It Takes All Kinds of Minds

It Takes All Kinds of Minds provides an inspiring and accessible introduction to neurodiversity in educational settings, informed by research and real-world experience.

Drawing upon core principles that underpin the neurodiversity paradigm, the book offers a carefully curated collection of chapters exploring many different kinds of minds and how they can best learn and flourish at school. The book is divided into three main parts: Environments, Practice and Pedagogy, and Relationships In and Around School, with each chapter underpinned by core values of care, inclusion, celebration of difference and the collective power of diverse minds. Pioneering contributions help to realise a vision of environments, relational systems and pedagogical practices that are designed for all minds, learners and educators.

Placing a focus on amplifying neurodivergent voices and having a direct impact on practice, this book is essential reading for practitioners at all stages of teacher education and professional development, as well as clinicians and outside agencies that work in partnership with schools.

Rachael Davis is a lecturer in Psychology and Education at Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh. Informed by her experiences as a teaching assistant, Rachel’s current research prioritises neurodivergence voices to inform best practice in educational settings. She is a strong advocate of public engagement and community outreach; ensuring that research is accessible for everyone.

Claire O’Neill is an experienced teacher and teacher-educator, working in the areas of inclusion, neurodiversity and wellbeing. She is also a writer and researcher and shared her participatory autism research at the It Takes All Kinds of Minds conference in 2023. Claire’s lived experience as a neurodivergent parent of two neurodivergent children informs both her professional work and research.

Sue Fletcher-Watson is a Professor of Developmental Psychology at the University of Edinburgh and was Co-Chair of the It Takes All Kinds of Minds conference in March 2023. Her recent research has focused on investigations of the double empathy problem in cross-neurotype interactions, and on the application of the neurodiversity paradigm to methods of school support. Sue uses co-production methods in all her work and is an advocate for neurodivergent leadership in research. She is also a parent of two neurodivergent children.