I’m excited to share that my new article has been published by Edutopia – an international education platform created by the George Lucas Educational Foundation. Edutopia features practical, evidence-based ideas that help children learn and feel understood, so I’m delighted to have contributed a piece that brings the experiences of autistic girls into this conversation.
In “6 Ways to Support Autistic Girls in Your Classroom,” I draw on more than twenty-five years of work in literacy tutoring and neurodiversity education to explore how small, thoughtful changes can make a big difference — both in schools and in home-learning environments.
Many of the families I work with through Neurodiversity Learning Support Consultancy have chosen home education after their children struggled in mainstream settings. For autistic girls especially, those struggles often come from being misunderstood or from the effort of masking to fit in. This article gathers ideas that help teachers and parents alike recognise those hidden pressures and create spaces where autistic girls can learn in ways that feel safe, calm, and authentic.
“Many autistic girls mask their struggles, appearing cheerful and capable in class while quietly running on empty. Because autism has long been described through a “male lens,” girls’ needs are often overlooked, and calm can conceal significant struggle.”
You can read the full article here:
👉 https://www.edutopia.org/article/6-ways-support-autistic-girls-classroom
I often write about inclusion, literacy, and neurodivergence across my different platforms, from research-based articles to practical guidance for parents and tutors. You can find more of my writing and links to related work at katecoldrick.com
Kate Coldrick – Home Education Consultant for Neurodivergent Learners 