Neuroqueer@TUD
SAVE THE DATE: Neurodiversity and University -
Open workshop on neurodiversity for interested students, advisors, and other stakeholders at TU Dresden on 08.10.2024
Studying neurodivergently is associated with great potential, but also with barriers. The TU Dresden defined the goal of being an inclusive university and constantly improving study conditions by removing barriers. The practical implementation of this goal for neurodivergent students and any need for action will be the subject of an open workshop, which will take place on 08.10.2024 from 13:00 - 16:00 in the Faculty of Computer Science room E023.
The workshop is intended equally for interested students and counselors from the field of equality and inclusion and is still open to all interested parties at TU Dresden. The workshop will not only discuss fundamental aspects of neurodiversity, in particular AD(H)S and autism, but also provide practical insights into the realities of life of neurodivergent students. The results of qualitative surveys with neurodivergent students conducted as part of the Neurodivergent@TU Dresden and Neuroqueer@TUD projects will be presented. Furthermore, recommendations for action for the TU Dresden based on these results will be discussed. In addition, the workshop offers practical recommendations and self-help tips on studying with AD(H)S or autism for those affected.
The workshop is organized and conducted by the research project AutARK and the project management of Neurodivergent@TUD Lars Bönsch.
Information on the venue and accessibility:
- The room is wheelchair accessible. The wheelchair-accessible entrance to the building is located to the right of the main entrance.
- The building has an accessible toilet on th e first floor.
- The address of the event and further information about the location can be found at: http://navigator.tu-dresden.de/raum/542100.2310
- Access to a rest room is available on request during the event.
- If you are interested in remote participation, please send a request in advance to:
- Keynote speeches in the workshop will be recorded and made available afterward (no publication of images or audio material of workshop participants)
- The presentation slides will be made available on this website before the workshop.
If you have any further questions or requirements regarding participation in the event in advance, please contact us by e-mail at: or .
What is neurodiversity?
Neurodiversity is a concept that recognizes the diversity of people in the way they think and feel. The term is discussed particularly strongly in the context of autism and ADHD communities and their strong overlaps.
The neurodiversity paradigm assumes that a neuronormative society disables those affected, while their neurological conditions are not necessarily seen as disorders. Many of those affected perceive their difference as an enrichment. Which of these facets predominate is very individual and can vary greatly from one stage of life to the next and from person to person, depending on the context.
Studying at a university as large as TU Dresden can be very enriching due to the variety of advisory services and interest groups. However, freedom and the lack of structures can be particularly overwhelming for people on the ADHD spectrum. According to the results of a survey of neurodivergent students at TU Dresden 2023/2024, administrative processes and problems with access to compensation for disadvantages also mean that many of those affected do not feel recognized with their needs, which highlights the potential for action to improve the study situation of neurodivergent students.
Information about the Project
The neuroqueer@TUD project, which is funded by the Equality and Diversity Incentive Fund, will start in at march 2024. This focuses on the academic situation and conditions of neurodivergent, queer people and thus addresses intersectional aspects and their effects on university studies.
The project can be seen as a follow-up project to neurodivergent@TUD, which examined the needs of neurodivergent students more closely in 2023 and initiated an exchange format as part of a regulars' table.
Summary of the Project
Gender identity and experiences on the neurodivergent spectrum are interacting. Inaccurate diagnostic procedures result, among other things, in the fact that people who have been socialized as girls are often not diagnosed with autism until they have completed school. However, since early therapeutic support for neurodivergent people is an important indicator of academic success, this can have consequences for everyday university life. Neuroqueer@TUD is based on the results of neurodivergent@TUD project and examines intersectional aspects of gender identity and neurodivergent with an impact on academic success.
Funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and the Freestate of Saxony under the Excellence Strategy of the Federal Government and the Länder.