Key Definitions
This term describes a person whose brain functioning differs from what’s considered “Typical.”
Neurodivergent
Offering books in large type format, graphic novels, and showing a patron how to change font size and type on an eBook would be helpful for accommodations for those with this type of learning disability.
Dyslexia
ADHD is short for what?
Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Cost, insurance, long waitlists, few qualified clinicians, transportation, getting time off from work, language barriers and unclear referral pathways are all examples of what when getting a diagnosis of a neurodivergent condition?
Barriers to access
This affinity group is for BCPL employees who identify as neurodivergent.
Neuroverse
This term describes a person who is not affected by a condition that changes how information is processed or has “typical” neurological development.
Neurotypical
This behavior regulates emotions, manages sensory input or expresses excitement, and can appear through repetitive movements, sounds, or actions.
Stimming
This developmental disorder impacts how folks communicate, interact, and perceive the world.
Autism Spectrum Disorder
This gender group is frequently diagnosed with neurodiverse conditions later in life, if diagnosed at all, since they are better at masking stereotypical traits, experience more internalized behaviors, and there are gendered flaws in diagnostic tests.
Women/AFAB Individuals
Employees seeking support or workplace adjustment can contact these people to request reasonable accommodation.
Their supervisor & the branch/department's HRBP
The concept that no two brains are the same, that there is no such thing as a normal brain, and that every person has strengths and areas they need assistance with.
Neurodiversity
Common library stress points for those experiencing this common neurodivergent trait include filling out forms, remembering passwords, printing, multi-step technology tasks, waiting, and having to switch tasks while focused on one thing.
Executive disfunction
This disorder is characterized by intrusive, unwanted, and reoccurring thoughts, urges, or mental images that cause significant anxiety or distress, which then leads to repetitive behaviors.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
This cause of late-in-life diagnosis is when medical professionals mistake traits of a neurodivergent condition as a psychological diagnosis such as anxiety or depression.
Misdiagnosis or diagnostic overshadowing.
This BCPL staff member made videos on guided meditation and grounding exercises to help reduce stress.
Ellie Camlin
This describes the conscious or unconscious act of suppressing neurodivergent traits to conform to societal expectations, in which individuals consciously or unconsciously learn social scripts, mimic social behaviors, and suppress visible traits.
Masking
This state of being, caused by external factors such as strong smells, specific noises or bright lighting, could present as shutting down, leaving abruptly, irritability, pacing, covering ears or eyes, and struggling to communicate.
Sensory overload
Tourette’s syndrome is characterized by involuntary, repetitive, and sudden movements or vocal sounds known as what?
Tics
Saying “Everyone is a little autistic” and “I’m a little OCD” and are examples of what?
Microaggressions
This program is available to all BCPL employees and their family members and can provide one-on-one counseling and connect them to further mental health resources.
The Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
This term describes the set of cognitive processes that help us plan, reason, and stay on task.
Executive functioning
When a neurodiverse person masks their behavior regularly, it can lead to this long-term condition that can be defined by symptoms such as exhaustion, loss of previously held functions and skills, and reduced tolerance to sensory inputs.
Burnout
Children of color being more likely to be labeled as having “behavior problems” and grown adults being more likely to be labeled as “dangerous” rather than neurodivergent.
Medical Racism
This piece of legislation requires workplaces to provide reasonable accommodation to disabled individuals and protects them from discrimination.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)