eLEARNING

AALL Webinar: Cool Tools for Neurodiverse Librarians and their Allies

Recorded On: 11/05/2025

  • Register
    • Non-member - $60
    • Individual Member - Free!
    • Student Member - Free!
    • Retired Member - Free!

There are many ways of trying to get organized, practice better time management, and be more productive, but not every method works for every brain. Come hear about tools that have helped neurodivergent librarians succeed in a world often designed for neurotypical brains, including Finch, Goblin Tools, Brick, Focus Friend, Notion and the Pomodoro Technique. 

TARGET AUDIENCE:

Anyone who is trying to improve their executive functioning and self-care, with a focus on the needs of a neurodiverse population. Those that teach neurodiverse students, work with or supervise neurodivergent colleagues, or serve neurodivergent patrons will also benefit from understanding tools that are available. While neurodiversity is often used in the context of autism spectrum disorder and other neurological or developmental disorders such as ADHD or dyslexia, neurodiversity describes the idea that people experience and interact with the world around them in many ways, with no one "right" way of thinking, learning, and behaving, and understanding that differences are not deficits.

TAKEAWAYS:

Explore multiple options of online tools to try and adopt or discard depending on what works best for the individual, with a focus on those with neurodiverse superpowers 

SPEAKERS:

  • Mari Cheney, Legal Researcher, BakerHostetler
  • Laura Dixon-Caldwell, Neurodiversity Caucus Vice Chair/Chair-Elect; Instructional & Reference Services Librarian, College of Law Library, University of Cincinnati College of Law, Robert S. Marx Law Library
  • Annalee Hickman Pierson, Head of Reference and Faculty Services, Brigham Young University
  • Jenny Wondracek, Neurodiversity Caucus Chair; Director of the Law Library & Professor of Legal Research & Writing, Capital University Law Library

COORDINATOR/MODERATOR:

  • Sharon Beth Bronheim, Neurodiversity Caucus Secretary; Content Acquisitions Librarian, University of Maryland School of Law, Thurgood Marshall Law Library

AALL BODY OF KNOWLEDGE DOMAINS: Professionalism + Leadership At Every Level

image  

CANCELLATION AND OTHER POLICIES

No refunds will be given for any purchased live AALL webinar. This applies to non-AALL members only as AALL webinars are free for AALL members.

All AALL webinars include live captioning services.

The opinions shared during this program represent the views of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of the American Association of Law Libraries (AALL). Recording, capturing, or using AI tools to duplicate, transcribe, or otherwise reproduce an AALL program in any form is strictly prohibited without prior written consent from AALL. This includes, but is not limited to audio, video, or any other content shared. By attending an AALL program or accessing an AALL recording, you agree to adhere to this policy.

Sharon Beth Bronheim

Sharon Beth Bronheim

Content Acquisitions Librarian

University of Maryland School of Law

For many, a midlife crisis means buying a flashy sports car—but for Bronheim, it meant completing Catholic University’s MSLIS program in just one year and launching a new career. After more than 20 years in criminal law and policy, she often wonders what took her so long to discover that law librarianship is where she’s happiest—and admits she’s a bit envious of those who found their calling earlier. At home, she shares life with her husband, a cat, a dog, and a hedgehog, and insists her hobby should be called knitting, not finishing.

Jenny Wondracek

Jenny Wondracek

Director of the Law Library & Professor of Legal Research & Writing

Capital University Law Library

Wondracek has extensive experience in law librarianship and legal technology. She has held positions in the law libraries at Barry University, Elon University, the University of Florida and UNT Dallas. While at UNT Dallas, Wondracek became the founding director of the Legal Educational Technology department. Her research focus includes VR, 360 photography, legal ethics, generative AI, and technology competence. A frequent speaker at conferences and CLE events, she was recognized as an ABA LTRC Women of Legal Tech Honoree and Fastcase 50 member in 2021.

Annalee Hickman Pierson

Annalee Hickman Pierson

Head of Reference and Faculty Services

Brigham Young University

Hickman Pierson joined the law library faculty at Brigham Young University (BYU) Law in 2016 after completing a JD at BYU. She also holds an MLIS from San Jose State University. Since 2021, she has served as the head of reference and faculty services, overseeing the legal reference and faculty services departments in the BYU Law Library, providing faculty research assistance and support, and writing scholarship that focuses on legal reference services, faculty services, legal research instruction, legal education, and law librarianship. She also teaches Introduction to Legal Research and Writing and Introduction to Advocacy. Hickman Pierson is a frequent presenter at many law librarianship conferences (mostly presenting about neurodivergent things these days) and serves on committees for AALL, WestPac, RIPS-SIS, and ALL-SIS. When not at work, she spends her time singing and dancing with her three daughters.

Mari Cheney

Mari Cheney

Legal Researcher

BakerHostetler

Cheney has been a law librarian for almost 20 years, working as a court librarian, academic, and now law firm librarian. She is passionate about neurodiversity and has published articles and spoken many times at professional conferences on this topic, advocating both for student accommodation as well as employee accommodation. She is also a member of Law Library Journal Editorial Board. If you meet her at a conference, you will probably find her consuming too much coffee, trying to win all of the good vendor swag, and taking too many tote bags and stuffies home to her kids. 

Laura Dixon-Caldwell

Laura Dixon-Caldwell

Instructional & Reference Services Librarian, College of Law Library

University of Cincinnati College of Law, Robert S. Marx Law Library

Dixon-Caldwell provides reference services for faculty and students and teaches Legal Research and Advanced Legal Research. She was previously employed at Dinsmore & Shohl LLP, Hamilton County Law Library, and Keating, Muething & Klekamp PLL. Dixon-Caldwell earned her BA from Xavier University and her MLS from the University of Kentucky. She is currently pursuing a Master's in criminal justice at the University of Cincinnati. She is a member of various professional associations both regionally and nationally, and currently serves on the Executive Council of UC's AAUP chapter. Dixon-Caldwell has presented at regional conferences, as well as at continuing legal education programs. In her free time, she enjoys running, yoga, true crime and horror books, podcasts, and shows. She lives in Northern Kentucky with her husband Brent, and her cats Peggy, and Lincoln.  

Key:

Complete
Failed
Available
Locked
Cool Tools for Neurodiverse Librarians and Their Allies
11/05/2025 at 11:00 AM (CST)  |  Recorded On: 11/05/2025  |   Closed captions available
11/05/2025 at 11:00 AM (CST)  |  Recorded On: 11/05/2025  |   Closed captions available
Survey
5 Questions