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Interactive Workshop

Teaching Methods and Learning Styles

ADHD, Autism, and other Neurodivergence in Social Work Education: Creating Neuro-affirming Social Work Programs

Neurodivergent diagnoses, such as autism and ADHD, have increased significantly in recent years, yet conversations about neurodivergence are often missing in social work education. This interactive workshop aims to summarize current research on neurodivergence, highlight strengths of neurodivergent communities, and provide recommendations on cultivating neuro-affirming social work programs alongside attendees.

Learning Objectives:

At the end of this session, attendees should be able to:
  1. Identify common types of neurodivergence and traits that may become evident in educational settings.
  2. Describe common approaches to supporting neurodivergent students, including typical classroom accommodations and assignment modifications.
  3. Apply principles of universal design for learning to create more accessible, neuro-affirming classrooms and experiences in social work education.