Neurodivergence in the Online Classroom: Creating A Sensory-Friendly Learning Environment

March 29, 2024 byConnections Academy

6 min to read

A young autistic student is learning about planets through a virtual headset

If you’re raising a neurodivergent child, especially one who has been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, you’re likely aware of how sensory processing impacts their everyday life. It is estimated that 1 in 36 families in the U.S. with children are impacted by Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), which affects social skills, speech, and communication. Though it is one of the better-known disorders, there are a range of other neurodivergent disorders students may also experience.

From a learning standpoint, it can be challenging to understand what type of environment benefits them.

A sensory-friendly classroom can improve your student’s education and encourage them to focus. Caregivers of neurodivergent online school students have a unique opportunity to create an atmosphere that is safe, comfortable, and best of all, controlled, as they have the ultimate input in how their child learns from home.

As you kickstart creating a sensory-friendly learning environment at home, here’s what you need to know before getting started.

What Does it Mean to be Neurodivergent?

Neurodiversity refers to people who interact with the world around them in different ways. While these interactions may be different, they shouldn’t be viewed as something being “wrong” with an individual. A neurodivergent person simply sees the world differently from what is considered “typical.”

For example, information might be processed slower or faster, which can often be most obvious in everyday tasks such as reading because they retain information at different rates.

Common Types of Neurodivergence

Autism

Autism is known as a spectrum disorder because people with autism are diverse in what autistic traits they have, how they present, and the support they need. Previously, it had subtypes such as Aspergers and Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDD), but they are now all classified under the umbrella of autism.

Autistic students may face barriers with socializing, repetitive behaviors, and speech difficulties. Some autistic children even find it difficult to develop and understand spoken language or have no verbal language at all.

Students with autism may also be sensitive to certain sounds and scenery, which can cause overload or anxiety.

ADHD

According to the CDC, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders of childhood. While it can be identified in behaviors like impulsivity and having difficulties focusing, students with ADHD might also forget or lose things, daydream often, squirm, or even take unnecessary risks.

If your K-12 online school student has ADHD, you may have seen them “zone out” during a class session or become distracted while completing simple tasks. There have likely also been times you’ve asked them to complete chores or homework, and it was forgotten or only partially completed.

People with ADHD are often very energetic; however, because they become distracted easily, a sensory area in the classroom can help them learn to regulate their focus and keep them on task.

Dyslexia

This form of neurodivergence involves speaking, reading, and writing. While many people think of dyslexia as misreading or seeing letters backward or out of order, it’s much more than that. For instance, dyslexic students may confuse letters, have difficulty organizing sentences, and even have trouble with pronunciation.

Although they often have difficulty in those areas, dyslexic people often have many strengths, such as creativity and problem-solving skills. This is especially beneficial when it comes to creating a sensory-friendly classroom where they are able to put their skills to the test.

How to Accommodate Your Neurodivergent Student

Online school students who experience sensory overload may face some challenges while learning. However, by addressing their needs head-on, you can create a less stressful atmosphere and encourage better engagement, pacing, and control over their education.

Check out some of these sensory items for the classroom and tactics you can implement to help your student get the most out of their learning.

Use Fidget Toys as Learning Aids

Having some fidget toys your students can use throughout the day is a great way to keep them focused. Fidget spinners, for example, are a useful sensory item for autistic students or those with ADHA because instead of allowing their minds to wander, fidget spinners provide a good amount of sensory input so their minds can stay on track.

In addition to fidget spinners, you might also consider having a stress ball or putty in your sensory-friendly classroom.

While neurodivergent students can become overwhelmed, tools like these help them concentrate and filter out extra sensory information.

Remove Distractions

Many neurodivergent students are easily distracted. By removing distractions in the classroom, you can help them be their best selves while learning at home. To keep them on track, you can provide noise-canceling headphones so they can tune out the small, daily distractions that are happening around them.

You could also consider setting up a “quiet corner” where they have complete silence in a decluttered space. This doesn’t have to be in their sensory-friendly learning space either. It could be in the hallway or any area in your home that your student is most comfortable in.

This will allow your student a safe space to process their feelings and emotions throughout the day.

Use Natural Light

Using nature to your advantage can be a game-changer in your neurodiverse student’s learning. While a desk and fluorescent lighting have their benefits, they may also cause light sensitivity, which can increase anxiety, discomfort, and irritability.

By using natural light in your learning environment, you can boost your online school student’s mood and increase their focus. Among other autism classroom must-haves, natural light can release serotonin and make your room more sensory-friendly.

Use Visual Elements to Your Advantage

Another tactic you can use to help create a sensory-friendly classroom is utilizing visual elements where possible. Like most children, neurodiverse students process information better when they see it. This can look like creating a visual daily routine in the form of a calendar or schedule for them to read each day.

Routines are extremely important for neurodivergent students because they are predictable and reliable, which can make them feel safe and secure, especially when learning something new. Neurodiverse students tend to thrive in repetition, so it’s no surprise that structure works best.

Instead of writing out their classroom routine, draw pictures or use stickers or illustrations of their desk, lunchtime snacks, or symbols representing their classwork.

Incorporate Movement

Spending time on virtual school sessions all day can make it difficult for some students to pay attention. If you incorporate movement into the day, it can serve as a welcome break and a way to release excess energy. This can also revitalize students to help them focus on their coursework.

Studies even show that when you allow all students time to move, it increases their ability to learn. So, as you're building your at-home, sensory-friendly classroom, work in time for students to get up and move around. This can be a short walk, five-minute stretch, or even 30 seconds of jogging in place. Wherever you can fit a few minutes of movement into the day, be sure to take advantage of it.

A sensory-friendly classroom can help your neurodivergent student become more confident in their abilities.

If you want to learn more about how to support your neurodiverse student, check out this article on multiple intelligences and different learning styles.