As of 2020, 15-20 percent of the population was estimated to have some form of neurodivergence (Doyle 2020). Resources and research are primarily geared towards children but there aren’t many resources for those children once they’ve grown into adults. This project seeks to create a resource for neurodivergent adults that is representative of a range of neurodivergent identities, racial/ethnic backgrounds, gender identities, and socioeconomic status who have been working in a field for more than one year. We will collect anonymous survey responses to examine trends of accessibility and satisfaction with different career paths. These surveys will be followed by an optional zoom interview.
Our findings will provide neurodivergent adults with more insight into different careers and what they might expect going into the field. These data will also illustrate career changes and advice that responders would give to someone looking to join the field. The knowledge gained from this project will contribute to the employability of neurodivergent adults as well as their satisfaction and wellbeing.
Neurodivergent identities will be defined as individuals who self-identify as having one or more of the following diagnoses: Autism Spectrum Disorder, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, developmental speech disorders, dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyspraxia, dyscalculia, dysnomia, intellectual disability, Tourette syndrome, bipolar disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, or Major Depressive Disorder. Though Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Major Depressive Disorder are not generally considered official diagnosis under the “neurodivergent” umbrella, they co-occur commonly other neurodivergent identities. Identification with Autism Spectrum Disorder includes individuals who were diagnosed with “Asperger syndrome” before it was removed from the DSM-5.