Supporting ND Learners in Secondary School Settings and Further Education with Susana Gonzalez

Listen to this episode from The SENDcast on Spotify. In today’s episode, Dale is joined by Susana Gonzalez, the director and founder of ND Bright Brains, who brings over 20 years of experience in education. They discuss supporting neurodivergent learners in secondary schools and further education. Neurodivergent students often face unique challenges in environments that aren't designed to meet their needs. As awareness of neurodiversity grows, it's crucial for educational settings to shift from compliance-based models to a more student-centred approach that embraces inclusion. Susana emphasises the importance of neurodiversity training, flexibility in school processes (including behaviour policies), and collaborative problem-solving to tailor support for each individual. This includes classroom adaptations, personalised learning plans, and facilitating smooth transitions. Key takeaways: Avoid rigidity; flexibility is essential. Recognise that every student is unique. Remember, it’s not solely the teacher's responsibility. Highlight the importance of awareness and training. Understanding neurodiversity can truly transform the educational experience for both teachers and students, fostering more effective support and empowering learners to advocate for themselves. View all podcasts available or visit our SENDcast sessions shop!   About Susana Gonzalez  Susana Gonzalez is the Director and Founder of ND Bright Brains, an educational consultancy dedicated to helping ND students succeed in mainstream schools. ND Bright Brains provides education to any adult involved in the education of ND young people so that they can also positively contribute to their academic, social, and emotional development.  Susana is a Biochemical Engineer and neurodiversity specialist who brings 20 years of experience as a teacher, mainly Chemistry, having specialised in Educational Neuroscience and supporting highly able individuals with Dyslexia, ADHD, Autism, OCD and Dyspraxia since 2020.   To date, Susana has trained over 1,000 teachers, promoting the idea that all schools can implement inclusive and cost-effective strategies to support neurodivergent students.   Susana has also delivered neurodiversity corporate training and consulted for a training company on neuro-affirming content delivery practices.  Susana strongly believes in the vital roles of adults in the future success of neurodivergent learners. She advocates for setting high expectations coupled with appropriate support and the creation of a safe environment that fosters both academic and personal growth.     Contact Susana  www.ndbrightbrains.com https://www.instagram.com/ndbrightbrains/ [email protected]   Useful Links Neurodiversity in Education   B Squared Website – www.bsquared.co.uk  Meeting with Dale to find out about B Squared - https://calendly.com/b-squared-team/overview-of-b-squared-sendcast  Email Dale – [email protected]  Subscribe to the SENDcast - https://www.thesendcast.com/subscribe   The SENDcast is powered by B Squared We have been involved with Special Educational Needs for over 25 years, helping show the small steps of progress pupils with SEND make. B Squared has worked with thousands of schools, we understand the challenges professionals working in SEND face. We wanted a way to support these hardworking professionals - which is why we launched The SENDcast! Click the button below to find out more about how B Squared can help improve assessment for pupils with SEND in your school.