Call for Chapters in the Edited Volume- “Neurodivergent Narratives of Navigating Academia: In Our Own Words”
Submission Deadline for Abstracts: January 31, 2025

As an autistic professor, I am excited to announce a call for chapters for an upcoming edited volume that explores the personal and professional journeys of neurodivergent professors. This volume aims to highlight the unique experiences, challenges, and strengths of neurodivergent individuals in academia, fostering greater understanding and inclusivity within academic institutions.

About the Volume

This edited volume, under contract with Syracuse University Press, will compile 8-10 narratives from neurodivergent professors, each contributing a roughly 5000-word chapter that delves into their journey to becoming a professor. The chapters will provide a rich tapestry of experiences, showcasing the diversity and resilience of neurodivergent academics. The volume will be structured around several key themes to ensure coherence and depth.

Chapter Outline

Each chapter should follow the detailed outline below, ensuring that the narratives are impactful, relatable, and contribute meaningfully to the broader discourse on neurodiversity in academia. Please try to keep to 5000 words, not including references.

1. SelectiveLifeStories

   –   Purpose: Provide context and background on your journey into academia.
   –   Content: Early life experiences and interests, key moments or influences that sparked your interest in your field, challenges and triumphs in your educational journey.
   –   Tips: Focus on pivotal moments that shaped your academic path, include anecdotes that highlight your passion and resilience, and reflect on how your neurodivergence influenced your educational experiences.

2. CurrentAcademicWork

   –   Purpose: Showcase your current research or creative work.
   –   Content: Description of your field of study or artistic practice, specific projects or research topics you are working on, methodologies and approaches used in your work.
   –   Tips: Provide a clear and concise overview of your work, explain why your work is important and what you hope to achieve, and discuss any unique methodologies or perspectives you bring to your field.

3. NavigatingEverydayWorkLife

   –   Purpose: Share practical strategies and experiences in managing academic responsibilities.
   –   Content: Daily routines and work habits, strategies for managing workload and stress, missteps and lessons learned.
   –   Tips: Be transparent about both successes and challenges, share specific strategies that have worked for you, and reflect on how your neurodivergence affects your work habits and productivity.

4. InstitutionalandSystemicBarriers

   –   Purpose: Highlight challenges faced within academic institutions and propose solutions.
   –   Content: Specific barriers encountered (e.g., lack of accommodations, stigma), impact of these barriers on your work and well-being, suggestions for overcoming these barriers or systemic changes needed.
   –   Tips: Provide concrete examples of barriers you have faced, discuss the impact of these barriers on your academic journey, and offer practical solutions or recommendations for institutional change. Be mindful not to slander any individual or institution.

5. NeurodivergenceasaStrength

– Purpose: Illustrate how neurodivergence can be an asset in academia.

  –   Content: Unique strengths and perspectives brought by neurodivergence, examples of how neurodivergence has positively influenced your work, reflections on the value of neurodiversity in academia.
   –   Tips: Highlight specific strengths related to your neurodivergence, provide examples of how these strengths have benefited your work, and reflect on the broader importance of neurodiversity in your field.

6. SuggestionsforAccommodations

   –   Purpose: Offer practical advice for improving the work experiences of neurodivergent individuals.
   –   Content: Specific accommodations that have been helpful, recommendations for colleagues and administrators, broader suggestions for creating a more inclusive academic environment.
   –   Tips: Be specific about accommodations that have made a difference for you, offer practical advice for colleagues and administrators, and reflect on how these suggestions could benefit others in similar situations.

Submission Guidelines

   –   Abstracts: Please submit a 300-500 word abstract outlining your proposed chapter by January 31, 2025. This would include some personal details fitting in the outline above.
   –   Notification of Acceptance: Authors will be notified of acceptance by February 28, 2025.
   –   Full Chapter Submission: Complete drafts of accepted chapters are due by August 31, 2025.
   –   Final Revisions: Any final revisions and permissions are due by October 31, 2025.

How to Submit

Please send your abstracts and any inquiries to Laura Hetrick at laurajh@illinois.edu with the subject line Neurodivergent Narrative Proposal.

I look forward to your personal narratives and to creating a volume that honors the diverse and invaluable contributions of neurodivergent professors in academia. I am committed to ensuring that each chapter not only tells a powerful story but also contributes meaningfully to the broader discourse on neurodiversity in academia. It is my hope that your participation will help foster greater understanding and inclusivity within academic institutions. Thank you for considering this opportunity to share your unique journey.

   Editor: Laura J. Hetrick, PhD Associate Professor of Art Education,
   University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign | laurajh@illinois.edu