Neurodiversity in Education: An Interview with Landmark College’s Adam Lalor and an LC Alumna

https://www.youtube.com/live/fxfP7J6JpAM?si=dxWAeaZqJPRhPSUa

Did you miss our August 18th interview with Adam Lalor of Landmark College and his former student Julia Gray? Here’s the the link to the recording as well as highlights and a summary generated by a cool AI tool called Eightify.

Neurodiversity in Education: An Interview with Landmark College's Adam Lalor, Students, & Alumni

Our Actionable Innovations Conversation on August 18th featured Dr. Adam R. Lalor, Vice President of Neurodiversity Research and Innovation at Vermont’s Landmark College. Landmark College is a community designed exclusively for students who learn differently, including students with learning disabilities (such as dyslexia), ADHD, autism, or executive function challenges. Dr. Lalor shared information about Landmark’s programs for neurodiverse learners as well as its research efforts. Former LC student Julia Gray joined this discussion and shared some of her experiences working with Dr. Lalor at Landmark on research projects.

Dr. Lalor received his Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from the University of Connecticut. With more than 15 years of experience in higher education administration, his research focuses on the postsecondary transition and success of college students with disabilities. Broadly, Dr. Lalor focuses on raising awareness of postsecondary opportunities for individuals with disabilities and including disability within the discourse of diversity. He presently serves on the editorial boards of Career Development and Transition for Exceptional Individuals and the Journal of Postsecondary Education and Disability. The author of numerous articles and book chapters, Dr. Lalor co-authored the book From Disability to Diversity: College Success for Students with Learning Disabilities, ADHD, and Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Insights From This Webinar

Empowerment and Support in Education

• 🎓 “Landmark College focuses on empowering students with learning differences to succeed academically and thrive in their personal lives.”
• 🏫 Julia’s experience at Landmark College sparked her passion for helping those who are neurodivergent, emphasizing the importance of creating inclusive environments for students with learning disabilities.
• 🏫 Being in a small community where people are looking out for students has been a big part of the positive experience at Landmark College.
• 🎓 “I fell in love with our students, the community, and how the education happened.”
• 🎓 Landmark College emphasizes the importance of talking with students and getting to know them, rather than relying solely on their identified profile, in order to truly understand and support them.
• 💔 The trauma experienced by neurodiverse students in K-12 education can hinder their sense of self-worth and passion for learning, highlighting the importance of individualized support and understanding.
• 🗣️ Teaching study skills and how to advocate for oneself is crucial for neurodivergent students to succeed in education.
• 🌟 The students at Landmark College were the stars of the show, showcasing their experiences and perspectives.

Recognizing and Valuing Neurodiversity

• 📚 Dr. Adam Lalor’s research focuses on raising awareness of post-secondary opportunities for individuals with disabilities, including disability within the discourse of diversity.
• 💼 Neurodiversity is becoming more embraced in the workplace as businesses and institutions incorporate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) principles.
• 🧠 “Neurodiverse individuals have tremendous talents and skills that are often overlooked, leading to higher rates of unemployment or underemployment.”
• 😊 Neurodiversity in education is about understanding and accepting individuals for who they are and the unique contributions they bring to the environment.
• 🌍 An accessible world looks different for each individual, and while Universal Design aims to meet the needs of everyone, there will always be a need for individualization in education.

Webinar Summary

Landmark College is a supportive institution that focuses on neurodiversity in education, offering programs, research, and training to improve experiences for individuals with learning disabilities, ADHD, and autism.

• 00:00 📚 Landmark College’s Dr. Adam Lalor discusses programs for students with learning disabilities and research on post-secondary success, while recent graduate Julia explores solutions to improve the learning environment for neurodivergent individuals.
• Dr. Adam Lalor, the vice president of neurodiversity research and innovation at Landmark College, discusses the college’s programs for students with learning disabilities and his research on post-secondary transition and success for individuals with disabilities.
• Julia, a recent graduate of Landmark College, conducted research with Adam on neurodiversity in higher education, finding that students with learning disabilities, ADHD, and autism are aware that they can be distracting to others in the classroom but are unsure of how to address it, leading to the exploration of potential solutions to improve the learning environment for all.
• Julia initially resisted attending Landmark College but eventually enrolled after struggling with the transition from high school to college, and through classes and experiences at Landmark, she discovered her passion for helping neurodivergent individuals, which was not adequately supported at her previous college.
• 11:49 🎓 Landmark College is a supportive institution that focuses on neurodiversity in education, offering programs, research, and training to improve experiences for individuals with learning disabilities, ADHD, and autism.
• Adam Lalor discusses his experience at Landmark College, where he worked as a resident Dean and supported students in their learning strategies and skills outside of the classroom.
• The speaker discusses their love for the students and community at Landmark College, their pursuit of further education, and their current role at the Landmark College Institute for Research and Training.
• Adam Lalor is the vice president for neurodiversity research and innovation at Landmark College, overseeing departments focused on applied research, professional development, and training in neurodiversity in education and the workplace.
• Educators at Landmark College support businesses and corporations in improving experiences for individuals with learning disabilities, ADHD, and autism through on-site visits, an online certificate program, and various events.
• 17:35 🧠 Landmark College supports neurodiverse learners in education and advocates for their inclusion in the workplace, emphasizing the importance of compassion, empathy, and understanding in embracing neurodiversity.
• Landmark College focuses on supporting neurodiverse learners in post-secondary education and recognizes the need for employers to create successful environments for neurodivergent employees.
• Neurodiverse individuals have valuable skills and talents that are being overlooked, and it is crucial for society and businesses to change their culture and include them in the workplace.
• Landmark College is developing a supervision model called synergistic supervision that combines Universal Design and instruction with the goal of supporting neurodivergent individuals in the workplace.
• In terms of workplace awareness and accommodation of neurodiversity, the speaker does not see much among their co-workers, but they personally try to connect with neurodivergent customers and advocate for themselves by having written instructions and being available to help their co-workers.
• Compassion, empathy, and understanding are key to embracing neurodiversity in education, as demonstrated by the positive impact of Landmark College on its students.
• Landmark College focuses on empathy and individuality in their programs for students, recognizing that profiles only provide limited information and it is important to understand each student’s unique experiences.
• 26:04 🎓 Landmark College aims to support students in regaining their sense of self-value and passion for learning, offering various degrees and programs, individualized support, and a curriculum designed around Universal Design for Learning.
• Landmark College aims to support students in regaining their sense of self-value and passion for learning, ultimately inspiring lifelong learning beyond college.
• Landmark College offers various undergraduate degrees and programs that support students in exploring their interests and strengths, while also providing support in areas they may struggle with.
• Landmark College offers various services such as social pragmatics, coaching, and study skills to help students improve incrementally and cater to their individual needs.
• Faculty members at Landmark College are trained in Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and design their curriculum around it, with the goal of creating an accessible, equitable, and inclusive learning environment that can be individualized to meet the needs of students.
• Universal Design is ingrained in the education system at Landmark College, allowing for individualized support for students who are not being met by the traditional approach.
• Applying appropriate technologies in education is important, but educators also need to ensure that students connect with and engage in the material.
• 32:51 🧠 Parents should allow their neurodiverse children to figure things out on their own, educators must build trust with neurodivergent students, Landmark College provides explicit instruction and support for self-advocacy, and the college’s focus on neurodiversity creates a sense of joy and acceptance with the presence of role models.
• At Landmark College, it is important for parents to step back and allow their neurodiverse children to figure things out on their own, even though it may take some time for them to do so.
• Parents of neurodivergent children face challenges in obtaining necessary services, educators must build trust with neurodivergent students in order for them to accept support, and compliance with structures in place can hinder support in high school.
• Neurodivergent students need explicit instruction and support in learning how to advocate for themselves and ask for help, which is provided through Landmark College’s courses and programs.
• Landmark College helps students learn about their strengths and areas of challenge, explore their history and the history of disability and neurodiversity, and develop self-advocacy and self-determination skills through formal courses and interactions with faculty and staff.
• Parents and students at Landmark College feel a sense of joy and acceptance due to the college’s focus on neurodiversity, with the presence of neurodivergent role models and supportive faculty and staff.
• The presence of role models, including recent alumni and staff members, who have overcome challenges and are working towards their dreams, provides inspiration and mentorship for students at Landmark College.
• 45:53 📚 Landmark College is highlighted for its unique campus and successful students, inspiring parents of neurodivergent children, and offering internship opportunities and career development support for students.
• Landmark College was featured on a YouTube show called The College Tour, where they visited different campuses and highlighted the unique and remarkable nature of Landmark’s campus, with the students being the stars.
• Landmark College collaborates with employers and their director of Career Connections to develop internship opportunities for neurodivergent students as part of their scaffolded approach to career preparation and development.
• Landmark College offers employment readiness experiences and on-campus internships to help students develop workplace skills, and also assists them in pursuing external internships through their network of employers.
• 52:58 🎓 Landmark College is a leading institution for neurodiverse students, offering research opportunities and support services, and they emphasize the importance of planning, utilizing resources, and finding community support for success in college education.
• Landmark College has a large concentration of neurodiverse students and other colleges come to study them, but the college is careful to ensure that the students are not treated as research subjects and that they have opportunities to give back to the community.
• Landmark College has partnerships with various research initiatives and external companies, allowing students to engage in research projects and secure job opportunities in their respective fields.
• It is important for students and parents to know that going to college is possible for neurodivergent individuals, and the best strategies include doing homework, planning, utilizing available supports, and starting ahead to allow for recovery from any setbacks.
• When choosing an institution, it is important to consider the availability of disability resources and support services, as they can greatly impact the success of neurodivergent students, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The speaker recommends utilizing resources such as post-secondary coordinators, college transition books, and networking with other families to find support and guidance for neurodiverse students in education.

Many thanks to Adam and Julia for sharing their insights! Connect with them on LinkedIn if you’d like to learn more.

Join us for our next Actionable Innovations Conversation on September 27th! We will be discussing travel opportunities for educators with guests Don Buckley, Karen Blumberg, and Jesse Weisz.