Galloway, N.J. — Stockton University’s Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) recently hosted on-campus events for Neurodiversity Week. This week reminds the community that people experience the world in many ways, and it celebrates and recognizes neurodivergent individuals. 

Events highlighted coping skills, workshops and supportive environments for the Stockton community. Offerings included a Test Anxiety Workshop, Finding a Job for the Neurodiverse and a Time Management Workshop.  

The events ran from Monday, March 16, through Friday, March 20, and concluded with a special guest speaker — Kaelynn Partlow from Netflix’s show “Love on the Spectrum.” The CAPS Wellness Center hosted the week in conjunction with the Alton Mental Health Initiatives Fund, the Learning Access Program  and Active Minds, a student club that promotes mental health awareness and education.  

“CAPS has been privileged to be supported by the Alton Mental Health Initiatives Fund over the last two-and-a-half years, who co-sponsored this event and all of Neurodiversity Week,” said Brooke Zall-Crawford, director of Counseling and Psychological Services on campus.  

Zall-Crawford emphasized the importance of continued support for programming, noting that “having the financial support for programming in our growing neurodivergent student community is essential to cultivating a community of care and empowering student success.”  

Abigail Mace, community outreach coordinator, said that bringing Partlow as a guest speaker was a natural fit for the student audience.  

“When planning for Neurodiversity Week, we wanted a speaker that students would recognize and relate to. Someone that could speak authentically about navigating life and being a college student as a neurodiverse individual,” Mace said. “Through her work as a therapist and author, her social media presence, and her role on ‘Love on the Spectrum,’ I thought she would bring meaningful impact to celebrate Neurodiversity Week.”  

Before her presentation to a crowd of around 60 eager fans, Partlow offered advice to students about their college experience.  

“I think experimenting is really important at that age. You will find your people. You will find the environments that you feel the most alive and the most yourself in,” she said.  

Throughout her presentation, Partlow discussed ways to navigate challenges that arise during early adulthood. She joked about ways to deal with unruly coworkers and managing doctors’ appointments — experiences many young adults are traversing on their own for the first time and can seem amplified for those who are neurodivergent.  

CAPS and its partners also hosted interactive tabling events to educate the campus community about neurodiversity and provide resources. For more information on Stockton’s CAPS and other events, visit the Wellness Center’s website. 

-- Story and photos by Abbigail Erbacher