Presenters: Lennyn Jacob, Leonard Blades, Luis Gutierrez, Brian Flores-Geraldo, Carmen Chocolatl, and Luis "Junior" Alvarez, CUNY Coalition for Students with Disabilities (CCSD)

Historically, society has struggled to include and understand the experiences of individuals with disabilities, especially in our neurodivergent community. Adding mental health symptomology to the mix can lead to isolation and misunderstanding. The CUNY Coalition for Students with Disabilities (CCSD) has recognized this challenge. Purposeful steps were taken to create a safe and inclusive environment for neurodivergent students, including those with mental health diagnoses at CUNY. Let’s explore some successful strategies CCSD has implemented to create a welcoming and supportive community for neurodivergent students, addressing identity, stigma, acceptance, and advocacy. Through one-to-one interactions, group events, virtual resources, and in-person activities, CCSD has created opportunities for students to engage in self-care practices and created a space promoting Mental Health & Wellness. One CCSD strategy is promoting self-care through social events and resources. The Virtual Toolkit, for example, is a resource connecting students to counseling services and much more. CCSD also creates a relaxing study environment through the use of music, offers fun activities like karaoke and spoken word, and engages students in turn-taking games like 25 words or less. These events and tools encourage positive self-care practices and promote social engagement and a sense of empowerment among students. We hope, that the ideas shared in this presentation will inspire others to create inclusive and supportive environments for neurodivergent individuals, particularly those living with mental health diagnoses. By fostering a sense of community and providing opportunities for self-care and social engagement, we can help to create a more inclusive and understanding society.