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”

 

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Connect with Amanda Morin:

• Amanda’s Website

• Email Amanda: [email protected]

• Phone: [phone]