All Brains Welcome: SLPs Co-Creating Accessible Learning Communities

All Brains Welcome: SLPs Co-Creating Accessible Learning Communities

Summary:

This workshop focuses on building practical capacity for neuro-accessible and responsive practice within school teams. Participants will explore how daily decisions shape and impact a sense of community and safety for both staff and students, with an emphasis on approaches that reduce cognitive load, support authentic communication and regulation, and increase access without adding additional burden for busy professionals. The session will highlight strategies and tangible tools for creating identity-affirming learning environments, aligning services with neuro-accessible best practices, and developing a toolbox of supports across classroom and therapy settings.

Objectives:

Learners will be able to:

1. Identify and replace deficit-based language in clinical writing and practice to support neurodivergent individuals.
2. Describe strategies for embedding increasing accessibility in education and speech-language therapy.
3. Apply communication-based behavior support rooted in neuroscience and nervous system regulation.

Questions??

Please email tseward@thenia.org

3- ISBE PD CREDITS

Stephanie Boron, M.A., CCC-SLP

Stephanie Boron is a neurodiversity-affirming SLP and assistant clinical professor at Northwestern. As an AuDHD'er herself (i.e., someone who identifies as having an autistic and ADHD neurotype,) she focuses her work on helping kids and their grown-ups learn about their brains and develop a shared language and tools for self-advocacy. Her special interest happens to be neurodiversity, so she loves coming together with kids, educators and clinicians to co-create tools and resources to make this work easier for everyone involved.