Neurodivergent Staff Research Roundtable
In June, the Support for Neurodivergent Staff research group held its first event - a research roundtable. With funding from the Learned Society of Wales ECR network workshop grant fund, the team invited academics and professional services staff from UK universities to come to Wrexham campus for a semi-structured conversation about neuro-inclusive universities.
The research method was a World Café Style setup, where attendees sit around a table answering a specific question, after the allotted time they move tables and questions until everyone has been to each table. The team tried to include a mixture of academic subjects alongside professional services staff and visiting researchers on each table to gather a range of opinions across job roles. There was also plenty of stim/fidget toys available on the tables for staff and participants to use whilst participating in the roundtable event.
What the research group asked attendees:
• What are the barriers to being neuro-inclusive?
• What does a neuro-inclusive university look like to you?
• How would you make your own university neuro-inclusive?
• What does your university currently do to support neurodivergent staff?
These questions delivered great insights, and the team is currently analysing the data using Qualitative Description. Alongside this, members of the research team (Neurodivergent & Neurotypical) have written reflections about the event and how they found moderating the different tables.
It was such a great day with the opportunity for so many different voices to be heard and I'm really proud of our Neurodiverse research group.
One key message from the data indicates that CHOICE is important. Whether that's choosing to work from home or in the office, choosing the level of lighting in a room, or choosing to communicate via different channels; allowing individuals, especially those who are neurodivergent, to have agency over their workload and environment is key.
The research team has recently conducted a collaborative reflection exercise and will next be recruiting UK university staff for interviews to explore personal experiences of either being a neurodivergent staff member in higher education, or line managing a neurodivergent staff member.
Stay tuned for further updates - if you're interested in knowing more, contact the principal investigator, emma.harrison@wrexham.ac.uk.