To mark Neurodiversity Celebration Week 2022, the Department of Archaeology at Durham University hosted a panel discussion of archaeologists, students and professionals, who have either been diagnosed or are in assessment for various neurological conditions, such as autism, ADHD, dyscalculia and dyslexia.
The event took place on 23rd March 2022, and the recording has now been mounted on the Department’s Youtube channel: https://youtu.be/OCOMGSb5qf0
Panelists included Durham Archaeology students Rheba Macha (PhD), Eltje Mueller and Lizzy Scales (both MSc), as well as Sarahjayne Clements, a trustee of the Enabled Archaeology Foundation and CIfA EDI Committee member, and Amy Talbot, of Mentoring Womxn in Archaeology and Heritage, who in 2020 put together a platform of resources and informal network for neurodiversity through CIfA.
The panel raised various issues affecting those with neurodiverse conditions, highlighting gaps in understanding and empathy, and the need for further attention, study and action in this area. Further such focussed meetings are anticipated, in collaboration with various disciplinary bodies, departments and centres. Accompanying the panel recording, supporting documents include the meeting chat, and extracted key issues plus resources, free to obtain here:
DUArch Neurodiversity Celebration Week 2022 Panel Resource sheet.pdf
DUArch Neurodiversity Panel 23 Mar 2022 CHAT.pdf
The Neurodiversity Panel was the third in a series of EDI events hosted by the department in Epiphany term 2022, which also included lectures in recognition of Race Equality Week and LGBT+ History Month.
