Empowering Bellevue College's Neurodivergent Students: A Look at the Neurodiversity Navigators Program

The Neurodiversity Navigators program at Bellevue College supports neurodivergent students, including those with autism, ADHD, and dyslexia. The program offers courses and peer mentoring to assist students in their academic and personal growth within the college environment. It aims to leverage individual strengths and reduce the need for students to conceal their neurodivergence, creating a more inclusive campus.

Victor A. Ramirez, a Bellevue College alum, states that the Neurodiversity Navigators program was crucial in developing key skills such as seeking assistance, navigating administrative procedures for accommodations, and managing stress. These skills supported his success at Bellevue College and at DigiPen Institute of Technology, where he earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Digital Art and Animation.

Sara Sanders Gardner, the program's founder and director, bases the program on a social justice model that focuses on enhancing the unique strengths of each student. This approach benefits not only the neurodivergent students but also the broader college community.

Originally called the Autism Spectrum Navigators program, Neurodiversity Navigators started 14 years ago and has become a model for neurodiversity support on college campuses. The program's staff, including Sanders Gardner who is autistic and uses they/them pronouns, are all neurodivergent, which ensures that the program's practices affirm neurodiversity.

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