Throughout each of my graduate-level communications courses, I noticed that most course materials were developed through a neurotypical lens; while their insights were very applicable to the majority, there were many nuances of neurodiverse communication styles that were overlooked. Autistic and other neurodiverse communication styles are typically studied in the realms of psychology and medicine and are often pathologized—instead of being recognized simply as differences in communication preferences. I have found that the communication discipline is generally lacking resources that take this perspective into account, so I created one.
Neurodiversity in Mind offers practical, research-grounded guidance for creating communication environments where neurodivergent individuals—whether employees, colleagues, clients, or community members—can participate fully and authentically. The 108-page book grounds the reader in current theory and important definitions before delving into inclusive strategies for core organizational communication contexts.
Feedback from my review committee included the following remarks:
“This is such an important topic, and you are really at the forefront of this in communication studies . . . You have valuable insights to share with both organizational leaders and young professionals.”
“This was a joy to review . . . this is a strong and thoughtful project that clearly demonstrates both depth of knowledge and intentional application of communication concepts.”
“Anna’s capstone project was a beautiful representation of how deepening one’s grounding in research and the discipline can be elevated by identity and lived experience to result in individual and community-level transformation.”
Please contact me if you are interested in reviewing a full copy of the toolkit.