Recommendations On Neurodiversity.pdf

The University of California, Academic Senate, has endorsed recommendations to make UC a more welcoming place for neurodiverse students. The recommendations were brought by the University Committee on Affirmative Action, Diversity, and Equity (UCAADE) and the student-led UC Davis Aggie Neurodiversity Committee. The committee seeks to create awareness about neurodiversity and its challenges and benefits for the learning environment. The recommendations include recognizing neurodiversity as a diversity, equity, and inclusion issue, creating Disability Cultural Centers on campuses, providing neurodiversity training to faculty, staff, and students, and improving accommodations and support systems in learning environments and campus resources.

Neurodivergence refers to individuals whose minds or brains are atypical in a way associated with disability, including autism and ADHD. It is estimated that 1 in 54 children at the age of 8 have characteristics within the autism spectrum, and rates of diagnosis have increased by over 600% in the last decades. Neurodivergent students face challenges such as discrimination, misunderstanding, and difficulty transitioning from high school to college and from college to the workforce.

According to the office of the president, 21% of students with disabilities are autistic or report ADHD, and neurodivergent students have the lowest graduation rate than any other disability group. The University of California Regents Policy 4400 affirms the importance of diversity and equal opportunity in education, services, and administration.

UCAADE and the Aggie Neurodiversity Community at UC Davis have collaborated to develop a set of recommendations to improve the environment for neurodiverse students. The recommendations include creating Disability Cultural Centers, providing resources and support services, and improving accommodations and support systems. UCAADE believes that these recommendations represent an important first step towards creating equity for neurodiverse students in the UC campuses.