If you’ve spent five minutes in a classroom with kids who have extensive support needs, you already know sensory integration isn’t some abstract concept from a textbook. It’s the thing that decides whether the next twenty minutes go smoothly or completely sideways. Here’s what I mean. Sensory integration is just the brain’s job of taking…
One of the biggest misconceptions I hear is, “If a student isn’t talking, they’re not communicating.” But in my classroom, communication is happening all day long. It just doesn’t always sound like most people expect to hear. Students communicate through: And when we recognize these as valid forms of communication, our perceptions change. Because communication…
The article emphasizes the effectiveness of various visual supports for students with autism in classrooms. Key tools include visual schedules, communication boards, choice boards, calm down boards, and core communication boards. These resources foster communication, regulation, and independence while reducing anxiety and frustration, ultimately creating an accessible and supportive learning environment.
Autism acceptance isn’t about lowering expectations or feeling sorry for students.
It’s about recognizing competence, honoring differences, and creating environments where all students can succeed.
When people hear that my high school students use manipulatives and graphic organizers during math, they sometimes assume the work must be very basic. But in reality, these tools are what make academic learning accessible.
When I started Our Spectrum of Strengths, my plan was simple:write about my classroom, what we were learning, how I differentiate curriculum so every student gets what they need, and how I design my environment with intention. Then school started. This year, I welcomed four new students into my classroom. Each one came with significant…
Preparing for the New School Year in a Neurodivergent-Affirming Classroom.
