Neurodiversity-Affirming Schools: Transforming Practices So All Students Feel Accepted & Supported

Empowers educators to help neurodivergent students thrive!

Neurodiversity-Affirming Schools is a guide for K-12 educators to better understand neurodivergence and help neurodivergent students thrive. Inside, you'll find the background information and concrete practices you need to create a school or classroom culture where neurodivergent students feel safe, valued, and understood. You'll also find clear explanations of behaviors common in neurodivergent learners, such as masking, rejection sensitivity, and novelty seeking. Then, discover specific practices that you can use right away.

This accessible book is designed to help you take action. By the end of each chapter, you'll understand how the key takeaways apply to your particular situation and how you can meet neurodivergent students' needs in ways appropriate to their unique cognition. Written by two experts on neurodiversity education, this book teaches you how to:

• Use established practices like strengths-based instruction in neurodiversity-affirming ways
• Prevent neurodivergent students from checking out and becoming burnt out
• Identify the unique ways that neurodivergent children express their needs and difficulties
• Emphasize and model emotional regulation skills at the classroom level
• Create more effective, strengths-based IEPs and 504 Plans

This book also provides real-world examples in the form of vignettes of neurodivergent students and the educators that support them. These features contextualize what you've learned to help you feel confident as you implement change.Neurodiversity-Affirming Schools is your practical and comprehensive guide to creating opportunities for neurodivergent learners to succeed.

Emily Kircher-Morris, M.A., M.Ed., LPC, is the author of Teaching Twice-Exceptional Learners in Today's Classroom, Raising Twice-Exceptional Children, and Neurodiversity-Affirming Schools. Emily hosts the Neurodiversity Podcast, which explores parenting, counseling techniques, and best practices for enriching the lives of neurodivergent people. Emily has taught in gifted classrooms and is now in private practice as a licensed professional counselor.

Amanda Morin is an educator and the author of five books, including The Everything Parent's Guide to Special Education, Adulting Made Easy, and Neurodiversity-Affirming Schools. She played an integral role in launching Understood.org and has worked with organizations and publications like Bright & Quirky, Matan, Hidden Sparks Without Walls, and Edutopia.