Leading the Library's Neurotypicals: Neurodivergent viewpoints

This one day event is aimed at neurodivergent library and information workers who would appreciate the chance to share their experiences, and expand their knowledge of, managing or leading neurotypicals.

We'll invite talks from potential attendees as well as having structured discussions, so the full agenda will follow at a later point. Part of the day is sharing knowledge and experience, but just as important is the building of networks between ND leaders and potential leaders, which is why we've chosen an in-person event this time.

It is expected that attendees will all be neurodivergent* (self diagnoses welcome) and that it will be a safe space for honest and open discussion. We may make summaries of parts of the day more openly available to all afterwards, but only with the agreement of participants. As we understand that some attendees may not have declared their neurodivergencies, we may take photos of any presenters (with permission) during the day, but will not include any other identifiable attendees without asking permission and ask that anyone else taking photos also asks permission of anyone included.

We've tried to keep costs to a minumum, but if you need a free place and a bursary towards travel expenses, we'll aim to make some available. Get in touch to ask for details (as we haven't firmed them up yet). Anyone accepted to speak on the day will be offered a free ticket.

To help in keeping ticket prices to a minimum, lunch will not be provided (unless we gain some sponsorship between now and the event). Please bring your own lunch, or be prepared to source it from the cafe on site.

We'll be based in BCU (drama room, Curzon Building - B4 7BD - which is about a 20 minute walk from New Street train station.

Outline of the day (subject to change):

10:00-10:15 Arrive, register, tea / coffee

10:15-11:00 introductory exercise (question to consider will be sent out in advance)

11:00-11:20 Maria King. Managing Ableism and Disability Discrimination in the Workplace

Questions, changeover presenter

11:25-11:45 Jodika Gilworth. Neurotypicality as a Spectrum and Flexible Workplace Design

Questions, changeover presenter

11:50-12:10 Andrew Janes. Articulate Archiving. Leading and Stammering in a Fluent Workplace

Questions, changeover presenter

12:15-12:25 Joanne Fitzpatrick. Understanding Allistic behaviour: A checklist of actions to take when working with non-autistic staff

12:30-13:30 LUNCH

13:30-13:40 Anja Komatar. Helping Neurotypicals align their actions with the university values

Questions, changeover presenter

13:45-14:30 Emma Finney. Getting what you need in the workplace: Reasonable adjustments.

Questions, changeover presenter

14:35 Tea break

14:50-15:45 Sharing exercise (creative exercise, details will follow)

15:45-16:00 Round up, feedback, finish

Notes:

* It's called "Leading the Library's Neurotypicals" just because the alliteration was nice! We mean any library, information or archive service!

* NLISN’s activities are not normally aimed at allies or interested third parties.

Copy of the (tongue in cheek) Call for papers:

We all know how confusing neurotypicals can be, but we should be understanding of their neurotypes and learn how to support them the best we can. We welcome talks and workshops that aim to explore how neurotypicals act in the workplace and how us as neurodivergent individuals can lead and manage them effectively.

Suggested themes include:

Communication weaknesses

How can we overcome typical neurotypical communication issues such as their often strange relationships with the truth, and using subtext and hints instead of speaking plainly?

Social problems

Many neurotypicals seem unable to cope in the workplace without regular socialising, whether over lunchbreaks or outside of work. How can we enable this with out disrupting work for everyone?

Target setting and questions.

How do we encourage neurotypicals to ask appropriate questions about tasks or targets so they understand what we are aiming for? Too often they seem to jump to the wrong conclusions instead of considering things in their wider contexts.

Focus and time management.

Far too often, neurotypicals seem to be unable to (hyper)focus on a task in the final hours before a deadline. They also seem to get bored less often than normal people, so may have a smaller set of tasks on the go than the rest of us. How can we manage their time

more effectively?

Ethics and behaviour.

The neurotypicals are often strangely accepting of unfair behaviours in the workplace, especially from more senior staff, resulting in difficulties in addressing problems in the organisation. How can we encourage them to care more about unfairness and other issues so that we can create better organisations?

Note: We’re deliberately taking a slightly tongue in cheek approach, phrasing it in a way where neurodivergencies are seen as the desirable norm and neurotypical ways of working the oddities. Don’t feel like you have to take this approach, we’re really interested in how neurodivergent library workers can manage neurotypicals more effectively