Late last year, the Measurement Lab hosted its first event since the launch of the #CriticalNeurodiversityStudies 24/25 takeover.
Co-led by Dr. Louise Creechan and Dr. Robert Chapman, and facilitated by Bentley Crudgington from the Creative Facilitation Unit, the Neurodiversity-Curious Durham Scoping Event took place on Wednesday, 13th November 2024, from 2–4 pm.
The afternoon aimed to connect Lab members with scholars across the University interested in neurodiversity, explore possibilities for future collaboration, and learn more about current research in the field at Durham. Reflecting the nature of this work, the event was designed as a ‘relaxed workshop’—a format borrowed from accessible theatre—allowing attendees to participate in ways that suited them, including stimming as needed. A ‘coloured badge’ system was also used to indicate communication preferences, fostering an inclusive and supportive environment.
Participants represented a range of disciplines, including Literary Studies, Philosophy, Modern Languages, Psychology, and Biology, with 15 scholars in attendance. Together, we identified key barriers to conducting meaningful research on neurocognitive difference and shared experiences of navigating academia as neurodivergent researchers. The diversity of perspectives enriched discussions on how neurodiversity is conceptualized and approached across fields.
Dr. Creechan and Dr. Chapman introduced ongoing discussions about a possible critical turn in Neurodiversity Studies, a shift gaining traction among scholars. Group discussions explored how this turn might intersect with recent developments in the Medical Humanities and what Neurodiversity Studies might learn from—or do differently in response to—these evolving conversations.
With this in mind, the upcoming Critical Neurodiversity Studies conference (26–27 June 2025, Durham & Online) was announced as a key moment to further develop these discussions. The scoping event set the stage for what promises to be a dynamic and generative event ahead— have a look at our call for papers and make sure to join us!
