Be the Change: An OT’s Experience in Supporting a School to Become Neurodiversity Affirming
with Kristin Jones MS, OTR/L

Register: $15 USD

Topic: Neurodiversity-affirming and inclusive special education services in the school setting.

Course Description: As a professional working in a school setting, it can be easy to become overwhelmed once you have changed your personal and professional philosophy to align with current neurodiversity-affirming research and the rest of your organization is not yet there. There are specific steps that can be taken to gain the trust of your administration, colleagues, and parents to begin this change towards a strength-based approach to classrooms, goals, and intervention. This ultimately leads to greater job and life satisfaction when you are surrounded by people who share your passion and philosophy.

Participants will:

• Learn the necessary steps for a campus to become neurodiversity-affirming, and be empowered with evidence-based knowledge to start conversations with campus and district administrators about implementing change.
• List at least 3 ways to structure tiers of school-based interventions to address student self-advocacy from a neurodiversity-affirming approach, including a written student-led self-advocacy plan
• Coach colleagues in writing neurodiversity-affirming, evidence and strength-based IEP goals

Audience: This educational presentation is designed for school, family, and community stakeholders in public schools, including pediatric SLPS, OTs, teachers, administrators, paraprofessionals, and families.

Course Includes a Professional Development Certificate, slide handout, and resource sheet.

Presenter Bio: Kristin Jones graduated from Misericordia University in 2000 with her Master of Occupational Therapy and has been an Occupational Therapist for 23 years. She has worked in multiple pediatric settings including early intervention, outpatient clinic, respectful feeding, and school-based. For the past 13 years, she has been at the Community School of Davidson where she has taken the lead in guiding the administration and staff to become a trauma-informed and neurodiversity-affirming organization. Kristin has a passion for the latest research in brain development and translating this information for teachers to apply in the classroom. Her favorite quote is “if they could, they would”. It is our responsibility as educators to figure out the “why” to provide the most effective strategies for student success and to ensure the student feels understood.