Neurodiversity expert and author Dr. Maureen Dunne believes communities should think differently about people who think differently. She’ll offer guidance on the issue in a keynote address at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 3 at La Salle-Peru Township High School’s Matthiessen Memorial Auditorium.
Beyond her message to educators, parents, and industry and community leaders is one directed to neurodiverse people themselves. She believes the time for change is now and that the world is ready to embrace their differences as strengths.
Dr. Dunne’s speech, “Embracing Neurodiversity: Turning Differences into Strengths for Our Collective Future,” is hosted by Illinois Valley Community College and sponsored by the College’s One Book One College community reading program and the Donald E. Fike Family Foundation. She will share the crucial insight that has guided her for more than 25 years in her research and personal and professional experiences as she works to even the playing field for the neurodivergent.
The event is free and registration is recommended. For educators and healthcare professionals who register and attend, professional development credits and continuing education credits are available. The auditorium is accessible, and additional accommodations can be arranged by calling Taressa Edge at 815-224-0634.
Dr. Dunne holds a doctoral degree in cognitive and learning sciences from Oxford University, has worked with the Lego Foundation, the National Science Foundation, the United Nations, and Fortune 500 companies, and is a leader in Illinois’ community college system. Her book, “The Neurodiversity Edge,” was an outgrowth of decades working in the cognitive diversity field and debuted this year as a national best-seller.
By some estimates, one in five people are neurodivergent – their minds work differently due to neurological differences such as autism. Dr. Dunne’s book is a guide to bridging the divide between organizations starved for motivated workers and the untapped talent pool defined by cognitive differences.
“Historically, their skills have not been valued in education or the workplace. But in a changing workplace, problems can’t be solved by old methods and we need all kinds of minds to contribute,” Dr. Dunne said. Meanwhile, education systems “force a lot of students to operate in an environment that goes against the way their brains work.”
Dr. Dunne began her studies at the College of DuPage and University of Chicago and started working with youths and families long before the term neurodiversity was coined or a movement toward inclusion, recognition, and self-advocacy began. Hers was a lone voice for inclusion.
Now, “a growing interest, openness and curiosity” is coming even from people that don’t have a personal interest. “We’re realizing we can be stronger as a community when we make room to appreciate and value all different kinds of contributions.”
She approaches issues as a trained professional who has also lived the experience. “It’s been a journey. I didn’t fit neatly into one box either.”
Her latest experience as a mother of 7-year-old triplets has caused another shift. “Now I want to see the world changing fast enough so my own kids don’t struggle the way those in the past have.”
Tina Hardy, coordinator of IVCC’s Center for Accessibility and Neurodiversity, says Dr. Dunne — who lives in the Chicago area — brings both a local voice and a global perception to the current One Book One College theme. The book, “Disability Visibility,” is a collection of first-person stories edited by Alice Wong.
“It’s not a narrative about people with disabilities — their voices are heard and their needs and concerns are central,” Hardy said. “Dr. Dunne has been a longstanding champion of genuine inclusion. I believe her visit shows that we as a campus community value neurodiversity enough to really highlight it.”
When the Fike family learned of Dr. Dunne’s prospective visit, they endorsed it wholeheartedly because it reflected Donald Fike’s lifelong passion for advocacy and because “they believe strongly in the work Tina is doing,” IVCC Foundation Executive Director Tracy Beattie said. The family recently established a scholarship fund to support IVCC’s efforts.
To reserve a seat through IVCC’s Continuing Education’s online registration system, follow the steps to register online by visiting www.ivcc.edu/enroll or register by phone by calling 815-224-0427. Online, new users can create a profile and returning users will sign in to their account. In the search box, type the class ID: 18274, add the class to your cart and check out.

Signed copies of Dr. Dunne’s book will be available to the first 25 people who attend Oct. 3. For information on One Book One College and its theme, visit http://www.ivcc.edu/onebook.

The auditorium is located at 541 Chartres St., in La Salle.