October DEI Spotlight on Neurodiversity: A D.C. Correspondent Uses His Voice to Battle for Change

November 16, 2022 / General NOVA News

For the October DEI Spotlight series, NOVA hosted Eric Garcia, a neurodiverse talent on the autism spectrum who is a “myth buster on a mission.” For years, Garcia has been a reporter for outlets such as, The Hill, The Washington Post and MSNBC. He is also the author of the book “We’re Not Broken: Changing the Autism Conversation.” His book has been featured on NPR and CNN.

Garcia is currently the senior Washington correspondent for The Independent. He spoke at NOVA’s Annandale Campus on October 20, sharing his story of being an overcomer.

“It’s always good, it’s always awesome to be at community colleges because, before I ever went to UNC, before I ever started working in journalism, I was a community college student myself,” Garcia said. 

The neurodivergent brain is wired a little differently. 

Neurodivergent individuals can have dyslexia, ADHD or be on the autism spectrum. It’s estimated that 1 in 7 people are neurodivergent. And they face a world that’s designed for neurotypical people, especially in academia.     

Garcia, who freely tells you he has autism, loves community colleges. They opened doors for him and his future. “Community colleges are a lifesaver, and they are the lifeblood for many people, including many neurodivergent people, a large number of whom get their start at community colleges.”

Although, he did face an educational system that was not welcoming to neurodivergent individuals, Garcia had help and assistance from a few of his professors. They realized he was on the spectrum and worked with him, even though they did not know much about autism. 

Sadly, not everyone was as helpful. That is why Garcia is speaking out and pushing for significant change so neurodivergent individuals can have a future and be successful in both school and the workplace.

One of the major problems, said Garcia, is that lawmakers have not actually listened to the people who are neurodivergent and to their needs. Instead, they make laws without input from the most important stakeholder, the neurodivergent. Garcia said, “Bad information makes for bad policy.”

A person can be Neurodivergent, but Neurodiversity is a social idea and a movement with the goals of knocking down negative stereotypes and dispelling myths such as “these people need to be fixed.” You can understand why Garcia titled his book “We’re Not Broken: Changing the Autism Conversation.”

To view the full video on Panopto video server, please click here.

The Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion is committed to advancing Inclusive Excellence to improve the well-being and success of all NOVA students, NOVA faculty, NOVA staff, and community members. The Office of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion works in collaboration with all facets of NOVA to elevate the acceptance of different ideas, values, beliefs, intersectionalities, abilities, and perspectives while also advancing equity as aligned with the College’s Mission and Strategic Plan, and help create and sustain a more inclusive and accepting college community. Please read the Resolution of Commitment and Support from the Northern Virginia Community College Board for more information about NOVA’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

For further questions about NOVA’s DEI “Spotlight Series,” please contact Sherrene DeLong, coordinator for the office of diversity, equity and inclusion at NOVA.”

For other neurodiversity resources, please visit NOVA’s Office of Mental Health and Wellness website, as well as the Office of Accommodation and Accessibility. Stacey Arth, evening reference librarian on the Annandale Campus has created an innovative library guide on neurodiversity. She can be reached at sarth@nvcc.edu.

Photo of Eric Garcia
Eric Garcia

Submitted by:
Kathy Parkinson, PIO, KParkinson@nvcc.edu