Features

Neurodiverse teachers: one musician's journey

Dale Wills reflects on the unique career path of one of his students and how our profession is gaining allies.
Musicians of Change (PGCEi) cohort 2022/23
Musicians of Change (PGCEi) cohort 2022/23 - Courtesy of Phil Harrison

The last few years have seen a growing awareness of neurodiversity in the classroom. This shift has taken us away from blanket ‘extra-time’ provisions for anyone presenting with symptoms of neurodiversity, towards more individualised support that takes into account the specific needs of each student. Trainee teachers have a better understanding of the subtleties of each student's needs. The stigma around your brain not operating in the same way as mine is slowly being stamped out.

But representation also needs visibility. Although teachers are getting better at understanding neurodiversity in others, we are often reluctant to identify it in ourselves. Phoebe Hunt, my former student, is ready to change that; ‘If I try to work the way the world expects me to, I get very tired and sad very quickly.’ She is taking part in the Musicians of Change PGCEi, from Music Masters, that featured earlier this year in MT (March 2023). With the support of Orchestras for All, Phoebe is part of a generation of educators who are ready to apply their own experiences of neurodiversity to their classroom practice.

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