How Do We Effectively Change Pathologizing Perspectives on Neurodivergence?

Cultural Autism Studies at Yale (CASY, ethnography project led by Dr. Dawn Prince-Hughes) is delighted to welcome Stacy Greeter, MD; Charnell Widnall, LMHC; Kimberly Rust, PhD; and Alie Garza, LCSW on Monday, March 23, 6:30pm EDT (5:30pm CDT, 3:30pm PDT). There is no cost to attend, and international participants are welcome.

TITLE: How Do We Effectively Change Pathologizing Perspectives on Neurodivergence?

DESCRIPTION: What will it take for the neurodiversity paradigm to become widely accepted within academia, medical practice, and society at large? How do we effectively broaden the perspectives of those entrenched in strictly deficit-based models? Drawing upon a diverse body of research from neurobiology, political science, sociology, and psychology, panelists will explore the greatest barriers to shifting from a deficit-based model to a neurodiversity-affirming model and propose solutions on multiple scales: one-on-one with individual patients / parents, within academic systems, and throughout society at large. With the recent rise in misinformation and heightened polarization of communities, this presentation has far-reaching implications.

BRIEF BIOS:
Stacy Greeter, MD (she/her) is an Autistic and ADHD child/adolescent and adult psychiatrist with a group practice located in Sarasota, FL, who sees patients via telehealth in Florida, Colorado, and Washington State. Learn more on YouTube @stacygreetermd
Charnell Widnall, LMHC (she/her) is an Autistic Licensed Mental Health Counselor in private practice in Tampa, FL. She offers counseling exclusively to Autistic adolescents and adults and their families.
Kimberly Rust, PhD (she/her) is a neurodivergent psychologist doing therapy and assessments in Deland, FL.
Alie Garza LCSW (she/her) draws on her own lived experience with OCD and ADHD and runs OCD and Anxiety Center of Colorado, a neurodiversity affirming intensive outpatient program in Denver, CO.

ABOUT Cultural Autism Studies at Yale (CASY): An 'ethnography' is an exploration of how a group of people express themselves in a cultural way. Autistic people have a growing kind of culture, and each autistic experience is a vital part of it. Dr. Dawn Prince-Hughes is an anthropologist, ethnographer, primatologist, and author who is autistic. Join her for an exploration of the importance of autistic self-expression and the culture that grows from it. Those who wish to share their content are free to do so on our private Facebook groups (see below), organically contributing to a growing autistic culture.

Links to online events will also be shared on these private Facebook groups: CASY Cultural Autism Studies at Yale (recommended for autistic adults) and SOCIAL CONNECTIVITY FOR AUTISM (recommended for allies, professionals, and family members).

CREDITS: The preparation of this material was financed under an agreement with the Connecticut Council on Developmental Disabilities (CTCDD). CASY Sparks membership and events are free. CASY Sparks is sponsored in part by The Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation Adult Autism Research Fund, and Dr. Roger Jou