Haley Wolf, a student in the UI College of Education’s Higher Education and Student Affairs (HESA) program, and a behavioral health coordinator at UI Student Wellness, recently wrote an article about the importance of understanding and supporting neurodiversity in the workplace.
The following excerpt is from the article in Well-Being at Iowa:
“In recent years, there has been a growing interest in the concept of neurodiversity, especially within institutions of higher education. As a neurodivergent individual, this sense of curiosity and willingness to support neurodivergent people is encouraging. But in order to support someone, we must understand their needs. And in order to understand their needs, we must listen to them.
Neurodiversity encompasses many neurological differences, including autism, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), epilepsy, learning disabilities, and more. It is important to note that, while much of the language used to describe neurodivergent people still includes words like disorder, neurodiversity as a concept was created to oppose such a deficit-based mindset.
When encountering a new concept like neurodiversity, it can be easy to get overwhelmed, so I’ll use the following analogy to explain neurodiversity in the classroom or workplace:
In a forest, there are countless different types of plants. These plants all have different needs. They need different amounts of water and sunlight. Most, but not all, rely on the help of pollinators. One might prefer to be undisturbed, while another thrives in adversity. All of these plants create relationships with other plants, animals, and fungi in the forest. Without our interference, they find a way to meet their needs. In this analogy, the forest represents the world as a whole, and the many different minds that exist within it.
The classroom or workplace, then, is like a garden. It is cultivated. Seeds are planted with intention. Water and sunlight are provided in controlled amounts. Weeds are pulled. Insects are repelled. Gardeners do what they can to ensure that their plants produce whatever is desired, be it fruits, vegetables, or herbs. Gardeners may have different methods, resources, and experience levels. But a successful gardener is one who understands the plants in their garden.”