Clarity Compass Blog

When we talk about social justice, we often think about race, gender, or economic inequality. Yet, one of the most overlooked areas is how society treats neurodivergent individuals, people whose brains function differently from what is considered typical. The neurodiversity paradigm challenges traditional views of neurological differences, framing them not as deficits but as natural variations of the human brain. This shift has profound positive implications for social justic

In our increasingly diverse world, language plays a crucial role in shaping our understanding and acceptance of different perspectives. As a parent of a neurodivergent (ND) child, I have come to realize the profound impact that neuro-affirming language can have on fostering inclusivity and respect. I even prefer myself to look at the world of neurodivergence from the neurodiversity paradigm and social model, versus the medical 'deficit' model lens. I recently attended a scho

TLDR: If an autistic student is moving into a mainstream school or classroom, the biggest mistake adults make is assuming they “should be fine” because their grades or test scores look okay. Real success depends on what happens in real classrooms: starting tasks, handling noise and pace, managing materials, coping with group work, and navigating all the unspoken rules. Start with this: assess, don’t assume. Build a current learner snapshot based on real school tasks, not just

Some nights I sit at the kitchen table watching my son stare at a blank page, textbook open. The pencil is in his hand, the homework is open… but nothing happens. I see the shutdowns, the screaming, the running to their room in avoidance. And in that moment, I think: Please please tell me they’re not refusing again. Please tell me this isn’t about laziness. Because I’ve seen enough to know, it isn’t. What Task Initiation Really Looks Like It’s not just "getting started." It’s

If I had to generalize how to foster independent skills in autistic individuals, I would start by looking at generic societal definitions of independence. For example, I would create a list of skills one needs to navigate life on your own, with no or little help. These could include, simple finances, washing your clothes, cooking, cleaning, transportation, to more specific executive skills like remembering when the garbage needs taking out, brushing your teeth or showering. I

Autistic students are exposed to multiple levels of social interaction with peers and adults, in a general education setting. In most cases it is expected the student follows the “unspoken rules” of social interaction and classroom etiquette, which can be very challenging and confusing for most autistic students. When working with others they will also be (indirectly) exposed to many executive functioning skills, such as planning and organizing in project work, task initiatio

TL;DR Online learning doesn’t just change how  kids learn, it changes how they feel understood . Emotional mirroring (reading facial expressions, tone, body language) is a huge part of connection, and video platforms remove most of those cues. Research shows that this loss affects engagement, motivation, and emotional safety. For neurodivergent kids, this is even harder. They are more vulnerable to cyberbullying, misreading tone, oversharing, and missing red flags online. Stu