Neurodivergent Strengths at School

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Understanding, honoring, and integrating the interest and strengths of 2e learners is paramount to their well-being, and yet so rarely considered in the educational context. How can parents work with their child's school to encourage strength-based approaches, whether that be in a teacher conference, the IEP process, or other conversations? 

In this this special Neurodiversity Celebration Week lunchtime meetup, we met with Dr. Jade Rivera, Director of the Strength-Based Assessment Lab at the Bridges Graduate School. She discussed strength-based identification strategies, education practices, and IEP goals. 

As the Lab Director for the Strength-Based Assessment Lab at Bridges Graduate School, Dr. Jade Rivera leads the Lab to empower students, families, educators, and professionals in creating positive and collaborative learning experiences for children facing challenges in their educational environments. With over fifteen years of experience, she has designed and led micro-schools beloved by quirky and sensitive children, uniquely positioning her to provide insights into positive niche construction, strength-based pedagogy, and talent development for neurodivergent children. Jade's Montessori credential and training in Nonviolent Communication inspire her educational philosophies and practices, including project-based learning, dual-differentiation strategies, and gradeless classrooms. In 2016, the California Association for the Gifted honored Jade for distinguished service on behalf of gifted and twice-exceptional children. More recently, she was recognized as a “person to watch in the 2e movement” by 2e News. You can learn more about Jade's philosophy and practices in education on Substack via Jade’s Newsletter. Her newest publication, Could You Live Underwater: A Design Thinking and STEM Curriculum, is available now from Routledge Publishing. Jade earned her Ed.D. at Bridges Graduate School of Cognitive Diversity in 2022. It is her honor to continue on as a professor at the same school, supporting others as they envision a strength-based world for neurodivergent humans.

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