‘A picture of who? me? them? us? you? everybody?’: Reflecting on arts-based research with neurodivergent young people

Hayes, Tracy, Dudman, Jane and Hart, Adam (2026) ‘A picture of who? me? them? us? you? everybody?’: Reflecting on arts-based research with neurodivergent young people. In: The Bloomsbury Handbook of Arts-Based Educational Research. Bloomsbury. ISBN 9781350521209

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Abstract

This chapter explores the use of arts-based educational research (ABER) methods in engaging neurodivergent young people through collaborative, creative and participant-led research. We examine how diverse modes of interaction – spanning visual arts, gaming, storytelling and music-making – offer pathways for self-expression, agency, ownership and meaningful contribution among neurodivergent participants. By embracing multimodal and adaptive approaches, ABER provides a framework for inclusive research that values nontraditional ways of knowing and communicating. We present a series of case studies (collaborative music composition with a primary school class, story crafting with neurodivergent participant-artists, tabletop gaming with neurodivergent young people at an arts-based charity, and environmental learning through Minecraft with youth groups) that highlight how creative, participatory methods can align with diverse sensory, cognitive and social preferences, allowing for co-constructed knowledge that emerges organically from their lived experiences. Drawing from both our research and lived experiences as neurodivergent researchers, we reflect on the opportunities and challenges of facilitating ABER with neurodivergent young people. We explore how neurodiversity – and diversity more broadly – can serve as a catalyst for collaborative creativity, shifting traditional paradigms of education and research toward more inclusive, flexible and equitable practices. Ultimately, we argue for the importance of empathy, openness and responsiveness in establishing powerful neuro-inclusive learning spaces that honour diverse ways of thinking, learning and engaging with the world.

Item Type:	Book Section
Keywords:	neurodiversity, inclusivity, young people, creativity, participatory
Depositing User:	Ms Raisa Burton
Date Deposited:	14 May 2026 15:01
Last Modified:	14 May 2026 15:01
URI:	https://marjon.repository.guildhe.ac.uk/id/eprint/18120

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