What is Neurodiversity? by Caroline Miller

Argument Statement: The author of What is Neurodiversity?, Caroline Miller argues that the world of education and everyone should embrace neurodiversity, because when we create environments that value everyone's differences, we can create powerful opportunities for all students.

Talking Points:

"Instead of thinking of people with autism or ADHD as needing to be 'fixed', we put a spotlight on things that they're good at and help with things that they're working on."  This resonates with me as a connection to Shifting the Paradigm and asset verses deficit thinking.

"There is no single 'correct' way for the brain to work." Everyone's brain works differently and that should be celebrated. This challenges thinking that there is one right way or standard way to learn or get to the right answers.

"A wide range of perceptions and responses to the world should be accepted and encouraged."  Different ways of thinking should not be challenged but rather celebrated and this can create a more inclusive learning environment.

Reflections and Connections: As I was reading this article, I quickly connected the reading to Renkly and Bertolini's Shifting the Paradigm which speaks about advocating for change in how we view students and learning. This made me think of the fact that all students bring diverse interests, strengths and reasoning skills to the classroom and how this should continue to be celebrated. We can all get to answers differently. Just think about the many ways there are to unpack a math story problem and the many different ways work and thinking can be shown to get to the answer.  

This also makes me think about how in my school, there is a large learning gap between general education students and students with IEPs and makes me think that there needs to be more resources and training for all educators, not just special educators to support students with diverse needs. We have students with diverse needs in all classroom environments and I think we need to all be better equipped and trained in supporting all learners so that it doesn't feel like it all falls on special educators.

I found this article that I think connects really well to this week's reading and teaches readers how they can support neurodivergent students.

https://sheridan.brown.edu/resources/inclusive-teaching/supporting-neurodivergent-students-classroom