Information on New Affinity Group for Neurodivergent Faculty

Fri, 17 Jun 2022 14:25:10 -0400

Dear AAAFSC Members:

I'd like to share some information on a new affinity group for Staff and Faculty that Tory Williams in FDC is working to put together. Please share this email in your networks and complete the google form below to get in touch with Tory.

Many thanks,

Tamara Bhalla

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Dear UMBC Staff and Faculty,

My name is Tory Williams, and over my 15-year relationship with UMBC I have held roles as a graduate student in biology, faculty member in education, and currently serve as staff in the Faculty Development Center. I am taking steps to establish a new affinity group in our campus community for Neurodivergent Staff & Faculty (and those interested in showing allyship toward this population).

Neurodivergent Staff & Faculty are those that identify as, but not limited to…autistic, ADHD/ADD, bipolar, learning disabled, cognitively disabled, Tourette Syndrome, epileptic, dyspraxic, OCD, etc. In alignment with the inclusive nature of both the Neurodiversity Movement and the Social Model of Disability, staff and faculty who self-identify under the neurodivergent umbrella are welcome, regardless of access to medical or professional diagnoses.

Per the helpful guidance of my faculty and staff peers at UMBC, my first step in building a Neurodivergent affinity group is to invite community members to share any expressed interest in joining such a group. Once I measure the collective need or desire for a group, my next step will be to invite interested parties to discuss plans for an executive committee and outlining bylaws.

If you are a current staff or faculty member at UMBC with potential interest in a neurodivergent affinity group, please click here to respond to this short google form.

If you are a student at UMBC with potential interest in a neurodivergent affinity group, you may also respond to the form, and your responses may encourage the development of a parallel student or cross-sectional group.

Thank you for your time and consideration,

Tory Williams, PhD (she/her)
Assistant Director for Pedagogical Research
Faculty Development Center
UMBC