Neurodivergence in Management Courses: Strategies to Support Student Learning (Published)
Between 10% and 30% of college students display neurodivergent traits. Yet, the diagnosis challenges educators to shatter stigmas while creating pathways to success for students. Recognizing different learning styles, perceptions, and approaches to communication requires new, value-added ways of thinking. Barriers to success for neurodivergent college students include one-dimensional curriculum, resistance to accommodations, and “othering” based on societal norms. This qualitative multiple case study examines the experiences and tools neurodivergent college students use to achieve success in college management programs. This research explores the concept of neurodivergent experiences in the college management classroom, emphasizing individuals’ perspectives on the lack of accommodations in the traditional educational setting. The researcher conducted semistructured interviews with three college educated individuals with neurodivergent tendencies. Neurodivergence is defined as the process by which individuals’ brains process information and function differently from what is typically considered “normal.” This includes but is not limited to people with conditions such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (AuDHD), dyslexia, Tourette’s syndrome, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). This study examined three key challenges individuals with neurodivergent tendencies experience in the management classroom setting: social interactions, executive functioning, and sensory sensitivities using self-determination theory (SDT). Future implications of the study will legitimize tools to support neurodivergent students’ success, help educators accept their responsibility in shared learning outcomes, and reduce future workplace intolerance.
Keywords: Inclusion, management education, neurodivergence, organizational behavior, student learning outcomes