Neurodiverse Faculty and Staff Alliance
Meetings and Events
- We are collecting pet supplies to benefit Frankie's Friends Cat Rescue. Items can be dropped off at our collection table in the Cohon University - Wean Commons on December 8 and 9 from 1–4 p.m. You can also donate via our Amazon wishlist. Requested items include:
- gently-used towels and blankets
- paper towels and kitchen garbage bags
- Clorox and laundry soap
- canned cat food (any kind) and Purina cat chow (blue bag)
Mission Statement
CMU’s Neurodiverse ERG exists to provide intentional space for cognitively diverse employees, as well as allies, in search of resources, community and support across all Carnegie Mellon University campuses. We work to improve awareness of the diverse experiences of the human mind and to promote the showcasing of perspectives that focus on inclusive collaboration through workshops, discussion groups and social events.
Leadership
Cait Batchelor, Co-Lead
Cait Batchelor has been with CMU as an administrative assistant for the Financial and Business Services team within the Software Engineering Institute since 2016. By leveraging their degree in inclusive education, and their own experiences with ADHD, Cait advocates for neurodivergent people during the COVID-19 pandemic and navigating the transition to remote work environments.
In 2022, Cait was awarded the SEI’s AJ Award in Living Our Shared Values for their work founding a Neurodiversity group within SEI. As CMU navigates its post COVID-19 future, Cait continues to advocate for neurodivergent individuals to ensure they are able to continuously maximize the contributions they bring to CMU every day.
Caedyn Busche, M.Ed. (they/them) is a Pittsburgh native, artist and museum lover. They have worked at CMU for three years as a career consultant for students in the Schools of Art, Architecture, Design and BXA in the Career and Professional Development Center under the DOSA umbrella. Outside of career advising, Caedyn has a passion for working in diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging both professionally and in the community, acts as the DEI+B specialist in the CPDC, and is a member of three separate committees related to DEI+B throughout the university. Caedyn is White, queer, transgender, disabled, neurodiverse, and a first-generation college and graduate school graduate coming from a low-income background.