Please also visit our Neurodiversity at Work page to learn more about the Stanford Neurodiverse Candidate Reigistry.
Employers, please visit our Neurodiversity at Work page to learn more about our program and the Stanford Neurodiversity Job Bank.
About the Stanford Neurodiversity Project
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.
Our 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 work with the neurodiverse population
- Disseminate the Stanford Neurodiversity Model locally, nationally, and internationally
- Maximize the potential of neurodiversity
Program News and Events
Current and Upcoming Events
Sep September 26 Thu 2024
Stanford Virtual Forum about Down syndrome and Alzheimer's
Join Stanford and the National Task Group for Intellectual Disabilities and Dementia Practices (NTG) for a panel with Dr. Brian Chicoine, Medical Director of the Advocate Medical Group Adult Down Syndrome Center; Dr. Seth Keller, Neurologist and Co-President of the NTG; and Amy Kolb-Tucker, Special Olympics Area Director and parent to 43-year-old Katy who has Down syndrome and has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. They will discuss the barriers that adults with Down syndrome may face in Alzheimer’s diagnosis/treatment, such as lack of access to knowledgeable healthcare providers. They will also provide practical tips and opportunities for families and healthcare providers to navigate and begin to address those barriers.
Oct October 17 - 20 Thu-Sun 2024
World Autism Summit
Autism Today Foundation
“Strengths-Based Interventions for the Autism Community"
Oct October 21 Mon 2024
Special Interest Group for Neurodiversity
“Harnessing Neurodiversity: A Journey Through Entrepreneurship and Innovation"
Oct October 27 - November Nov 02 Sun-Sat 2024
ADHD Awareness Week
Hong Kong
“From Stigma to Strength: Changing Perceptions of ADHD in the Family"
Nov November 15 Fri 2024
The Help Group's 28th Annual Summit
Skirball Cultural Center, Los Angeles, California
“Strengths-Based Model of Neurodiversity and its Application in the Workplace"
Feb February 25 Tue 2025
Behavioral Health Grand Rounds, Penn Medicine Princeton House Behavioral Health and University of Pennsylvania
Princeton, New Jersey
“Neurodiversity: The New Diversity"
Neurodiversity Publications
May May 2024
Strengths-Based Models and Neurodiversity
Fung, L.K.
In Eric Patton and Alecia M.Santuzzi, eds. Neurodiversity and Work: Employment, Identity, and Support Networks for Neurominorities. Springer Nature., Switzerland. 2024:39-59.
Jan January 2024
A dual design thinking - universal design approach to catalyze neurodiversity advocacy through collaboration among high-schoolers
Schuck, R.K. and Fung, L.K.
Front Psychiatry. 2024 Jan 10:14:1250895.
doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1250895.
Aug August 2022
Neurodiversity: An Invisible Strength?
Fung, L.K., Ulrich, T.L., Fujimoto, K.T., Taheri, M.
JOM 74, 3200–3202 (2022).
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11837-022-05454-2
Jun June 2022
The impact of autism-related training programs on physician knowledge, self-efficacy, and practice behavior: A systematic review.
Lauren Clarke and Lawrence K Fung
Autism (2022).
May May 2022
A Scoping Review of Peer Mentoring Programs for Autistic College Students.
Isabelle F. Morris, Christy Matta, Lawrence K. Fung
Review Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s40489-022-00325-7
Jan January 2022
Neurodiversity and Opportunities in Psychiatry.
Psychiatric Times (2022).
Nov November 05 Fri 2021
Stanford program matches autistic job seekers with employers.
Stanford Medicine News (2021).
Program News
January 2023
California Department of Developmental Services awarded Dr. Lawrence Fung and his team on a new project to develop and assess a curriculum designed to train job coaches to support regional center consumers with intellectual / developmental disabilities.
March 25 2021
Stanford Neurodiversity Project and DPR Construction signed an agreement to start a pilot Neurodiversity at Work Program at DPR Construction.
Dec 9 2020
Stanford Neurodiversity Project and Google signed an agreement to start a pilot Neurodiversity at Work Program at Google Cloud.
Quick Links Featuring the Stanford Neurodiversity Project in the Media:
McKinsey Talks Talent, September 16, 2024
Success, February 16, 2024
Stanford Medicine SCOPE 10k, May 3, 2023
Kent State Today, April 21, 2023
Scienceline, March 4, 2023
Doctors with autism speak out against stigma
By Alice Sun
NPR Morning Edition, January 12, 2023
CBC News, August 28, 2022
Stanford Alumni Weekend: Classes without Quizzes, October 20, 2022
Past Events (including recordings of presentations in past Special Interest Group meetings)
Sep September 10 Tue 2024
International Seminar: Autism and Inclusive Education
Brazil International Convention Center, Brasília (DF)
“Strengths-Based Model of Neurodiversity and Community-Based Participatory Research"
