As the first initiative of its kind in the CSU system, The Cog: Neurodiversity Center is dedicated to uplifting and celebrating students with neurodivergent differences such as autism, ADHD, anxiety, dyslexia, OCD, bipolarism and Borderline Personality.

Established as a program of Services to Students with Disabilities, The Cog was created by Dr. Jess Nerren, disability researcher and advocate, and full-time lecturer in the Department of Communication and Media. With the essential support of her CoyotePR class and both Student Affairs and Academic Affairs, Nerren envisioned a space that would foster learning, inclusion, and empowerment for neurodiverse individuals.

“The need is to heal the trauma of exclusion and bullying. To heal the feeling of not belonging. The feeling of being strange or being ‘other’. The feeling that I have to hide who I am, that I have to mask and hide to fit in. The feeling that I’ll be discovered at any moment and cast out. The feeling of being made fun of openly and having to laugh along to be a part of the group,” said Sweeney.

Image of Dr. Chad Sweeney holding a yellow sign reading The Cog. Blue brush strokes behind Dr. Chad read “Onward, Neurowarriors!”.

Staffed by 10 neurodiverse students and disability advocates from various majors, visitors are met with a friendly and sensory environment. The weekly programming includes games, journaling and jewelry making, as well as peer mentoring, book club, dating and sexuality workshops, and career-related development such as business, entrepreneurship and website design. Designed to prepare students to be life and career-ready, the center invites students to self-actualize as social, creative, and business-savvy individuals.

As students who navigate a world that often overlooks their unique perspectives, The Cog is committed to providing them with the necessary space, resources, and tools needed to thrive. Located in University Hall 401.02, the space recognizes the unique experiences of neurodivergent individuals, creating environments that honor creativity and expression, while encouraging students to learn about themselves, their experiences, and one another.

The lending library in The Cog supplies essential tools and materials to support diverse learning and sensory needs. A hanging and rocking chair, a bean bag, ambient lighting and fidget tools, stimulate an environment perfect for physical comfort, sensory soothing, and community building.

Providing a space for refuge, The Cog helps students feel important and seen by intentionally fostering a space where they can share their stories and experiences among peers who understand.

In this space, Jessica La Tant, a CSUSB student in creative writing and intern at The Cog, feels welcomed and encouraged to share her story. “My experience as a neurodivergent individual is complicated,” she said. “I would often get labeled as the dumb one.”

Jessica La Tant, student and intern, in The Cog for her shift. Text reads “I’ve often been told I have ADHD, but I have no such (official) diagnosis. I’ll tell my story anyway”

“I’ve often been called slow, an airhead, ditzy. Even if they wouldn’t say it to your face, you can hear it in their voice when they over-explain something or sigh with impatience when you ask them to repeat themselves because your brain had already jumped from the conversation before it was over. This was so much of my life that it took me a fairly long time to even consider myself remotely intelligent.”

In her college journey, La Tant expressed how there is a need for a safe space for neurodivergent students, a place with zero judgment. “The neurodiversity space fulfills that need without a question. It is a congregation of people who are looking to not be judged,” said La Tant. “Whether it’s a friendly conversation, doing activities, or simply leaving you alone, The Cog is dedicated to making you feel welcome.”

The Disability pride flag in The Cog Neurodiversity Space. Blue lights sit in front of the flag lighting a light blue ambiance in the room.

"Come recharge both your devices and yourself," Sweeney invites, encouraging students to join for homework, studying, and connecting with other neurodiverse peers.

Extending the sense of welcoming, belonging and safety beyond our campus, The Cog: Neurodiversity Center recently launched The Cog Blog, an online platform that promotes neurodiverse stories, poems and artwork. Highlighting the voices of neurodivergent individuals, the blog has recently published poems that capture their experiences. Outside of the four walls of The Cog, students in the space are working to start the university’s first neurodiversity club.

By engaging with these powerful narratives, visitors and readers will gain a deeper understanding of the neurodivergent experience and the importance of inclusion and acceptance. As the blueprint for neurodivergent progression, The Cog: Neurodiversity Center at CSUSB contributes to a better world by celebrating neurodiversity on college campuses.