My Relationships as a Neurodiverse Young Adult
In this article I would like to give a window to the nature of my relationships as a neurodiverse young adult. I think my relationships are one of my biggest accomplishments at CLE.
How to Socialize: Advice from Students
Sometimes even mentioning the word “Socialize” can cause stress and discomfort for students. Other students become energized and excited upon hearing the same word. Here at CLE Fort Lauderdale, we include many social engagement opportunities for our students in hopes of helping them navigate all different types of relationships within various situations.
The Act of Engagement: Socials Get Easier!
Group outings can be intimidating, especially when you’re new to CLE and don’t know many people yet. We do try to involve students in planning the outings and finding things that will be interesting and fun. This helps to make the hard work of understanding group dynamics and communicating collaboratively more enjoyable.
The Pity and the Perks
The general public has significantly less understanding of how disabilities impact people. No matter how many times you mention it, or talk about it, they may never get it. They may be able to understand a little bit or have a surface-level knowledge or understanding about disabilities, but they never really know how it affects people every day.
How to Open a Can of Worms
Have you been part of a conversation that feels as if you and the other participant are having two separate conversations? Most of us can answer yes to that question. If the conversation is covering a difficult subject, this creates a whole other can of worms to think about. So how can we talk about difficult subjects with more ease?
The Anonybox
What happens if you leave an anonymous box in the common room of your local CLE center for a month and ask students to share topics they do not feel comfortable bringing up in person? If you’re like me, you might expect a few funny musings or adolescent jokes or possibly just a little bit of lint and maybe some random crumbs. You might be surprised at just how revealing your students can be.
Thinking Critically About Conflict
Conflict, unfortunately, is an inescapable facet of life. Thankfully, how one approaches and deals with conflict is wholly up to the individual. And while we cannot always be there for our students when they come up against the challenges of everyday life, we can arm them with one of the greatest tools education has to offer.
Sorry, Not Sorry
When I asked Jules why she feels the need to apologize, she explained how uncomfortable it is to feel different. She wants to explain it and escape the fact that she learns differently.
Positive Education at CLE Davie
Many psychologists believe that positive education can decrease depression in younger people. More specifically, the goal is to enable students to engage their own combination of character strengths.
Teaching Students How to Persevere through Positive Education
At CLE, academic tutors do more than simply teach students how to write an essay or how to solve an algebraic problem. Tutors teach students executive, organizational, and study skills--how to handle multiple responsibilities and how to manage their time. But most of all, how to become independent in an academic learning environment as well as other areas of their lives.
Positively Supportive!
Many classrooms experience disruptive behaviors in some way, shape, or form. Positive Education and Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) are two strategies schools can use to manage student behaviors and overall wellbeing.
An Apology to My Dad: How I Learned to Take Control of My Education
During my first two years of High School, I was notorious for procrastinating and going to great lengths to avoid work — even going to the extent of throwing away my math homework, so my dad would not know that I wasn’t doing it.
A Walk Through a Day in the Life of a CLE Student
Things that are normal for CLE students to do can be challenges for them and thus they need the structure and support of their schedules to accomplish them and maintain their lives. Through this structure, a CLE student can work their way to not only independence but also towards living a full and successful life.
The Dungeon Master
This game isn’t normal. It isn’t played on a board. There is no high-definition screen. Zero athletic ability is required. To play this game you must envision a character, a fictitious alter-ego, equipped with fantastical abilities that will help you survive attacks of the Dungeon Master.
Speech 101: Speaking to “Everyone”?
So, what do we do when the class about communicating with others very much neglects - or, in some cases, maligns - those who society perceives as "other"?
What is Normal?
"I don't want to be told I'm normal because that's boring. Everyone has their own unique qualities, quirks, interests, and personalities." The group agreed, and another student shared that his interests are sometimes viewed as not normal.
Neurodiversity: Student Perspective
We spent time in a couple of our groups here at CLE Costa Mesa discussing the neurodiversity paradigm and Neurodiversity Movement, and its impact on individual identity from the students’ perspective.
Uniquely You!
It goes without saying that being unique is sort of a brand, it’s fashionable and perhaps the new norm. In an interview with CLE staff and students I found it’s really the simple, everyday things that makes us all truly unique. Here’s a little profile of what makes us all stand out.
What is “Cool” Nowadays, Anyway?
Am I “cool”? I used to know I was back in the day…when I was young and filled with adventure, edge, and possibilities. And I still think, I’m “cool” but I have to acknowledge that my definition of that word has changed over the years.
Student Socials: Creating a Community at CLE
Scott and I talked about how our student socials have evolved over the years, and how they reflect our larger goals of fostering friendships and independence outside the walls of the center.