Neuroscience for Neurodiverse Learners: Lessons Learned About Serving All Students
Main Article Content
Keywords
neurodivergent, disability, STEM
Abstract
The Neuroscience for Neurodiverse Learners program provides hands-on experiences and resources to high school and early postsecondary students identified as neurodivergent learners. This article shares lessons learned that can benefit educators seeking to engage neurodivergent learners in the classroom and includes summary results from the NNL summer program.
References
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Yardi, S. & Bruckman, A. (2007). What is computing?: Bridging the gap between teenagers' perceptions and graduate students' experiences. In Proceedings of the Third International Workshop on Computing Education Research (pp. 39–50). Atlanta, GA: ACM Press.
American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). (2001). In pursuit of a diverse science, technology, engineering, and mathematics workforce. Washington, DC: Author.
Arnholz, J. (2019, February 12). Is hands-on learning better? Build Your Future (BYF). https://www.byf.org/is-hands-on-learning-better/
Beck, K., & Andres, C. (2005). Extreme programming explained: Embrace change (2nd ed., p. 29). Boston: Pearson Education, Inc.
Bellman, S., & Burgstahler, S. (Eds.). (2016). Perspectives of STEM students with disabilities: Our journeys, communities, & big ideas. DO-IT. https://www.washington.edu/doit/perspectives-stem-students-disabilities
Bellman, S., Burgstahler, S. & Chudler, E. (2018) Broadening Participation by Including More Individuals with Disabilities in STEM: Promising Practices from an Engineering Research Center, American Behavioral Scientist, 62(5), 645-656.
Bellman, S., Burgstahler, S., Hinke, P. (2015) Academic coaching outcomes for students with disabilities pursuing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Journal of Postsecondary Education and Disability, 28(1), 101-106.
Burgstahler, S. (Ed.). (2015). Universal design in higher education: From principles to practice (2nd ed.). Boston: Harvard Education Press.
Center for Universal Design. (1997). Universal design. Retrieved from https://design.ncsu.edu/research/center-for-universal-design/
Center on Disability Studies. (2024). 39th Annual Pacific Rim International Conference on Disability and Diversity. https://pacrim.coe.hawaii.edu/
Cohoon, J. M. (2007). The state of research on girls and IT. Boulder, CO: National Center for Women and Information Technology (NCWIT). Retrieved from https://www.ncwit.org/sites/default/files/resources/girlsit_research_summary.pdf
Committee on Equal Opportunities in Science and Engineering (CEOSE) (2011). Broadening participation in America’s science and engineering workforce. The 2009–2010 Biennial Reports to Congress. NSF: Author.
Congressional Commission on the Advancement of Women and Minorities in Science, Engineering, and Technology Development (2000, September). Land of plenty: Diversity as America's competitive edge in science, engineering and technology. Washington, DC: Author.
Congressional Commission on the Advancement of Women and Minorities in Science, Engineering, and Technology Development (2000, September). Land of plenty: Diversity as America's competitive edge in science, engineering and technology. Washington, DC: Author. pp. 3.
DePoy, E., & Gibson, S. (2008a). Disability studies: Origins, current conflict, and resolution. Review of Disability Studies, 4(4), 33–40.
DePoy, E., & Gibson, S. (2008b). Healing the disjuncture: Social work disability practice. In K. M. Sowers & C. N. Dulmus (Series Eds.), & B. W. White (Vol. Ed.), Comprehensive handbook of social work and social welfare: Volume 1, the profession of social work (pp. 267–282). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.
Dreifus, C. (2009, October 29). On winning a Nobel Prize in Science. New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/13/science/13conv.html
DXC Technology. (n.d.). DXC Dandelion Program-- An award-winning program connecting neurodiverse people with meaningful employment, and helping workplaces fill IT skills gaps. https://dxc.com/au/en/about-us/social-impact-practice/dxc-dandelion-program
Exceptional Individuals. (n.d.) Assistive technology advice. https://exceptionalindividuals.com/candidates/assistive-technology-advice/
Gabel, S., & Peters, S. (2010). Presage of a paradigm shift: Beyond the social model of disability toward resistance theories of disability. Disability & Society, 19(6), 585–600.
Gupta, U., & Houtz, L. (2000). High school students’ perceptions of information technology skills and careers. Journal of Industrial Technology, 16(4).
Hazzan, O. & Dubinsky, Y. (2006). Can diversity in global software development be enhanced by agile software development? In Proceedings of ICSE (International Conference of Software Engineering). Paper presented at the Global Software Development for the Practitioner workshop, Shanghai, China (pp. 58–61).
Hecher, D. E. (2005). Employment outlook: 2004–14, occupational employment projections to 2014. Monthly Labor Review. Washington, D.C.: Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Helft, M. (2009, January 3). For the blind, technology does what a guide dog can’t. New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/04/business/04blind.html
Indiana University Bloomington. (n.d.) Transparency in learning and teaching (TILT). (n.d.). Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning. https://citl.indiana.edu/teaching-resources/diversity-inclusion/tilt/index.html
Jacobs, J. E., & Simpkins, S. D. (Eds.) (2006). Leaks in the pipeline to math, science, and technology careers: New directions for child development, No. 110. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Kerry, John F. (2013). Testimony before the senate foreign relations committee on the disabilities treaty. www.foreign.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Kerry_Testimony.pdf
Kiernan, V. (2000). Government challenged to make high-tech careers more attractive. Laser Focus World. http://www.laserfocusworld.com/display_article/75436/12/none/none/Dept/Government-challenged-to-make-high-tech-careers-more-attractiv
Ladner, R. (2016). Broadening participation "for all" in "Computer Science For All." Communications of the ACM, 59(9).
Loewen, G., & Pollard, W. (2010). The social justice perspective. Journal of Postsecondary Education and Disability, 23(1), 5–18
Loewen, G., & Pollard, W. (2010). The social justice perspective. Journal of Postsecondary Education and Disability, 23(1), 5–18.
Microsoft. (n.d.). Inclusive hiring for people with disabilities. https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/diversity/inside-microsoft/cross-disability/hiring.aspx
Misner, C., Thorne, K. S., & Wheeler, J. A. (1995). Stephen Hawking A biography. San Francisco: Greenwood Press.
Moriarty, M.A. (2007). Inclusive pedagogy: Teaching methodologies to reach diverse learners in science instruction. Equity and Excellence in Education, 40(3), 252–265.
Museum, Arts, & Culture Access Consortium (MAC). (n.d.) Examples of social narratives for visitors. https://macaccess.org/rescources/examples-of-social-narratives-for-visitors/
National Council on Disability and Social Security Administration. (2000). Transition and post-school outcomes for youth with disabilities: Closing the gaps to post-secondary education and employment. Washington, DC: Author.
National Science Foundation. (2023a). Diversity and STEM: Women, Minorities, and Persons with Disabilities. Arlington, VA: Author. https://ncses.nsf.gov/pubs/nsf23315/
National Science Foundation. (2023b). Making visible the invisible: Understanding intersectionality. https://nsf-gov-resources.nsf.gov/2023-08/CEOSE-Report-2023.pdf?VersionId=iBB08P2e4Cfs_Fa.RUMkm0eY_Uao1Lvx
Office of Disability Employment Policy. (2001, November). Improving the availability of community-based services for people with disabilities. Washington, DC: Author.
Office of Science and Technology Policy. (2006). American competitiveness initiative: Leading the world in innovation. Washington, D.C.: Author.
Queensland Government. (2022, September 25). Social narratives. Autism Hub. https://autismhub.education.qld.gov.au/resources/functional-behaviour-assessment-tool/help/social-narratives
SAP. (n.d.). Gloval diversity and inclusion. https://www.sap.com/about/company/our-values/diversity.html
SAS. (n.d.) Recognizing all abilities: Creating opportunities. https://www.sas.com/en_gb/company-information/diversity/all-abilities.html
Taylor, V., & Ladner, R. (2011). Data trends on minorities and people with disabilities in computing. Communications of the ACM, 54(12), 34–37.
Thomas, D. (2004). Diversity as strategy. Harvard Business Review, 9(9), pp. 98–108.
Yardi, S. & Bruckman, A. (2007). What is computing?: Bridging the gap between teenagers' perceptions and graduate students' experiences. In Proceedings of the Third International Workshop on Computing Education Research (pp. 39–50). Atlanta, GA: ACM Press.
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Jan 1, 2025
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Research Articles and Essays
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Author Biographies
Scott Bellman, University of Washington, DO-IT
Scott Bellman is Manager of the University of Washington’s Disabilities, Opportunities, Internetworking, and Technology (DO-IT) Center. He is Principal Investigator of Neuroscience for Neurodiverse Learners and the Associate Director of Diversity and Inclusion at the Center for Neurotechnology.
Lyla Crawford, University of Washington, DO-IT
Lyla Crawford is a Program Operations Specialist at the University of Washington’s Disabilities, Opportunities, Internetworking, and Technology (DO-IT) Center. She serves as internal evaluator for many of DO-IT’s projects, including Neuroscience for Neurodiverse Learners.
Rajesh P. N. Rao, University of Washington
Rajesh P. N. Rao is a professor in the Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science and Engineering and the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Washington. He is Co-Director of the UW Center for Neurotechnology. His research spans the areas of computational neuroscience, brain-computer interfaces, and artificial intelligence.
Eric H. Chudler, University of Washington
Eric H. Chudler is a Research Associate Professor in the Department of Bioengineering
and Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine at the University of Washington, and the Executive
Director and Education Director at the Center for Neurotechnology.