EP308 How (and why) schools should support neurodivergent educators

Angela Watson's Truth for Teachers

Angela Watson

Education, Courses

4.8 • 1.3K Ratings

🗓️ 18 August 2024

⏱️ 48 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Yes, we're talking about accommodations FOR TEACHERS…

I recently asked educators on social media if neurodivergent staff were being offered any support, and folks had a LOT to say! In this episode I'll share:

What we mean when we talk about neurodivergence
Why neurodivergence isn't a deficiency, just a difference
What teachers say about accommodations that are (and aren't) happening in their schools
The legal rights that U.S. teachers have under the Americans with Disabilities Act
The types of supports you can request and the logistics of making them happen

From there, I'll share the commonalities and patterns in the response from educators about what's been helpful and what's needed.

I'll talk about the 5 ways schools can offer support to neurodivergent educators and what these recommendations look like in practice:

#1: Allow for flexibility and autonomy, especially within breaks
#2) Designate quiet areas and mitigate the effects of overstimulating environments
#3) Communicate proactively about scheduling and changes
#4: Give clear directives, so the invisible expectations become visible
#5) Differentiate PD and offer topics related to executive function and organization
Additionally, I'll make the case for universal design: that's what good for neurodivergent educators also benefits neurotypical educators, and that these practices can (and should) be implemented school-wide.

Listen in to hear more about what's helping neurodivergent teachers thrive, and how to advocate for the support YOU need in your school.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Welcome to Episode 308 of Angela Watson's Truth for Teachers.
0:05.0	I'm your host, Angela Watson, and I'm here to speak encouragement into the hearts of educators
0:10.0	and get you informed and energized for the week ahead.
0:13.0	Today, we're exploring the idea of accommodations for neurodivergent educators,
0:19.0	what that might look like, which schools are already doing it,
0:23.3	and what work still needs to be done. Visit truthforteachers.com for an easy-to-read, easy-to-share
0:29.8	version of this podcast episode, along with links, references, and resources. This episode is brought to you in part by a really important podcast
0:39.9	I hope you'll check out. It's called Opportunity Gap, How to Support Kids of Color
0:45.0	Who Learned differently. It's hosted by Julianne Savedra, an assistant principal in Philadelphia,
0:50.8	who has spent nearly 20 years working in public schools. You'll hear Julian talk
0:55.8	with parents and experts to offer tools that will help you support your students. You can even
1:01.3	share this free podcast with kids' families, as it's also a wonderful resource for parents.
1:07.2	To listen to Opportunity Gap, just search for Opportunity Gap, how to support kids of color
1:13.1	who learn differently in your podcast app. That's Opportunity Gap, how to support kids of color
1:19.8	who learn differently. If you've been enjoying Truth for teachers for a while and you haven't
1:25.6	left a rating or review yet, I'd really appreciate it if you could take a moment to do that.
1:31.3	You could easily rate or review right from your podcast app.
1:35.3	Every single review helps more educators find truth for teachers.
1:39.3	It's one of the quickest and easiest ways to support the show, and it means a lot to me.
1:43.3	A big thanks to everyone who's
1:45.1	already left a rating or a review. I am so grateful for your help in getting the word out.
1:51.9	I want to kick off this episode by painting a picture of what it's like for one neurodivergent
	...

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