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Emily Kircher-Morris, Amanda Morin
Written by leaders in the field of neurodiversity-affirming education, 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 behaviours 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. Chapters include tables and sidebars to help readers retain and reference important information.
Written by two experts on neurodiversity education, this book teaches you how to:
This book also provides real-world examples in the form of vignettes of neurodivergent students and the educators that support them. These features contextualise 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.
"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
"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
"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
"Emily Kircher-Morris and Amanda Morin have created a sensitive and insightful manual to understanding, supporting, and ultimately affirming neurodivergent kids in their process of learning and development. After nearly 20 years supporting kids in schools, I feel like I finally have that one book I can share with parents, teachers, and colleagues alike to help create inclusive and affirming schools for our kids. Spoiler alert . . . it's not nearly as hard as you think!"
- Dr. Andrew Kahn, licensed psychologist, neurodiversity specialist/consultant
"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
"Neurodiversity-Affirming Schools is essential reading for educators committed to true inclusion. Emily Kircher-Morris and Amanda Morin advocate for a system that adapts to the learner and gets there through gradual and sustainable change. Every child deserves to feel like they belong, and this book takes us one step closer to schools that do just that."
- Tim Villegas, director of communications, Maryland Coalition for Inclusive Education
