Neurodivergent learners need different tools to excel. In this article, we will review a few types of neurodiversity and how student accommodations can be put in place to boost organizational, time management, and other executive functioning skills.
First, let’s explore the history of the terms “neurodiverse” and “neurodivergent” before we dive into student accommodations. According to an article in Forbes magazine, the terms are used interchangeably but shouldn’t be. “Neurodiverse” refers to a group of people whose brains learn and function differently from the culturally accepted norms for learning and functioning. Of course, this varies depending on what’s considered standard in a specific culture. However, “‘neurodivergent’ is the broadly accepted term to describe a range of neurobiological differences” (Praslova, 2024, para 19).
Many neurodivergent subsets prefer to be called by terms that associate with people-first language, such as a person who has Down syndrome or someone who has ADHD, not “a Down’s kid” or an “ADHDer.” The critical aspect of language is not to use it to “other” someone, setting them apart as if they’re not a whole human being. So, when in doubt, ask them.
Just as every human being is made in God’s image and has unique wiring, whether neurodivergent or what’s referred to as neurotypical, we’ve all got varying preferences. So the moral is to ask, pay attention, and respect others.
Onto how to accommodate your neurodivergent learner. Remember, let’s keep things positive and remind your neurodivergent learner that having a differently wired brain comes with both challenges and many strengths.
How Neurodivergent Learners Benefit from Multisensory Learning Instruction
Depending on how your learner’s brain works best, you may find some of the following accommodations helpful. Many of them center on a multisensory approach. This isn’t to be confused with multisensory stimuli or visuals. For many neurodivergent learners, multisensory stimuli or a variety of visual aids can actually cause disruption to their learning process.
Multisensory learning instruction may benefit your child if he or she has dyslexia, ADHD, autism or sensory processing disorder, to name a few subsets of neurodivergent learners.
Dyslexia may go undiagnosed, especially if students don’t meet assessment criteria. However, they can benefit from multisensory approaches to reading skills such as decoding, comprehension, spelling, and word recognition. Keep in mind that dyslexia isn’t just a childhood-based type of neurodiversity; it can be diagnosed later in life, too.
The Orton Gillingham Approach is highly recommended for students with dyslexia because it’s a multimodal approach to learning, which means students learn through multiple learning styles through a sequential, structured system.
Some creative ways you can use this method include using tap lights for sound segmentation or counting syllables, playing multisensory and dictation games, and combining word cards with a homemade game board to maximize fun while learning. As students get older and need to absorb larger amounts of information both inside and outside of the classroom, encourage them to use digital resources that can help save them time and stay on track.
These may include text-to-speech apps like Speechify or Murf, audiobooks to listen to while reading novels, and digital calendar apps with embedded visual planners like Thruday, Artful Agenda, and Structured.
Students with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may have one or more of the following challenges: organization, transitioning between tasks, getting overwhelmed with rapid-paced assignments or timers, making careless mistakes, missing deadlines and important announcements, impulsivity, or distraction.
The challenges depend on what type of ADHD a student has: inattentive, hyperactive and impulsive, or combined. Opportunities abound, however, for students to see the strengths of having ADHD rather than fixate on the challenges. While it’s important to recognize areas where students can grow, it’s also essential that they learn workaround strategies and how to find environments that are a good fit for their learning and functioning as they develop. The more practice students have with identifying what works well for them, the better long-term outcomes are for finding career and advanced study options that meet their needs.
How a Strengths-Based View of Types of Neurodiversity Helps Students Excel
Psychologist Keith Storace has reframed the challenges of ADHD with a more holistic perspective, proposing, alongside researcher Michael J. Kofler, that people’s challenges — and strengths — are impacted by their personality, environment, and opportunities. He has done significant research about how working memory deficits impact students with ADHD.
Still, focusing on how to turn challenges into creative solutions is key.
First, look for ways to channel your student’s vitality, or high energy output, toward a project, subject, or focus that he’s identified as enjoyable. One way to do this is to allow students with ADHD to design their own framework for learning.
If you’re studying a novel and there are comprehension questions to ensure that your child has read and understood the material, let your child design a way to review what he or she has read that goes beyond questions. Channeling the energy and vitality into a chosen project helps students with ADHD shine and meet the learning objectives.
In the novel example, your student may read “The Westing Game” and design a 3-D model of the Sunset Towers that Turtle spends time in during chapter four. Will it take more time to design a 3-D model than it would to answer questions? Yes, most likely.
But if your child enjoys design or engineering and needs to be active while learning, it’s a great activity to help him enjoy the process. To maximize her time, she can listen to the chapter on an audiobook while building the model or mapping it out on paper. Perhaps the model can be built in stages as your child progresses through the novel.
Second, let your child lead a group discussion over Zoom, design a collaborative game to review for a test, or sing a song that shows mastery of concepts, whatever sounds interesting to them. Employing the often-natural zeal and social flourishing that students with ADHD possess helps them see their relational warmth as a positive, encouraging them to use it for good and to build connections with peers. This translates seamlessly to a workplace environment when they’re older, as they’ve learned to leverage their relational strengths to help their team connect and devise creative solutions.
Finally, encourage your child to do what works for them. Your patience, sustained support, and advocacy will help them continue trying new things until they discover personalized organizational systems. Some students need simple tools, such as different colored notebooks or folders to keep assignments related to various subjects.
If a teacher requires a binder, ask if the multiple folders would work just as well to manage and master the course objectives. As your student gets older, encourage him or her to ask for support from individual teachers or follow up on information that may already be included in the student’s IEP or 504 plan. Teachers are human beings and manage dozens, if not hundreds, of students, so following up to ask about using the supports in their plan is a fantastic way to coach students to advocate for their needs.
You can access digital tools where needed, such as visual planners, but encourage your child to think outside the box, too. One student we know who’s a musician designs playlists for routine tasks that help him stay on track. Routines like getting ready for bed, following steps to be on time for school, or regularly going through their backpack to sort out papers and permission slips can all be set up as autoreminders in whatever ways work for your child.
To learn more about executive functioning skills that neurodivergent learners may want to practice, check out our Pinterest board. Often, a more flexible approach to education that allows for modifications geared to neurodivergent learners is ideal. Find out about what Learnwell offers by requesting a tour or attending an upcoming Discover Learnwell information session.
More resources for parents of students with ADHD can be found here, and here are a few additional accommodation ideas.