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Resources from

A Practical Guide to Teaching
Neurodivergent College Students

by Jennifer L. Pusateri

The images on this page are from the book A Practical Guide to Teaching Neurodivergent College Students by Jennifer L. Pusateri. You can purchase the full book at bit.ly/TeachingNDCS

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Quick Links by Chapter

Chapter 1: Neurodivergence Basics

Visual representation of the terms neurodiversity, neurotypical, and neurodivergent
The Neurodivergent Umbrella. Learning disabilities includes dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyspraxia, and dyscalculia. Behavioral conditions includes ADHD, Autism, and Tourette Syndrome. Mental health conditions includes OCD, depression, anxiety, and trauma. Neurological conditions includes brain injuries, seizures, and sensory processing. Image created by J. Pusateri, adapted from Doyle 2020
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Chapter 1

Chapter 2: Strengths of Neurodivergent Students

Diagram of ADHD Strengths (Nordby et al., 2023) with four sections: (1) The Dual Impact of ADHD characteristics- energetic, ability to hyperfocus, and spontaneous, (2) The Pursuit of New Experiences- curiosity, courageous, and explorative, (3) The Unconventional Mind- creative, different perspective, socially unconventional, and good at problem solving, (4) Resilience & Growth- resilient, insightful, accepting & tolerant, and warm & empathetic
Autistic Strengths (Cherewick & Matergia, 2024)- 1. Perceptual strengths include Discernment, Actuity, Memory, and sensory seeking/sensitivity, 2. Reasoning strentghs include attention to detail, problem solving, pattern recognition, and hypersystematizing, 3. Expertise strengths include special interests, in-depth knowledge, and hyperfocus/deep-focus, 4. Character strengths include non-judgement, fairness/justice, creativity/curiosity, honesty/integrity, and humor
Chapter 2
Dyslexic strengths include "big picture" thinking, perceptiveness & intuition, empathy, resilience, curiosity, creativity, visual-spatial abilities, problem-solving. Based on Kannangara et al., 2018 & Wallbank, 2023
ADHDers are energetic, spontaneous, courageous, explorative, and self-aware. Autistics have special interests, in-depth knowledge, honesty/integrity, are detail-oriented and are good at hypersystematizing Dyslexics are abstract thinkers, inventive, love discovery, think in pictures, and have good big-picture thinking. ADHDers and Dyslexics are both intuitive, empathetic, out-of-the-box thinkers, have good visual-spatial skills, and are resilient. Autistics and ADHDers are both justice-oriented, fairness-oriented, and both have the ability to hyperfocus. Autistics and Dyslexics both have good visual-spatial reasoning, and strong memory. The overlapping skills between ADHDers, Autistics, and Dyelexics are that they are interest-driven, pattern-seeking, and are good a pattern-seeking, creativity, and they have lots of curiosity.

Chapter 3: Executive Functioning

3.3- Brown EF.jpg
3.5- Three theories of EF.jpg
Chapter 3

Chapter 4: Challenges Encountered by Neurodivergent Students

Diagram- The Connection Between Sensory Emotional and Emotional Regulation
Cognitive Architecture Diagram.png
Cognitive Load Theory Diagram
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Chapter 4

Chapter 5: What is UDL?

No images for this chapter

Chapter 5

Chapter 6: How to Use UDL

No images for this chapter

Chapter 6

Chapter 8: Focus, Attention, & Motivation

Fidgeting vs. Stimming Venn Diagram
INCUP fo Motivation I= Interest N= Novelty C= Challenge U= Urgency P= Passion
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Chapter 8

Chapter 9: Organization & Structure

Intentional slide structure. Image is a clickable link to an accessible PDF version

Intentional Slide Design Template

(will ask you to make a copy)

Intentional Slide Structure Template showing 4 header slides and 4 content slides
EDC 317 Course Map. Image is a clickable link to an accessible PDF version
GR 655 Course Map. Image is a clickable link to an accessible PDF version.
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Chapter 9

Chapter 10: Unclear Expectations & Social Interactions

Image is a clickable link to a Checklist Rubric Example
Behavioral Expectations Example. Image is a clickable link to an accessible PDF version

Group Work Contract Activity Kit

(Link goes to a Google Drive Folder)

Image is a clickable link to a Google drive link of the group work contract activity kit
Image is a clickable link to a Behavioral Expectations TEMPLATE
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Chapter 10

Chapter 11: Time-Management & Prioritization

Image is a clickable link to a Gradual removal of scaffolding diagram
Image is a clickabe link to a One due date vs. milestone due date diagram
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Chapter 11

Chapter 12: Sensory & Emotional Regulation

Image is a clickable link to a Not Today Name Tag diagram
Image is a clickable link to a Just-In-Time Resources-Need Help Section diagram
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Chapter 12

Chapter 13: Working Memory & Processing

Image is a clickable link to a Dual coding theory diagram
Image is a clickable link to a Think-ink-pair-share diagram
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Chapter 13

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