“Neurodivergent just means a brain that diverges.” – Kassiane Asasumasu, Radical Neurodivergence Speaking

The first year of Neurodivergent Studies at the PCA, in New Orleans in 2025, showed that there was marked interest in developing this field and expanding conversations. Neurodivergent Studies, a field that has long been relegated to more scientific study, is ready to move into different spaces as we start conversations about how neurodivergent approaches to popular culture, fandom, academia, and our own experiences can shape the way we approach the world.

Neurodivergent Studies at the PCA offers a chance for scholars to have these conversations, both in individual paper presentations and roundtables. Neurodivergent Studies promotes a very open approach to the subject, following in the footsteps of Kassiane Asasumasu, who is credited with coining the term “neurodivergent.” Kassiane specifically notes that neurodivergent “is not another damn tool of exclusion. It is specifically a tool of inclusion. If you don’t want to be associated with Those People, then YOU are the one who needs another word. Neurodivergent is for all of us” (sherlocksflataffect).

Following Asasamasu’s leadership, Neurodivergent Studies invites papers on the following topics:

• Neurodivergence in popular media
• Neurodivergence and/or madness
• Neurodivergence and/or disability
• Neurodivergence and the social disability model
• Neurodivergence and eugenics
• Neurodivergence and intersectionality
• Neurodivergence and race/racism
• Neurodivergence and gender identity
• Neuroqueer identity in/and the media
• Neurodivergent pedagogy
• Neurodivergence in the academy
• Neurodivergent activism

This is a sample list; any topics related to neurodivergence are welcome. Roundtables are also welcome, as are proposed crossover panels with other areas such as Disability Studies or special media areas.

Abstracts of 250-300 words can be submitted on the PCA website at https://pcaaca.org/page/submissionguidelines. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to area chair Victoria Etman at colleenetman@gmail.com.

The deadline for abstract submission is December 5, 2025. The conference will take place in Atlanta from April 8-11, 2026.

We hope to see you there!