Neurodiversity & Optimal Learning - Dr Devon McEachron, PhD

Get early access to our latest psychology lectures: http://bit.ly/new-talks5 Neurodiversity is the idea that neurological differences among people should be recognized and respected just the same as any other form of human variation. For too long the medical model of mental health has viewed differences like autism, ADHD, and dyslexia solely as “dysfunctional,” “disorders,” and “disabilities.” In the rush to provide treatments focused on “curing” these conditions too little attention has been given to enabling people with neurologically different brains to be accepted for themselves, to articulate what they want, and to help them discover and grow their strengths. Every individual has a unique profile of cognitive, social, and emotional strengths and weaknesses, and it is by understanding one’s abilities and learning how to work with and around them that we find the potential for growth. We must also consider the goodness of fit between the individual and the environment. A disability in one environment may well be an ability in another. In this talk, I will describe the strength and challenge profiles associated with the different brain “wiring” and how to help individuals optimize their learning and success. -- Dr. Devon MacEachron is a licensed psychologist in New York City with a private practice informed by the positive psychology and neurodiversity movements. She conducts neuropsychological assessments designed to uncover each individual’s profile of strengths and weaknesses as a learner in order to provide an action plan that simultaneously develops strengths and interests while remediating and accommodating weaker skills. She is especially knowledgeable about neurodiverse, twice-exceptional, and gifted learners, whose strengths can camouflage their weaknesses, resulting in unexpectedly weaker performance than ability and considerable frustration, anxiety, and often depression. She has a social media presence where she talks about neurodiversity, the advantages of being wired differently, challenging neuromyths, parenting, achievement, and success. Links: Get our latest psychology lectures emailed to your inbox: http://bit.ly/new-talks5 Check out our next event: http://theweekenduniversity.com/events Dr MacEachron’s website: https://drdevon.com -- This episode is sponsored by The Weekend University’s upcoming “Day on Meaning” Online Conference, taking place on 27th March 2022. In this half-day event, we’ll be exploring how ancient wisdom & modern psychology can be integrated to help you uncover a deep sense of purpose and meaning in life. We’ll have talks from three of the world’s leading experts on the subject, including Paul Bloom, Emily Esfahani Smith, and Jeremy Lent. If you’re interested in the psychology of meaning, and taking an evidence-based approach to building a fulfilling life, and also learning how to help others do the same, then this is the event for you. By attending live, you can interact with the speakers in real-time, get lifetime access to the recordings, CPD certification, and connect with a community of like-minded people during the conference. As a listener of this podcast, you can get a discount on your ticket if you go to the link: http://bit.ly/meaning2022 and enter the code: “POD” when registering.