceptional Minds
Location: Graduate School of Business, "Class of 1968" building, 2nd floor, Room C223
Apr April 10 Wed 2019
VII Annual International Conference “Autism: Challenges and Solutions”, Moscow, Russia
Speaker: Lawrence Fung, MD, PhD
Presentation title: Maximizing the Potential of Neurodiverse Students and Employees through Specialized Program Development
Apr April 23 Tue 2019
Autism at Work Awareness Day
Speaker: Lawrence Fung, M.D., Ph.D., Stanford University
Presentation Title: Maximizing the Potential of Neurodiversity In The Workplace
Location: SAP Successfactors, 1 Tower Pl, South San Francisco
Apr April 25 Thu 2019
Meetup Presentation | Neurodiversity In The Workplace
Speaker: Lawrence Fung, M.D., Ph.D., Stanford University
Presentation Title: Neurodiversity In The Workplace: What Does It Mean
Location: LinkedIn HQ, 1000 W Maude Ave, Sunnyvale, CA, 94085 | Engage Conference room
Apr April 27 Sat 2019
Marin Autism Collaborative Annual Meeting
Speaker: Lawrence Fung, MD, PhD
Presentation title: Maximizing the Potential of Neurodiverse Students and Employees
Apr April 30 Tue 2019
Neurodiversity at Work Roundtable, United Nations
Location: United Nations Secretariat, New York, NY 10017 USA
May May 08 Wed 2019
Neurodiversity Awareness Seminar at the Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine (Lab Management / Professionalism Series)
Speaker: Lawrence Fung, MD, PhD
Presentation title: Maximizing the Potential of Neurodiverse Trainees in Medicine at Stanford
May May 13 Mon 2019
Meeting of the Special Interest Group for Neurodiversity
Ronan McGovern, AIB
Location: Graduate School of Business, "Class of 1968" building, 2nd floor, Room C223
Jun June 10 Mon 2019
Meeting of the Special Interest Group for Neurodiversity
Valerie Paradiz, Ph.D.
NeuroNavigators
Location: Graduate School of Business, "Class of 1968" building, 2nd floor, Room C223
Jun June 20 Thu 2019
National Alliance on Mental Illness,Contra Costa County
Speaker: Lawrence Fung, M.D., Ph.D., Stanford University
Presentation Title: The Strengths-Based Model of Neurodiversity and the Stanford Neurodiversity Project
Location: John Muir Hospital, Concord Campus, 2540 East Street, Concord
Aug August 12 Mon 2019
Meeting of the Special Interest Group for Neurodiversity
University of Washington
Location: Graduate School of Business, "Class of 1968" building, 2nd floor, Room C223
Future speakers
Meetings of the Special Interest Group for Neurodiversity
Joseph Strayhorn, MD
Past Events
Mar March 16 Sat 2019
Autism Aspergers Spectrum Coalition for Education, Networking and Development
Speaker: Lawrence Fung, MD, PhD
Presentation title: Maximizing the Potential of Neurodiverse Students and Employees
Mar March 14 Thu 2019
Strengths of Dyslexia: Entrepreneurship & Neurodiversity Symposium
Sponsored by:
Stanford Schwab Learning Center, UCSF Dyslexia Center, Stanford Neurodiversity Project
Location: Francis C. Arrillaga Alumni Center, Mc Caw Hall
Mar March 11 Mon 2019
Meeting of the Special Interest Group for Neurodiversity
Laurie Sperry, Ph.D.
Yale University
"Asset Focused EmployABILITY"
Location: Graduate School of Business, "Class of 1968" building, 2nd floor, Room C223
Mar March 04 Mon 2019
Workshop on "Asking for Accommodations in the Workplace: Jobs and Internships"
Sponsor: BEAM, Stanford Career Education
Location: 2nd Floor Conference Room , Stanford University, 563 Salvatierra Walk, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
Time: 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm
Register at: https://stanford.joinhandshake.com/events/279872
Mar March 03 Sun 2019
Santa Clara County Psychological Association - Workshop on "Working With Autism Spectrum Disorders in Teens & Adults"
Speaker: Lawrence Fung, MD, PhD
Location: Gronowski Clinic Room C 15A, 5150 El Camino Real, Los Altos, CA.
Time: 12:30 - 4:45pm (Registration at Noon)
Presentation title: Stanford Neurodiversity Project: A positive psychology approach
Feb February 22 Fri 2019
Neurodiversity Awareness Seminar at the San Andreas Regional Center
Speaker: Lawrence Fung, MD, PhD
Presentation title: The Stanford Neurodiversity Project
Feb February 11 Mon 2019
Meeting of the Special Interest Group for Neurodiversity
Micaela Connery
The Kelsey
Location: Graduate School of Business, "Class of 1968" building, 2nd floor, Room C223
Feb February 01 Fri 2019
Neurodiversity Awareness Seminar at the Vaden Health Center at Stanford
Speaker: Lawrence Fung, MD, PhD
Presentation title: Maximizing the Potential of Neurodiverse Students at Stanford
Jan January 14 Mon 2019
Meeting of the Special Interest Group for Neurodiversity
Mark Jessen, SAP
Location: Graduate School of Business, "Class of 1968" building, 2nd floor, Room C223
Jan January 10 Thu 2019
Neurodiversity Awareness Seminar at the Stanford Graduate School of Business
Speaker: Lawrence Fung, MD, PhD
Presentation title: Maximizing the Potential of Neurodiverse Students and Employees
Dec December 18 Tue 2018
Meeting of the Special Interest Group for Neurodiversity
Janet Lawson and Dan Swearingen
Autistry Studios
Nov November 17 Sat 2018
San Francisco Autism Society
Speaker: Lawrence Fung, MD, PhD
Presentation title: The Stanford Neurodiversity Project
Nov November 13 Tue 2018
Meeting of the Special Interest Group for Neurodiversity
David Nordfors
i4j
Nov November 07 Wed 2018
Accessibility Week at Google
Speaker: Lawrence Fung, MD, PhD
Presentation title: Maximizing the Potential of Neurodiverse Students and Employees
Oct October 09 Tue 2018
Meeting of the Special Interest Group for Neurodiversity
Speaker: Steve Keisman
Presentation title:
Sep September 24 Mon 2018
Neurodiversity Awareness Seminar at Schwab Learning Center
Speaker: Lawrence Fung, MD, PhD
Presentation title: "How to Help Neurodiverse Students Learn Better?"
Sep September 11 Tue 2018
Meeting of the Special Interest Group for Neurodiversity
Speaker: Alicia Danforth, PhD
Presentation title: "Psychotherapy in Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder"
Sep September 05 Wed 2018
Neurodiversity @ Stanford UIT Pilot Kickoff Workshop
Aug August 15 Wed 2018
Neurodiversity Awareness Seminar at Stanford Career and Experiential Education
Speaker: Lawrence Fung, MD, PhD
Presentation title: Introduction to Neurodiversity: How Can We Help Our Neurodiverse Students at Stanford?
Aug August 15 Wed 2018
Neurodiversity Awareness Seminar at Employee and Labor Relations
Speaker: Lawrence Fung, MD, PhD
Presentation title: Introduction to Neurodiversity - A prelude to the Neurodiversity at Work Program
Aug August 14 Tue 2018
Meeting of the Special Interest Group for Neurodiversity
Speaker: Michael Bernick
Presentation title: "With California's Extensive Autism Employment System, Why is Autism Unemployment Higher Today than in 1990"
Jul July 18 Wed 2018
Neurodiversity Awareness Seminar at the Gene Vector and Virus Core
Speaker: Lawrence Fung, MD, PhD
Presentation title: Introduction to Neurodiversity - A prelude to the Neurodiversity at Work Program
Jul July 17 Tue 2018
Meeting of the Special Interest Group for Neurodiversity
Speaker: Susanne Bruyere, PhD
Presentation Title: Workplace Disability Inclusion Policies and Practices: Implications for Autism at Work Initiatives
Jun June 14 Thu 2018
NSF Convergence Workshop, Nashville, TN.
Speaker: Lawrence Fung, MD, PhD
Presentation title: The Stanford Neurodiversity Project
Jun June 12 Tue 2018
Meeting of the Special Interest Group for Neurodiversity
Speakers: Anlor Davin and Gregory Yates; Co-chair, Autism Aspergers Spectrum Coalition for Education Networking and Development (AASCEND; http://www.aascend.org/)
Presentation title: Mindfulness Practice for Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder
May May 23 Wed 2018
Bay Area Parent Mentor Night, Autism Tree Project Foundation, Stanford, CA
Speaker: Lawrence Fung, MD, PhD
Presentation title: The Stanford Neurodiversity Project
May May 08 Tue 2018
Meeting of the Special Interest Group for Neurodiversity
Speaker: Kerry Margo
Presentation topic: College Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Apr April 24 Tue 2018
Research Workshop, 3rd Autism at Work Summit, Seattle, WA.
Speaker: Lawrence Fung, MD, PhD
Presentation title: The Stanford Neurodiversity Project
Mar March 01 Thu 2018
Neurodiversity Awareness Seminar at the University IT Department
Speaker: Lawrence Fung, MD, PhD
Presentation title: Introduction to Neurodiversity - A prelude to the Neurodiversity at Work Program
Feb February 13 Tue 2018
Meeting of the Special Interest Group for Neurodiversity
Speaker: Jan Johnston-Tyler; Evo Libri https://evolibri.com/
Presentation topic: Neurodiversity hiring programs
Jan January 16 Tue 2018
Meeting of the Special Interest Group for Neurodiversity
Speaker: Tim Goldstein
Presentation topic: Training companies on understanding neurodiverse individuals
Dec December 12 Tue 2017
Meeting of the Special Interest Group for Neurodiversity
Speaker: Paulette Penzvalto; Program Manager, Google
Presentation topic: Neurodiversity Internship Program at Google
Nov November 14 Tue 2017
Meeting of the Special Interest Group for Neurodiversity
Speaker: Cheryl Morin; SAP
Presentation topic: SAP Autism at Work High School Program