Neurodiversity + Embodiment is an interdisciplinary and inter-institutional group of researchers, working with embodied modes of engaging with neurodiverse conditions and experiences. We are motivated by a social justice agenda, where our research aims to give voice to the neurodiversity community.
We use the following quotes to define ‘neurodiversity’:
From these examples it should be clear that disability is more about the inability to function in a neurotypical society to a greater extent than being able to function in some absolute sense. As Finkelstein says “The central issue in our campaign is for a better life, therefore, we ought to be concerned with issues around emancipation and this requires struggles for social change rather than concentrating on individual experiences, ‘rehabilitation’, etc” [16].
Nicholas Sheep Dalton. 2013. Neurodiversity & HCI. CHI EA “13: CHI ”13 Extended Abstracts on Human Factors in Computing Systems: 2298
If the neurodiverse are part of a spectrum, then being inclusive to other cognitive modes suggests wider benefits. For example, Alan Dix [14] observes that supporting assistive materials and technologies for neurodiverse students has an effect of making the material more accessible for the wider student population. It seems natural to suggest that it would be reasonable to expect that technologies that support assorted gifts from the neurodiverse community might have an audience much larger than the neurotypical. If we can support the gifted in the more specialist neurodiverse community, then it is natural that we might expect wider benefits.
Nicholas Sheep Dalton. 2013. Neurodiversity & HCI. CHI EA “13: CHI ”13 Extended Abstracts on Human Factors in Computing Systems: 2200
Further reading:
- Nick Walker: https://neuroqueer.com/neurodiversity-terms-and-definitions/
- Ralph Savarese: http://www.ralphsavarese.com/autism-and-the-concept-of-neurodiversity/
Founding Members:
- Dr David Silvera-Tawil (CSIRO)
- Dr Dawn-joy Leong
- Dr Scott Andrew Brown (UNSW)
Please get in touch if you would like to collaborate or learn more about the group.