Presenters: Teukie Martin, Nikkia Borowski, Meaghan Krazinksi, and Nate Hughes, Syracuse University

For doctoral students, attending and presenting at conferences is considered an essential component of the job. However, for neurodivergent students, navigating travel, conference, and networking spaces can present significant challenges, leading to emotional distress, meltdowns, and burnout. With program expectations centered around neurotypicality, neurodivergent students are often pressured to sacrifice their mental and physical well-being in order to be perceived as competent by their peers and supervisors. This distress may be particularly compounded for high-masking and late-diagnosed individuals who find it difficult to identify their needs and ask for support. In this panel presentation, a group of neurodivergent doctoral students will reflect on their experiences of conference travel. Although each panelist experiences their neurodivergence differently, common threads include: navigating transportation and lodging, inaccessibility in conference programming, difficulty finding safe foods, social challenges, anxiety, and the financial burden of traveling while neurodivergent. In addition to their struggles, students will share what they have learned through their travel experiences, including what has worked, and what has not, as well as how programs and faculty can make such experiences more accessible for neurodivergent students. Additionally, students will describe how they have built intentional care networks amongst themselves as a form of peer social support. Audience members will benefit from the opportunity to consider the logistics of travel from a neurodivergent perspective, including challenges and solutions they might not have otherwise considered. Professionals working closely with neurodivergent students, including faculty and student support providers will benefit from this session. Additionally, neurodivergent people in roles that require frequent travel may find it affirming and informative.