Chariot Learning
  • About
    • FAQ
    • Our Curriculum
    • Areas Chariot Learning Serves
  • Services
    • SAT & ACT Prep
    • SAT/ACT TestFlip
    • Academic Coaching
    • Subject Tutoring
    • Strategic Reading Club
    • Proctored Practice Tests
    • GRE Prep
    • College Essay Coaching
    • Roots2Words
  • Calendar
  • Testimonials
  • Blog
  • Contact
November 8, 2021 by Mike Bergin

What Does Neurodivergent Mean?

While American culture celebrates individual differences and promotes diversity, many of our societal systems struggle with anyone who deviates too far from an accepted norm. This can certainly be the case in school; the entire model of group instruction depends on cohorts that learn the same material in the same way at the same pace. Obviously, not every child fits this mold.

Advancing understanding of the way humans think and learn has changed our dialogue around learning disabilities. Instead of framing challenges as disorders, we now look at divergence. Sociologist Judy Singer coined the term neurodiversity to describe “the limitless variability of human cognition and the uniqueness of each human mind.” Assuming that someone is disabled because he doesn’t learn the way his classmates does represents outdated beliefs that ignore what we’ve always accepted about people: disadvantages in some areas generally accompany advantages in other areas. Thus, neurodivergent simply describes thinking or learning differently from the way the neurotypical majority does.

Most learning differences fall under the heading of neurodiversity, including the following:

  • Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
  • Autistic Spectrum
  • Dyslexia
  • Dyscalculia
  • Dyspraxia
  • Tourette Syndrome

Another variation of neurodiversity occurs in those individuals described as twice-exceptional or 2E. Twice-exceptional students possess learning differences but also qualify as gifted.

Testing organizations like College Board and ACT have long respected learning differences by offering a full suite of testing accommodations without stigma or bias. True progress and equity for neurodivergent students will come when the rest of society catches up!

accommodations learning neurodiversity neuroscience

Previous articleConsiderations When Choosing High School Math ClassesNext article What Kind of Test Prep is Right for My Teen?
Mike Bergin
Tens of thousands of students a year prep for the SAT & ACT through programs Mike Bergin created or organized. After more than 25 years of intensive experience in the education industry, he's done it all as a teacher, tutor, director, curriculum developer, blogger, podcaster, and best-selling author. Mike founded Chariot Learning in 2009 to deliver on the promise of what truly transformative individualized education can and should be.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Helping high schoolers with tests, school, and life is what Chariot Learning is all about. Let us know how we can help you!

Latest Posts

  • When Should You Take The SAT or ACT?
  • Growing That Growth Mindset
  • How Fair is Test Optional?
  • Why Reading Skills Matter
  • Sal Khan on Testing, Admissions, and Equity

What is TestFlip?

Learn about the ultimate in self-directed supplemental SAT/ACT prep, powered by Chariot Learning:

  • Maybe life isn
    by chariotlearning 2 weeks ago
    Maybe life isn't about avoiding the bruises...
  • What kind of reader are you? http://ow.ly/14g050J1CP0
    by chariotlearning 2 weeks ago
    What kind of reader are you? http://ow.ly/14g050J1CP0
  • How you respond to failure will either make you or break you.
    by chariotlearning 6 days ago
    How you respond to failure will either make you or break you.
  • The world is changed by your example, not your opinion.
    by chariotlearning 2 weeks ago
    The world is changed by your example, not your opinion.
  • Instead of making the same mistakes over and over, try to make some different ones!
    by chariotlearning 3 days ago
    Instead of making the same mistakes over and over, try to make some different ones!
  • Keep making progress!
    by chariotlearning 1 week ago
    Keep making progress!
  • The most effective way to do it is to do it!
    by chariotlearning 1 week ago
    The most effective way to do it is to do it!
  • Why do you write?
    by chariotlearning 15 hours ago
    Why do you write?

Subscribe to Mike’s Podcast

Subscribe to Tests and the Rest

PARENT GROUP AND NEWSLETTER

Are you an Upstate New York parent with questions about college admissions, testing, and scholarships? The Upstate NY College Conversations Facebook group is for you. Join today!

And also sign up for College Road, our free email newsletter delivering expert educational advice, test news, admissions action steps, special offers, and more.

Upcoming Events

  1. Free Practice SAT (5/29/22)

    May 29 @ 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
  2. June SAT (Official Test)

    June 4 @ 8:00 am - 1:00 pm
  3. Free Practice ACT (6/5/22)

    June 5 @ 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
  4. SAT/ACT Online Flipped Class – June 2022

    June 8 @ 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
  5. June ACT (Official Test)

    June 11 @ 8:00 am - 1:00 pm

View All Events

Testimonials

Overall, Ryan definitely improved his scores thru the help of Kaeti and thank you very much. We highly recommend Chariot Learning and will defintely use this resource for our youngest.

Donna, Pittsford mom

Read more testimonials...
© 2022 Chariot Learning, LLC. All rights reserved.