Back-to-School Strategies for Neurodivergent Students

While going back to school is often a stressful time, it can be particularly challenging for neurodivergent students. 

Neurodivergent students are those with differences in their mental functions, including those with autism, ADHD, learning disorders, and social anxiety. There is a strong correlation for students with sensory-processing issues ― including sound, light, and touch sensitivities ― and an increased need for movement and deep pressure input. 

Beth Kanne-Casselman, a Santa Barbara Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, works with neurodivergent children and adolescents. “Many of my young clients have movement, auditory, smell, and taste sensitivities,” she said. “Frequently, sensory processing interferes with self-regulation and self-confidence. They can often be proprioception-seekers, which can present relational difficulties unless we work to help them learn about this and manage these sensory needs.”