“Come as you are; you are not broken” is more than a motto, it’s a philosophy, said Dr. Chad Sweeney, current director and Faculty Fellow for Disability, Difference, and Accommodation. Since its opening in February 2024, The Cog: Neurodiversity Center has become an essential resource in extending the sense of safety and belonging for neurodivergent students on the CSUSB campus.
Jess Block Nerren (communication studies) was quoted in an article about the opening of the new neurodiversity space at CSUSB called “The Cog,” a place available to anyone with or without autism, ADHD, anxiety, dyslexia and other ways of experiencing the world differently.
The grand opening of The Cog will be celebrated on Feb. 5 from 10:30 a.m. to noon in CSUSB’s John M. Pfau Library.
John Chad Sweeney, a full professor in the CSUSB English department, is a valued member of the Services to Students with Disabilities Community Advisory Board.
Through her research, Jess Nerren, full-time lecturer of communication studies, hopes to develop inclusive research practices and work with individuals with autism in developing new critical theories and research methodologies.
Jason F. Reimer (psychology) co-wrote a paper on a tool measuring how people concentrate, Jess Block Nerren (communication studies), Becky Sumbera and Shannon Sparks (education), J. Chad Sweeney (English) will participate in the public reading of a new book on Feb. 2, and Stuart Sumida (biology) reached a milestone as a film consultant.
The book, which includes several CSUSB contributors, explores the scholarly research related to autism inclusion, disability inclusion, disability studies, communication, critical scholarship, education, education reform and educational leadership.
Anthony Silard (public administration) wrote in his blog about using rejection as a stepping stone to developing healthy relationships, Brian Levin (criminal justice) was quoted about the extremist group Oath Keepers, and Jessica Nerren (public relations) was interviewed about neurodiversity in PR.