[Commlist] Cultures of Neurodiversity Workshop

*Cultures of Neurodiversity*

*A free one-day workshop exploring neurodiversity through Cultural Studies*

*Tuesday, 10 November 2026 *

The concept of neurodiversity was developed by scholars and activists to 
counter the selective pathologisation of neurological differences. 
Consistent with the social model of disability, and associated 
crossdisciplinary research fields such as neuroqueer theory, crip theory 
and critical autism studies it critiques assumptions that majoritarian 
neurotypical norms constitute default standards by which neurotypes, 
communication styles, socialities and ways of being should be judged, 
and it proposes an alternative basis for affirming neurodivergent 
identities.

Despite strong affinities between neurodiversity scholarship and 
Cultural Studies, relatively little research has connected them 
directly. This workshop aims to foster dialogue through discussions of 
representation, cultural practices and education.

*9:15-10:15am /Opening Panel: Cultural Perspectives on Neurodiversity/*

Bree Hadley (QUT) – Neurodivergent Friendships as Method? Building 
Cultures of Affective Belonging In Arts Education and Employment

Gerard Goggin (WSU) – Elective Digital Affinities at the Interface of 
Neurodiversity & Cultural Disability Studies

*//*

*MORNING BREAK*

*10:30–11:50am /Representation Panel /*

  * Karen-Anne Coleman (Usyd) – Freaks, Geeks and Wundersmiths:
    Representations of Autistic Children in Film and Literature
  * Vivien Nara (Usyd) – Mental health and neurodivergence in Korean drama
  * Guy Redden (Usyd) – Autism in Crime Drama
  * Wenqi Tan (Usyd) –  Neurodivergent Sociality and (Mis)Fitting in
    Virtual Reality

*LUNCH*

*12:30– 1:45pm /Practice Panel /*

  * Mila Heneck (Usyd) – The Stockade, Sunset Ducks//and safe harbour:
    building neurodiverse worlds-within-worlds at Australian regional
    Burning Man events.
  * Soomin Hong (Usyd) – In love with the system: an autistic reflection
    on studying play
  *
    Siri Williams (Usyd) – What is it Like to Be a Psychedelic Bat?
    Neurodiversity and the Psychedelic Experience.

*AFTERNOON BREAK*
*
*
*2:00-2:45pm /Closing Panel: Neurodiversity and Education/*
Adam Gall (Usyd), Damian Mellifont (Usyd), Bec Plumbe (Usyd)


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