Prof. Dr Irmgard Förster, Vice Rector for Equal Opportunity and Diversity, took to the stage to open the event. In her opening address, she reflected on the event’s title and questioned what “normal” actually means, who determines it, and what we might discover if we look beyond what is considered “normal”. “Overall, we all still know far too little about neurodiversity and what inclusive working and study conditions for neurodivergent people might look like. That is why the Diversity Days [...] aim to educate and raise awareness on the topics of neurodiversity, ADHD and autism, and to provide concrete support for everyday life through workshops for students and staff,” emphasised Förster.
To make the Diversity Days as neurodivergence-friendly as possible, the event rooms featured alternative seating options as well as opportunities for stimming, moving around, leaving the room and using fidget toys. An Awareness Team was also present at all times. Céline Bartholomaeus (Kritik & Kreppband) led the day, linking the various contributions through her lively, discrimination-sensitive and expert moderation, whilst incorporating questions from the audience.
What does neurodivergence mean?
To introduce the topic of Diversity Days, Maren Frank, a diversity trainer and alternative practitioner specialising in psychotherapy, and Jessica Stazzone Manazza, a diversity trainer, coach and queer migrant activist, gave a talk on neurodiversity in the context of pathology, paradigm shifts and inclusion. They questioned the meaning of “normal” and explained the difference between neurodiversity and neurodivergence: whilst neurodiversity refers to the diversity of all neurological functioning, neurodivergence refers to individual variations within the spectrum. The talk then explored these concepts in relation to diagnosis, barriers faced by neurodivergent individuals, and participation in educational and higher education contexts. In doing so, they criticised deficit-oriented language and the resulting stigmatisation in interactions with neurodivergent people. The presentation offered a two-sided conclusion, noting that whilst academic education structurally disadvantages neurodivergent people, it also offers them just as many freedoms. Looking ahead, suggestions for improved neuroinclusion were put forward.
ADHD in adults
The following lecture by Prof. Dr. Alexandra Philipsen (Director of the Clinic and Polyclinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy at the University Hospital Bonn) focused on a clinical perspective on ADHD in adulthood. Key topics included the diagnostic process and the consequences of ADHD, as well as the reasons behind the rising number of girls and women affected by ADHD in recent years. Prof. Philipsen focused in particular on diagnosis in adulthood and, drawing on studies, illustrated the effectiveness of drug therapy. Given the behavioural nature of ADHD, she discussed the potential benefits of lifestyle adjustments: rituals, physical activity, mindfulness and being mindful of one’s surroundings could all, alongside psychotherapeutic support, be helpful in managing ADHD symptoms.
Autism at university
Following the talk on ADHD, Beccs Riley, founder of Minzgespinst and DEIB consultant, explored the topic of autism in higher education in a session entitled “Superpower, subclinic, studying – autism at university”. Beccs explained why being diagnosed and identified as autistic is so important, and what this means for the subclinical sector. Above all, they criticised the inadequate provision within higher education for autistic brains, which function differently from neurotypical ones, and put forward suggestions for better inclusion.
Exchange of Experiences
To round off the first day of the event, a networking meeting was held at 6 pm for key stakeholders from the Vice Rectorate and the Equal Opportunity and Diversity Unit at the University of Bonn. On the second day, workshops for teaching staff and counsellors, as well as for students, were held to get a deeper understanding of neurodiversity. This provided an opportunity to reflect on individual ways of bringing about change to existing structures and for participants to engage in dialogue with one another.
Lead by Beccs Riley, the first workshop took place on the topic “Autism in the university context: different operation systems, same rights”. In this session, participants learned more about autistic perceptions and developed solutions to improve accessibility in higher education. The workshop also focused on the strengths of neurodiversity, creating empowering moments through interactive and practical activities.
The second workshop of the day, “Sensitive communication relating to autism and neurodivergence in the university context” by Alexandra Harth, was aimed at counsellors and lecturers at the University of Bonn. The central theme of this practical and eye-opening workshop was neuro-sensitive communication. “People on the autism spectrum do not initially experience university as a place of learning, but as a place of adaptation,” explained Harth. She then turned her attention to raising awareness of autism, explaining what autism means and what symptoms occur often. To better illustrate the perceptions of people with autism, she gave participants exercises on typical misunderstandings and sensory processing. At the end, the group worked together to identify ways of making the university environment more inclusive.
Now we're talking!
The event concluded with a reading organised by the “Disability and Mad Pride Bonn” association, featuring the editors and two of the authors from the book "Behindert und Verückt – Jetzt reden Wir!" (Disabled and Mad - Now we are talking!). In keeping with the motto of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, “Nothing about us without us”, the aim was to highlight the perspectives of people with disabilities and the challenges they face in everyday life. Several selected contributions gave a voice to people who wrote about their lives, their experiences, ableism and community. After each contribution, the floor was opened for questions and discussion. For the closing remarks, the Head of the Equal Opportunity and Diversity Unit, Annabelle Krause-Pilatus, stepped forward to thank all participants of the Diversity Days.
