'Body doubling’ study sessions and specialised workshops support neurodivergent students

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'Body doubling’ study sessions and specialised workshops support neurodivergent students

The RMIT University Library has created specialised study sessions and unveiled a new series promoting skills to help neurodivergent students get through university.

Navigating university as a neurodivergent student comes with unique challenges. As part of RMIT University Library’s commitment equity and inclusion, the Neurodiverse Study Sessions and new series of Skills for Neurodivergent Students workshops aim to ensure inclusion in the Library isn’t just a goal, but a reality.

"The Neurodiverse Study Sessions are the reason why I stayed in my degree and kept going." says one student.

The study sessions

Neurodiverse Study Sessions take place in an inclusive environment at Swanston and Bundoora campuses, offering:

A calm space
Comfortable lighting
Peaceful atmosphere
Structured study bloacks of 25 minutes with regular breaks
Healthy snacks and access to sensory toys
Academic Skills and Student Learning Advisors on hand during sessions to provide support with stduy and coursework.

With dozens of student testimonials, it is clear that these study sessions have a positive and transformative impact on students and their journey at RMIT, with one student saying:

For some, these resources and sessions are as fundamental as ramps and elevators, glasses, hearing aids, internet access, drinking water, and the Library itself.

Another student shared how attending the sessions improved their sense of belonging, saying, "The social element was also a surprise. I’ve never really craved a 'safe space', but finding myself in one, I felt a positive influence just from the vibe of acceptance and belonging."

RMIT University PhD student Jeremy Nagel, who is autistic and has ADHD, included his participation in the Neurodiverse Study Sessions as part of his strategy for improving concentration.

"It uses the principle of body doubling, which is where you are working next to someone else and you tell them what you're going to work on, and that creates some micro-accountability... I use that quite often and it really helps me," Jeremy said.

Further support

In addition to these sessions, the Library also has a sensory-friendly study space available during open hours at Swanston Library.

Students are encouraged to dim the lights, meditate, shift furniture and make the space their own to decompress and study in an environment that suits them.

Sensory-friendly study space

A sensory-friendly study space on RMIT's Swanston St campus.

Your voice

Neurodiverse Study Sessions first began as a six-week pilot program, held at the City Campus once a week.

Now, these sessions are offered across multiple days and campuses based on the feedback and insights received from attendees.

Similarly, our Skills for Neurodivergent Workshops started in 2025 as in-person workshops, but we’re already evolving to make them accessible online for future semesters. 

The Library actively listens to and makes changes based on feedback from our students. If you have ideas or suggestions on how we can improve our inclusive practices, please reach out to us via Ask the Library.

28 August 2025

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