Neurodiversity and Special Education
Inclusive Resources for Supporting and Empowering the Neurodivergent Community in Education and Everyday Life
- Resources
- Neurodiversity and Special Education
Recommended Books:
- Book: Empowering Students with Hidden Disabilities by Margo Izzo and LeDerek Horne
- Book: ADHD is Awesome by Penn and Kim Holderness
- Book: ADHD 2.0 by Edward M. Hallowell, M.D., and John J. Ratey, M.D.
- Autism Acceptance Picture Book List and Neurodivergent Picture Books
- Autism-Positive Books for Teachers
Recommended Articles:
- Featured articles from Temple Grandin, Ph.D on Autism awareness and support
- ADHD & Friendships...Why It's So Hard For Some Kids To Make Life-Long Friends by Caroline Maguire (past Spark presenter)
- Supporting Friendships from AANE
- The difference between IEPs and 504 plans from Understood
- Dyslexia: Ways to help your child at home from Understood
Recommended Podcasts and Documentaries:
- Documentary: The Road Trip Nation Documentary - Being You
- Ask Lisa Podcast Episode with Dr. Lisa Damour: Embracing ADHD with Penn and Kim Holderness
7 Tips on the Path to Disability Pride from LeDerick Horne
- Give youth “Knowledge of Self”. See “A Conceptual Framework of SelfAdvocacy for Students with Disabilities"
- Find a Mentor. Check out Youth Leadering & Mentoring opportunities with Easterseals MA here.
- Practice Disability Disclosure. The 411 on Disability Disclosure: A Workbook for Youth with Disabilities
- Use Mental Health Support. View Mental Health Resources available locally in MetroWest, MA and nationwide here.
- Exposure to Postsecondary Disability Supports. Learn more about tools like EnvisionIT and TAGG
- Paid Employment while in School. "Identifying Nonacademic Behaviors Associated With Post-School Employment and Education"
- Use the IEP as an Opportunity. Self Directed IEP (Zarrow Center, University of Oklahoma)
It's about connecting disability to identity. As students develop disability identity, they need empowering opportunities to come together and build community.
— LeDerick Horne, Author, Empowering Students with Hidden Disabilities
Recommended Nationwide Organizations
- Understood.org (in English) and Understood.org (in Spanish) - focuses on supporting individuals with learning and thinking differences to thrive in all aspects of life by providing free, expert-vetted resources and support
- The Neurodiversity Alliance - offers programs that empower high school and college students to start neurodiversity clubs, access scholarships and leadership opportunities, and engage their communities through mentoring, speakers, and national events
- Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN) - check out the About Autism page for education and ways to be supportive and inclusive
- Federation for Children with Special Needs - works with families with children from birth to adulthood, providing individual assistance, training, and leadership development and support
- Disability:IN - support for inclusive employment, internships, and mentoring for young professionals with disabilities
- Lime Connect - a network for students and professionals with disabilities — includes job connections, coaching, and a safe community.
- Autistic People of Color Fund - offers resources specifically by and/or for autistic people of color
- National Council on Severe Autism - includes many resources including webinars, blog, podcast and more.
Recommended Local MetroWest, MA Organizations
- The Natick Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) - an all-volunteer organization of parents and caregivers of children receiving support services in Natick Public Schools. View IEP/504 Plan Resources
- Special Education Parent Advisory Councils (SEPAC) in Massachusetts
- Greater Massachusetts Special-Needs Events - info on conferences, workshops, speaker events, and accessible and adaptive recreation programs
- Easterseals MA - provides services to ensure children and adults with disabilities have equal opportunities to live, learn, work, and play
- Camp Arrowhead - a unique special needs summer camp program matching each camper (five years and older) with a 1:1 peer volunteer
- Path - provides funding to support therapeutic recreational and socialization programs for persons with disabilities of all ages, including programs offered by the Town of Natick
- Skyline - Natick Recreation and Parks Department adaptive programs for individuals with disabilities serving the Natick community and surrounding towns
- Understanding Our Differences (UOD) - uses a hands-on, participatory disability awareness curriculum to foster respect and inclusion for people of all abilities in schools and communities at large
- Boston Medical Center – Autism Program - offers family navigation, provider training, and school support services
- Autism Alliance - provides support, programs, and resources to families and individuals affected by autism spectrum disorders
The Autism Insurance Resource Center (AIRC) - center at UMass offers guidance on coverage, school-based therapy intersections, and family resources. Can advise educators on outside-school supports
Related Topics:
- Blog Post - Celebrating Disability Pride Month
- Blog Post - Strategies and Support for the Back-to-School Transition