Reimagining the Classroom: The New Way Forward in Supporting Diverse Learners
| Tuesday, August 12, 2025 |
| 3:50 PM - 4:20 PM |
| Prince Room |
Overview
Sandhya Menon, Director, Onwards and Upwards Psychology
Speaker
Sandhya Menon
Director
Onwards And Upwards Psychology
Reimagining the Classroom: The New Way Forward in Supporting Diverse Learners
Presentation Overview
Three Key Learnings:
1. Rethink Norms: Understand how neuronormative standards can exclude neurodivergent learners and why inclusive redesign matters.
2. Design for Diversity: Explore practical, flexible strategies that support a wide range of learning needs, from autism to anxiety.
3. Center Safety and Strengths: Learn how to create classroom cultures rooted in autonomy, connection, and student voice.
Traditional classrooms weren’t built with neurodiversity in mind—and it shows. As more educators encounter students with ADHD, autism, anxiety, dyslexia, dyscalculia, and other learning differences, we’re seeing the limits of neuronormative standards and its follow on impact on poor wellbeing. This presentation invites participants to reimagine the classroom as a dynamic, inclusive space where all kinds of learners can thrive—not by adding on accommodations, but by transforming the foundation.
Drawing from neurodiversity-affirming practices and lived experience, this session explores how classroom environments, expectations, and teaching methods can shift to embrace variability as the norm. We’ll challenge traditional assumptions about attention, participation, and productivity, and instead explore supportive frameworks that prioritize safety, autonomy, and connection.
Attendees will leave with concrete ideas for redesigning classroom culture and structure—through sensory-aware setups, flexible routines, co-regulation tools, and strength-based approaches that work for the whole class. This isn’t about doing more. It’s about doing it differently, starting with foundations that center compassion, creativity and a deep understanding of neurodivergence.
Together, let’s imagine a future where every child feels seen, valued, and supported—just as they are.
1. Rethink Norms: Understand how neuronormative standards can exclude neurodivergent learners and why inclusive redesign matters.
2. Design for Diversity: Explore practical, flexible strategies that support a wide range of learning needs, from autism to anxiety.
3. Center Safety and Strengths: Learn how to create classroom cultures rooted in autonomy, connection, and student voice.
Traditional classrooms weren’t built with neurodiversity in mind—and it shows. As more educators encounter students with ADHD, autism, anxiety, dyslexia, dyscalculia, and other learning differences, we’re seeing the limits of neuronormative standards and its follow on impact on poor wellbeing. This presentation invites participants to reimagine the classroom as a dynamic, inclusive space where all kinds of learners can thrive—not by adding on accommodations, but by transforming the foundation.
Drawing from neurodiversity-affirming practices and lived experience, this session explores how classroom environments, expectations, and teaching methods can shift to embrace variability as the norm. We’ll challenge traditional assumptions about attention, participation, and productivity, and instead explore supportive frameworks that prioritize safety, autonomy, and connection.
Attendees will leave with concrete ideas for redesigning classroom culture and structure—through sensory-aware setups, flexible routines, co-regulation tools, and strength-based approaches that work for the whole class. This isn’t about doing more. It’s about doing it differently, starting with foundations that center compassion, creativity and a deep understanding of neurodivergence.
Together, let’s imagine a future where every child feels seen, valued, and supported—just as they are.
Biography
Sandhya Menon (she/her) is an AuDHD Developmental Psychologist and Author of beloved books The Brain Forest, The Rainbow Brain and her new upcoming book, My Body's Power Pack. She helps guide children and families into early positive self-identity and a deep appreciation of their neurotype through assessment, workshops and resources. Hailing from Singapore from a multi-cultural family, she reflects deeply on intersectional issues, insists on nuance and embraces the diverse aspects that form self-identity.
