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People vary in many ways. Some find it easier to pay attention and concentration, others find it easier to socialise. Some are able to manage their emotions from an early age, whilst others need much more help for longer. Some find it easier to learn to read and write, whilst others find that really tricky.
Neurodiversity is that idea that people are different, and that these differences don’t have to be thought of as disorders. The medical model divides people up by diagnosis, giving us the impression that their brains fit into different categories. This isn’t what the science says.
Research shows that the differences between people are dimensional – they are a matter of increment. People don’t fit neatly into boxes. All brains are wired differently.
People who differ significantly from the average in ways which make their life more challenging are sometimes called ‘neurodivergent’. This is often used to refer to people who are autistic, have ADHD or have dyslexia, dyspraxia or dyscalculia.
Are you wondering if your child is neurodivergent - but aren't sure what that actually means and what you should do about it? This course is the place to start. Understand what neurodiversity means, how it relates to other ways of understanding difference and get some ideas as to how to talk to your children about neurodiversity and help them to thrive.
Many neurodivergent teens are struggling to attend school, and lots of them become completely unable to attend. But what happens next? Teenagers often believe they must be at school to learn, and that their future is over. This isn't true. We don't talk much about education outside school, but it's happening all around us. In this new course, Naomi will give you some ideas to help your teenager re-engage with learning and see a life beyond school. This course focuses on the learning and educational journey, rather than mental health.
If you are a parent worrying whether self-directed education will work for your child, because you have been told that they have special needs which can only be met in the school system - think again. Neurodivergent children experience and interact with the world differently to many of their peers. Standard educational systems often fail to adapt to their unique strengths and ways of learning. School, and even the act of learning, can become a source of great anxiety and trauma. Self-directed education offers an alternative to traditional schools that can help neurodivergent children develop at their own pace and thrive.
Recently I’ve been making people angry online. Very angry. In fact just in the last couple of days I’ve been told that I’m harmful, ableist and ignorant. The message is clear from some people. Stop it.
Recently I’ve noticed a trend where children who receive a diagnosis of autism or ADHD are told that it’s not their fault that they struggle, it’s because the world isn’t built for them. I’ve now met several children who have been told this. As a result of what those children told me, I suggest to parents that they think carefully before saying this to their children.