Presentation Type
Virtual Poster
Abstract
Neurodivergent students represent 20–30% of college populations, yet many face barriers to academic success, including inaccessible instruction, lack of tailored support, and stigma. Academic libraries, as key sites of student learning and belonging, have the potential to reduce these barriers and foster more equitable outcomes. This poster presents Fostering Neurodivergent Student Success: Using a Participatory Action Research (PAR) Approach to Engage Students in the Development of More Inclusive, Accessible, and Engaging Library Instruction and Services, a grant-funded participatory action research project at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. This research approach engages neurodivergent students as co-researchers and co-designers in shaping research design, identifying instructional design and learning environment challenges, and proposing solutions to enhance the library’s teaching and support practices. This student-centered approach foregrounds lived experience to better understand how academic libraries can foster belonging, persistence, and achievement among neurodivergent learners. The project aims to provide professional development training sessions for librarians and campus faculty and staff to share best practices for working with neurodivergent students. The poster will highlight the PAR process, findings, and recommendations for designing inclusive, accessible and engaging educational environments that affirm diverse cognitive and learning styles.
Fostering Neurodivergent Student Success: A Participatory Action Research Approach to Inclusive Library Instruction
Neurodivergent students represent 20–30% of college populations, yet many face barriers to academic success, including inaccessible instruction, lack of tailored support, and stigma. Academic libraries, as key sites of student learning and belonging, have the potential to reduce these barriers and foster more equitable outcomes. This poster presents Fostering Neurodivergent Student Success: Using a Participatory Action Research (PAR) Approach to Engage Students in the Development of More Inclusive, Accessible, and Engaging Library Instruction and Services, a grant-funded participatory action research project at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. This research approach engages neurodivergent students as co-researchers and co-designers in shaping research design, identifying instructional design and learning environment challenges, and proposing solutions to enhance the library’s teaching and support practices. This student-centered approach foregrounds lived experience to better understand how academic libraries can foster belonging, persistence, and achievement among neurodivergent learners. The project aims to provide professional development training sessions for librarians and campus faculty and staff to share best practices for working with neurodivergent students. The poster will highlight the PAR process, findings, and recommendations for designing inclusive, accessible and engaging educational environments that affirm diverse cognitive and learning styles.