Rolling With Neurodiversity: Creating Inclusive D&D Tables by Someone Who Understands

Neurodivergence isn't just a theoretical concept—it's a lived reality for many gamers who experience the world differently through conditions like Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), dyslexia, or dyspraxia. These aren't merely "differences" in the abstract sense; they fundamentally shape how people perceive, process, and interact with the gaming environment around them.

For those with firsthand experience of neurodivergence, tabletop gaming represents both unique joys and specific challenges that neurotypical players might never have considered. The sensory landscape of a typical game session—bright character sheets, clattering dice, overlapping conversations—can be simultaneously stimulating and overwhelming in ways that affect participation profoundly.

The Lived Experience at the Gaming Table

When discussing neurodivergent experiences in gaming spaces, it's essential to recognise the genuine cognitive differences at play:

Sensory processing differences aren't preferences or quirks—they're neurological realities. What registers as "background noise" to one player might feel like an assault of information to another. A light touch on the shoulder that's barely noticed by some might trigger intense discomfort for others.

Social communication isn't simply about being "shy" or "awkward." Many neurodivergent people experience fundamental differences in how they perceive, interpret and produce social signals. This might mean taking jokes literally, missing implied requests, or needing additional time to formulate responses during fast-moving social exchanges.

Executive functioning challenges impact a player's ability to organise thoughts, shift attention smoothly, or hold multiple pieces of information simultaneously—all crucial skills during complex gaming scenarios.

Energy management becomes a calculated necessity. Social interactions that neurotypical people navigate unconsciously often require deliberate effort and processing for neurodivergent individuals, leading to quicker social fatigue and the need for recovery time.

Creating a Genuinely Accessible Gaming Space

Meaningful accommodations go beyond mere tolerance to create environments where neurodivergent players can truly thrive:

Understanding Self-Regulation Needs

Stimming isn't a behaviour to be suppressed or "tolerated"—it's an essential self-regulation tool that helps many neurodivergent people manage sensory input, regulate emotions, and maintain focus. Rather than viewing fidgeting, rocking, or repetitive movements as distractions, understand them as necessary adaptations that actually enhance participation.

For many neurodivergent gamers, having access to stim toys or fidget objects doesn't indicate disengagement—quite the opposite. These tools often create the sensory regulation necessary for deeper focus and participation. Having a collection of diverse fidget options available (different textures, movements, and sounds) acknowledges this neurological need.

Sensory-Informed Environment Design

Creating a gaming space with sensory needs in mind demonstrates genuine understanding:

• Consider lighting options that avoid harsh fluorescents, which can trigger sensory discomfort or migraines
• Establish a designated quiet space where overwhelmed players can take needed breaks without explanation or judgment
• Be mindful of strong smells (including perfumes, scented candles, or food aromas) that can be intensely distracting or uncomfortable
• Offer noise-cancelling headphone options for players who need to modulate auditory input during particularly intense parts of sessions

Communication That Respects Processing Differences

• Provide advance notice of session topics, potential triggers, or major developments when possible
• Allow extra processing time during complex rule explanations or social roleplaying scenarios
• Offer information in multiple formats (verbal, written, visual) to accommodate different processing strengths
• Create explicit systems for turn-taking that don't rely on reading subtle social cues
• Establish clear signals for when a player needs a break or is feeling overwhelmed

Thoughtful Session Structure

• Build regular breaks into longer sessions rather than waiting until someone becomes overwhelmed
• Create clear agendas or roadmaps for each session to reduce anxiety about unexpected shifts
• Be flexible about participation—sometimes silent engagement or partial attention is the maximum possible engagement for that moment
• Understand that phone use or seemingly disengaged behaviour might actually be helping a player regulate and stay present

Recognising Authentic Strengths

Neurodivergent players often bring exceptional qualities to the gaming table when provided an environment where they can fully participate:

• Extraordinary attention to detail and pattern recognition that can spot narrative inconsistencies or remember obscure rules
• Intense special interests that translate to deep character development or lore knowledge
• Novel problem-solving approaches unconstrained by conventional thinking patterns
• Passionate engagement with systems, mechanics, and world-building elements
• Direct communication styles that cut through social pretense to address problems efficiently

Building Mutual Understanding

Creating truly inclusive gaming experiences requires moving beyond simplified accommodations toward genuine mutual understanding:

When communication misunderstandings occur, approach with curiosity rather than frustration. Neurodivergent and neurotypical communication styles often operate on different assumptions and patterns, with neither being inherently "correct."

Recognise that discomfort with eye contact or unusual body language doesn't indicate disinterest or disrespect—these are simply different neurological expressions of attention and engagement.

Understand that social rules that seem "obvious" to neurotypical players may be entirely opaque to neurodivergent ones, requiring explicit explanation rather than implied understanding.

A Shared Adventure Worth Taking

The most successful inclusive gaming tables recognise that neurodiversity isn't something to be "managed" or "accommodated"—it's a valuable form of human variation that enriches the collective experience when properly understood and respected.

By creating gaming environments that work with rather than against neurodivergent processing styles, everyone benefits from the unique perspectives, creative problem-solving, and authentic engagement that diverse cognitive styles bring to collaborative storytelling.

After all, isn't the heart of roleplaying games about bringing together different characters with unique abilities and perspectives to face challenges together? Our gaming tables should reflect that same spirit of collaboration across differences.