English Language Teaching in a Neurodiverse World : From theory to neurodiversity-affirming practice

This accessible and practical book offers anunderstanding of what neurodiversity means and entails. It then provides ELT-specific,neurodivergent-led and evidence-backed insights to help you work with – and notagainst – the unique strengths and challenges neurodivergent learners offer.

As teachers, our intrinsic motivation is to supportour students in their learning. Because every student’s learning journey isunique, ELT professionals tend already to be experts at adapting materials,grading our language and planning out individualised learning targets. But evenfor the most experienced English language teacher, understanding how toanticipate and meet the needs of neurodivergent learners can feel a stretch toofar, even if you are already informally incorporating a number of inclusive practices. In this book, Dr Gemma Williams provides aresearch-informed and neurodiversity-affirming perspective, that respects andvalues neurodivergence as simply a different way of processing the world,rather than a collection of pathologised ‘deficits’. From this, she provides clearpathways from theory to practical adjustments and real-world classroomapplications. Section One starts at the beginning, to explore whatneurodiversity really means. Section Two brings the focus to the classroom toexplore meaningful inclusion. Section Three thinks about our neurodivergentlearners as unique individuals with different needs. Finally, Section Fourmoves towards the practicalities of teaching for neurodiversity; not justteaching neurodivergent students but also helping them ready themselves for navigatinga neurodiverse world. By reading this book, our hope is that you finish itnot only equipped with a greater understanding of the generalities of aneurodiverse world, but also the encouragement and confidence to supportneurodivergent learners. Supporting neurodivergent students doesn’t meanreinventing your practice: just thinking about it in (potentially) new ways. Many of you will already be doing lots of things that support yourneurodivergent learners. All that’s needed is a little additional underlyingtheory and some structure…