Beyond Normal: Neurodivergence at the University

This year’s Diversity Days 2026 took place on 18 and 19 May, focusing on neurodiversity in a higher education context. Under the title ‘Beyond Normal’, the two-day event featured talks and workshops on ADHD, autism and neurodiversity. All sessions were fully booked in advance and were very well attended, both in person and via the hybrid livestream. We were delighted to have you all there!

What is Neurodivergence?

The term neurodiversity describes the range of all neurological functions, while the expression neurodivergence refers to individual variations within this spectrum. It is estimated that up to 20% of the population are neurodivergent – yet their perspectives, needs, and potentials are often overlooked in everyday life, in the education system, and in the workplace. Consciously addressing neurological diversity is therefore an important step towards real inclusion. This is why we took a closer look at the topic.

Lectures

Following a welcome address by Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Förster and an introduction by the moderator Céline Bartholomaeus, the first day began with a lecture on the topic ‘Who defines normal? - Neurodivergence at the interplay of pathology, paradigm shift and inclusion’. Diversity trainers Maren Frank and Jessica Stazzone Manazza discussed fundamental questions regarding normality, diagnosis and participation, particularly in the context of (higher) education.

Afterwards, Prof. Dr. Alexandra Philipsen, Director of the Clinic and Polyclinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy at the University Hospital Bonn, spoke about ADHD in adulthood from a clinical perspective. Finally, Beccs Riley spoke from an activist perspective on studying with autism under the title “Superpower, subclinic, studying – autism at university”.

Workshops

On the second day of the event, two workshops took place in the early afternoon, one for students and the other for counsellors and lecturers at the University of Bonn. Led by Beccs Riley and therapist Alexandra Harth, the workshops provided participants with information on neurodiversity and practical measures for fostering an inclusive environment at university. The workshop for students focused on autistic perception, barriers to studying and (personal) approaches to overcoming them. The workshop for lecturers and counsellors focused on neuro-sensitive communication and explained how challenging conversational situations can be handled confidently and clearly.

Reading

The event concluded with a reading from the book "Behindert und Verrückt - Jetzt reden Wir!" (Disabled and Mad – Now We Are Talking!). The editors and two authors from the association "Disability and Mad Pride Bonn" read from a selection of 41 contributions on the topic of ableism from disabled people’s perspectives. True to the motto of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, ‘Nothing about us without us’, the book gives a voice to people with chronic illnesses, people with physical disabilities, people with mental health conditions, neurodivergent people, and deaf and hard-of-hearing people. The book can be purchased on the association’s website.

Inclusive Design

As we aim not only to discuss inclusion but also to put it into practice, the event was explicitly designed to be neurodiversity-friendly. Various seating options were available, such as exercise balls, desk bikes and standing stools, as well as sensory toys and earplugs. An external awareness team was on hand at all times to offer support, and participants could retreat to a separate, dimly lit room. Almost all the speakers were neurodivergent themselves and were therefore able to speak not only from an expert perspective but also from their own experience.