Manley Guest Panelist at JJC Neurodiversity Discussion with Faculty

Updated: Sep 4

JOLIET, Ill. – State Rep. Natalie Manley, D-Joliet, returned to her alma mater, Joliet Junior

College (JJC), Thursday, as a guest panelist in a discussion about neurodiversity with faculty.

JJC’s Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. Amy Gray presented “Teaching for All Minds:

Embracing Neurodiversity to Empower JJC Students.”

Manley was on a panel of faculty, parents and students who answered questions about how to

better educate the neurodivergent student population.

Under Manley’s leadership, a first-of-its-kind nonpartisan, bicameral Illinois Legislative

Neurodiversity Caucus was formed in April. Senator Meg Loughran Cappel, D-Shorewood, is

co-chair in the Senate.

“There are four cornerstones to the caucus: support, access, resources, and education,” Manley

said. “Together these four cornerstones form the framework of a state that sees, values and

includes every neurodivergent person.”

Additionally, Manley has recently launched a monthly Neurodiversity Legislative Advisory

Committee (called NeuroLAC). She also hosted a World Autism Awareness Day Forum at JJC

earlier this spring.

“Neurodiversity may be every bit as crucial for the human race as biodiversity is for life in

general,” said Harvey Blume, a quote Gray included in her presentation.

Notable neurodivergent people include Albert Einstein, Nikola Tesla, Leonardo de Vinci,

Vincent van Gogh, Marie Curie, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg, and Anthony

Hopkins, Gray explained.

Manley received an Associates Degree from JJC, her Bachelors Degree from the University of

St. Francis, followed by a Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership and Public

Administration from Lewis University. She has served in the Illinois House of Representatives for the 98th District since 2013.

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