Advocate & Author.
What Joel Bring to the Conversation
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Lived Experience
Joel speaks from personal experience, offering a perspective that helps others better understand how neurodivergent students experience academic and social environments. -
Warm, Approachable Style
Joel doesn’t lecture he connects. His sessions feel like open, honest conversations that invite reflection and engagement. -
Practical, Thoughtful PerspectiveAudiences leave with a clearer understanding of where communication breaks down—and ideas they can begin to explore in their own environments.
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING
You widened our understanding of neurodiversity and reinforced the values we should hold around all kinds of differences.
Stell Simonton
First Existentialist Congregation of Atlanta
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING
So many people said it was one of the best programs they had ever experienced at our Fellowship.
Connie Ussery
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Columbus
WHAT CLIENTS SAY
Joel Kottman's sermon/presentation on neurodiversity is heartfelt, engaging and instructive. We built an entire service around this theme, which was very well received.
Rev. Marti Keller
Auburn Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
WHAT CLIENTS SAY
You were truly the star of the show… everyone walked away with new knowledge and appreciation for teaching neurodivergent students.
Tracey Y. Hurd
Director, Student Accessibility Services,
University of North Georgia
Panel Participation and
Interactive Q & A
Joel contributes lived perspective to conversations around neurodiversity, communication, and student experience.
He shares personal insight that helps educators and staff better understand real classroom challenges and consider new ways to respond.
Available for panels, interviews, and moderated discussions.
Small Group Conversations & Workshops
More interactive sessions designed for discussion, reflection, and shared learning.
Ideal for faculty groups, student support teams, and small cohorts exploring how to better support neurodivergent students.
30-45 minutes
Speaking Sessions
Joel is available for select speaking engagements focused on sharing lived experience and building awareness around neurodiversity in educational environments.
Sessions are designed to spark reflection, increase understanding, and open the door for continued conversation.
45-60 minutes
Topics & Conversations
Understanding the Neurodivergent Experience
Explore how neurodivergent students experience college differently and where misunderstandings
often begin.
Preparing Neurodivergent Students for College
Support students, families, and educators in navigating the transition to college with more clarity and realistic expectations.
Neurodiversity &
Self-Advocacy
A look at how students learn to communicate their needs and how educators and communities can better support that process.
From Awareness to Action
Understand where good intentions fall short
and what small shifts can make communication and expectations clearer.
Invite Joel to Speak
Authentic. Insightful. Grounded.
Joel Kottman brings a perspective that many conversations about neurodiversity are missing: lived experience, explained in a way others can understand.
As a neurodivergent author, advocate, and speaker, Joel shares personal insight that helps educators, staff, and community audiences better understand how academic and social environments are actually experienced from the inside.
Whether he is joining a panel, leading a conversation, or speaking to a group, Joel helps audiences recognize unspoken expectations, rethink assumptions, and approach neurodivergent students with more clarity and understanding.