Diverse Thinking Different Learning

• Ep. 243: From Inclusion to Belonging: Creating Neurodiversity-Affirming Schools with Amanda Morin

  We are happy to welcome Amanda Morin to the show this week! Amanda is a neurodivergent advocate for neurodiversity, an award-winning author of six books, an early childhood expert, and a nationally recognized speaker who is passionate about building accessible and inclusive spaces for neurodivergent people. Drawing on her background in learning and child development, Universal Design for Learning (UDL), special education, advocacy, and mental health, she translates complex information into clear, practical insights for parents, educators, and employers striving to design inclusive content, programs, and strategies that make the world more accessible for everyone. In our discussion today, Amanda unpacks the concept of "neurodiversity-affirming" schools - classrooms that go beyond just "including" neurodivergent students and instead actively celebrate and empower them. She explains how a neurodiversity-affirming approach involves letting go of rigid structures and control and instead creating flexible, "controlled chaos" environments in which all students can learn and thrive in the ways that work best for them, benefitting not just neurodivergent students but, again, all learners! Amanda also highlights the importance of using especially precise and affirming language, distinguishing between "neurodivergent" (those whose brains process information differently) and the broader "neurodiverse" (the natural diversity of all minds). She also discusses how naming and understanding differences, rather than avoiding them, can go a long way toward destigmatizing neurodivergence. Perhaps especially crucially, Amanda explores the "double empathy problem," the idea that communication challenges often stem from a two-way lack of understanding rather than just deficits in the neurodivergent individual, and she shares some practical strategies for bridging this gap, such as narrating facial expressions and using visual cues. As the new school year approaches, this conversation is sure to offer some invaluable insights for educators seeking to create truly inclusive, strengths-based classrooms that empower all students to do their best! Show Notes: [3:06] - Amanda Morin highlights moving beyond “inclusion” toward belonging, creating flexible, student-centered learning environments. [6:43] - Neurodiversity-affirming practices benefit all students by gradually rethinking classrooms to embrace every mind. [9:37] - Just like biodiversity, neurodiversity means different minds adapt uniquely but remain equally valid. [11:25] - Amanda explains neurodivergence as brain-environment interactions that require supportive accommodations. [13:21] - Stigma is a major barrier to neurodivergent students’ mental health and persistence. [14:14] - Naming diagnoses openly helps students replace self-blame with understanding. [17:00] - Hiding diagnoses often leads children to form harmful, inaccurate stories about themselves. [18:24] - Amanda urges giving kids language to explain their struggles instead of adopting negative labels. [20:08] - Amanda touches upon the double empathy problem in which communication requires adjustment between neurodivergent and neuro-normative people. [23:44] - Teachers can model narrating emotions and expressions to reduce students’ stress around social cues. [24:06] - Hear how Amanda uses a “battery activity” to help students visualize and communicate their energy levels. [27:12] - Amanda encourages urges describing behavior neutrally rather than judging it as “good” or “bad.” [30:13] - Hear how Amanda prefers “neuro-normative” over “neurotypical” because it avoids implying a single correct way of being. [32:37] - Amanda highlights a project reframing IEPs around strengths and motivation, not just deficits and skills gaps. [35:37] - Amanda encourages small classroom changes that affirm neurodivergent students’ agency and sense of belonging. [37:52] - Amanda invites educators to connect! Links and Related Resources: Emily Kircher-Morris & Amanda Morin - Neurodiversity-Affirming Schools: Transforming Practices So All Students Feel Accepted & Supported Episode 168: 5 Tips for Supporting Neurodivergent Youth The Understood Blog - “Academia to action: Parents of neurodivergent kids need answers”   Connect with Us: Get on our Email List Book a Consultation Get Support and Connect with a ChildNEXUS Provider Register for Our “When Struggles Overlap” Live Webinar Email Dr. Wilson: [email protected]    Connect with Amanda Morin: Amanda’s Website Email Amanda: [email protected] Phone: 1-207-907-9182  

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• Ep. 242: How One Woman Rewired Her Brain and Created a Path for Struggling Learners with Barbara Arrowsmith-Young

  Joining us for this episode of Diverse Thinking Different Learning is Barbara Arrowsmith-Young! Barbara is a pioneering author and innovator in neuroeducation, known for applying neuroplasticity to improve cognitive function. Since 1978, her work has helped individuals with learning difficulties, brain injuries, addiction, and age-related decline, and it is now used worldwide. She shares her groundbreaking journey in her bestselling book The Woman Who Changed Her Brain and her TEDx talk, and continues advancing research as Director of the Arrowsmith program. In this episode of Diverse Thinking Different Learning, Barbara shares her deeply powerful journey of overcoming significant learning difficulties she faced from a young age. Growing up in the 1950s, Barbara was labeled as "slow" and was told by her teachers not to have high expectations for her academic future, but despite the challenges, her mother's determination and Barbara's resilience allowed her to learn how to read, write, and do basic math, although she continued to struggle with comprehension and processing language. As an adult, Barbara had an epiphany after reading the work of neuropsychologist Alexander Luria. She discovered that the root of her learning difficulties was due to specific areas of her brain that were underperforming, so inspired by research on neuroplasticity, she set out to create cognitive exercises that could strengthen those weaker brain regions. She reflects in this episode on how, to her amazement, the exercises led to a huge change in her cognitive abilities, allowing her to fully engage in conversations, understand complex concepts, and more. Barbara discusses how she was determined to share this life-changing approach,  founded the Arrowsmith School, and developed the Arrowsmith Program, which has now helped thousands of students around the world. She passionately advocates for integrating neuroscience and cognitive training into education, empowering all learners to enhance their brain's capacity and unlock their full potential. If you enjoy this episode, you will have the wonderful opportunity to learn more about Barbara's work during a live webinar on September 17th, 2025. Don't miss this chance to dive deeper into the power of neuroplasticity and how it can transform the lives of students who struggle with learning differences! Show Notes: [2:36] - Barbara Arrowsmith-Young reflects on having been labeled "slow" in grade one, internalizing shame before learning disabilities were even recognized. [4:38] - Despite intense effort and her mother's support, Barbara masked her difficulties with memorization and compensation. [7:32] - Barbara points out how brain imaging reveals students with learning difficulties overuse their strengths to compensate. [10:48] - Many students experience intense despair from persistent, misunderstood learning challenges. [11:17] - Barbara opens up about having struggled with suicidal ideation in eighth grade. [14:25] - Even though there is longstanding research, many schools still neglect brain-based approaches to learning. [15:13] - Hear how Barbara’s father instilled belief in problem-solving and how Alexander Luria’s work revealed the source of her struggles. [18:06] - Newly inspired by neuroplasticity research, Barbara designed clock-based brain exercises to help stimulate specific neural regions. [21:06] - Hear how mastering four-handed clocks transformed Barbara’s comprehension. [22:53] - Barbara created Arrowsmith School to help integrate brain-based learning into mainstream education. [25:31] - Real change requires targeted brain exercises and not just accommodations. [26:50] - Barbara finds immense joy in witnessing cognitive transformation and improved mental health in her students. [29:05] - Arrowsmith lowers cortisol and anxiety while supporting recovery from learning difficulties. [32:07] - Hear how Barbara developed diverse cognitive programs to enhance brain function. [35:43] - Barbara urges education to embrace neuroplasticity early, believing that cognitive growth leads to empathy and future problem-solvers. Links and Related Resources: Barbara Arrowsmith-Young - The Woman Who Changed Her Brain: And Other Inspiring Stories of Pioneering Brain Transformation Barbara’s TEDx Talk Take the Cognitive Questionnaire to Receive a Report on Your Unique Learning Profile Free “Shaping Our Brain” Webinar Series For Those Interested in Research Connect with Us: Get on our Email List Book a Consultation Get Support and Connect with a ChildNEXUS Provider Register for Our Self-Paced Mini Courses: Support for Parents Who Have Children with ADHD, Anxiety, or Dyslexia Register for Our “When Struggles Overlap” Live Webinar Email Dr. Wilson: [email protected]  Connect with Barbara Arrowsmith-Young: Arrowsmith - Website Barbara’s ChildNEXUS Profile  

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• Ep. 241: How to Be a ‘Screen-Smart’ Parent with Jodi Gold, MD

  We are very excited to welcome Jodi Gold, MD of The Gold Center to the show this week. Dr. Jodi Gold is a board-certified pediatric and adult psychiatrist with expertise in child and adolescent pharmacology, reproductive psychiatry, psychotherapy for mood and anxiety disorders, and the impact of digital technology. She has earned multiple awards from esteemed organizations, including NIMH and AACAP. From 2006 to 2012, she led the child and adolescent psychiatry outpatient department at Weill Cornell and has since taught and mentored at both Cornell and Columbia. Dr. Gold is also the author of the acclaimed book Screen-Smart Parenting, which offers guidance on balancing children's digital media use. While raising kids in a world full of tech can feel like a constant balancing act (especially when every headline warns of the harmful effects of digital overload), Dr. Gold offers a refreshing perspective on parenting in the digital age. Rather than prescribing rigid rules or causing/worsening parental anxiety, she advocates for a very thoughtful, flexible approach that stems from empathy, honesty, and consistency. Dr. Gold recontextualizes the conversation around screen time, encouraging parents to focus less on hours and more on habits. She stresses that the same principles that guide good parenting offline, such as structure and communication, apply online as well. What is most important, she argues, isn’t perfect control but rather presence. Parents don’t need to be tech experts to be effective; they just need to stay curious, open, and willing to engage with their kids’ digital lives. Hear strategies for building trust and setting healthy boundaries that match each child’s developmental stage and personality. Dr. Gold highlights the importance of understanding your own digital behaviors too, since kids are always watching and also often imitating what they see. From gaming and social media to group texts and YouTube spirals, this episode encourages parents to stay connected and involved without becoming overbearing or checked out. Show Notes: [2:25] - Dr. Jodi Gold argues that fear and shame get in the way of effective parenting, but staying engaged online and offline builds trust. [4:06] - Parents need to align tech rules with their own habits and use an authoritative but balanced parenting style. [7:10] - Dr. Gold encourages parents to follow their child's digital interests with curiosity and focus on resilience, not just restriction. [9:12] - Many parents understand school schedules but overlook how their kids use devices day-to-day. [11:18] - Knowing your child’s social context can help you determine whether tech isolates or supports them. [14:09] - Dr. Gold points out how parents of younger kids tend to engage more with tech use. [16:16] - Tailoring tech rules to each child’s needs is important, especially for children with ADHD and/or anxiety. [18:45] - Dr. Gold observes that kids today are fearless digital natives, so parents must stay present and observant even when not experts. [20:20] - How kids use tech is more important than how long; they need focus rather than just limits [21:58] - It's important to combine empathy with structure and to use tech as a reward. [24:53] - Parents should set honest limits around screen time without guilt, using structure and self-awareness. [26:49] - Dr. Gold believes that occasional screen use is okay; just be honest about your own usage, and stay involved in your child’s life. [28:14] - Strong parent-child communication and self-awareness can help kids manage digital life and mental health. [31:21] - Parent the digital world the same way you parent offline - based on your values, not on fear. Links and Related Resources: Episode 142: How to Help Neurodivergent Kids Manage Social Media “Clarifying Gray Areas in Family Tech Use: Separating Red Herrings from Red Flags” “Family Tech Use Part 2: Resolving Common Dilemmas” "Smart Screen Parenting" “How to Be a ‘Screen Smart’ Parent” Jodi Gold, MD - Screen-Smart Parenting: How to Find Balance and Benefit in Your Child's Use of Social Media, Apps, and Digital Devices   Connect with Us: Get on our Email List Book a Consultation Get Support and Connect with a ChildNEXUS Provider Register for Our Self-Paced Mini Courses: Support for Parents Who Have Children with ADHD, Anxiety, or Dyslexia Email Dr. Wilson: [email protected]    Connect with Jodie Gold, MD: The Gold Center - Website Dr. Gold’s Page on The Gold Center Dr. Gold’s Instagram Page Email: [email protected] Phone: 212-729-6410

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• Ep. 240: Using the Summer Months to Advance Reading Skills with Dr. Steve Truch & Devan Kublik

  We have not just one but two guests for you this week - Dr. Steve Truch and Devan Kublik! Steve has over 50 years of experience in education, beginning as a junior high school English teacher and then working as a school psychologist, ultimately founding The Reading Foundation clinics across North America to provide one-on-one therapy for students with learning difficulties. He is the primary author of the Discover educational programs used at the clinics and has written several books and articles on reading and cognitive assessment. His work reflects a continued commitment to aligning educational methods with current research, particularly in the science of reading. Devan Kublik holds a Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics and has been with The Reading Foundation since 1999, currently serving as Director of Standards across all locations. She has held leadership roles in multiple clinics and has contributed to nearly every aspect of the organization, including training, program development, and student assessment. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, reading, and mountain activities. In our conversation, we discuss the issue of reading proficiency among U.S. students, where only 35% of 4th graders are considered proficient readers. We explore how reading instruction methods have changed and evolved over time, from the whole language method to the current emphasis on the science of reading and phonics. Dr. Truch explains how the speech-to-print method, focusing on teaching the phonemic structure of words and their corresponding visual representations, can be a more effective way to help students learn to read. Devan also highlights the importance of "dosage” (the intensity and duration of intervention) in speeding along the process, especially during the summer when students are not constrained by the school schedule. She shares how the Reading Foundation's programs offer individualized and immersive instruction customized to each student's unique needs, often leading to remarkable changes in their confidence and academic performance. Devan and Dr. Truch stress that while reading instruction has been a longstanding challenge for the education system, solutions that are backed by research are available, and that the key is connecting families with the right resources to help their children overcome reading difficulties and unlock their full potential. So, whether your child is a reluctant reader or has faced persistent challenges, this episode offers valuable insights and a glimmer of hope.   Show Notes: [2:55] - Dr. Truch argues that teaching methods for reading often ignore science and harm struggling learners. [5:20] - Traditional phonics rules are inconsistent, but speech-to-print offers a more logical alternative. [8:49] - Dr. Truch adds that teaching children sound-to-spelling connections can lead to better results than relying on abstract rules. [12:11] - Summer can accelerate reading gains for struggling students via structured but individualized intervention. [15:46] - Proper intervention speeds along progress, especially when it is intensive, customized, and monitored. [18:04] - Summer also allows for customized literacy support based on a student’s specific needs. [19:14] - Dr. Truch points out how effective reading intervention depends on both program dosage and using the correct method. [21:37] - Untreated reading struggles often leave lasting emotional damage, sometimes even resembling symptoms of PTSD. [23:29] - When parents lack the training to lead interventions, both they and the children can get frustrated. [25:45] - Rapid emotional changes happen once children experience early success via reading intervention. [27:24] - Early, focused instruction can boost lifelong success for struggling readers, as is backed by data and expert recognition. [30:01] - Hear how, with the right tools, one shy girl gained confidence and began reading aloud at school. [32:17] - Dr. Truch explains how targeted assessments can help pinpoint delays. Links and Related Resources: Episode 27: Why We Need to Support Parents Whose Kids Struggle with Learning with Maria Fagan Hassani Episode 208: Overcoming Dyslexia and Addressing The Reading Crisis with Sally Shaywitz, MD Episode 215: How to Support Students Who Struggle with Reading Comprehension – with Dr. Emily Levy “Reading with Your Child: Teaching Key Concepts and Building Habits of Mind”   Connect with Us: Get on our Email List Book a Consultation Get Support and Connect with a ChildNEXUS Provider Register for Our Self-Paced Mini Courses: Support for Parents Who Have Children with ADHD, Anxiety, or Dyslexia    Connect with the Guests: The Reading Foundation - Website The Reading Foundation LA’s Page on ChildNEXUS Email: [email protected] 

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• Ep. 239: Balancing Summer Rest and Learning Support for Diverse Learners with Ashley Harding

  We are happy to welcome Ashley Harding to the podcast this episode. Ashley is a fourth-generation educator and is deeply committed to educational equity. She holds degrees from USC and Tufts University in Child Development, and her career spans more than a decade, during which she has supported students and families in private and independent schools and contributed to global education initiatives in South Africa and Belize. Formerly the Director of External Engagement for a national school network, she has co-authored research on disparities affecting Black and Latino males and has been featured in The Wall Street Journal. Through her organization, North Star Academics, and her roles with BEAN and CHADD, Ashley empowers students with evidence-based strategies and advocates for those with learning differences. Ashley discusses how parents can reframe the summer from a "deficit mindset" to an "opportunity mindset" for their children, stressing the importance of balance and allowing students time for rest, rejuvenation, and exploration of their interests outside of academics. She explains that while academic growth is incredibly important during the school year, the summer months provide a critical window for students to develop their identity, independence, and executive functioning skills, and she encourages parents to avoid overwhelming children with intensive academic programs and instead focus on activities that build upon confidence, self-reflection, and a sense of belonging. Our conversation highlights the need for families (both parents and students) to take time for rest and reconnection over the summer, with Ashley suggesting a plan that gradually transitions from unstructured free time in June to more purposeful activities in July and August, such as previewing curriculum, reviewing foundational skills, and setting new goals for the upcoming school year. We also discuss the importance of real-world learning experiences such as cooking, budgeting, and travel, which can naturally reinforce academic concepts while also nurturing executive functioning abilities. Ashley stresses the importance of allowing children, especially older ones, the freedom to explore their interests and discover their passions during the summer months. This episode of the show provides a thoughtful and balanced approach to supporting students' overall development during the summer break, with a focus on building upon resilience, independence, and a renewed sense of purpose for the next academic year! Show Notes: [3:03] - Ashley Harding highlights summer as a time for rest and emotional integration after academic growth. [5:53] - Ashley points out how colleges tend to value well-roundedness, which begins with developing personal interests as early as middle school. [8:12] - Especially post-COVID, students and families need rest to recover from years of ongoing emotional exhaustion. [10:27] - Ashley believes that June should involve winding down, celebrating growth, and gently preparing for the next school year. [13:10] - Immediate academic intensity post-school year can overwhelm neurodivergent kids in need of rest. [14:20] - Ashley urges families to teach kids balance by allowing rest as an act of resistance. [17:02] - Summer is such an important time for families to rest, reconnect, and nurture mental health together. [18:12] - Children ultimately model behavior from parents, so truly resting teaches them balance over productivity. [22:14] - Ashley argues that fun, low-pressure activities such as cooking can help kids grasp and retain math concepts more effectively. [24:17] - Ashley likes reminding families to do as much real-world, practical learning as possible. [27:37] - Kids may need more sleep and rest, but they do still benefit from consistent routine and structure. [29:20] - Summer offers kids space for self-reflection and growth beyond just grades and academic pressure. [31:35] - Ashley points out how summer is ideal for reinforcing key executive functioning skills like memory, time management, and planning. [33:36] - Allowing kids to self-monitor can help build confidence and resilience. [36:44] - Unstructured time helps parents rediscover their children and builds upon a deeper sense of belonging at home. [39:23] - Summer is such a gift because it offers time to reconnect, regroup, and learn more about your growing child! Links and Related Resources: Episode 92: Executive Functioning Skills Over the Summer with Michelle Porjes Episode 154: Why Self-Efficacy and Self-Advocacy are Important for Diverse Learners with Ashley Harding Frostig School - Website Connect with Us: Get on our Email List Book a Consultation Get Support and Connect with a ChildNEXUS Provider Register for Our Self-Paced Mini Courses: Support for Parents Who Have Children with ADHD, Anxiety, or Dyslexia  Connect with Ashley: Ashley’s Page on ChildNEXUS North Star Academics - Website North Star Academics - Instagram Page Phone: 310-853-3208  

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