Supporting Neurodiverse Students in Academic Libraries

Neurodiverse students encounter myriad barriers and hurdles to thriving in academia, and there is an increasing need for all types of accessibility in our libraries. Librarians and educators working in academic institutions can partner with neurodiverse students to help them flourish on campus and establish community.
 
In five parts, Supporting Neurodiverse Students in Academic Libraries offers practical advice that can be easily implemented and scaled to various types, sizes, and budgets of libraries. 

• Instruction
• Services
• Cross-Campus Collaborations
• Resources
• Spaces 

Chapters include effective practices for students with autism spectrum disorder, brain trauma, and PTSD, but also depression, anxiety, and other mental health disorders. Supporting Neurodiverse Students in Academic Libraries demonstrates the power of working alongside students to create welcoming spaces, services, and resources that can help all students succeed.

Amanda Boyer is the student success librarian at Susquehanna University, where she has worked since 2021 and also earned her undergraduate degree. She holds an MLIS from Kent State University (2020) and has experience in medical, public, and academic libraries. Her research focuses on accessibility, neurodivergence, social justice in libraries, and supporting first-year students. She has published several research articles and a book chapter, and has presented her work at numerous conferences and workshops. This book extends her ongoing efforts to create accessible library spaces for neurodivergent students, a mission she continues to pursue in collaboration with the university's Counseling and Psychological Services' Neurodivergent and Autism Spectrum Therapy Group and the newly founded Autism Student Union.
 
Amir EI-Chidiac is a librarian and instructor at the Community College of Philadelphia. Formally, they were a diversity resident librarian at Susquehanna University. Amir holds an MFA from the New College of California (2007) and an MLS from North Carolina Central University (2021). Amir's academic and creative writing has been widely published. As a disabled and neurodivergent librarian, Amir is passionate about creating accessible library spaces for diverse student populations and creating a space for knowledge sharing, exploration, joy, and relaxation.