Diverse Learners Top Hat Organizer
Article One:
● Special education stigma needs to change
● Neurodiversity allows for special education to be
embraced rather than looked down upon -
“embrace a more progessive way of educating
students who learn differently” (Armstrong 2017)
● Integrate neurodiversity in the workplace
● Neurodiversity places emphasis on social and
ecological dimensions - examine how they are
disabled in some areas, but good at others
- Ex. Individual with autism is great at
finding errors in computer codes
(Armstrong 2017)
● Neurodiversity approach teaches the value of
human variation and neurological diversity
- How the human brain works,
environment, brain power
● One roadblock is focusing on students strengths
than it terms of disability that over the last
decades, has been worked on to regocnize special
needs students in education and the legal system
Similarities
● Looks at deficit-based education versus elements of strengths based special education that has been
grounded in neurodiversity
● Build on learners’ strengths
● View from an lternative lens
● Steers away from traditional teaching
Article Two:
● Two students, one who did the assignment, the
other did not
1. Margarita read an article, but copied parts of the
newspaper so as to plagarize, first hand, the essay
looks good
2. Dwayne did not do his homework, but then finally
turned in his assignment labeled S.A.
- After analyzing situations it becomes clear how
one can assume that students were lazy, but after
further analysis, students might need remedial
help. They are struggling with academic writing in
English.
● DSE - Disability studies in Education
● Working with a students disability and being in
the world as equally valid
● Teachers design learning context that facilitates
student participation rather than removing or
excluding them (Collins and Ferri 2016)
● Presume competence as meaningful
communication and attempt to learn in a
different mode
My Thoughts
● How do I bring about neurodiversity in the classroom and in regards to individuals with special needs?
● Do teachers have to learn about diversity studies in education? How does this apply to teachers with
certificates, but no degree?
● How is neurodiveristy is to be brought upon by parents or individuals that identify students or their children
by their disability
● How does the lense of students being perceived as lazy, instead of remedial help take place? Is it after a
pattern from students?