Neurodiversity Day 2025
By Drew Milne
On April 2, 2025, the U of A’s Sonoran Center, Autistic and Neurodivergent Student Association (ANDSA), and Disability Cultural Center (DCC) held Neurodiversity Day. Taking place on the U of A mall, Neurodiversity Day was a chance for the community to celebrate neurodiversity, grow and share understanding of neurodiversity, and share helpful resources.
Neurodiversity is the idea that there is a natural variation in the human brains and how they function. This means that conditions like Autism, ADHD, etc, are different ways of being rather than as diseases or disorders that must be cured. They come with their own strengths and weaknesses, and they offer unique perspectives and ways of interacting with the world. As Ajai Iyer, President of ANDSA, put it, “[Neurodiversity Day] promotes a non-medicalized model of neurodiversity. Neurodiversity is an inherent trait to be celebrated, not cured.” Various organizations that are run by or work with neurodiverse populations, both from the U of A and the larger Tucson community, were represented at Neurodiversity Day.
While the Sonoran Center handled most of the logistics as the main organizer, ANDSA provided tabling materials and collected student feedback about the event.
There was a strong emphasis on connecting people, neurotypical and neurodivergent alike, with information and resources that can help them. From the University, the College of Education, Disability Resource Center, the Strategic Alternative Learning Techniques (SALT) Center, and the College of Engineering ENGAGED Program all had information available - and many had mailing lists to sign up for.
Other organizations included BrainWave, Lifespan Language Lab, WorkAbility, Hope Incorporated, and Saguaro City Music Theatre. In total, over 15 organizations around Tucson tabled at the event.
“Each of the organizations invited offered a new perspective and opportunities to attendees; organizations like our collaborator on the event, the Disability Cultural Center, student resources like the SALT center, and organizations that provide educational and job opportunities, like Workability,” Ajai said.
Neurodiversity Day also featured guest speakers Bradley Irish and Gondy Leroy. Bradley Irish is a professor of English Literature at Arizona State University. He recently published a book titled “Literary Neurodiversity Studies: Current and Future Directions”, that examines the neurodivergent perspective of writers and readers of literature. Gondy Leroy is Research Director of the Center for Management Innovations in Healthcare at the U of A, as well as a professor of Management Information Systems.
“Personally, my favorite part was our keynote speaker's address. Bradley Irish is a professor of English literature at ASU and a recently diagnosed autistic scholar; he discussed his personal diagnosis journey and content from his most recent book,” Ajai explained.
Attendees could also relax and unwind by stopping for a bite to eat from Special Eats food trucks or watching a dance performance by student troupes Dia Clones and Underskore.
The Sonoran Center is proud to have been a part of this event. Thanks to all the organizers, representatives, and attendees who helped make Neurodiversity Day a success!
