STEM-Focused Materials and Reports Developed

DYNA STEM Planning Grant Outcomes Report

This brief report describes the process of the planning grant and includes the following final recommendations organized by four key tenets of access:

  • Universal Design for Learning: Acknowledge differences in the ways neurodiverse undergraduate students perceive, approach, and interact with new information and skills.
  • Adult Learning Principles: Acknowledge neurodiverse undergraduate students as adult learners who bring diverse learning histories to the classroom.
  • Trauma-informed Teaching and Learning: Acknowledge that learning histories for neurodiverse undergraduate students may be positive, negative, or indifferent.
  • Intersectionality: Acknowledge the intersectionality of cultural backgrounds, identities, and personal histories that neurodiverse undergraduate students bring to their pursuit of a STEM degree.

Strategic Plan for Improving the STEM Learning Ecosystem for Neurodiverse Undergraduate Students

This strategic plan includes discussion of the undergraduate STEM learning ecosystem, the strategic planning process (including vision and mission), the main planning results themes, and recommendations. Highlights include the following.

Theme 1 focuses on how a neurodiverse student navigates from college to industry and includes the following sub-themes:

    • The need for flexibility; acknowledging differences; not segregating students with disabilities; neurodiverse student are in demand and can be interns; self-perception of neurodiversity; faculty beliefs that neurodiverse students can succeed in STEM;

      STEM Focused Presentations

      Equity in Postsecondary Education for Students with Disabilities

      AUCD Conference

      Jin Hye-Park, Kiriko Takahashi, University of Hawaii-Manoa, Center for Disability Studies, Ronda Jenson, Sakenya McDonald, Kelly Roberts, Northern Arizona University, Institute for Human Development, Randall Owen University of Nevada-Reno, Nevada Center for Excellence in Disabilities

      Transition from HS to Post-Secondary, untapped talent, characteristics of successful STEM students, academic enrichment, mentoring, hands-on and independent options, diversity as disability, disability in diversity strategic plans, definition of STEM and neurodiversity, student voice

      Engaging Neurodiverse College Students Effectively

      AAC&U Conference on Diversity, Equity, and Student Success

      Dr. Ronda Jenson, TAPDINTO-STEM, Northern Arizona University and Scott Bellman, Neuroscience for Neurodiverse Learners, University of Washington

      Universal Design, hands-on learning, student-driven content, AT, peer mentoring, STEM post-secondary student voice, neurodiversity as diversity, intersectionality of culture, identity, and history, diversity in ways of learning, K-12 successful informal stem learning

      Providing Inclusive & Accessible Learning Experiences to Student Scientists with Disabilities

      Bi-Annual Conference Colorado

      Dr. Jade Metzger-Riftkin and Dr. Ronda Jenson, Institute for Human Development, Northern Arizona University

      Inclusive Teaching and Learning in Postsecondary Courses: Diversity, Disability, and Intersectionality in Action

      International Conference on Comprehensive Education for Children with Special Needs

      Dr. Ronda Jenson, Institute for Human Development, Northern Arizona University

      Discovering the Neurodiversity Advantage in Science, Technology, Engineering, & Math (STEM)

      Evidence for Success Conference

      Dr. Ronda Jenson, Institute for Human Development, Northern Arizona University

      Elevating Neurodiversity in STEM

      DEI Speaker Series: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

      Dr. Ronda Jenson, Institute for Human Development, Northern Arizona University

      Real Stories from Neurodiverse Students

      STEM & Neurodiversity: A Capacity Building Institute for STEM Faculty at Community & Technical Colleges

      Dr. Ronda Jenson, Institute for Human Development, Northern Arizona University

      When STEM Learning Opportunities Match

      Access to Informal STEM Learning Capacity Building Institute| University of Washington

      Dr. Ronda Jenson, Institute for Human Development, Northern Arizona University

      What is Meant by Neurodiversity and What do Neurodiverse Students Want?

      Neurodiverse Students in STEM: A CBI for Postsecondary Faculty and Staff

      Dr. Ronda Jenson, TAPDINTO-STEM, Northern Arizona University and Scott Bellman, Neuroscience for Neurodiverse Learners, University of Washington

      NSF Includes Analysis (Condensed)

      Dr. Ronda Jenson, Institute for Human Development, Northern Arizona University

      Elevating Neurodiversity as Diversity in Postsecondary Undergraduate Stem Education

      38th Annual Pacific Rim International Conference on Disability and Diversity

      Ronda Jenson, Michele Lee, Kelly Roberts, Northern Arizona University, Institute for Human Development