4/04 Guest Speaker: Susan Gingras Fitzell on Neurodiversity and Learning Differences Beyond the Stereotypes

The Duke Neurodiversity Advocates (DNA) are thrilled to welcome Susan Gingras Fitzell, M.Ed., CSP — a nationally recognized educator, author, and consultant who has spent over 25 years helping students and professionals with diverse learning profiles thrive.

Susan’s work focuses on neurodiversity beyond the usual headlines — exploring how conditions like dyslexia, dyscalculia, auditory processing differences, and working-memory challenges shape how people learn, collaborate, and succeed in the real world.

In this talk, she’ll share insights from her decades in education and corporate training on:

• How lesser-discussed learning differences show up in college and the workplace

• The strengths these brains bring to innovation, empathy, and problem-solving

• What genuine inclusion looks like beyond accommodations checklists

• Practical tools for managing overwhelm, processing barriers, and self-advocacy

• How peers and professors can create spaces where all learning styles thrive