Education and Tools for Parents Learning about Neurodivergence For Their Kids

🎯 Differentiating Instruction Without Overwhelm

Neurodivergent students thrive when they can engage with material in a way that suits their processing strengths. But differentiation doesn’t mean you need 20 versions of every lesson! Instead, focus on universal design principles, which create built-in flexibility without adding extra work for the teacher.

📌 How This Looks in Practice:

• For a student who struggles with reading long passages:

• Provide audio versions of texts or allow students to use text-to-speech software.

• For a student who has trouble with abstract concepts:

• Use real-life examples, hands-on demonstrations, or visual metaphors to make the concept concrete.

• For students with varied learning speeds:

• Offer tiered assignments where students work at different levels but still engage with the same big idea.

• Example: Instead of requiring a 5-paragraph essay, provide options:

• 📝 Write a paragraph summary.

• 🎤 Record a spoken response.

• 🎨 Create a comic strip or infographic explaining the concept.

🔹 Pro Tip: Choice-based learning increases autonomy and motivation, activating the brain’s dopamine pathways (especially helpful for ADHD learners). Giving students two or three options for how to engage with content ensures they can work in a way that matches their strengths.

📝 Alternatives to Traditional Assessments

Not all students can demonstrate their knowledge effectively through a written essay or standardized test. Many neurodivergent students struggle with working memory, fine motor skills, processing speed, or executive function—making traditional assessments an unfair measure of their true ability.

📌 How This Looks in Practice:

• For a student with dysgraphia (difficulty with handwriting/written expression):

• Allow oral responses instead of written work.

• Use speech-to-text software for typing assignments.

• For a student with ADHD who struggles with long written tests:

• Break the test into smaller chunks with movement breaks in between.

• Offer a project-based alternative where they explain concepts using video, audio, or slides.

• For an autistic student who struggles with open-ended questions:

• Provide clear templates (e.g., sentence starters, graphic organizers) to guide responses.

• Use multiple-choice or fill-in-the-blank formats instead of requiring full-length essays.

🔹 Pro Tip: Portfolio assessments track growth over time rather than relying on a single high-stakes moment. Students collect their best work, showing progress across weeks or months.

🎨 Multi-Modal Learning: Why It Works

The brain learns best when information is received through multiple sensory channels. Some students may need visual structure, while others retain information better through movement or discussion.

📌 How This Looks in Practice:

Visual Learners:

• Use diagrams, charts, and color-coded notes to highlight key ideas.

• Provide video lessons with captions for additional reinforcement.

• Allow students to draw mind maps instead of writing linear notes.

Kinesthetic Learners (Hands-On/Movement-Based):

• Use role-playing, acting out concepts, or manipulatives (e.g., counting blocks in math).

• Incorporate movement-based review games (e.g., tossing a ball to answer questions).

• Allow students to walk and talk about ideas instead of sitting still.

Auditory Learners:

• Encourage verbal repetition (e.g., reading notes aloud, using call-and-response methods).

• Use songs, rhymes, or chants to reinforce key concepts.

• Offer small group discussions instead of silent, independent work.

🔹 Pro Tip: Multi-modal learning is not just for neurodivergent students—it benefits everyone! The more ways students engage with content, the better they remember it.

👥 Supporting Neurodivergent Students in Group Work

Group work can be overwhelming for neurodivergent students, especially those with social anxiety, ADHD, or autism. However, with the right structure and flexibility, collaborative activities can become accessible and enjoyable.

📌 How This Looks in Practice:

Role-Based Collaboration:

Assigning clear, structured roles ensures that students know exactly what to do.

• Timekeeper ⏳ – Tracks how long the group spends on each section.

• Notetaker 📝 – Records key ideas and keeps information organized.

• Idea Generator 💡 – Brainstorms different approaches or solutions.

• Presenter 🎤 – Shares the group’s final product with the class.

Alternative Participation Methods:

• For a student who struggles with real-time discussions:

• Allow them to write their ideas first before sharing.

• For a student with selective mutism or verbal processing difficulties:

• Give the option to record their contributions instead of speaking live.

• For a student with ADHD who may struggle with waiting their turn:

• Use a talking stick or visual cue to indicate who should be speaking.

Social Scripts & Structured Communication:

Some neurodivergent students struggle with turn-taking, initiating conversations, or knowing how to disagree respectfully.

• Provide sentence starters for discussion:

• “I agree with ____ because ____.”

• “I see it differently because ____.”

• “Can you explain that another way?”

• Use index cards with phrases students can reference during discussions.

🔹 Pro Tip: Offering solo and small-group brainstorming before large group discussions gives neurodivergent students time to process their thoughts before speaking.

🔹 Putting It All Together: A Lesson Example

Here’s how these strategies can come to life in a real classroom setting:

Lesson Topic: Understanding Ecosystems

Objective: Students will learn how ecosystems function and the role of different organisms within them.

📌 How to Differentiate the Lesson for Different Learners:

• Visual Learners: Create mind maps showing relationships between organisms. Use videos and images of different ecosystems.

• Kinesthetic Learners: Have students act out the food chain (e.g., one student plays the sun, another a plant, another an herbivore, etc.).

• Auditory Learners: Engage in a class discussion about food webs, using storytelling to explain concepts.

• Students Who Struggle with Written Work: Instead of writing a long essay, allow them to record an explanation, create an infographic, or build a 3D model.

• Group Work Support: Assign structured roles (researcher, notetaker, presenter) to ensure clear expectations.

🎯 Final Thoughts: Teaching for Every Brain

Inclusive teaching doesn’t mean more work—it means smarter work. By designing lessons with flexibility from the start, you naturally create an environment where all students can thrive.

✅ Start Small:

• Offer one alternative assignment format (e.g., allow spoken responses instead of written).

• Add one multi-modal option (e.g., a visual, movement-based, or auditory component).

• Give students one structured choice in how they engage with material.

Small adjustments create a BIG impact. When neurodivergent students feel seen, valued, and understood, they don’t just learn better—they gain confidence in their abilities. And that’s the goal of education, after all. 💡