March 2026

Meeting Date

CfDC March Meeting Agenda

  • Introductions
    • Done in the chat
  • Opening quotation 
    • “Fellow disabled people [...] at the intersections of race, gender queerness because those who are further marginalized within the disability community have different perspectives that can lend itself to the overall conversation on disability.”
    • Imani Barbarin
  • Agenda 
    • Guest Speakers: Sandy Zalmout and Kathleen Ignatoski, co leads, Beautiful Minds Conference and Neurodiversity Project 
      • Slides presented: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1eeGzJDPDlTH5Mt2F8Vw9W_13EqZwwcC6/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=109180476440653619515&rtpof=true&sd=true 
      • The Neurodiversity Project email: [email protected] 
      • Definitions
        • Neurodiversity: An umbrella term for how different people’s brains process information differently. This results in different ways of thinking, learning, and behaving.
          • They like to say under this definition, “everybody is neurodiverse.”
          • If your way of thinking, learning and behaving is different from societal norms, you are "neurodivergent."
          • Examples of neurodivergence:
            • ADHD
            • Autism Spectrum Disorder
            • PTSD
            • Head trauma
            • Giftedness
            • Mental illness
      • Updates on Beautiful Minds conference and Neurodiversity Project
        • Why are we interested in this?
          • The neurodivergent people at U of M need a voice
          • Neurodivergent people may be better at jobs that require creative thinking and data analysis. This is perfect for a university environment but neurodivergent people are not making it through the hiring process.
        • Statistics
          • 20% of the worldwide adult population is neurodivergent.
          • 40% of neurodivergent adults are unemployed or underemployed.
          • 85% of college graduates with autism are unemployed or underemployed.
          • A large percentage of people who are neurodivergent boomers and Gen Xers are undiagnosed.
          • As the generations most prominent in the workforce change, we expect to see about 40-45% of the workforce will be diagnosed or identified as neurodivergent.
          • Neurodiverse teams are 30% more productive, more innovative and challenge group thinking. This is because people who are neurodivergent look at patterns differently and are able to make connections others are not,
          • Workplaces that support neurodiverse staff experience 60% less turnover costs and higher employee satisfaction. 
        • How did this conference come to be?
          • Interested members of the U of M community came together to share experiences and the desire to do more for neurodivergent individuals on campus. This project is run entirely by volunteers eager to make change in the community.
          • This group of people connected with the University of Melbourne's Neurodiversity Project who offered to give a talk at U of M and this jump started the idea.
          • Initially, the conference was a small group of people but it has grown into a full-blown conference with 275 people in person and 750 people online.
        • Neurodiversity Project undertakings at the moment:
          • How to leverage institutional resources
          • Projects
            • Supervisor and manager toolkits
            • Resource apps
            • Collaborating with global and regional partners to evolve a higher education neurodiversity network
            • MiHENN- a network of local institutions.
            • Technology
              • Immersive technology
              • Simulation
              • Predictive and generative AI and apps
            • Mindfulness in sports
            • Arts initiatives
          • Research
            • UROP recruits are representative of the community. 80% of their researchers are neurodivergent.
            • These individuals drive the research through what they are interested in. The main focus at the moment is mental health and well-being.
          • Surveys
            • We know there are problems at U of M but don’t know the extent.
            • Accommodations processes
          • Healing Blue Resource App (Apple only)
            • Helps you find the right mental health resource for you!
          • Looking at accommodations during trying times.
            • Ex: Fear of catching an illness resulting in not receiving healthcare. Can you get accommodations to avoid this?
          • Interview Simulation
            • Analyzing the behaviors of participants
            • They hope to create a choose-your-own-adventure type simulation in anime. 
              • Existing simulations are VR which can be challenging for autistic participants.
        • The team also gave a talk on ADHD, burnout, menopause, and perimenopause to the Women of Color Task force. If anyone would like that information please contact Sandy and/or Kathleen.
        • Registration for the Beautiful Minds Conference
          • This will take place on Tuesday, April 14th from 8:30am-5pm at the University of Michigan NCRC. It will include
            • A keynote speaker
            • Student research presentations
            • Therapy dogs
            • Networking session
            • Performance of 2 songs from a student-created disability musical 
            • Food provided 
          • $25 in person fee.
        • Watch previous conferences here
      • Questions
    • Open Discussion 
  • Other Matters Arising 
    • Announcements
      • CfDC Is Hiring!  
    • Anything to share with the Council?