NDAG October Highlights

Tue, 28 Oct 2025 10:57:13 -0400

Dear NDAG (neurodivergent affinity group) Community,

As October comes to a close, we wanted to provide an update on our recent work in NDAG. First, we wish to acknowledge that October is National ADD/ADHD Awareness Month, along with being...

Sensory Processing Awareness Month

"I'm Just Me Because" Month

Physical Therapy Month

World Blindness Awareness Month

Dysautonomia Awareness Month

Rhett Syndrome Awareness Month

Spina Bifida Awareness Month

Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

LGBTQ History Month

among others....

Instead of all these themes detracting from ADHD Awareness, I'm intrigued by their varied roles and relationships within the ND community.

Here's a recap of how NDAG leaders have taken action during October 2025...

NDAG leadership planning meeting on 10/10

Gina Hoagland presented a talk titled "Unlock the Power of Different Minds: Neurodiversity Awareness at Work" to UMBC HR's Thriving Thursdays seminar series on 10/16

Karen Chen & Tory Williams attended a working breakfast with other UMBC Affinity Group leaders, representatives of Faculty Affairs and Community & Culture on 10/16

Tory Williams attended the Middle States Evaluation UMBC Team Chair Meeting (Shared Governance & Affinity Groups) on 10/20

NDAG was highlighted during a Faculty Development Center workshop for Community Building and "Critical Hope" book discussion, on 10/22

Updates to the NDAG myUMBC page: posting resource files, inviting new members/followers

Finally, here are some tasks and events that are being planned for the upcoming months...

NDAG Leadership/Planning meeting on 11/14 and 12/12 at 1:30pm WebEx (see our Events page)

Create a NDAG promotional flyer to share with faculty department chairs

Begin scheduling 'Writing/Working Accountability" WebEx sessions

Scheduling our first official leadership election (current Co-Chairs are interim Chairs)

One or more guest speaker presentations

We invite you to collaborate with NDAG leadership as you are able to! We will post events as they become available.

Thank You,

Tory Williams

NDAG Co-Chair

UMBC IRB Manager, Office of Research Protections & Compliance

UMBC Alumnus (PhD, Biology, 2013)