College Central

There are a lot of new changes that come with starting college. You are in a different place, making new friends, and studying fresh subjects. A lot of students also seek out new activities, like joining a club or organization. However, going to a loud and crowded activities fair may be overstimulating to navigate while also paying attention to all of the organizational fliers being handed out around you. If you are looking for an inclusive organization to join on your campus, check out your neurodiversity club.

So, what are neurodiversity clubs all about?

While all neurodiversity clubs may have slightly different missions, but they all want the same thing: to establish a supportive and inclusive space in which self-advocates and neurotypicals alike can advocate to increase awareness and acceptance of the neurodivergent, or people who have brains that function differently.

Some clubs even partner up with outside organizations to maximize their impact on campus and the surrounding community. For example, the Hamilton Autism Advocates for NeuroDiversity (HAAND) is a joint program between Hamilton College and the Kelberman Center of Utica. By going beyond the scope of the campus and including members of the community, clubs can reach more people, and reaching more people means teaching and creating new advocates.

Who is Welcome?

One of the strengths of this type of club is that anyone is welcome; it is even factored into most organizations’ mission statements. From neurotypical faculty, staff, and students to faculty and students with ASD and more, neurodiversity clubs tend toward an air of inclusion.

Campus Presence: Meetings, Activities, and Events… Oh My!

First and foremost, neurodiversity clubs serve as a community of support for students on the spectrum. Reaching past immediate connections and participants, the organization strives to spread awareness through events, activities, and regularly scheduled meetings.

Just like any other school-sponsored activity, neurodiversity clubs often coordinate or participate in a variety of activities. Some clubs organize lesson-plan-like tasks to build social and self-advocacy skills. These can range from board games to a lunch buddy system to group-wide movie nights. 

On a larger scale, some clubs host or participate in walks or runs for a cause; for example, many different organizations have an annual Autism Awareness walk or run. Events like these take place on or near the campus and strive to raise money to support the charity, their club, or campus resources relating to neurodiversity. 

As far as club meetings go, you can participate at your own rate depending on how comfortable you are in the moment. The goals of many club meetings include giving updates on past or upcoming events, as well as time for small group, large group, or individual conversation. At the Santa Barbara City College, the neurodiversity club utilizes optional communication stickers on their name tags to indicate how much conversation a member is comfortable with. There are three levels to these stickers: green, meaning the person is actively seeking communication; yellow, meaning the person would like to only speak with familiar faces; and red, meaning the individual probably does not want to talk to anyone but will initiate conversation if they so desire.

What do you do if you are on the spectrum, but are not ready to disclose your narrative?

Joining a neurodiversity club does not obligate you to share your story. These clubs are open to anyone and everyone who wants to come together with the goal to support self-advocates and their (your) cause. Because of this, you can keep your diagnosis to yourself until you feel comfortable sharing this information with the other members of the group. You are allowed to participate as much or as little as you would like, both of which are supported by the other members of the club. Rest assured, if the time comes when you are ready to disclose your narrative, you will be met with acceptance and understanding by those around you.

What do you do if your college does not have a neurodiversity club?

Compared to other on-campus organizations, not many colleges and universities have established neurodiversity clubs. So if there is no group already on your campus, you can start your own.

The first step would be to find a faculty advisor or sponsor, usually a professor who shares your interest. Then, you need to get the school’s approval, typically through your student engagement office. While this part of the process is different at every college, your sponsor will know the process and be a helpful resource for the duration of it. Once your club is approved, you have to find members. You can advertise your organization by creating a Facebook group, submitting a post to a campus-wide email blast, or posting fliers in appropriate and approved areas. Once you have your members, you can set up a regular meeting schedule, elect club leaders, and establish a club constitution. While the final steps can seem daunting, your sponsor should be able to help you with all of the steps to get your neurodiversity club up and running.  

If you aren’t comfortable enough with your campus yet, you can still put the idea in motion. Talk to your friends, hallmates, and classmates about the idea until you are ready to take the next step towards founding your college’s neurodiversity club. A final option is to look into your school’s surrounding community to see if there are any centers or organizations with their own programs similar to a neurodiversity club.

So… what is the point?

Neurodiversity clubs are making their way onto college campuses because they are not only a resource for neurodivergent self-advocates, but also serve as a safe space for anyone seeking inclusion. Whether your school already has a neurodiversity club or not, it is up to you to find out and decide if that is the club that’s right for you. But rest assured, you will be welcomed by a group of accepting and caring individuals who will continue to support you.

References

Autistic Self Advocacy Network. (2014, February 21). Color Communication Badges. Retrieved from http://autisticadvocacy.org/2014/02/color-communication-badges/

Holden, N. (2018, June 8). Email.  

Nelson, C. (2018, June 10). Email.  

Persaud, S. (2018, June 8). Email.  

Varsity Tutors (2016, March 10). The 5 steps to starting a club at your college. Retrieved from http://college.usatoday.com/2016/03/10/5-steps-to-starting-a-club/