The Cultural Lens of Neurodiversity: The Shift from Diagnosis to Culture

Historically disability has been labeled a medical circumstance, but as communities grow many disability groups are reclaiming their identity as a culture. Jillian will share how to understand neurodiversity from a cultural lens, cultural points of neurodiversity, and language to support neurodiversity effectively.

Jillian Nelson is a Queer autistic adult from Saint Paul, MN and is the full time Policy Director for the Autism Society of MN (AuSM). Jillian is passionate about disability justice and teaching others to advocate for themselves, as well as reforming existing systems through legislation and advocacy to create a more equitable and accessible society for people with all types of disabilities. She is passionate about diversity and intersectionality and how that unfolds in the mosaic experience of people with disabilities. She also enjoys exploring new places, theater, and the Minnesota Lynx, as well as spending time with her partners.

Visual description- white woman with long brown and teal hair wearing a black sweater and silver necklace smiling in front of a brick wall.