Supporting Neurodiversity in Post-Secondary Education

Description:

Join us for Supporting Neurodiversity in Post-Secondary Education, a webinar series hosted by BCcampus. This series includes two panels and two workshops focused on neurodiversity and neuroinclusivity. You may choose to register for one or all of these sessions. Event details are below. 

1. February 4, 2025: Student Voices on Neurodiversity: A Panel Discussion 
2. February 10, 2025: Compassionate Planning for Neurodiverse Learners (Workshop)
3. February 11, 2025: Advancing Neuroinclusivity in Post-Secondary Education: Evidence, Initiatives, and Pathways Forward (Panel)
4. February 13 & 27, 2025: Supporting Neurodiversity in Higher Education: a two-part workshop series

These sessions may be recorded, archived, and made available publicly on BCcampus.ca. By participating in these sessions, you acknowledge that your participation will be recorded and the recording may be made available openly.

Click "Register" to sign up for one or all of the sessions in this series.

Session Details:

Session 1: Student Voices on Neurodiversity: A Panel Discussion 

February 4, 2025 from 11:00 to 12:30 PM PT

Panelists: Kaeli Sort, Hallie Brown, and Shana Harrison

Neurodiverse students in post-secondary institutions often encounter unique challenges that can be misunderstood, leading to additional barriers to success. Join us for a panel discussion featuring B.C. post-secondary students and recent graduates with lived experience. We will explore the challenges neurodiverse students face, discuss how institutions and educators can best support students, and celebrate the unique strengths and perspectives that neurodiversity brings.

Session 2: Compassionate Planning for Neurodiverse Learners 

February 10, 2025 from 1:00 to 3:00 PM PT

Facilitator: Dr. Shendah Benoit

This two-hour workshop provides a generative social space for faculty to share and review evidence-based universal design for learning principles to celebrate and support neurodiversity in higher education. Participants are invited to bring a course syllabus, lesson, or assignment to guide their reflective practice.

Session 3: Advancing Neuroinclusivity in Post-Secondary Education: Evidence, Initiatives, and Pathways Forward

February 11, 2025 from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM PT

Facilitators: Dr. Jennifer Fane, Dr. Megan Ames, Dr. Elina Birmingham, Dr. Grace Iarocci, Alison Hale, and Kathy Moscrip

This panel will shed light on the strides being made toward creating more inclusive and supportive post-secondary education environments for neurodivergent students. Through research findings and successful programs, our panelists will highlight the challenges and triumphs of fostering neuroinclusivity. Attendees will gain valuable insights into evidence-based policies, student achievements, and innovative approaches that promote meaningful inclusion and success.

This session will feature 4 brief panel presentations, each followed by a short Q&A. There will also be a broader Q&A at the end. 

Session 4: Supporting Neurodiversity in Higher Education Workshop (two-part series) 

Facilitator: Sarah Silverman, PhD

February 13, from 9:30 to 11:00 AM PT
Workshop Part 1: Introduction to Neurodiversity in Higher Education: History, Theory, and First-Person Perspectives

This workshop, the first part of a two-part series, introduces teachers and staff in higher education to the history, politics, and key terms of neurodiversity, emphasizing their relevance to education. Participants will explore the origins of neurodiversity in the autistic advocacy movement and learn the histories and definitions of key terms such as “neurodiversity”, “neurodivergent”, and “neurotypical”. Participants will also engage with first-person perspectives from neurodivergent students and staff in higher education, gaining insight with the diversity of neurodivergent experiences.

Reflection opportunities will encourage participants to consider how understanding the history of neurodiversity may reshape their perspectives on its role in their classrooms. Suggested resources for further study of neurodiversity concepts and specific conditions/experiences (like Autism, ADHD, learning disabilities, and more) will be provided.

This foundational workshop prepares participants for the practical applications that will be explored in part two of this workshop.

February 27, from 9:30 to 11:00 AM PT
Workshop Part 2: Applying Your Knowledge of Neurodiversity in Teaching, Learning, and Advising

In this workshop, participants will begin with an overview of the range of laws and policies governing disability inclusion in higher education, with a focus on their connection to neurodiversity. Using a series of complex case studies, participants will practice navigating scenarios involving neurodiversity in the classroom and other learning spaces, including situations in where disabilities are disclosed or remain undisclosed.

The session will also provide opportunities for participants to reflect on their own relationship to neurodiversity and to set actionable goals for fostering greater inclusion in their teaching, learning, and advising practices. By bridging theoretical knowledge with practical strategies, this workshop equips participants to create more inclusive environments for neurodivergent individuals in higher education.

Click "Register" above to sign up for one or all of the sessions in this series.