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Copyright

Ash Lierman

Published On

2024-11-04

Page Range

pp. 41–58

Language

  • English

Print Length

18 pages

2. Terminology, Categories, and Complicating Factors

Chapter of: The Struggle You Can’t See: Experiences of Neurodivergent and Invisibly Disabled Students in Higher Education(pp. 41–58)
This chapter discusses the categories of neurodiversity and invisible disability discussed in this book, and the terms used in this discussion. Although “neurodivergent” and “invisible disabilities” are imprecise and sometimes inconsistently applied labels, here they are used primarily to encompass six main categories of difference: dyslexia (and related conditions); the autism spectrum; Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD); psychiatric disabilities; traumatic brain injuries (TBI); and disabling chronic physical illnesses. The definitions here in use for each of these categories are described in this chapter, as well as the rationale behind their inclusion and how they have been delineated, along with other choices of terminology that will be in use throughout this book.

Contributors

Ash Lierman

(author)
Instruction & Education Librarian at Rowan University
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8462-2557

Dr. Ash Lierman (they/them) is the Instruction & Education Librarian at Campbell Library on the Glassboro campus of Rowan University, in southern New Jersey, USA. They are also the chair of Rowan University Libraries’ DEI Committee. They support teaching and learning across the university, particularly for the College of Education, graduate students, and online learners. As a disabled, queer, nonbinary and agender librarian, their research and professional interests focus on social justice for marginalized academic library users and workers, especially those who are disabled and LGBTQ+. They have also co-contributed a chapter to Toward Inclusive Academic Librarian Hiring Practices (Houk, Nielsen, & Wong-Welch, eds.), published in 2024 by the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL).