Abstract
NASA's Neurodiversity Network (N3) is a five-year program that has been funded as part of NASA's Science Activation Network. N3's main goal is to provide a pathway to NASA participation and STEM employment for neurodiverse learners, with a focus on those on the autism spectrum. Through the N3 program, we are enabling STEM education for a segment of the population that is significantly underserved through a process in which existing NASA education resources are redesigned with significant input from autistic learners and their instructors. The co-design process occurs primarily in informal environments, including high school summer programs, and camps and activity sessions for middle school students sponsored by the New York Hall of Science. N3 also offers a mentored summer internship program for at least ten neurodiverse high school students each year. Mentoring is provided by NASA Subject Matter Experts, individuals who collectively possess expertise that spans NASA's Science Mission Directorate.Resumen
La Red de Neurodiversidad de la NASA (N3) es un programa de cinco años que ha sido financiado como parte de la inicitiva Science Activation Network de la NASA. El objetivo principal de N3 es proporcionar un camino para la participación de la NASA y el empleo STEM para estudiantes neurodiversos, con un enfoque en aquellos en el espectro del autismo. A través del programa N3, estamos posibilitando la educación STEM para un segmento de la poblacón que está significativamente desatendido, a través de un proceso en el que los recursos educativos existentes de la NASA se rediseñan con aportes significativos de estudiantes autistas y sus instructores. El proceso de co-diseño ocurre principalmente en ambientes informales, incluyendo programas de verano, campamentos y sesiones de actividades para estudiantes de primaria y secundaria patrocinados por el New York Hall de Ciencia. N3 también ofrece un programa de pasantías de verano con mentores para al menos diez estudiantes de secundaria neurodiversos cada año. La tutoría es proporcionada por expertos temáticos de la NASA, personas que colectivamente tienen experiencia que abarca la Dirección de Misiones Científicas de la NASA.References
American Psychiatric Association 2013, Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed., Text Revision). Washington, DC
BaronCohen, S. 2009, NYASA, 1156(1), 68-80.
Gernsbacher, M. A. 2017, Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 58(7), 859-861.
Gillespie-Lynch, K., Kapp, S. K., Shane-Simpson, C., Smith, D. S., & Hutman, T. 2014, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 52(6), 456-469.
Grandin, T., & Duffy, K. 2008, AAPC Publishing.
Kanner, L. 1971, Journal of Autism and Childhood Schizophrenia, 1(2), 119-145.
Kapp, S. K., Gantman, A., & Laugeson, E. A. 2011, Transition to adulthood for high-functioning individuals with autism spectrum disorders. A comprehensive book on autism spectrum disorders, pp. 451-478.
Kenny, L., Hattersley, C., Molins, B., Buckley, C., Povey, C., & Pellicano, E. 2016, Autism, 20(4), 442-462.
Mottron, L., Dawson, M., Soulieres, I., Hubert, B., & Burack, J. 2006, Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 36(1), 27-43.
Murray, D., & Lesser, M. 1999, In for Autism99 online conference organised by the NAS with the Shirley Foundation.
Nguyen, K., Grillo-Hill, A., Valcarcel, J., & Elsayed,R. 2021 WestEd Report for the N3 project (August 30, 2021).
Nguyen, K., Elsayed,R., Grillo-Hill, A., & Valcarcel, J. 2021 WestEd Report for the N3 project (November 2021)
Nord, D. K., Stancliffe, R. J., Nye-Lengerman, K., & Hewitt, A. S. 2016, Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 24, 11-16.
Shattuck, P. T., Narendorf, S. C., Cooper, B., Sterzing, P. R., Wagner, M., & Taylor, J. L. 2012, Pediatrics, 129(6), 10421049.
Sinclair, J. 2013, Autonomy, the Critical Journal of Interdisciplinary Autism Studies, 1 (10).
Taylor, J. L., & Seltzer, M. M. 2011, Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 41(5), 566-574.
Wei, X., Jennifer, W. Y., Shattuck, P., McCracken, M., & Blackorby, J. 2013, Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 43(7), 1539-1546.
West, M. 2012, Office of the Chief Scientist Occasional Paper Series, 4, 1-3.