ARLIS/NA 53rd Annual Conference

Neurodiversity is a framework that recognizes people have neurobiological and developmental differences which impact how they experience and interact with the world; thus, there is no “right” way to think or behave. Although this term encompasses the neurodiversity of all people, it is usually used to describe people who have conditions such as autism spectrum disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, mental illnesses/madness, and learning disabilities such as dyslexia or dyspraxia. Many conditions can impact one’s physical health and lead to other disabilities. These conditions often create stressors and barriers for success in the workplace, especially those designed for neurotypical individuals who are often in a position of power or authority. Fortunately, small adjustments such as sensory-friendly spaces, flexibility in where and how work is done, clear expectations, and establishing communication preferences can make a big impact and create a healthier working environment for everyone.

This workshop is open to anyone who is interested in fostering a more inclusive working environment for neurodiverse individuals, and is open to information professionals at any workplace type and within any role, whether that be managerial or non-managerial. Workshop content will include a brief presentation to provide context about working experiences for neurodiverse individuals, but will mainly focus on active work amongst the participants, who will help shape the direction that the workshop will take. Workshop attendees will work both independently and collaboratively with other participants to ideate and brainstorm concrete strategies aimed at making the workplace more accessible and accommodating for neurodiverse individuals, coming away with a toolbox of tips and ideas to exercise in their own individual workplaces.

This workshop is sponsored by the Neurodiversity + Invisible Disabilities Special Interest Group and serves as a continuation of the “Please Don’t Pop! Near Me: Neurodiversity and Library Work” session presented at the ARLIS/NA 2024 conference in Pittsburgh. In that session, panelists who identified as neurodivergent or neurodiverse shared how their careers in art librarianship were impacted by their neurological and development conditions. In this workshop, participants will learn best practices for building inclusive work environments that allow all employees to thrive and develop a toolkit for making their workplaces more accessible for neurodiverse employees. The workshop will be led by librarians from multiple library types, including academic libraries and museum libraries, sharing perspectives from both types of work environments, and is open to all ARLIS/NA conference attendees.