Teaching in Neurodiverse Contexts

What we’ll offer: This webinar-style* session will introduce and clarify:  

• Key terms and concepts like neurodivergent, neurotypical, neurodiverse and neurodiversity paradigm 
• Why neurodiversity matters when it comes to teaching and learning (according to student voices, additional data, and our own reflections) 
• The difference between accommodation and a universal design approach (and why both are important) 
• General principles--from UDL and other frameworks--and some example practices to use in course design and teaching 

*While we generally design for engagement that includes oral discussion, this session will be less orally participatory (we’ll use chat to engage, and will have a brief survey to inform our future offerings). However, this is one of a series of future sessions we are planning, and future ones will feature discussion and application!  

Who might attend: all instructors and staff are welcome (including, of course, those of us who are neurodivergent). Although our focus will be on instructors and others facilitating learning experiences, students are also warmly welcome.

If these concepts and considerations are newer to you, or if the questions above are of interest (even if you’re familiar with them), we hope you will join us! While this session is more introductory and informational, we will also offer a discussion-based session and an application-based session in fall and winter terms on this topic. 

Who is presenting: This session is a collaboration between the Teaching Engagement Program (Laurel Bastian, Faculty Consultant, ADHDer), and UO Department of Special Education and Clinical Sciences students and researchers Alex Newson (Autistic Doctoral Student, Special Education, OSEP CO-LEAD Leadership Grantee) and Spencer Brower (Doctoral Student, School Psychology; Adv. Cert Special Education, Autism Focus; MA in Inclusive Education).