Building More Inclusive Classrooms Through Connection

Creating a Neurodiversity-Affirming Classroom

comes out in July!

The world expects the impossible from teachers, with so many young people in our care - all with unique needs. How do we help everyone to thrive?

Imagine a classroom where there is no 'normal' - where all brains are expected and welcomed. Students are taught about neurodiversity, metacognition, and self-advocacy alongside the curriculum and are encouraged to identify their own needs. Learning tools are taught and available to everyone!

This thoughtful guide breaks down the learning process. It's brimming with practical tips, brain-based strategies, and illustrative examples that teachers can implement in the classroom. Stories of real teachers and neurodivergent students help educators envision how to apply neurodiversity-affirming approaches.

This book invites a compassionate lens for teachers and students alike. It's the how-to of forging partnerships with students - our best resources in collaboratively problem-solving pressing classroom concerns and invisible learning needs. Everyone benefits when we plan with accessibility in mind!

Praise for Creating a Neurodiversity-Affirming Classroom

  • “This valuable book is bursting with practical tools, research-informed strategies, and vivid examples that empower educators to enable all of their students to thrive. Dr. Kara Dymond's expertise, dedication, and compassion shine through. She demonstrates how to provide access to rich curricula and learning experiences for all learners and how to partner with students to support their success.”

    Linda Darling-Hammond, Ed.D
    Charles E. Ducommun Professor of Teaching and Teacher Education Emeritus, Stanford University and President of the Learning Policy Institute

  • “A career-changing read for teachers! Dymond offers an inclusive perspective on learning that will transform the way educators teach-not just neurodivergent students, but all students. Creative, engaging, and practical, this book is a must-read!”

    Marcia Eckerd, Ph.D
    Psychologist and internationally known Writer, Speaker, Consultant, and Clinician

  • “Kara Dymond's feel for neurodiversity is unmatched. This book beautifully integrates her decades of intense study, immense pedagogical creativity, and deep compassion for learners. In a world of artificial intelligence, Dymond's leadership on how to affirm and fully develop human intelligence is essential. This is exactly what educators should be reading right now.”

    Dr. Laurie Faith
    Assistant Professor (Teaching Stream), OISE/University of Toronto, Author of Executive Function Skills in the Classroom: Overcoming Barriers, Building Strategies

  • "Read this book - it's a game-changer! It's a brilliant, compassionate, and practical guide to neurodiversity-affirming teaching that offers insightful strategies and real-life examples, empowering educators to co-create an inclusive classroom where all learners thrive."

    Shelley Murphy, Ph.D
    Teacher Educator & Author of Fostering Mindfulness

  • "Teachers have many questions about neurodiversity in the classroom, and this book will provide the answers they seek. The author provides clear and concise explanations, drawing on her extensive experience and thorough knowledge of the research and theoretical models of neurodiversity. Although written primarily for teachers, I know that parents and psychologists will also greatly benefit from the advice."

    Prof. Tony Attwood, Ph.D
    Clinical Psychologist, Adjunct Professor at Griffith University, Queensland

  • "This book is exactly what educators need right now. For teachers working to create neurodiversity-affirming classrooms, Dr. Dymond offers the support our community has been asking for-compassionate, research-informed strategies that can be used right away. I know this will live in many classrooms, post-its and all."

    Elana Shapiro, Ph.D
    Educator, Sessional Lecturer, and Faculty Advisor, University of Toronto

  • "Beyond a host of useful practices, Kara offers a whole new way of thinking. This is what we need. A paradigm shift coupled with practical tools that help us embrace the complex reality of learner variability. I recommend this book to educators at all levels."

    Lincoln Smith
    K-12 Educator, Researcher, and Teacher Educator (with ADHD)

  • "A page turner. I could not put the book down. So many interesting and practical ideas for creating a neurodiversity-affirming classroom. All teachers should get their hands on a copy of this wonderful read. Can't wait to share with my staff."

    Antonella De Roma
    Elementary School Principal

  • "A MUST READ for all teachers! As a teacher with over 30 years of classroom experience, I found this book pack full of evidence-based, practical, easy-to-understand ideas that would be beneficial to all the students in your classroom!"

    Dr. Andrea Liendo
    Classroom Teacher (for over 30 years)

  • “As a neurodivergent person (Autistic, ADHD, and then some), this is the kind of book I wish my own teachers had access to. As a psychologist, I would wish for every teacher to read this as a part of their own curriculum. Kara proposes a student focused classroom; One that inspires students to want to be there, to learn about themselves as well as the subjects, and to embrace their differences as a group. It's a learning environment I would want for everyone, regardless of neurotype.”

    Maja Toudal
    Autistic Psychologist, Speaker, and Author of Energy Accounting

  • "With an inviting and accessible style, this book is grounded in real classroom experiences that resonate deeply with educators. It masterfully weaves together the why, what, and how-to’s of effective teaching, offering practical strategies that teachers can implement immediately. A wonderful resource for all educational practitioners, it’s both informative and actionable—a must-have guide for anyone committed to building inclusive communities, meaningful learning, and impactful teaching."

    Susan Baglieri, Ed.D
    Professor, Montclair State University, Author of Undoing Ableism

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Autistic Tidbits & Tangents Podcast

Debuting August 1, 2022!

Autistic Tidbits & Tangents is a biweekly podcast, co-hosted by Kara Dymond & Maja Toudal, centered around topics relevant to autism and the lives of autistic people. We are both autistic professionals with a passion for broadening and advancing accessibility for autistic people and understanding of autism and neurodiversity. We approach our work with the combination of our personal and professional experiences.

Episodes can be found on found on Spotify, Anchor, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, and with video on Youtube.

Autistic Tidbits & Tangents is available on Spotify, Anchor, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, and Youtube.

Maja Toudal & Kara Dymond on Autistic Tidbits & Tangents Podcast

Other Site Features

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“Why is independence always touted as the only end goal for autistic kids? We should emphasize interdependence equally. Support systems help us all to feel cared for, to be better able to deal with big feelings, to know we’re not alone when problem-solving, and to recognize we are no less valuable when asking for help than when helping others. Feeling a part of a community is vital to quality of life and positive mental health.”

— Kara Dymond, The Autism Lens

Contact Kara.