Universal Design For Learning
If you have spent time in a workplace or agency setting, what did you need that nobody thought to offer? What do you wish they knew?
I’d love to know.
Tomorrow I am honored to be on a panel for training supervisors and social work practicum instructors on creating more inclusive and welcoming learning environments that improve placement experiences for interns, staff, and clients.
Your voice belongs in that room too.
- Sam
I wish they understood that the most talented neurodivergent people often burn out not from the work itself, but from the exhausting "invisible labor" of trying to fit into a communication style or office culture that wasn't built for them. It would make such a difference if supervisors saw our need for clarity or a different environment not as a lack of professionalism, but as the very thing that allows us to actually bring our best selves to the team. It took me 13 years at my current job to finally have the courage to even ask for an accommodation ✨
Offer different seating options (different heights, ones on wheels and without, wobble stools and yoga balls) and desks at various heights and with a standing option. I know uniformity is celebrated but we are not all the same.