While the word "neurodiversity" didn't exist before the late 1990s, examples of neurodiverse people have been officially documented for well over 100 years. Neurodiversity is a term used to describe individuals with a range of developmental disabilities like AD/HD, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and dyslexia, as well as other conditions like anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and bipolar disorder, just to name a few.

In a study done in 2019 by the CDC, it was found that 1 out of every 6 children ages 3-17 in the U.S. have some kind of developmental disability*. Both teachers and students need to understand the different struggles and strengths these children bring to the classroom in order to facilitate success and empathy for them.

This unit is designed to introduce the concept of neurodiversity and the stigma surrounding it to young learners through the lens of English language teaching.

* CDC’s Work on Developmental Disabilities | CDC. (2022, May 16). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved October 15, 2022, from https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/developmentaldisabilities/about.html

Rainbow Infinity Symbol from: Kelly, R. (2020, May 26). Neurodiversity: The Definitive Guide. Ongig Blog. Retrieved October 20, 2022, from https://blog.ongig.com/diversity-and-inclusion/neurodiversity/