Jennifer Greenfield, PhD
What does it mean to be neurodivergent and what does it look like in our classrooms, workplaces and daily lives?
In this episode, Jennifer Greenfield, PhD, explores how neurodiversity challenges traditional systems of learning and working, and why social workers must deepen their understanding to provide inclusive and effective support. Drawing from her research and lived experience, Greenfield highlights how neurodivergent individuals, such as those with ADHD, autism, giftedness and more, often thrive when environments adapt, but struggle when systems remain rigid. She examines common misconceptions, the double invisibility of “twice exceptional” students and the urgent need for educational institutions to transform their approaches.
Finally, Greenfield turns to the policy landscape, addressing how shifting federal priorities could safeguard — or jeopardize — critical supports for neurodivergent people.
Jennifer Greenfield, PhD, is an associate professor at the University of Denver Graduate School of Social Work. She is a scholar of employment, caregiving and health policy whose recent work focuses on neurodivergence in graduate education. She brings both professional expertise and personal perspective to this conversation, offering practical insights for educators, practitioners and policymakers alike.
Show Notes
Cite this podcast – Sobota, P. (Host). (2025, September 23). Supporting
Neurodivergent Students: From Classrooms to Research (No. 340)[Audio podcast
episode]. In inSocialWork. University at Buffalo School of Social Work.
