Calling Neurodivergent Students: We Want Your Feedback!

September 21, 2026

The Duke University Libraries want to understand the unique experiences and needs of neurodivergent students at Duke.

Maybe you know or suspect that you have ADHD, dyslexia, or autism. Maybe you process emotions and sensory input differently from most people. You don’t need a formal diagnosis, and you don’t need to be a frequent Duke Libraries user. If you feel like your brain functions differently from what is considered “typical,” then we want to hear from you.

Your input will help us improve library staff training, library services, and library spaces to better meet the needs of all students. It will also contribute to a report that will be distributed to campus units to help faculty and administrators understand what it’s like to be a neurodivergent student at Duke—and, hopefully, make improvements that can support a neurodiverse campus community.

We are looking for volunteers to share input in two ways:

#1. Survey

Take our anonymous, 5-minute survey about neurodivergent students’ experiences at Duke. Survey closes November 8, 2026.

#2. Diary study

We are looking for about 10 students to partner with us on a weeklong confidential diary study. To thank you for your time, participants will earn a $50 Visa gift card. The time commitment is roughly 15-20 minutes of writing per day. You will document your thoughts and experiences related to specific topics as you go about your everyday life. For example, where you choose to study and why, or when you experience sensory overload or ableism. Simply fill out the online interest form and we will send you more information. Filling out the interest form does not commit you to participating. Please consider joining and complete the interest form by October 1, 2026, at 5:00 PM.

What is a diary study?

A diary study is a contextual, qualitative research method where participants record thoughts and experiences as they go about their everyday lives over a period of time. Participants receive a set of prompts to guide their diary entries. A diary study is asynchronous: participants write on their own schedule, in their own environment. These studies help researchers understand participants in their real-life environment.

Participants in the diary study will not be known to each other, unless you choose to join a community-building debrief conversation among participants at the end of the study.