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.

REGISTER HERE

 

Oct October 17 - 20 Thu-Sun 2024

World Autism Summit

Autism Today Foundation

“Strengths-Based Interventions for the Autism Community"

Lawrence Fung, MD, PhD, Stanford University

Oct October 21 Mon 2024

US Army Corps of Engineers

“Neurodiversity in the Workplace"

Lawrence Fung, MD, PhD, Stanford University

Oct October 21 Mon 2024

Special Interest Group for Neurodiversity

“Harnessing Neurodiversity: A Journey Through Entrepreneurship and Innovation"

Diego Segura, MBA, MSDT

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"

Lawrence Fung, MD, PhD, Stanford University

Nov November 02 Sat 2024

Medical, Education, Family and Community Integration Student Psychological Service Innovation Forum

School of Psychiatry, Wenzhou Medical University, Kangning Hospital Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, China

“Developing the New Perspective of Neurodiversity in Families with Children on the Autism Spectrum: Changing Stigma to Strengths"

以腦力多元化(neurodiversity) 的新視角幫助孤獨症兒童: 將污名化轉成力量

Lawrence Fung, MD, PhD, Stanford University

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"

Lawrence Fung, MD, PhD, Stanford University

Dec December 06 Fri 2024

National Taiwan Normal University Special Education Center’s 50th Anniversary Celebration

Taipei, Taiwan

“Maximizing the Potential of Neurodiverse Individuals in the Workplace by Using the Strengths-Based Model of Neurodiversity"

Lawrence Fung, MD, PhD, Stanford University

Feb February 20 Thu 2025

Learning & the Brain Conference: "Teaching Stronger Brains: Promoting Student Strengths, Character, Compassion, Gratitude, Hope, Honesty, and Autonomy in a Deficit-Focused Age"

San Francisco, California

“A Strength-Based Model of Neurodiversity: The Strengths and Talents That Neurodiverse Bring to Education and the Workplace"

Lawrence Fung, MD, PhD, Stanford University

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"

Lawrence Fung, MD, PhD, Stanford University

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 

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

Nov November 05 Fri 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:

NBC Today, November 27, 2024

McKinsey Talks Talent, September 16, 2024

Stanford Medicine SCOPE 10k, May 3, 2023

Scienceline, March 4, 2023

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"

Lawrence Fung, MD, PhD, Stanford University