On the Simple Joys of Bouncing: Duoethnography of Neurodivergent Researchers in Academia

This chapter reflects on research on neurodiversity. Specifically, these pages probe how the authors (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and autistic) interface with existing academic and research structures—both personal experience and external evaluation. The authors describe their research processes and the methods they use when attempting to navigate academic cultural expectations and values without compromising their positionality as community members and activists. They examine and explain the ways in which neurodivergent traits and experiences have—or fail to have—subjective academic desirability. This chapter demonstrates that neurodiversity research is furthered by the inclusion of neurodivergent researchers and community members, which necessitates increasing critical support of academics and researchers from neurodivergent backgrounds.