Our Community Advisory Team is a group of neurodivergent teens and adults who partner with us in creating research, engaging with the community, and determining priority areas for future studies. We are always open to new members!

Who can be on the team?

• Adults 18+ years, and adolescents 15+ years with permission from a caregiver
• People who identify as neurodivergent (formal diagnosis is not required)
• People who can communicate verbally or non-verbally
• People with any level of support need 
• People who are willing to be identified publicly as members of the team, and who are comfortable disclosing that they are neurodivergent

Why join the team?

• Guide the direction of future research
• Review materials for inclusive language & accessibility
• Design or modify research procedures to make participation more comfortable for all kinds of people
• Engage with the community by partnering with a researcher in outreach and education activities
• Teach students, faculty, & staff about neurodiversity

Do team members benefit?

• 2022-2023 team members will receive a $75 gift card at the end of the year in appreciation of their time and effort.
• Team members will be credited as appropriate based on their contributions in presentations, posters, publications, on the lab website, or in other work products.
• Team members will have input on the direction of research in the MVD Lab, and be engaged in co-creating research projects at whatever level interests them.
• Team members will have a vital role in guiding the future of research, education, and practice, with opportunities for their views to be represented at local, state, national, and international levels via events and publications.

What is required?

• 2022-2023 team members will meet every 3-4 months from fall 2022 through summer 2023.
• Meetings will be held in a hybrid format: in-person at the U-M School of Kinesiology Building (830 N. University Ave., Ann Arbor) and on Zoom. In-person attendance is not required, it is ok to only participate virtually!
• Team members will work with the researchers to identify activities that interest them. Some examples of things a team member could choose to do include:
  • Provide feedback on study documents like flyers, consent/assent forms, instructions, visual supports
  • Review research procedures and make suggestions for changes that could make participation more accessible and comfortable.
  • Advise on how study results should be communicated to the community, to ensure that language is respectful, affirming, and clear.
  • Co-create new research projects or suggest research questions for future study.
  • Develop strategies for outreach to under-represented or historically-marginalized groups, so that we can reduce barriers to participation and increase diverse representation in our studies and in the Community Advisory Team.

Interested? Fill out our contact form, and a member of the research team will be in touch!

Interest Form