Neurodiversity - Celebrating our Differences
Northern Christian School consists of a diverse range of learners, each with their God-given gifts, talents and abilities. We consider it our privilege to support all students by providing appropriate learning support and enrichment according to their needs. Our Learning Enrichment Program supports all students to reach their full learning potential by offering a wide range of programs, including small group and individual support for literacy, numeracy, speech, emotional regulation, and social cognition.
Our approach to supporting neuro-diverse students is an important component of the Learning Enrichment Program. ‘Neuro-diversity’ refers to the diversity of all people; and is often used to describe people with neuro-developmental conditions such as Autism, ADHD, Dyslexia, and other learning differences. We are blessed to support many neuro-diverse students at Northern Christian School. We work hard to provide appropriate adjustments, including differentiation of class content, adjustments to work delivery, presentation and assessment, and individualised support.
If you are a parent to a neuro-diverse child, you may be interested to know that research suggests that it is beneficial that you speak with your child about their diagnosis. Many parents fear that telling their child may hurt their self-esteem, but research shows that the opposite is true. It is likely that your child has noticed differences between themselves and their peers but may have come to the wrong conclusion about these differences and may feel embarrassed or ashamed. Explaining a diagnosis may help remove this mystery around their challenges and give them back a sense of control. Being open and upfront about a diagnosis can remove the negative labels and open up new pathways.
Likewise, if your child has observed differences in other students, take the opportunity to speak with them about how we are all different. Be respectful and factual, emphasise the similarities rather than the differences, and remind your children that we need to treat all people with kindness, sensitivity and respect.
If you would like further information about speaking to your children about neuro-diversity or would like to enquire about support for your child, please let us know.
Kerrie Prentice – Learning Enrichment Coordinator
