Stockton University’s Counseling and Psychological Services hosted a series of events for Neurodiversity Week from March 16 through March 20, concluding with a talk by Kaelynn Partlow from Netflix’s “Love on the Spectrum.” The week aimed to celebrate neurodivergent individuals and raise awareness about different ways people experience the world.
The programming was designed to support students by offering workshops on topics such as test anxiety, job searching for neurodiverse individuals, and time management. Interactive tabling events also provided information about neurodiversity and available resources. The Wellness Center organized the week in partnership with the Alton Mental Health Initiatives Fund, the Learning Access Program, and Active Minds, a student club focused on mental health education.
Brooke Zall-Crawford, director of Counseling and Psychological Services at Stockton University, said: “CAPS has been privileged to be supported by the Alton Mental Health Initiatives Fund over the last two-and-a-half years, who co-sponsored this event and all of Neurodiversity Week.”
Zall-Crawford also highlighted the need for ongoing financial support: “Having the financial support for programming in our growing neurodivergent student community is essential to cultivating a community of care and empowering student success.”
Abigail Mace, community outreach coordinator at Stockton University, explained why Partlow was chosen as guest speaker: “When planning for Neurodiversity Week, we wanted a speaker that students would recognize and relate to. Someone that could speak authentically about navigating life and being a college student as a neurodiverse individual. Through her work as a therapist and author, her social media presence, and her role on ‘Love on the Spectrum,’ I thought she would bring meaningful impact to celebrate Neurodiversity Week.”
Partlow addressed an audience of around 60 attendees before her main presentation. She said: “I think experimenting is really important at that age. You will find your people. You will find the environments that you feel the most alive and the most yourself in.” During her talk she discussed challenges faced during early adulthood—including managing relationships with coworkers or handling doctors’ appointments—especially for those who are neurodivergent.
Neurodiversity Week at Stockton University reflects ongoing efforts to foster inclusion through education about mental health issues affecting students.
