ERIC Number: EJ1260295
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2018
Pages: 4
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0734-6670
EISSN: N/A
Disability or Divergent Characteristic? Inside the Neurodiversity Movement
Nyhan, Sean
Journal of College Admission, n241 p50-53 Fall 2018
While topics like socioeconomics, race, gender, veterans, transfer students, and other underserved populations frequently grab headlines, another student category often gets left out of the conversation about diversity. Society typically labels students with neurological differences--which can include dyslexia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism, Tourette Syndrome, and others--as "students with disabilities." The term "neurodiversity" dates back to the 1990s, but researchers, educators, and advocates have just recently begun to see it proliferate into admission and enrollment conversations. Neurodiversity argues that the wide spectrum of neurological conditions derives from ordinary variations in the human genome. Autism and ADHD, for example, are not diseases or disorders, the movement argues. They simply represent different ways of thinking and communicating. However like other underserved groups, neurodiverse students face their own unique set of challenges during the admission process. For students with dyslexia, the essay serves as a major obstacle. For students on the autism spectrum, or those with mental illness, making personal connections with admission staff or student ambassadors can be intimidating. Fortunately, there are some resources for neurodiverse students.
Descriptors: Students with Disabilities, Neurological Impairments, Student Diversity, Dyslexia, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Autism, Mental Disorders, College Admission, College Students, College Applicants, Advocacy
National Association for College Admission Counseling. 1631 Prince Street, Alexandria, VA 22314-2818. Tel: 800-822-6285; Tel: 703-836-2222; Fax: 703-836-8015; e-mail: info@nacac.com; Web site: http://www.nacacnet.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A