Please also visit our Neurodiversity at Work page to learn more about the Stanford Neurodiverse Candidate Reigistry.

Employers, please visit our Neurodiversity at Work page to learn more about our program and the Stanford Neurodiversity Job Bank.

About the Stanford Neurodiversity Project

What is Neurodiversity?

Neurodiversity is a concept that regards individuals with differences in brain function and behavioral traits as part of normal variation in the human population.

The movement of Neurodiversity is about uncovering the strengths of neurodiverse individuals and utilizing their talents to increase innovation and productivity of the society as a whole.

Our Key Objectives

  • Establish a culture that treasures the strengths of neurodiverse individual
  • Empower neurodiverse individuals to build their identity and enhance their long-term skills of daily living throughout the lifespan
  • Attract talented neurodiverse individuals to study and work at Stanford
  • Train talented individuals to work with the neurodiverse population
  • Disseminate the Stanford Neurodiversity Model locally, nationally, and internationally
  • Maximize the potential of neurodiversity

Program News and Events

Current and Upcoming Events

Dec December 11 Mon 2023

Special Interest Group for Neurodiversity

"Neurodiversity As Disagreement About What Exists"

Elle Benjamin, PhD, UC Berkeley

Recording

Jan January 22 Mon 2024

Special Interest Group for Neurodiversity

"Neurodivergent Success in Graduate School"

Jessica Schonhut-Stasik, MSc

Astronomy Doctoral Candidate, Vanderbilt University

Feb February 26 Mon 2024

Special Interest Group for Neurodiversity

"Helping Autistic Adults Develop Self-Compassion"

Ru Ying Cai, PhD, Autism Spectrum Australia and La Trobe University

Chris Edwards, PhD, Autism Spectrum Australia and Griffith University

Feb February 29 Thu 2024

Grand Rounds, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Rochester Medical Center

Rochester, New York

“The Strengths-Based Model of Neurodiversity: Applications in Education, Employment, and Clinical Settings"

Lawrence Fung, MD, PhD, Stanford University

Mar March 03 Sun 2024

Exploring Neurodiversity in Healthcare and Medicine  

Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York

Mar March 07 Thu 2024

Disability Rights and Inclusion: A Multidisciplinary Conference, Touro Law Center

Central Islip, New York

“Applying the Strengths-Based Model of Neurodiversity in the Workplace"

Lawrence Fung, MD, PhD, Stanford University

Mar March 18 Mon 2024

Special Interest Group for Neurodiversity

Nidhi Mishra

Founder and CEO, Bookosmia

Mar March 19 Tue 2024

Neurodiversity Association Hong Kong

Hong Kong

“Unleashing the Power of Neurodiversity, a New Concept in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion"

Lawrence Fung, MD, PhD, Stanford University

Mar March 22 Fri 2024

Neurodiversity Celebration Week

“Good Practice for Neurodiversity Professionals"

Apr April 11 Thu 2024

Beautiful Minds: Neurodiversity, Equity and Inclusion Conference, University of Michigan

Ann Arbor, Michigan

"Neurodiversity in the Workplace"

Lawrence Fung, MD, PhD, Stanford University

Apr April 15 Mon 2024

Special Interest Group for Neurodiversity

Rev. Jennifer DeBusk Alviar

Unitarian Universalist Community Ministry

May May 02 Thu 2024

Grand Rounds, Department of Psychiatry, Brigham and Women Hospital and Harvard Medical School

Boston, Massachussetts

“Neurodiversity in Psychiatric Practice"

Lawrence Fung, MD, PhD, Stanford University

May May 20 Mon 2024

Special Interest Group for Neurodiversity

Mona Kay, MSW, PhD, Host of the “Neurodiverse Love” podcast

Greg Fuqua, MA, Divergent Coaching and Consulting

Jun June 05 Wed 2024

Opening Keynote, American Association of Occupational Health Nurses (AAOHN) National Conference

“Neurodiversity and Strengths-Based Approaches in Medicine"

Lawrence Fung, MD, PhD, Stanford University

Feb February 25 Tue 2025

Behavioral Health Grand Rounds, Penn Medicine Princeton House Behavioral Health and University of Pennsylvania

Princeton, New Jersey

“Neurodiversity: The New Diversity"

Lawrence Fung, MD, PhD, Stanford University

Program News

January 2023

California Department of Developmental Services awarded Dr. Lawrence Fung and his team on a new project to develop and assess a curriculum designed to train job coaches to support regional center consumers with intellectual / developmental disabilities.

March 25 2021

Stanford Neurodiversity Project and DPR Construction signed an agreement to start a pilot Neurodiversity at Work Program at DPR Construction.

Dec 9 2020

Stanford Neurodiversity Project and Google signed an agreement to start a pilot Neurodiversity at Work Program at Google Cloud.

Openings

Neurodiversity Publications

Jan January 2024

A dual design thinking - universal design approach to catalyze neurodiversity advocacy through collaboration among high-schoolers

Schuck, R.K. and Fung, L.K.  

Front Psychiatry. 2024 Jan 10:14:1250895. 

doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1250895.

Aug August 2022

Neurodiversity: An Invisible Strength?

Fung, L.K., Ulrich, T.L., Fujimoto, K.T., Taheri, M.  

JOM 74, 3200–3202 (2022).

https://doi.org/10.1007/s11837-022-05454-2 

May May 2022

A Scoping Review of Peer Mentoring Programs for Autistic College Students.

Isabelle F. Morris, Christy Matta, Lawrence K. Fung

Review Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.

https://doi.org/10.1007/s40489-022-00325-7 

Jan January 2022

Nov November 05 Fri 2021

Quick Links Featuring the Stanford Neurodiversity Project in the Media:

Stanford Medicine SCOPE 10k, May 3, 2023

Scienceline, March 4, 2023

Stanford Alumni Weekend: Classes without Quizzes, October 20, 2022

Past Events (including recordings of presentations in past Special Interest Group meetings)