July 17, 2023, Harvard U. Health Publishing: Creating communities that help support neurodiverse children https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/creating-communities-that-help-support-neurodiverse-children-202307172956
We all have a role to play in creating welcoming communities that nurture friendships and connection among children of all abilities.
We all are different. We all are unique. This is cause to celebrate.
Yet for many children and families, the current landscape of friendships and social spaces can feel unwelcoming. Flexibility and inclusivity are often lacking, leaving little room for children who are neurodiverse, such as those who are on the autism spectrum or who have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or intellectual disability.
There are many tools and organizations to help children with neurodevelopmental differences practice friendship-building skills and connect through social opportunities. But a larger community effort is needed, as well.
Below are some ways to welcome those who are neurodiverse into your social circle and activities. Friendship is a two-way street, of course, and all of us stand to gain in creating wider, more inclusive circles of friends. Everyone can be a friend; everyone deserves to have friends.
Start here: Understanding neurodiversity
Understanding neurodiversity — the different ways that people think, communicate, learn, and interact with their environment — is a crucial first step…
Many children who are neurodiverse engage in self-stimulatory behaviors like rocking back and forth, hand movements, or pacing. This may be a helpful way for them to self-soothe, or might satisfy sensory needs such as feeling too much stimulation or not enough stimulation. As with all children, behavior is communication and expresses desires, wants, needs, and dislikes.
And as is true with many children, some behaviors, like silly noises or loud remarks, can also be ways of obtaining attention or communicating what is wanted, or not wanted, in a given situation.
What does it mean to be inclusive?....
Clear communication…
Awareness and openness…
Focus on connection and shared interests rather than social convention…. Listen and learn…
Make space for people with diverse abilities to be themselves and be comfortable. Be patient. Be flexible.
Make a commitment to wholeness
An inclusive community is one that values all people, and becomes whole by embracing its diversity and making all people feel like they belong. Schools, recreational programs, and community organizations all have a role in fostering inclusive social spaces and opportunities for people who are neurodiverse. And so do each of us.
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