September has us thinking about the smell of fresh pencil erasers and the excitement of fresh learning opportunities. The Eastside is rife with educational programs as plentiful and complex as the students it serves.
In our latest issue, we looked at some education routes for folks of all ages — because learning new things is always exhilarating and valuable.
Navigating Neurodiversity in College
Bellevue College offers a resource aimed at neurodivergent students — the Neurodiversity Navigators program — offers specialized courses and peer mentors to help students with autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and more excel while attending the college, according to a news release from the school.
BC’s Neurodiversity Navigators program was among the first resources of its kind when it launched 14 years ago as the Autism Spectrum Navigators program. The program is also unique in that it’s designed and developed by neurodivergent people. (The director, Sara Sanders Gardner, is autistic, as are other full-time members of the staff.) “Over 14 years, we’ve trained most of the college on how to set themselves up for ensuring better communication and accessibility for neurodivergent students, to the benefit of all students,” Sanders Gardner said in the release.
Students who enroll in the program can take classes on executive functioning, self-advocacy, self-regulation, and social interaction, each designed to help students develop their strengths. Students also meet weekly with peer mentors to discuss challenges they’re facing and will be assisted as they access available resources. — DV
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Last Updated September 17, 2024