Autism: A Function of Neurodiversity?

In a culture filled with changes and challenges, there is a need to support groups of people with differences. Neurodiversity is a concept where neurological differences are to be recognized and respected as any other human variation. It is truly a “brain thang”. This “brain thang” means that there are differences in the brain that cause a student to behave, respond, or react differently than a student who appears to function normally. Education should not be compartments in which one has only a mindset of “these are special education students” and “these are not special education students”. The mindset must be changed to “all students” and that they are all “our students”. The information presented in this paper will point to the fact that general education preservice educators need the concept of neurodiversity and its relationship with Autism. These preservice teachers are very likely to have students with special needs in their classrooms. They must be made aware of how to help them be successful. Indeed, oftentimes with minor modifications or adjustments, students with neurological differences can be successful in the general education classroom. It is incumbent upon the general education teacher to be knowledgeable of these strategies and willing to implement them

Tips on Working From Home When You are on the Autism Spectrum

In the COVID19 world, we have additional need and expectation to be able to work remotely. For many on the Autism Spectrum (AS) who have been adjusting to work environments this change can be a big disruption. Below are some tips for those of you on the spectrum working from home, to assist you in remaining calmer and being more productive. These tips may also prove helpful for those support AS people

The Dandelion Program: 2016 in Review

[Excerpt] The Dandelion Program is an initiative to build valuable Information Technology, life, and executive functional skills to help establish careers for people on the autism spectrum. The implementation and assessment of Dandelion pods concentrates on identifying and supporting individuals on the autism spectrum with the potential to excel in testing, data science, and cyber security roles. Over the course of 2016, the program continued to grow at a rapid rate, and achieved a large number of significant milestones. This report will cover some of the most significant developments over the course of the last year

CPD curriculum guide for social workers who are working with people on the autism spectrum

Tizard Centre, Centre for Child Protection (2015) “A report on autism for social workers” Commissioned by The College of Social Work (written and published by the Dept. of Health

Implementing a Neurodiversity Program

This is a pdf version of a PowerPoint presentation regarding the Dandelion Program creating employment opportunities for people with autism

Welcoming and Managing Neurodiversity in the Writing Center

University Writing Cente

Technology Changes Everything: Inclusive Tech and Jobs for a Diverse Workforce: Pierce Memorial Foundation Report

This document serves as the final report to the Pierce Foundation for funding to support the design and implementation of a 1.5-day Forum entitled “Technology Changes Everything: A Forum on Inclusive Tech and Jobs for a Diverse Workforce” conducted in NYC on October 26-27, 2017 at Baruch College. The conference idea was conceived to address the need to raise awareness across a number of distinct areas where technology is currently impacting employment outcomes for people with disabilities. The topics ranged from one as straightforward as the critical need for attention on equitably integrating individuals with disabilities into the rapidly exploding tech sector workforce, to the much more nuanced and complex application of algorithmic screening and job-matching tools increasingly used in online job applications and selection processes. Other topics focused on were equitable access to entrepreneurship opportunities, inclusive design in technology-based products and services, and the growing targeted focus of technology sector and tech-intensive industries in affirmative recruitment and hiring of individuals with Autism

Neurosurgery for psychopaths? The problems of empathy and neurodiversity

I argue that deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a bad approach for incarcerated psychopaths for two reasons. First, given what we know about psychopathy, empathy, and DBS, it is unlikely to function as an effective treatment for the moral problems that characterize psychopathy. Second, considerations of neurodiversity speak against seeing psychopathy as a mental illness in the first place

DXC Dandelion Program: 2018 in Review

[Excerpt] 2018 was another very successful year for the DXC Dandelion Program. DXC established a number of new, critical partnerships that continue to propel autism at work programs to the forefront of workplace inclusion. This has resulted in the program growing significantly throughout the year. DXC has now successfully established seven teams across four states in Australia, employing over 80 people on the autism spectrum