Neuro-Affirming Blog

Do you have/work with bright, differently wired students? Looking for guidance, expert tips, thought-provoking content, tools, or answers to your burning questions?

Whether you're a parent, educator, or simply passionate about supporting bright, neurodivergent learners, this blog is your go-to resource for all things neuro-affirming, and strength-based!

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    The Last 2 Miles: Finishing The Year Strong & Heading Into Summer Even Stronger 💪
    end of year, school, strenghts Amber Willburn and Mr. Sam end of year, school, strenghts Amber Willburn and Mr. Sam

    The Last 2 Miles: Finishing The Year Strong & Heading Into Summer Even Stronger 💪

    This year has been a marathon, and we are now 2 miles from the finish. Some folks will say this is the easiest part because you can see the finish line, hear the crowds, and your adrenaline can kick in to carry you through the end.

    Some will say that this is the hardest…

    This school year has been a marathon. You and your child are almost to the end. Finish strong with whatever energy you both have left by following a few tips:

    1. Help your child take stock of…

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    Say Goodbye To Social Skills Classes And Hello To Dungeons & Dragons
    making friends Amber Willburn and Mr. Sam making friends Amber Willburn and Mr. Sam

    Say Goodbye To Social Skills Classes And Hello To Dungeons & Dragons

    Roleplaying games (RPG) like Dungeons and Dragons (DND) have seen a resurgence in recent years.

    As parents and teachers of twice-exceptional students, we can learn a lot from RPGs. Beyond the basic joy of playing a game, RPGs enforce three critical ideas for 2e students: 1) not every skill is equal, or needs to be, 2) lean into your strength, and 3) a balanced group is more powerful than a balanced individual.

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    Building Strength-Based IEPs/504s
    Amber Willburn and Mr. Sam Amber Willburn and Mr. Sam

    Building Strength-Based IEPs/504s

    Children are amazing!

    They are funny, clever, and brave. They can remind us of all of the very best things about this world, and they are so much more than any IEP, 504, assessment, report, or document could ever say. They are more than a moment in their educational career, and they deserve to be seen as the complex, unique beings that they are.

    So here are a few tips for helping the IEP/504 team develop a strength-based approach to your child’s educational needs.

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    Top IEP & 504 Tips for Twice-Exceptional Families
    Amber Willburn and Mr. Sam Amber Willburn and Mr. Sam

    Top IEP & 504 Tips for Twice-Exceptional Families

    Ah, spring.

    A time of new beginnings: Flowers are blooming; eggs are hatching; and American parents are navigating the ins and outs of IEPs/504s at the end of a school term.

    This time of year usually brings with it a few specific questions around IEPs and 504s, so I wanted to take a moment and answer a few of the most commonly asked questions.

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    Comparison- The Thief Of Joy
    Amber Willburn and Mr. Sam Amber Willburn and Mr. Sam

    Comparison- The Thief Of Joy

    My mom always told me that “Comparison is the thief of joy.” It was right up there with, “If your friends jumped off a cliff, would you follow them?” Both turned into maxims that I still follow… at least most of the time. It’s hard not to compare your child when the world seems so set on gauging growth and success as some sort of delta between where you are to where “normal” is. From the first moment a child enters into your life, there are growth charts and development metrics.

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    The Kids Are Alright – At least, They Will Be [An Open Letter]
    Amber Willburn and Mr. Sam Amber Willburn and Mr. Sam

    The Kids Are Alright – At least, They Will Be [An Open Letter]

    Hey friend,

    How are you? Are you doing alright?

    I’m here to tell you that you are doing a great job. I know you are exhausted looking at all the information and reading everything you can. It makes a difference. We can only ever do the best we can with the information we have at the time

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    Creating Learning Plans That Work: The 3 KEY Ingredients
    Amber Willburn and Mr. Sam Amber Willburn and Mr. Sam

    Creating Learning Plans That Work: The 3 KEY Ingredients

    Odds are, you are looking for a way to better align learning with your child.

    Perhaps you’ve caught yourself fantasizing about learning that excites your child that you can feel good about.

    You may be looking to supplement or create a learning plan for your child. Maybe you have been thinking about homeschooling for a while now.

    Wherever you are on your journey, you may not know exactly where to start...

    I'm here to tell you that that’s ok!

    There are many paths to provide interest-led learning for your child, and not all of them are homeschool-focused.

    To create a workable learning plan, one that both you and your child will like, you need to keep three things in mind. I call these the 3 KEY Ingredients. These are...

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    Alternative Education Paths: Removing Barriers to Learning for 2e children
    Amber Willburn and Mr. Sam Amber Willburn and Mr. Sam

    Alternative Education Paths: Removing Barriers to Learning for 2e children

    I invite you to see a different way to approach education – one that is passion-driven rather than proscriptive, one that is interest-led rather than top-down, one that caters to the unique learning strengths and challenges of EVERY SINGLE CHILD rather than a cookie cutter education that eschews anyone who doesn’t fit the mold.

    I know. I am asking you to depart from culturally entrenched ideas of what school has been for a century. Instead, I want you to embrace what learning CAN be.

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