Neurodiversity-Affirming Schools - (Free Spirit Professional(r)) by Emily Kircher-Morris & Amanda Morin (Paperback)

About the Book

Written by leaders in the field of neurodiversity-affirming education, Neurodiversity-Affirming Schools empowers educators to help neurodivergent students thrive. It offers an accessible introduction to the history, context, science, and culture around neurodiversity and neurodivergence. Additionally, it contains concrete strategies for building school and classroom environments that support neurodivergent students. Chapters include tables and sidebars to help readers retain and reference important information. This book also provides real-world flavor in the form of vignettes of neurodivergent students and how educators support them. These features allow readers to contextualize what they've learned and feel confident as they implement change.

Book Synopsis

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.

Review Quotes

"A valuable call to action, encouraging educators to reevaluate our practices and consider neurodiversity as a permanent and valuable component of equitable education."-- "MiddleWeb"

"Exceptionally well organized and presented."-- "Library Bookwatch, Midwest Book Review"

"Neurodiversity-Affirming Schools is a book that needs to sit on?every?educator's desk. Amanda Morin and Emily Kircher-Morris's voice and wisdom holistically embrace how schools can build learning environments?where all students thrive. Full of practical and inspiring information, this book is a catalyst for educators to build a learning environment?that truly honors the humanity of each child. Neurodiversity-Affirming Schools activates us to assume our roles as advocates for learning environments that deeply support students who are neurodivergent."--Juliana Urtubey, NBCT, 2021 National Teacher of the Year

"As someone who has worked with educators nationwide and parented a neurodiverse child, I can attest to the urgent need for the wisdom contained in this book. Emily Kircher-Morris and Amanda Morin skillfully blend theory and practice in an essential guide for creating truly inclusive classrooms. Their neurodiversity-affirming approach challenges educators to move beyond mere accommodation to celebration of cognitive differences. This book is a must-read for any educator committed to empowering ALL students to thrive."--Cindy Johanson, executive director, George Lucas Educational Foundation

"I have taught for 28 years and traveled the country trying to express how schools need to do a better job understanding neurodivergent learners, expanding their ideas of what inclusion and instruction can be, and listening to kids. I can confidently say that Emily Kircher-Morris and Amanda Morin's?Neurodiversity-Affirming Schools?is an invaluable resource to help educators change their practices and mindsets and create schools where neurodivergent, and all, students feel seen and have tools for self-advocacy. Informed by research, and written with care, thoughtfulness, and understanding, this is a book all educators need."--Kareem Neal, M.Ed., special education teacher, 2019 Arizona Teacher of the Year, 2022 National Teachers' Hall of Fame inductee, and inclusive practices trainer

"There are many approaches to being an effective and equitable educator: being trauma informed, being culturally responsive-sustaining, and being committed to linguistic justice. Part of our work also involves creating learning spaces and schools that are neurodiversity affirming. Emily Kircher-Morris and Amanda Morin show us how all these approaches are connected. They offer practices for us to dream and realize a version of schools where both our neurodivergent and neuro-normative students and teachers can thrive. Kircher-Morris and Morin challenge us to reflect on practices such as behavior, communication, and development of IEPs and refine them in a way that truly supports kids' unique differences. This book is a necessary read for anyone who strives to cultivate a sense of student belonging."--Lauren Jewett, NBCT, exceptional needs

About the Author

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.