Empowering Neurodiversity in STEM: Success Stories and Inclusive Strategies

About 1 in 5 people across the world are neurodiverse, encompassing conditions like autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention deficit disorder (ADD), and dyslexia. Neurodiversity can be a source of valuable skills, especially in STEM careers. A study found that 34.3% of college students with ASD chose to major in STEM.

Activist and professionals like Greta Thunberg, Temple Grandin, and Barbie director Greta Gerwig exemplify how neurodiversity can be a strength. Even Albert Einstein is believed to have been on the autism spectrum.

Despite the popularity of STEM among neurodiverse individuals, these spaces are not always accessible. Neurodiverse women working in STEM today weighed in on how neurodiversity has influenced their success at work and offer insights to create more inclusive workplaces.

STEM and Creativity as an Outlet for Neurodiversity

Lily Rice was diagnosed with dyslexia in college. “Because [I was diagnosed later on], I developed coping mechanisms,” Rice tells Built By Girls. “One of those coping mechanisms is that I’m naturally creative and leaned more towards the creative sides of school.”

One of Rice’s creative outlets was fashion design. Combining her passions for fashion and soccer, she became a sportswear designer.

Most, if not all STEM fields have some aspect of creativity involved, but they show up in different ways. Imisi Fakunle became interested in computer design at an early age, finding passion for creating using technology.

“I was that kid who got a laptop before they got a phone, so I got the chance to really explore,” Fakunle shares with Built By Girls. “One way or another I found out about Scratch and I guess the concept that I could make anything…and create a whole new world was so exciting for me.” Now a data analyst, Fakunle’s passion for STEM has continued.

People on the spectrum tend to be visual learners and think in a way that prioritizes logic, which are useful traits in STEM. In fact, some companies put out calls specifically seeking neurodiverse women to work in STEM roles.

STEM companies may want more neurodiverse people on their team, but that doesn’t mean these workspaces are accessible for diverse thinkers.

“I’m lucky now we’ve got a lot of AI that kind of supports the areas that I need,” Rice explains. She recalled a job posting she saw that prohibited AI, which she thinks can make roles inaccessible to neurodiverse folks.

“If you’re neurodiverse, you’re not using AI as a way to cheat, you’re using AI as a way to level the playing field. So I think it’s just a lot more consideration about what tools are needed to kind of support people,” Rice voices about making STEM fields more accessible.

For Fakunle, one of the most notable disparities in the workplace is having to advocate for her own accessibility in spaces that weren’t created with neurodiverse people in mind.

“The biggest challenge is having the same expectations and success criteria in an environment that was just designed for neurotypical individuals in mind,” Fakunle expresses. “It’s kind of up to you to define what your accessibility criteria is and communicate that accordingly, which is like extra homework.”

Although there are inequities for neurodiverse people in STEM, Fakunle hopes that change will come as more research is done about neurodiversity. In the meantime, Fakunle focuses on the advantages of her neurodiversity.

Challenging Exclusive STEM Norms

Dr. Raven Baxter, also known as Raven the Science Maven, is a molecular biologist with a PhD in science education. “I was the epitome of ‘why,’” Baxter recalls. “I was raised in a single parent household and we didn’t have much, but we had access to the library.”

Spending time in the library reading and finding answers to her questions fed Baxter’s curiosity and inspired her interest in science. “That's ultimately what science is, is having questions and then using the resources and tools you have to get some answers,” she states. “Science has truly just been an adventure…that I’ve been on since childhood.”

Having both ADHD and autism, Baxter says that there are times when she’s struggled to express herself given the norms in her field.

“When I was in college, one of my advisors tried to stop me from bringing a research poster to a conference presentation because I put rhinestones on it…and feathers and glitter and everything that I felt like represented me,” she recalls. “I didn’t really have a perception of everyone else’s…limits of how they express themselves in science.”

Even though the people around her weren’t very supportive of Baxter’s style at the time, her unique self-expression had an inspiring effect.

“I presented my work as it was and that actually ended up inspiring a lot of other people to pursue science because they didn’t realize that you could talk about science and have a poster that looks like a peacock,” Baxter laughs. “Whether I intended to or not, I was constantly pushing everyone else’s perceptions of what science looked like through my own representation.”

Improving Accessibility in STEM Workplaces

People with autism can be up to 140% more productive than their neurotypical counterparts. Increased productivity is common among people with other neurodiverse identities as well, but they need the right support in the workplace.

“You can’t just stack…neuro-inclusive accommodations on top of an already sort of broken system,” Dillon states. “It’s ultimately sort of breaking down…neuronormative ways that are entrenched in the cultures of a lot of companies.”

Fakunle thinks improving accessibility in the workplace starts with better communication. “From my personal experience, STEM is actually a very neurodiverse field,” Fakunle shares. “I feel like having conversations with both [neurodiverse and neurotypical people] at the table will help to create more intrinsic accommodations when it comes to hiring, working, [and] collaborating in STEM spaces.”

“You are absolutely qualified to go for that job, that position, that degree that you want to apply for,” Rice emphasizes. “It’s really important to view [neurodiversity] as a strength and not a weakness.”

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Hailey Dickinson (she/her) is a freelance writer for Built By Girls and has been writing for the publication since January 2023. She is a creator passionate about using digital platforms to build community, make connections, and ignite positive social change. Outside of writing for Built By Girls, she manages social media and communications for multiple non-profit organizations. She is a recent graduate from the University of Minnesota and has a Bachelor’s degree in communications.