Highlights from Our Recent Workshop
At All Things Stim, one of our missions is to help universities and placement providers support their neurodivergent students more effectively.
We believe that by upskilling educators, we can create more inclusive environments where all students can thrive.
Recently, we led an interactive workshop with NHS staff aimed at achieving this goal, and we're thrilled to share the positive feedback and key takeaways from the session.
A Successful Interactive Workshop
Participants in our latest workshop found the session extremely relevant and valuable. One attendee remarked:
"Excellent insight into neurodivergence and being able to discuss openly with other colleagues about strategies to support learners in practice. A lot to think about and some key take-away changes in practice that I am able to implement."
Our interactive workshops are designed to help educators:
Identify common challenges that neurodivergent students may face.
Identify friction points within their specific environments and job roles.
Explore the impact of these challenges on learning and experience.
Develop practical strategies to mitigate these challenges.
Adapt day-to-day activities to better support neurodivergent students.
Understanding Common Challenges
Neurodivergent students often face multiple challenges that can impact their academic and placement experiences. Some of these include:
Sensory Processing differences in processing and responding to sensory information, which can affect things like concentration and communication.
Executive Functioning challenges with planning, organising, problem-solving, and time management, which can affect things like meeting deadlines and managing multiple tasks and responsibilities.
Emotional Regulation challenges with managing emotional responses, which can lead to seemingly disproportionate reactions and low self-esteem.
Our workshop delved into these areas and more, providing educators with the knowledge to recognise and address these challenges effectively.
Key Takeaways from Participants
The feedback from our participants highlighted several key takeaways. It is great to hear how they gained new skills to embed in their practice which will not only help students but colleagues and clients too:
Creating Supportive Environments:
"I will try to adjust my office environment to be more helpful with my colleagues, not just students, towards making it a better space."
Support With Self-Advocacy
"Coming up with a mechanism for students to easily identify their neurodivergent traits to their supervisors to enable supportive and understanding relationships."
Open Communication:
"Not being afraid to have an open conversation with the students about their neurodiversity."
Supporting Stimming:
"Discussing with students about their stimming needs and recognising differences that help."
Developing Safe Spaces:
"Offering the students I work with a 'safe opt-out' option—agreeing on a safe word or visual cue to let me know if they are struggling."
Why This Matters
Educators play a crucial role in shaping the experiences of neurodivergent students. By understanding and addressing the unique challenges these students may face, we can:
Enhance their learning and placement experiences.
Foster an inclusive environment that celebrates diversity.
Improve communication and reduce misunderstandings.
Support their emotional and mental well-being.
One participant expressed a desire to take this learning further:
"I would love to attend further and more in-depth training with this—who knows, maybe become a lead for neurodivergence for students, staff, and families we care for."
Join Us in Making a Difference
We are committed to continuing our efforts in supporting neurodivergent students by equipping educators with the necessary tools and knowledge. Here's how you can get involved:
Attend Our Workshops: Gain confidence, start discussions, and learn strategies to adapt your day-to-day activities via our interactive workshops.
Collaborate with Us: Work together to develop tailored approaches that meet the specific needs of your students and institution.
Stay Informed: Keep up-to-date with out blog which includes simplifying the latest research and best practices in supporting neurodivergent individuals.
Find out more information about our workshops and how we can assist you, or contact us to arrange an introductory call to explore how we can help.
Together, We Can Make a Difference
By embracing neurodiversity and implementing supportive strategies, we can create enriching educational experiences for all students. We're grateful for the enthusiastic participation and positive feedback from our recent workshop and look forward to continuing this important work.
For any inquiries or to schedule a workshop, please reach out to us at info@allthingsstim.com or contact us.
#Neurodiversity #InclusiveEducation #StudentSupport