2026 Annual Meeting Keynote Speaker: Amy Harris Houk

Title

A Rising Tide Lifts All Boats: How Neurodivergent-Friendly Environments in Libraries Benefit Everyone

Abstract

A 2025 research study by London et al., found that 13.9% of adults in the US self-reported having been diagnosed with ADHD. This number has increased substantially over the past decade, as has the number of people diagnosed with Autism. Awareness of neurodiversity has also increased, but many Autistic people and people with ADHD struggle to be successful in a workplace that was not designed for them. Neurodivergent (an umbrella term which includes but is not limited to people with ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder, learning differences, personality disorders, anxiety disorders, and sensory processing disorders) people remain a minority in the US, but the same work environment and culture where neurodivergent people can thrive benefit all employees.

Amy Harris Houk, a library administrator who was diagnosed with ADHD as an adult, spent years in this type of environment and now uses her positional authority to try and make her workplace more accessible for all. This presentation will discuss how Universal Design, along with the guiding principles of flexibility, open communication and transparency, regular feedback, and collaboration can benefit neurodivergent and neurotypical employees alike.

Speaker Biography

Amy Harris Houk is the Assistant Dean of Teaching and Learning at the University Libraries at UNC Greensboro, who is currently serving as Interim Dean. She also serves as the liaison to Counseling and Educational Development; Educational Leadership and Cultural Foundations; Information, Library, and Research Sciences; and Teacher Education and Higher Education. She was diagnosed as an adult with inattentive-type ADHD, and her research interests include library management and supporting neurodivergent librarians and library patrons.