The goal of this presentation is to teach students what neurodiversity is, the stigma that exists around it, and the importance of evaluation and intervention. This lesson includes several videos and biographies of neurodiverse individuals and some specialists. This presentation only includes the four most common forms of neurodiversity (Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD/ADD, Dyslexia, and Dysgraphia) due to time constraints. 

The key to this presentation is to keep students engaged so the lesson has been designed to be as interactive as possible. These activities are the most important part of the lesson!

With this lesson, you might consider inviting a health professional who treats patients with neurodiversity. For example, a learning specialist, a developmental psychologist, school psychologist, occupational therapist, clinical psychologist, speech therapist, psychiatrist, or a neurologist.

This lesson was created and designed on Canva and is viewed best on this platform. To access it on Canva, you must be logged into a google account, but do not need a Canva account. If you are unable to access Canva, there is also a Powerpoint and Keynote version that you can download below. 

Neurodiversity Lesson (45 minute lesson):

Instructor guide – this two page instructor guide reviews best practices for implementing this lesson.

Canva link for neurodiversity lesson – preferred format

Alternate formats for lesson:
Powerpoint link for neurodiversity lesson
Keynote link ( 2 parts): this is the same presentation but due to size limitations had to be split into two keynotes.
Part 1 neurodiversity keynote lesson
Part 2 neurodiversity keynote lesson

Additional resources:

Harvard Neurodiversity Project – An organization at Harvard that work to accept, include, spread awareness, and celebrate the variations of the human mind.

Stanford Neurodiversity Project – An organization at Stanford that works to establish a culture that treasures the strengths of neurodiverse individuals and empower neurodiverse individuals to build their identity.

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act – IDEA is the legislation that makes available a free appropriate public education to eligible children with disabilities and ensures special education and related services to those children.

Americans with Disabilities Act – ADA is the legislation that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all facets of life.