We all wear masks to some extent.
However, for people who are neurodivergent (e.g. autistic, dyslexic, dyspraxic or have ADHD), our masks become a necessity if we wish to gain access to academia.
Like many other workplaces, academia has a culture that values efficiency, accuracy, and speed, while ideas such as networking and team collaboration also make forced socialisation a required skill.
When we work in a system that privileges neurotypical ways of working, anyone who cannot work in this way must adapt themselves to be considered ‘good’ at their jobs – or be perceived as a failure.
