Thinking Differently about “Social” Uses of Media for Neurodivergent Youth

The Neurodiversity Education Series features a lineup of renowned experts, including educators, mental health professionals, and advocates specializing in neurodiversity. It provides families with valuable insights and tools to better support neurodivergent learners, including those with with autism, ADHD, dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, and more.

This collaborative initiative seeks to foster understanding, empathy, and inclusion by equipping families and communities with the knowledge and resources they need to create supportive environments for their uniquely wired learners.

EVENT DESCRIPTION

In this talk, based on her recent award-winning book, Kids Across the Spectrums: Growing Up Autistic in the Digital Age (MIT Press, 2023), Dr. Meryl Alper, Associate Professor of Communication Studies at Northeastern University, will discuss the “social” aspects of media for neurodivergent youth, and her on-going research on gaming and social media use among neurodivergent children, adolescents, and young adults.

She will speak about specific media that has a social dimension (e.g., messaging apps, TV), different kinds of social partners (e.g., peers, parents, online connections), and use examples across the age ranges (i.e., preschoolers through young adults).

Though young people on the autism spectrum are regularly characterized as having social deficits, Dr. Alper will argue that media and technology offer unique ways for autistic youth to express their sociality, despite the significant challenges and drawbacks of such social connectivity for this population.

NOTE: Zoom link included in Eventbrite Order Confirmation under "Additional Information."

The Neurodiversity Education Series is presented by Silicon Valley nonprofits including The Parent Venture, Children's Health Council, Compass High School, REEL2e, and The RILEY Project, with major funding from the Sequoia Healthcare District.

For more information, please visit www.neurodiversityspeakerseries.org, or contact Charlene Margot, CEO, The Parent Venture, at cmargot@parentventure.org.