In the ever-evolving landscape of higher education, research that highlights the lived experiences of historically marginalized groups is vital to fostering inclusivity and systemic change. Dr. Kat J. Stephens-Peace, Assistant Professor of Higher Education in the Department of Educational Leadership at Teachers College, is at the forefront of this effort. Her groundbreaking work challenges traditional narratives around neurodivergence, race, and gender in academia—particularly for Black women graduate students.

Breaking Barriers in Disability and Neurodivergence Research

Dr. Stephens-Peace’s current research stems from her 2022 dissertation, The Gendered, Racialized, & Dis/Abled Experiences of Neurodivergent Black Women Graduate Students Across Higher Education. The study critically examines the lived experiences of Black women navigating adult-stage diagnoses of ADHD, autism, and OCD—voices that have long been absent from disability discourse.

“This research is important because it rejects much of disability and social science research which positions those impacted by Disability and Neurodivergence as overwhelmingly White and Male,” Dr. Stephens-Peace explains. “This work is important because it meets a true gap in the field, as further amplified by the near 1,400 downloads and readership since it was published in September 2022.”

By incorporating an interdisciplinary framework—drawing from Critical Disability Studies, Crip Studies, Black Studies, Women & Gender Studies, and Critical ADHD Studies—her work challenges prevailing narratives and broadens the scope of who is recognized within disability and neurodivergence research.

Bringing Research Beyond the Academy

For Dr. Stephens-Peace, research is most impactful when it reaches both academic and non-academic communities.

“As a critical qualitative scholar and creative employing Arts-Based methods such as Poetic Inquiry and visual representation, I know that my work is important but is uplifted only when it reaches communities both in and out of the academy.”

So far, she has shared her research at major higher education conferences, including the Association for the Study of Higher Education (ASHE). She has also expanded her reach into disability, accessibility, and public health research communities and was an invited plenary speaker at the 2024 Women and Gender Studies National Conference in South Carolina.

Overcoming Challenges with Innovation and Care

As with any critical research endeavor, challenges arise—especially when working with participants who have unique access needs.

“Some challenges that I have faced during the research process are related to anticipating, assessing, and meeting the needs of participants who struggle with executive functioning and have access needs,” Dr. Stephens-Peace shares. “It was a logistical challenge at some points, to meet national interest when I was data collecting, but I found it deeply rewarding to meet their needs, and create a unique protocol and techniques that centered accessible research methods.”

The COVID-19 pandemic also presented hurdles, making participant recruitment and engagement particularly complex. However, her commitment to ethical, participant-centered research helped her navigate these difficulties and ensure that her study remained accessible and inclusive.

A Vision for Change

Beyond contributing to academic literature, Dr. Stephens-Peace hopes her work has a tangible impact on cultural perceptions.

“I hope that my research changes and does away with cultural stigmas and informational stigmas surrounding neurodivergence in Black communities, particularly immigrant and international communities,” she says.

She also sees her research influencing fields such as critical psychology, special education, and public health by providing new recommendations that shape teaching methods and intervention strategies.

“Across the African Diaspora, there is a history of distrust of testing and measurements such as educational psych testing, and medication as intervention and management,” she explains.

By addressing these concerns head-on, her work challenges longstanding biases and seeks to improve institutional support structures.

Finding Joy in the Work

Despite the challenges, Dr. Stephens-Peace finds joy in the connections her research has fostered. “I am brought joy by the community of women that have been supported, and the happiness they have expressed in seeing themselves and experiences in conversation,” she reflects.

She is also energized by the future possibilities of her research. “The support of Ball State University and Teachers College has meant so much to me. Being a new tenure-track faculty member and a recipient of the Alpha Research grant is incredibly encouraging.”

With a commitment to reshaping how academia understands and supports neurodivergent Black women, Dr. Stephens-Peace’s work is not just scholarly—it’s transformational.