8 Principles of Neurodiversity by Thomas Armstrong, Ph.D.

Accountability Laws = ADHD?

A recent NBC news post by Maggie Fox,their senior health writer, details the explosion of ADHD and its correlation to accountability testing. She interviewed the authors of the book, The ADHD Explosion, who had some very interesting insights to share.

This diagnosis (and the medication that follows) is believed to "bump up" test scores. Could this be true? Or is it, as the article hints, that kids diagnosed with ADHD don't "count" on the same testing frames and by omitting them, the schools' score rise?

Using Infographics in the College Classroom - A Composition 2 Assignment

A Compelling Video - I Am the 88

 The biggest number of autistic people the world has ever seen will be entering colleges and universities soon, and that number will keep increasing exponentially as the number of those diagnosed with autism increase exponentially.

1 in 88 are diagnosed with Autism Spectrum today.

Just 8 years ago it was 1 in 166.

What will the rate be in 4 more years?

Are we prepared to improve accessibility and accommodations to service these students?  

Considering the sensory issues that so many Autism Spectrum students deal with, will schools be compelled to offer more online courses as a matter of accommodation instead of convenience? There is an opportunity for schools to profit from tailoring online courses to Autistic students. But who should design and teach those courses? 

At the very least, we need to start talking about these students who are graduating Special Education to begin College Education.

Yale Features Doctor with Dyslexia

Just a note: I include several cognitive differences under the umbrella term "Neurodiversity."


Alix Boyle of  The Yale Center for Dyslexia and Creativity has written a short post featuring Dr. Beryl Benacerraf, a Radiologist and Utlrasound Specialist. Please share this with your students!

We need more biographies of successful professionals who also have Dyslexia - especially those who had to take difficult science and math courses just to graduate in their field.

Students (and teachers) need to see these stories of those who have excelled despite society's flawed understanding of what it takes to thrive and contribute in this world. Obviously, we have held back gifted people because we didn't understand that they were talented differently.

Remember, "It's now how smart you are, it's how you are smart" that truly matters.