Research Seminar by Dr. Grischa Liebel

Neurodiversity is an umbrella term that describes variation in brain function among individuals, including conditions such as Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), or dyslexia. Neurodivergent individuals can face substantial barriers in society due to their conditions, e.g., due to difficulties or differences in communication, reading or writing difficulties, or reduced attention span. While conditions included in the neurodiversity term have traditionally been considered as disabilities in medical terms, these individuals often exhibit strengths in comparison to neurotypical individuals, for instance high attention to detail or higher creativity. In ongoing research, we try to understand how neurodivergent individuals can be involved better in software engineering activities, what relevant strengths they exhibit, and how we can tailor software engineering methods to better support their needs and strengths. In this talk, I will give an overview of current research on neurodiversity in software engineering and future directions open for exploration.