The purpose of this Hub is to help you, your child’s teacher, family, and support networks gain a deeper understanding of their needs, strengths, and areas of support requirements.

Please feel free to reach out at any point with questions, I walk this journey beside you each step of the way, Kylie

What is Neurodiversity

Neurodiversity is a term used to describe neurological differences in the human brain. 

With this perspective, the diverse spectrum of neurological difference is viewed as a range of natural variations in the human brain rather than as a deficit in individuals. 

The concept of neurodiversity has foundations in neuroscience, with studies of neuroimaging (brain imaging) showing differences between individuals’ neural pathways – those who are neurotypical and those with neurodiversity. 

Put simply, this means that humans’ brains are wired differently, and those differences can have a direct impact on an individual’s thinking and learning. These differences are often diagnosed as neurological conditions. 

Neurodiversity is an umbrella term that includes both conditions that are life-long and those that can develop throughout life. This includes (and is not limited to):

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  • Acquired illness or brain injury, 

  • Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD),

  • Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)

  • Auditory Processing Disorder (APD)

  • Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), 

  • Dyscalculia (numbers), Dyslexia (letters), Dyspraxia (co-ordination), Dysgraphia (writing), 

  • Developmental Language Disorder

  • Intellectual disability, 

  • Mental health,

  • Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) 

  • Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD)

  • Tourette syndrome and

  • Trauma

If you or your child’s teacher suspect a child is showing signs of a learning Difference:

  1. Firstly talk to your childs teacher

  2. Speak to the Schools SENCO (Special Education Needs Coordinator) - work to raise educational achievement by leading and coordinating provision for pupils with special educational needs.

  3. Speak to the School RTLB (Resource Teachers: Learning and Behaviour) - work together with teachers and schools to support the achievement of students in Years 1-10 with learning and/or behaviour difficulties.

    OR

    Speak to the School RTLit (Resource Teachers of Literacy) - provide specialised literacy assistance to learners in years 1 to 8 who are experiencing difficulties with literacy learning. RTLit provides English reading literacy, written literacy, and oral language support to teachers of identified students or the targeted students.

  4. Speak to the Principal

  5. There are likely to be others in your school community who can support you

  6. Contact your local Parent2Parent Support Worker

  7. Search for National Organisations that can support you, a list of some are at the bottom of this page.

Brain Development

The ages and stages of Brain Development

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ADD - Attention Deficit Disorder & ADHD - Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

 

ASD Autism Spectrum Disorder

Autism is a lifelong neurodevelopmental condition that affects how people perceive the world, how they think and behave, and how they communicate and interact with others. Put simply, autistic people see, hear and feel the world differently to other people.

 

Auditory Processing Disorder (APD)

  • difficulty following spoken directions unless they are brief and simple

  • difficulty attending to and remembering spoken information

  • slowness in processing spoken information

  • difficulty understanding in the presence of other sounds

  • being overwhelmed by complex or “busy” auditory environments e.g. classrooms, shopping malls

  • undue sensitivity to loud sounds or noise

  • poor listening skills

  • preference for loud television volume

  • insensitivity to tone of voice or other nuances of speech

 

Dys’s (Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, Dyscalculia, and Dyspraxia

Often these have underlying Auditory and Sensory Processing Issues associated with them. Click below to learn more

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Developmental Language Disorder

Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterised by persistent language difficulties that cannot be explained by another diagnosis and which exist despite adequate language-learning opportunities. DLD affects both language expression (talking and writing), as well as language comprehension (listening and reading comprehension), though one area may be more impacted than another.

 

Pathological demand avoidance (PDA)

A small % of Autistic’s also have PDA, it is a profile that describes those whose main characteristic is to avoid everyday demands and expectations to an extreme extent. Many parents and teachers find that some of the recommended strategies used with autistic children are not effective for a child with a PDA profile. This is a very helpful website for resources

 

Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD)

Often found alongside other diagnoses, like ASD, ADD, ADHD, Dys’s. SPD can show up as Over Responders - Avoidance of certain clothing, certain sounds and smells etc AND/OR Under Responsders - Seek certain sensations, movements, fidget devices etc. A lot of children have a combination of both.

 

Tourettes Syndrome

Tourette Syndrome (TS) is a condition of the nervous system. TS causes people to have “tics”. Tics are sudden twitches, movements, or sounds that people do repeatedly. People who have tics cannot stop their bodies from doing these things. For example, a person might keep blinking over and over. A small % of people with Tourettes have involuntary vocal ticks (such as obscence language).

 

Trauma

Childhood trauma can occur when a child witnesses or experiences overwhelming negative experiences in childhood. Many childhood experiences can overwhelm a child. This can happen in relationships e.g. abuse, neglect, violence. This is called interpersonal trauma. Children can also experience traumatic events. These include accidents, natural disasters, war and social unrest, medical procedures or the sudden loss of a parent/caregiver.

 

Helpful Numbers

iCAMHS - Lakes DHB Infant, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (iCAMHS) Rotorua

Northern Health School - Rotorua Unit

  • PHONE - 07-343 9921

  • ADDRESS - 1376 Hinemoa Street, Rotorua 3010

  • WEBSITE - https://www.nhs.school.nz/

Explore Specialist Advice Rotorua – Mental Health or Behaviour Support

  • PHONE - Call 0800 000 421

  • ADDRESS - 48 Biak Street, Rotorua, Bay of Plenty 3010

Helpful Facebook Groups

There are some incredibly supportive and evidence-based learning groups to follow in NZ for the kids that are struggling with the curriculum.

We recognise these kids often have behaviour challenges in and out of the classroom. Understanding these children, gaining information on helpful tips and techniques that work, creates magic!

By understanding the struggles that these children face daily and implementing real intervention, you will make a huge difference in their day to day living.

Even a child doesn’t have a confirmed diagnosis the approach and interventions from these groups would be the same.

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