Neurodiversity Day: Science & Society

Neurodiversity Day is a day of learning, connection, and exploration, designed to deepen understanding of neurodiversity and highlight the communities and resources that support it. Through expert talks, panel discussions, and real-life perspectives from scientists, educators, advocates, and families, we will explore the diverse ways people experience and engage with the world. Whether you're a researcher, educator, caregiver, or self-advocate, this event offers valuable insights and meaningful conversations about neurodiversity in science, education, and everyday life.

This event is organized by Neurodivergent @ Columbia, which is a safe space for neurodivergent students and allies across every school at Columbia, with over 220 members. The group is dedicated to fostering a culture of ethical practices across all disciplines, advocates for policies and research that respect the rights and dignity of all individuals, particularly through various channels including public outreach, academic collaborations, and policy advocacy. Neurodivergent @ Columbia emphasizes the ethics of biomedical research and societal norms, ensuring that neurodivergent perspectives are integral to these discussions. They are passionate about creating inclusive practices and continuously explore opportunities to engage with peers across the university and beyond.

This event is generously supported by the Campus Collaborative Fund (CCF) for Students and Student Organizations with the Office of University Life at Columbia University

This is a Hybrid event (a Zoom link will be provided upon registration). Please join us in room L8.084 at The Jerome L. Greene Science Center for the in-person worksops and panels.

Dr. Motoni Fong Hodges (she/her) is a Senior Psychologist at Counseling & Psychological Services (CPS) who joined Columbia Health in 2015. Prior to this, Dr. Fong Hodges taught as a lecturer and adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Counseling and Clinical Psychology at Teachers College, Columbia University. She completed her postdoctoral fellowship on feminist psychodynamic psychotherapy at Stony Brook University Wo/Men’s Center and psychoanalytic training at the William Alanson White Institute. Dr. Fong Hodges' professional interests include acculturation and marginalization, trauma, and working with international students/students of color/LGBTQ students, as well as with autistic students.

Manon Casimir-Sainton is a New York City-based interdisciplinary artist, also known as Sleepyfoot?. Her paintings mirror her synesthesia induced by personal multi-genre sound compositions and mental health experiences. She is self-taught and intersects her work from a background of art, education, and technology.

Manon deeply immerses herself in color, sound, and visuals through lens, mixed-media painting, digital, and audio production. Her work explores themes of identity, spirituality, race, and psychology. Her introspective process includes sound layering, creating colorful templates, and rendering her internal state of being to canvas or digital format for viewers to engage with.

Manon’s work has been exhibited nationally. She has shown locally at Site:Brooklyn,The Sheen Center, Plaxall Gallery, and has been commissioned by music and spirituality-based organizations in NYC. In addition, her work has been exhibited at a number of art centers including the Orange County Center for Contemporary Art (CA), AnnMarie’s Sculpture Garden and Art Center (MD), and The Art Center at Highland Park (IL). She was chosen as Columbia University's Zuckerman Institute Art In the Ed Lab artist for 2023.

Ara Bakhteyar is a master's student in Biomedical Engineering at Columbia University, specializing in Tissue Engineering, after earning her undergraduate degree in biophysics at Columbia in May 2024. Driven to create a supportive environment for autistic individuals within the Columbia community, she founded "Neurodivergent at Columbia," the university's largest student organization. Ara received the 2022-2023 Social Justice Mini-Grant and the 2023-2024 Vice President's Grant for Diversity and Community Initiatives to host Columbia's first and second Neurodiversity Awareness Days. Last year's event featured educational seminars on autism, ADHD, learning disabilities, and other related conditions, attracting over 540 registrants from Columbia and beyond. Outside of the classroom, she spends her time researching the HNRNPH2 gene mutation, through a genomics and proteomics lens. Ara is delighted to collaborate with Public Programs at the Zuckerman Institute for the third Neurodiversity Awareness Day, contributing to a community-focused event that brings together scientific perspectives and lived experiences.

Dr. Ning Qian obtained a Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins University, received postdoctoral training at MIT, and is currently an associate professor at Columbia University.

Dr. Dana E. Crawford, a licensed clinical psychologist, is renowned for her expertise in trauma-informed care and bias reduction. From 2015 to 2020, she led one of the largest U.S. trauma-informed care programs at Montefiore Medical Center, training over 1,000 staff across 20 practices and impacting more than 300,000 patients. During the onset of COVID-19, she established a Staff Emotional Support team, creating a 24-hour emotional support hotline and providing critical supervision for palliative care, with her work serving as a national model for emotional resilience among healthcare workers.

From September 2020 to October 2024, Dr. Crawford served as Scholar in Residence at Columbia University’s Zuckerman Institute, where she introduced her Crawford Bias Reduction Theory & Training (CBRT) framework. CBRT has become instrumental in fostering equity and inclusion across the university, particularly during polarized times, as demonstrated by the 2024 Community Conversations she co-organized to strengthen unity within the Zuckerman Institute.

Dr. Crawford is also the creator of Racial Awareness Conversations for Everyone (R.A.C.E. cards), a 48-prompt discussion deck that facilitates open dialogue on race and inclusion. In spring 2025, her first book, Healing Bias, will be published by Norton Professional Books, further advancing her mission of bias reduction and cultural healing.

Her clinical expertise spans all ages and includes addressing PTSD, moral injury, environmental and organizational trauma, and childhood trauma. She holds advanced degrees in psychology, counseling, the arts, and education, and is certified in Practical Nursing, medical hypnosis, and biofeedback. Her extensive training includes a pediatric psychology residency at Tulane University and fellowships with the U.S. Department of Defense and the Center for Early Connections.

Currently, Dr. Crawford leads her private practice in Manhattan and heads the Crawford Bias Reduction Theory & Training Center, consulting widely with universities, school districts, nonprofits, military sectors, and corporations. Through her dedication to trauma recovery and cultural healing, she continues to shape community health and equity training across various sectors.