Welcome

Dr Kimberly Douglass, Graduate Education Expert

Specializations: administrative processes, technological systems, policies and practices to support the graduate student life cycle; graduate student disability services; services for graduate students with “invisible” disabilities

Founding: The Center for Graduate Student Disability Services

I support institutions of higher learning in delivering a 21st Century education to their disabled graduate students, throughout the graduate student life-cycle. If you are an administrator, faculty member or staff member who works with graduate students and need support for you and/or your colleagues, book time for introductions here. If you are a graduate student or thinking about becoming a graduate student and need guidance, book time for introductions here.

My work helps deliver robust graduate education, which in 2024, is important to the international reputation of your institution. The work I do improves graduate student outcomes, enhances faculty and staff capabilities in working with graduate students, strengthens academic program performance on program reviews, strengthens academic program performance on professional accreditation reviews and fortifies institutions’ standing with its accrediting agencies.

Results from Professional Development Curriculum – Neurodivergent Clients

AJ Singh

Mission Equality, InPassioned Leadership

Kimberly supports [my] growth from a place of compassion. She gives the right feedback, ideas and asks the right questions to move my thoughts forward to actionable and exciting outcomes.

Kyrié (Kirk) Kirkland

Founder, CEO, Nuvé | CannaLearn

Dr. Douglass helped me create my own blueprint, but more importantly, I felt validated in my experience. Not once in our conversation did she say “you can’t do that” or “that’s not how it’s done.” She took the time and energy to peel back the layers to identify my true goal and then create a framework from that.

Lyanne Jordan

Visionary Steward - Executive Director, Maroon Calabash

I recommend Dr Kimberly Douglass' services to any ADHD manager, employee or contractor feeling disconnected and burned out by their work environment and looking for practical tools and guidance through partnership.

Merril Holloway

Adjunct Faculty and EdD Student

Dr Douglass’ guidance and great insight has helped me push to another level in my post-graduate education. Dr Douglass has helped me flesh out some things in my life. I feel like I am on the right path. I would recommend her services to anyone who needs to refine their focus. Dr Douglass is a great listener and knows how to tap into her client’s needs. I would use her services again because she will help me create results. That is important to me.

Katherine Zitterbart

Trauma-informed Embodiment and Sexuality Facilitator

Working with Kimberly has helped me determine the audience/institutions I want to work with – this is HUGE, as my neurodivergencies often create chaos in my mind. I would recommend her services to folks looking to understand how their mind works and who want to use that to their advantage.

Mary O’Keefe

I have seen my confidence grow. Dr. Kim understands the colonization mentality of systems and she helps you identify the systems you may be a part of. It’s absolutely empowering. I could not have started my venture without her wisdom. Dr. Kim helped me hone my path. She also helped me see my neurodivergent traits as strengths that could help me rather than hinder. She’s the first person that could help me make sense of the ideas I have inside me. She is endlessly encouraging. She helps keep me true to myself.

Mollie Gibson

Owner, Wonderstand Me

While working with Dr Douglass, [I clarified] the direction of my growing business, while considering the work I have done in the past and the work in which I am currently involved. I took important steps to solidify my brand (Filed Trademark, began building website and learning about project+client management software). Dr Douglass provided a tangible working document I can refer back to as I continue to grow my business, create content and consider potential directions. Each session reinforced previous sessions and further clarified the aim for my work. Dr Douglass’ [working style] compliments my working style. I avoided mission creep because we narrowed my focus.

Check out some of my offerings

Disability Services for Neurodivergent Undergrad and Graduate Students: What is an Ought to be Offered

This catalog describes in brief and in detail 101 services that are currently offered or should be offered to Neurodivergent Undergraduate and Graduate Students by disability services/student access offices on college and university campuses. The catalog includes information about the modes (online, face-to-face or both) and physical environments in which these services would be impactful. Also, it includes information about the students’ physiological conditions that create the need for services.

This catalog is unique in that it applies specifically to the resource needs of Neurodivergent Students. 

Get the book

Disability Services Basics: for Neurodivergent College Students

9 audio recordings, each less than 9:15 minutes 

These recording start with the basics: what disability services offices do, how to request services, what to expect, how much support students get, how to make the most of services. 

Most importantly, these recordings show you how to evaluate services for Neurodivergent Students in particular.  

These recordings provide a straight forward explanation of how disability services work on college and university campuses. You can apply the framework provided here to any institution.  The recordings also include practical tips for undergraduate, graduate and professional school. 

Get the Recordings

For Your Programming

Below are examples of topics I could address at your conferences, advisory board meetings, administrative meetings and events, faculty meetings and events, staff meetings and events, student organization meetings and events and class meetings.

(examples) Keynote Address & Webinar Topics – (Click Here) Let’s talk about it.

What the disabled graduate student experience says about higher education

What are we even doing here? The meaning of Academia in 2024

Why graduate students are so lonely

Why graduate students try to hide their disabilities

What Long Covid means for graduate schools

Graduating disabled scholars

Unsupported graduate students become unsupportive faculty and staff.

(examples) Guest Lecture & Professional Development Topics – (Click Here) Let’s talk about it.

Why higher education should care about AuDHD

“Invisible” disabilities in higher education

Graduate services profile of an institution

What Long Covid means to higher education

Support beyond the graduate school classroom

(examples) Social Media Topics (Recorded and Live) – (Click Here) Let’s talk about it.

Graduate school and “invisible” disabilities

Decolonizing neurodivergence

Power constructs

Leadership vs management

Why adults need to play

Graduate school as an embodied experience