Creating Neurodiversity-Affirming Schools
Creating Neurodiversity-Affirming Schools
Podcast Description
Dive into the transformational ideas from the book Neurodiversity-Affirming Schools: Transforming Practices So All Students Feel Accepted and Supported, with the Creating Neurodiversity-Affirming Schools podcast. Perfect for book clubs, professional learning communities, or individual listeners, this podcast breaks down each chapter into actionable discussions. Hosted by the authors of the book Neurodiversity-Affirming Schools, Emily Kircher-Morris and Amanda Morin will help you shift mindsets, implement inclusive strategies, and foster environments where every student feels accepted. Join the journey to reshape education and embrace the strengths of all learners.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast focuses on themes of neurodiversity in education, including masking and authenticity, Universal Design for Learning, ableism, empathy, learner variability, and building inclusive classrooms. Episodes provide deep dives into topics such as the effects of camouflaging on neurodivergent students, practical UDL strategies that benefit all learners, and ways to dismantle ableism in school systems, providing specific insights for educators to implement.
Dive into the transformational ideas from the book Neurodiversity-Affirming Schools: Transforming Practices So All Students Feel Accepted and Supported, with the Creating Neurodiversity-Affirming Schools podcast. Perfect for book clubs, professional learning communities, or individual listeners, this podcast breaks down each chapter into actionable discussions. Hosted by the authors of the book Neurodiversity-Affirming Schools, Emily Kircher-Morris and Amanda Morin will help you shift mindsets, implement inclusive strategies, and foster environments where every student feels accepted. Join the journey to reshape education and embrace the strengths of all learners.
In this episode of Creating Neurodiversity-Affirming Schools, Emily Kircher-Morris and Amanda Morin explore what it really means to implement strengths-based instruction. They share personal stories and professional insights to unpack common misconceptions and help educators move beyond surface-level approaches to recognizing student strengths.
Emily and Amanda are joined by Kareem Neal, an award-winning educator and inclusion advocate who brings over 25 years of experience as a self-contained special education teacher. Kareem shares how focusing on student strengths—not just interests or academic labels—can transform school communities and expand how we define success.
Key topics include:
How educators can shift beyond interest-based instruction to holistic strengths-based practices
The importance of recognizing non-academic strengths like adaptability, resilience, and authenticity
Why inclusion requires a mindset shift—not just a placement decision Kareem’s “class swapping” model and how it builds respect and connection between students
Practical ways to highlight strengths in neurodivergent students and use them as a foundation for growth
Resources mentioned:
Creating Neurodiversity-Affirming Schools online courses – Learn more
Learn more about Kareem Neal
Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles – CAST UDL Guidelines
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