EP 130: Why are neurodiverse girls being ignored with Sara Donnelly, former headteacher
Description
Sara Donnelly, a head teacher of 14 years, shares why she's leaving education leadership after witnessing the system repeatedly fail neurodivergent children, in particular, girls. We also delve into why:
• Girls with neurodiversity are often missed because they present differently than the stereotypical profile
• Signs to watch for in autistic girls include subtle stimming, hypervigilance, and struggling to maintain (not make) friendships
• Many professionals still believe myths like "she can't be autistic because she makes eye contact" or "she has friends"
• Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA) should be addressed by fixing the environment, not the child
• Creative solutions like normalising ear defenders for everyone can help neurodivergent children without singling them out
• The education system needs radical reform: smaller class sizes, less testing, and personalized learning
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