New Jersey has one of the highest rates of autism in the country. About 1 in 35 children is diagnosed with autism. Among boys, 1 in 25 is now diagnosed with autism. As we catch up with data collection and evaluations after the pandemic, those numbers will certainly increase in the next few years.
Recently, researchers began to group autism, ADHD, ADD, anxiety disorders, and even dyslexia into one larger bucket, called neurodivergent. Researchers estimate that 15 to 20 percent of the world’s population is Neurodivergent.
With 1 in 35 students with autism and 1 in 5 students as neurodivergent, every classroom in our schools has at least one student with autism or a related issue. Every classroom in our schools – from the AP classes to our self-contained rooms — needs a strategy for dealing with our kiddos whose brains are wired differently.
People are diagnosed with autism if they have social/communications differences, fixate on particular topics, and have sensitivities. However, those characteristics present differently in every child. Some kids are “Little Professors” who will chew your ear off about Pearl Harbor or Mario Kart. Others need a communications device to express basic needs. Some seek out sensations, and others avoid them. Some have a strong interest in math, others love Pixar movies.
Read more at New Jersey Education Report
Apt. 11d 
They probably want the first check this summer.
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Well, congratulations! It’s both weird and wonderful when they leave for school.
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Thanks. Still need to get him to learn how to drive even though you aren’t supposed to have a car your first year. Doesn’t feel right to send someone away if they can’t drive.
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Where’s is he going? I hope not too far away.
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He’s very much opposed to us even putting up a Facebook post on anything he does, so I’ll just see say he’s attending a small liberal arts college a few hours away.
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“Researchers estimate that 15 to 20 percent of the world’s population is Neurodivergent. “
You know, it’s never occurred to me to ask this, but do you think you, Steve, or Jonah is neurodivergent?
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Jonah is slightly ADD with anxiety. The extended family all has little stuff.
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