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The University of Michigan Department of Linguistics Initiative on Language, Disability and Neurodiversity was made possible by a generous gift through the Larry Motola Linguistics Fund, established to support the development of curriculum projects and research related to cognitive process and conditions, and their interaction with language and neurodiversity.
One component of this initiative is an ongoing seminar series that started in Fall of 2022. Events in this series are listed below.
AAC From All Sides
April 9th, 2026
Join us for a panel discussion featuring those involved with creating, obtaining, and using AAC devices. The panel will contain Speech Language Pathologists, assistive technology specialists, educators, engineers, and resources for obtaining technology. Ask questions, explore possible career paths, and expand your knowledge of communication. Learn more about the event here.
Neurodiversity Fair
February 23rd, 2026
This community-building event features campus and community organizations that are committed to advancing disability inclusion, equity, and justice in all areas of life. Our aim is to raise awareness about opportunities to get involved in the on-the-ground work of improving society for disabled people, and to strengthen connections between organizations doing this work. Organizations present at the event include NERDS (Not Even Really Drama Students), Special Olympics, Autism Spectrum Club, the Neurodiversity Project, Language Matters, the English Department’s Disability Studies Minor, FedUp, the School of Kinesiology’s Motor and Visual Development Lab, the Disability Network, and Runway of Dreams. Learn more about the event here.
Student Panel on Neurodiversity
December 3rd, 2025
This panel features neurodivergent U-M students describing their experiences on campus. Specific topics include Services for Students with Disabilities accommodations, accessibility, identity, finding community, and barriers to diagnosis. Read the panelists’ profiles here.
Wretches and Jabberers Film Screening
October 29, 2025
Wretches and Jabberers is a documentary about autism, travel and communication directed by Geraldine Wurzburg. In it, two men with autism embark on a global quest to change attitudes about disability and intelligence. Determined to put a new face on autism, Tracy Thresher, 42, and Larry Bissonnette, 52, travel to Sri Lanka, Japan and Finland. At each stop, they dissect public attitudes about autism and issue a hopeful challenge to reconsider competency and the future. Learn more on their website.
