Graduation Year
2026
Date of Defense
3-25-2026
Degree Name
Doctorate in Education (EdD) in Educational Leadership
Department
School of Education and Human Development
Document Type
Dissertation
First Advisor
Michael Regan
Abstract
Neurodivergent individuals are employed across academic libraries, yet their workplace experiences surrounding disclosure of neurodivergence and access to accommodation remain underexamined in the scholarly literature. Disclosure is a prerequisite for formal workplace accommodation, but it exposes individuals to risks such as stigma, discrimination, and strained workplace relationships. This mixed methods study investigates the experiences and perceptions of neurodivergent academic library staff regarding disclosure of neurodivergence to current or previous employers. Grounded in the neurodiversity paradigm and informed by social and medical models of disability, this study centers neurodivergent voices while examining organizational culture, interpersonal dynamics, and systemic barriers within higher education.
Survey data were collected from 129 neurodivergent academic library staff. Quantitative findings indicate that disclosure remains deeply divided, with nearly half of respondents choosing not to disclose despite often considering doing so. Qualitative analysis revealed perceived benefits of disclosure including improved understanding, strengthened workplace relationships, and reduced masking. Respondents also identified risks, including stigma, discrimination, differential treatment, emotional labor, and distrust of organizational processes.
Findings suggest that disclosure decisions are shaped less by the desire for specific accommodations and more by assessments of psychological safety, organizational culture, and relational trust. This study contributes to the literature by reframing workplace accommodation as relational as well as procedural and offers implications for policy and practice aimed at fostering more inclusive, neurodiversity-affirming academic library environments.