Support Neurodivergent Students
By Brandon Gernux | March 2024
Neurodiversity is a concept that embraces the range of differences in individual brain function and behavioral traits, recognizing the unique way each person's brain develops. It encompasses all students, emphasizing that diversity in neurocognitive functioning is a natural and valuable part of the human experience. However, when someone's brain processes, learns and behaves differently from what is considered typical, they are described as neurodivergent. This can include autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), sensory processing, bipolar, Down syndrome, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), dyslexia, dyspraxia, schizophrenia, complex posttraumatic stress disorder (CPTSD) and so much more.
The school counselor plays a pivotal role in supporting neurodivergent students, aligning with the ASCA National Model and ASCA Ethical Standards for School Counselors. ASCA encourages school counselors to advocate for the rights and respectful treatment of all students, recognizing their unique identities and abilities. School counselors are urged to recognize the strengths of students with disabilities, provide best practices for their needs and advocate for inclusive schoolwide policies.
Here is a non-exhaustive list of actionable steps you can take to effectively support neurodivergent students.
Educate the school community about the benefits of inclusive practices. Emphasize that creating an inclusive environment not only supports neurodivergent students but benefits all students by fostering a diverse and enriching learning experience.
Apply Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Principles
Incorporate UDL principles into classroom lessons and small groups. This includes providing multiple means of representation, engagement and expression. Consider diverse learning styles and adapt your approach to accommodate various needs.
Sensory-Friendly Spaces
Create an accessible classroom and office layout, incorporating sensory-friendly spaces. Address potential overstimulation by dimming lights, reducing background noise and offering quiet spaces.
Engage neurodivergent students with multisensory activities that combine movement, sight and sound to address different learning styles. This approach ensures that students can connect with the material through various avenues.
Offer Choice in Learning
Provide choices in assignments and tasks. Allow students to explore their passions and choose the modality in which they complete their work. Acknowledge and respect the individuality of how students pay attention.
Support Executive Functioning
Establish routines to provide structure and predictability. Use written and visual schedules that include the time of events, to-do lists, task analysis and visual timers.
Implement tools like visual feelings charts and feeling thermometers to help neurodivergent students identify and express their emotions. Encourage self-awareness and emotional regulation without teaching the child to mask their neurodivergence.
Co-Regulation Techniques
Provide students with co-regulation techniques, including labeling emotions, modeling self-regulation and redirecting attention. Provide a safe, warm and supportive relationship, positively reinforcing regulated behavior.
Promote Whole-Body Listening
Replace your posters of the original model of whole-body listening and download this free, more inclusive update. Encourage whole-body listening as a tool to enhance communication and understanding by embracing the variety of ways that we listen. “Listen, Learn, and Grow: A Whole Body Listening Larry Story to Help Kids Regulate, Listen, and Engage” is a useful tool for teaching Whole Body Listening.
Acknowledge and honor diverse forms of communication. Understand that behavior is a form of communication, and challenging behaviors may indicate unmet needs. Advocate and accept students who use alternative methods of communication, such as with AAC devices and communication cards.
Address Anxiety and Provide Support
Offer visual cues and establish nonverbal communication methods for students to express when they need help. Create a low-pressure environment and encourage anxiety-reducing strategies. Never call on students to share if they are not volunteering, but rather find alternative ways to elicit their feedback and demonstrate their understanding.
Encourage Social Skills without Masking
Foster social skills that allow neurodivergent students to express their authentic selves without masking their true identities. Promote self-advocacy, emotion identification, identifying sensory needs, problem-solving, executive functioning and managing energy levels.
Conduct workshops for families and staff to raise awareness and build a neuro-affirming culture within the school community. Ensure that educators and parents have the knowledge and tools to support neurodivergent students.
Support Neurodiversity at Home
Provide resources and guidance for parents to support neurodivergent students at home. Create a collaborative approach between school and home to address the holistic well-being of neurodivergent learners.
Participate in Awareness Campaigns
Engage in awareness campaigns such as Neurodiversity Celebration Week, Autism Acceptance Month, National Inclusion Week and ADHD Awareness Month. Use these opportunities to promote understanding, acceptance, and inclusivity.
Continuous Professional Development
Stay informed about the latest strategies and resources for supporting neurodivergent students. Participate in ongoing professional development programs to enhance your knowledge and skills.
Explore External Resources
Utilize resources from organizations such as The Nora Project, Therapist Neurodiversity Collective, Ausome Training and Autism Level Up. These organizations offer valuable insights and tools to support neurodivergent students.
Remember, neurodivergent learners are not a monolith, nor are autistic learners. What may support one student may not support another student. It is vital that we recognize the needs of the individuals we work with. Also keep in mind that not all neurodivergent students have been identified, diagnosed or have access to specialized education support. The support provided by school counselors to identified neurodivergent students could and should be accessible for all students to build an inclusive school counseling program. By taking these actionable steps, school counselors contribute significantly to creating a school environment where neurodivergent students feel valued, supported and empowered to thrive academically and socially.
Contact Brandon Gernux, a school counselor in California with the Santa Ana Unified School District, at brandon.gernux@gmail.com or on Instagram at @bigschoolcounselor.
The school counselor plays a pivotal role in supporting neurodivergent students, aligning with the ASCA National Model and ASCA Ethical Standards for School Counselors. ASCA encourages school counselors to advocate for the rights and respectful treatment of all students, recognizing their unique identities and abilities. School counselors are urged to recognize the strengths of students with disabilities, provide best practices for their needs and advocate for inclusive schoolwide policies.
Here is a non-exhaustive list of actionable steps you can take to effectively support neurodivergent students.
Presume Competence
Start by presuming competence in every student. Avoid preconceived notions and stereotypes. Recognize that neurodivergent students have unique strengths and capabilities. Treat each student as an individual with the potential for growth and success.Promote Inclusive Practices
Inclusion Benefits EveryoneEducate the school community about the benefits of inclusive practices. Emphasize that creating an inclusive environment not only supports neurodivergent students but benefits all students by fostering a diverse and enriching learning experience.
Apply Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Principles
Incorporate UDL principles into classroom lessons and small groups. This includes providing multiple means of representation, engagement and expression. Consider diverse learning styles and adapt your approach to accommodate various needs.
Sensory-Friendly Spaces
Create an accessible classroom and office layout, incorporating sensory-friendly spaces. Address potential overstimulation by dimming lights, reducing background noise and offering quiet spaces.
Adapt Curriculum for Diverse Learners
Implement Multisensory ActivitiesEngage neurodivergent students with multisensory activities that combine movement, sight and sound to address different learning styles. This approach ensures that students can connect with the material through various avenues.
Offer Choice in Learning
Provide choices in assignments and tasks. Allow students to explore their passions and choose the modality in which they complete their work. Acknowledge and respect the individuality of how students pay attention.
Support Executive Functioning
Establish routines to provide structure and predictability. Use written and visual schedules that include the time of events, to-do lists, task analysis and visual timers.
Self-Regulation Strategies
Identify and Manage FeelingsImplement tools like visual feelings charts and feeling thermometers to help neurodivergent students identify and express their emotions. Encourage self-awareness and emotional regulation without teaching the child to mask their neurodivergence.
Co-Regulation Techniques
Provide students with co-regulation techniques, including labeling emotions, modeling self-regulation and redirecting attention. Provide a safe, warm and supportive relationship, positively reinforcing regulated behavior.
Promote Whole-Body Listening
Replace your posters of the original model of whole-body listening and download this free, more inclusive update. Encourage whole-body listening as a tool to enhance communication and understanding by embracing the variety of ways that we listen. “Listen, Learn, and Grow: A Whole Body Listening Larry Story to Help Kids Regulate, Listen, and Engage” is a useful tool for teaching Whole Body Listening.
Promote Effective Communication
Recognize Diverse Forms of CommunicationAcknowledge and honor diverse forms of communication. Understand that behavior is a form of communication, and challenging behaviors may indicate unmet needs. Advocate and accept students who use alternative methods of communication, such as with AAC devices and communication cards.
Address Anxiety and Provide Support
Offer visual cues and establish nonverbal communication methods for students to express when they need help. Create a low-pressure environment and encourage anxiety-reducing strategies. Never call on students to share if they are not volunteering, but rather find alternative ways to elicit their feedback and demonstrate their understanding.
Encourage Social Skills without Masking
Foster social skills that allow neurodivergent students to express their authentic selves without masking their true identities. Promote self-advocacy, emotion identification, identifying sensory needs, problem-solving, executive functioning and managing energy levels.
Foster a Neuro-Affirming School Culture
Organize Workshops and TrainingConduct workshops for families and staff to raise awareness and build a neuro-affirming culture within the school community. Ensure that educators and parents have the knowledge and tools to support neurodivergent students.
Support Neurodiversity at Home
Provide resources and guidance for parents to support neurodivergent students at home. Create a collaborative approach between school and home to address the holistic well-being of neurodivergent learners.
Participate in Awareness Campaigns
Engage in awareness campaigns such as Neurodiversity Celebration Week, Autism Acceptance Month, National Inclusion Week and ADHD Awareness Month. Use these opportunities to promote understanding, acceptance, and inclusivity.
Continuous Professional Development
Stay informed about the latest strategies and resources for supporting neurodivergent students. Participate in ongoing professional development programs to enhance your knowledge and skills.
Explore External Resources
Utilize resources from organizations such as The Nora Project, Therapist Neurodiversity Collective, Ausome Training and Autism Level Up. These organizations offer valuable insights and tools to support neurodivergent students.
Remember, neurodivergent learners are not a monolith, nor are autistic learners. What may support one student may not support another student. It is vital that we recognize the needs of the individuals we work with. Also keep in mind that not all neurodivergent students have been identified, diagnosed or have access to specialized education support. The support provided by school counselors to identified neurodivergent students could and should be accessible for all students to build an inclusive school counseling program. By taking these actionable steps, school counselors contribute significantly to creating a school environment where neurodivergent students feel valued, supported and empowered to thrive academically and socially.
Contact Brandon Gernux, a school counselor in California with the Santa Ana Unified School District, at brandon.gernux@gmail.com or on Instagram at @bigschoolcounselor.