Nurturing Neurodiversity in Pre-K, Schools K-12 and College Campuses
Celebrating Educators: The Heart of Our Classrooms
Educators are truly the heartbeat of our classrooms, nurturing the potential of every single student. In today’s diverse educational landscape, they face the important task of adapting their methods to support neurodivergent learners. Traditional teaching approaches can sometimes create hurdles for students who think and learn differently, which is why finding creative solutions is essential.
Liz's Transformative Training
That’s where Liz comes in! Her training inspires educators—from preschool teachers to college professors—to think outside the box. With nearly two decades of experience working alongside teachers, Liz shares a wealth of innovative tools and practical strategies that make classrooms more inclusive and accessible. Liz’s hands-on training empowers educators to develop dynamic teaching strategies that truly connect with neurodivergent students at every stage of their educational journey.
The Creatively-Wired Classroom: Innovating Inclusion for K-12
Neurodiversity Goes to College: Creating Inclusive Campuses
Nurturing Play: Engaging Neurodivergent Little Learners
Featured Programs
The Creatively-Wired Classroom: Innovating Inclusion in K-12
Through years of tenacious trial and humbling error, Liz has mastered the art of reaching and teaching students of all abilities. With a rich blend of impactful case examples, innovative strategies, and the joy of drama, Liz will guide educators to creatively rewire their classrooms, making them havens for learning and growth for neurodivergent students.
Duration and Format:
One-day intensive in-person 6 hours (Seven modules)
Half-day intensive in person 3 hours (Three modules)
Additional Teacher 2-hour Workshops offered below.
Next Steps:
Review Highlights of The Creatively Wired Classroom
Set Up a Meeting with Liz and discuss training needs
Liz will send a proposal with training specifics and cost
Set Dates and Book Liz
“If I could work alongside one person for the rest of my teaching career it would be Liz McDonough. She creates a safe, fun and silly environment that incorporates play and student interests. Within this environment students feel safe, valued, understood and part of a team. They are able to open up and “do the work” without seeing it as work. I have often found myself saying, “I wish I could borrow Liz’s brain for a while.” Jane Kelley, Special Education Teacher
Neurodiversity Goes to College: Creating an Inclusive Campus
Neurodiversity in Higher Education
Neurodivergent college students often possess remarkable strengths yet face significant challenges in higher education due to insufficient support and lack of understanding. These students may struggle in systems not designed for them, potentially leading to increased stress, isolation, mental health issues and higher dropout rates. Addressing these systemic barriers and providing tailored support is crucial to ensuring neurodivergent learners not only succeed academically but also experience themselves as a vital part of the campus community.
Empowering College Faculty and Staff with "Neurodiversity Goes to College"
"Neurodiversity Goes to College" delivers an engaging and collaborative training that deepens faculty and staff understanding of the unique perspectives and needs of neurodivergent college students. Through immersive learning, dynamic discussions and hands-on activities, participants develop essential skills to create nurturing learning environments that empower neurodivergent students to excel in higher ed.
The program emphasizes proactive intervention strategies, tailored accommodations, and effective communication techniques to foster trust and rapport with students. Additionally, it provides practical guidance on designing sensory-friendly spaces and promoting social inclusion, all aimed at transforming the college experience for neurodivergent individuals.
Duration and Format:
Two-day intensive in-person or online: 12 hours (9 modules)
One-day intensive in-person or online 6 hours (4 modules)
Additional training/modules and consultation are available for College Counselors.
Next Steps:
Review Highlights of Neurodiversity Goes to College
Set Up a Meeting with Liz and discuss training needs
Liz will send a proposal with training specifics and cost
Set Dates and Book Liz
Nurturing Play: Engaging Neurodivergent Little Learners (3-5)
Understanding Neurodivergent Needs
Neurodivergent preschoolers offer valuable strengths to the classroom environment, and they may also have unique needs that require careful attention and tailored support. Adopting a neurodiversity-affirming approach is crucial for creating an inclusive atmosphere, which includes providing play opportunities that resonate with their unique ways of learning and interacting.
The Role of Play in Development
Enter "Nurturing Play: Engaging Neurodivergent Little Learners"— a training program that emphasizes the transformative power of play as a vital learning tool for neurodivergent children. By combining hands-on, interactive activities with neuroscience principles, Liz equips Head Start/preschool educators with creative strategies to promote focus, communication, regulation and joyful learning. Through the use of puppet shows, movement, music, improv and drama, educators will tap into their creativity and learn to nurture the potential of neurodivergent little learners in their care.
Duration and Format:
One-day intensive in-person 6 hours (Seven modules)
Half-day intensive in person 3 hours (three modules)
Next Steps:
Review Highlights of Nurturing Play: Engaging Neurodivergent Little Learners.
Set Up a Meeting with Liz and discuss training needs
Liz will send a proposal with training specifics and cost
Set Dates and Book Liz
“I first met Liz at the 2023 Chattanooga Autism Conference and I must admit I wondered how could improv be used with a Head Start child? But Liz quickly connected the dots. Improv is curiosity; it’s open-ended play; it’s digging deep into a concept and diving below the surface. Improv allows teacher and child to connect over a favored object or idea. Improv allows the teacher to “accept the offer” of the child’s play, thereby opening up a whole new world of skill exploration. I left Liz’s session determined to equip Sequatchie Valley Head Start teachers to not only accept the offer, but to find new joy in teaching by the simple thing we call PLAY. It is, after all, how we learn the best.”
Elaine Duke Executive Director Sequatchie Valley Head Star
“Liz’s session on drama with neurodivergent students was without a doubt, the highlight of our semester – but more than that, I think it will ultimately prove to be the most memorable and influential class session of our students’ entire program! I have never seen the students so engaged. I felt blinded with so many “light bulbs” blinking around the room as they made connections to their own teaching and therapeutic practice. Liz is incredibly gifted and there are masses of educators, therapists, families and other care providers who will benefit by learning her craft.”
— Dr. Pamela Wolfberg, Professor Special Education San Fransico State University
Teacher Workshops: Two Hours
Theatrical Learning Lab: Using Drama/Improv to Build Emotional Literacy for Elementary-Age Students
Dramatic Difference: Leverage the Power of Drama to Make Learning Accessible to ALL
YES and… The Art of Improv in the Classroom: Building Confidence and Creative Risk-Taking (Middle School and Teens)
Neurodiversity 101: Intro to Neurodiversity and Inclusion
Faculty Team Building: Building Strong Creative and Resilient Teams through Improv