“Neurodivergent people are already here”: The compatibilities between neurodiversity and academia

Many neurodivergent people embrace the unique ways in which their minds process, learn, and experience the world to great success in academia. This is the case for Dr. Zack Marshall, PhD, despite his discouraging first experiences in graduate school. Reflecting on both his academic and non-academic career, Marshall explores a vision for higher education that embraces neurodivergent students.

A discouraging exit and passionate return  

During his first graduate school experience, in 1994, Marshall didn’t have access to many accommodations or support from faculty and peers. Accommodations that are now common across higher education, such as quiet testing areas and extended test times, were not available in most graduate education, explains Marshall. Key supports were absent and Marshall had to advocate for his own needs while he was still in the process of discovering these himself. He eventually withdrew from his first master’s program in 1994.

“I was really discouraged after this. I thought an academic career just wasn’t for me,” says Marshall. 

Marshall left academia for several years and began working for community-led social justice initiatives. It was during this part of his career, a time which coincided with his gender transition, that Marshall started questioning the lack of transgender-led research for the transgender community. A passion to correct this gap motivated him to return to graduate school.  

Now as an associate professor and graduate program director for the Department of Community Health Sciences, Marshall passes along what he has learned throughout his career. He encourages students to communicate openly about strengths and challenges, to listen to the wisdom of their lived experiences, and to embrace what naturally drives them.  

Imperfect compatibilities  

Universities are at the beginning of their journey to acknowledge and support the neuro-diverse in a way that already exists in other institutions, says Marshall. He explains that universities historically found identity and value from their exclusivity. Inclusive practices such as flexibility in how information is communicated, and the widespread availability of tactile tools or fidget toys challenge these traditions. For Marshall, the future for universities exists in finding pride and identity from inclusive innovation. 

“We’re not lowering the bar,” says Marshall. “We’re asking for a values change.”

Despite this history, he believes there are compatibilities between neurodivergent brains and the demands of an academic career. Marshall shares that a scholarly career requires deep focus and curiosity, attention to detail, and a willingness to think outside the box. These traits align with the strengths Marshall attributes to his neurodivergence. He doesn’t believe he is alone in this experience.  

Despite his optimism, navigating institutional changes are not without their costs.

“We still hold people to traditional expectations. It can be difficult for institutions to acknowledge unique contributions outside of established metrics, and to figure out how to do this on a larger scale.”

Marshall says that further inclusive change is not only possible but necessary. In his experience, the support of diverse leaders, heeding the wisdom of younger neurodivergent people, and a growing cultural awareness of neurodiversity is integral to making higher education more inclusive for neurodivergent people. In his own work, Marshall practices acknowledging the academic contributions of neurodivergent people throughout history and normalizing discussions about how students do their best work, as part of building a research team. 

For Marshall, academia is uniquely poised to embrace neurodiversity because of the pre-existing, albeit imperfect, compatibilities between neurodivergent strengths and scholarly skills. With increasing visibility and community on campus, Marshall remains hopeful.

“Neurodivergent people are already here so the change needs to happen here.”