Estimated to affect 15 per cent of the population, neurodivergent individuals process and interpret information in different ways with attention deficit disorders, autism, dyslexia and dyspraxia identified as specific examples.
This webpage forms part of our developing online resources providing information, lived experiences and good practice case studies to help individuals and workplaces to better support archaeologists. If you are aware of other links we might use or have good practice case studies you would be happy to share, please get in touch at admin@archaeologists.net.
If you'd like to join our informal neurodiversity network please email alex.llewellyn@archaeologists.net
Exporing neurodiversity in archaeology: past and present - for the CIfA2022 conference we brought together a panel of archaeologist to discuss neurodiversity in archaeology. We talk about neurodiversity in the past, whether it can be seen in the archaeological record and what impact neurodiverse individuals may have had on society. We also discuss the challenges neurodiverse archaeologists face now, the benefits neurodiversity can offer to workplaces, and finally round up what each of us would like to see in the future.
Autism
Other links
- National Autistic Society - providing support, guidance and advice including online training
Dyslexia
Case studies and experiences
- Neurodiversity and archaeological practice - dyslexia case studies
- Experiences with dyslexia
- Dyslexia awareness - case study from Air Photo Services
- Dyslexia awareness week 2020 - collated experiences from archaeologists
- Top tips for making a simple positive change to help dyslexic colleagues
- Be concise when giving instructions - long streams of instructions can be misunderstood and lead to mistakes
- Use dyslexic friendly fonts and font size
- Provide access to a super good computer keyboard
- Learn about dyslexia
- Talk to your staff/colleagues and find out the nuances of what they struggle with. Dyslexia is so individual and presents differently across everyone.
Research
- CIfA and MWAH Dyslexia in archaeology survey summary (2020)
- Dyslexia is my superpower - exploring dyslexia in archaeology
- How can neurodiverse individuals be their best at work? - Uta Langley explores neurodiversity in the context of diversity, disability and mental health and investigate how it can increase cognitive diversity in organisations. Download Uta's short 'Be your best at work' form here.
- Neurodiversity network: working environments and workplace adaptations Feb 2022 - at our 10 February 2022 tea break session, we discussed ideas for easy, cost-effective workplace adaptations to benefit neurodiverse individuals.
Other links
- British Dyslexia Association
- See dyslexia differently - (Youtube video; British Dyslexia Association)
- Durham University neurodiversity and archaeology panel 2022 resources - this session was aimed at students:
External links relevant to all neurodiversity
- Genius Within
- Neurotalent Unlocked - online learning resources
- Lexxic
