A Practical Guide to Teaching Neurodivergent College Students
Author(s): Jennifer L. Pusateri (Author)
Publisher: Harvard Education Press
Publication Date: May 12, 2026
Edition: First Edition
Language: English
Print length: 256 pages
ISBN-10: B0FRQG3Y47
ISBN-13: 9798895570784
Book Description
A transformative approach to college teaching that creates more inclusive, effective learning environments
A Practical Guide to Teaching Neurodivergent College Students by Jennifer L. Pusateri is a practical handbook designed for higher education faculty and educational developers who are ready to embrace neuroinclusive instruction in their classrooms. Drawing on both research and lived experience, Pusateri, a neurodivergent author and seasoned educational consultant, guides college teachers through understanding, supporting, and amplifying the successes of neurodivergent college students.
This accessible and engaging guide blends personal narrative, research, and actionable strategies to demystify neurodivergence and Universal Design for Learning (UDL). The book first clarifies essential concepts, unpacks the strengths and challenges faced by students with ADHD, autism, dyslexia, and more, and challenges deficit-based thinking about neurodiversity in academia. Instructors will find three practical UDL-aligned instructional planning approaches, complete with templates and real-world examples, that can be immediately applied to course design. The final section features 30 field-tested strategies targeting six common areas of difficulty for neurodivergent learners, empowering readers to implement inclusive changes right away.
Whether you are a department chair, instructional designer, or individual faculty member, this book provides the clarity, tools, and inspiration needed to create equitable, flexible, and welcoming college learning environments.
Editorial Reviews
Review
“Dr. Jennifer Pusateri has created a beautifully thought‑out, wildly practical, and disarmingly relatable guide. With sharp storytelling, instantly usable strategies, and graphics that make complex ideas click, it’s a resource you’ll put to work immediately. Jen’s brilliant mind shines through every page, guiding readers toward the strengths and possibilities of neurodivergent learners with clarity, warmth, and insight.”―Lillian Nave, Faculty & Educational Development Specialist at Appalachian State University and Think UDL podcast host
“This book lives up to its promises. You will know more about neurodivergence and get immediately useful, practical, and effective teaching and learning strategies that are based in the lived experiences and expertise of educators, learners, and researchers who identify as neurodivergent.”―
Mary Ann Tobin, associate research professor, Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence, Penn State
“Jennifer Pusateri brings a wealth of knowledge, experience, and wit to what can easily feel like an overwhelming topic. Through her use of simple, elegant, and effective diagrams and figures, Pusateri practices what she preaches. This book is simply outstanding. Every page gave me new tools and insights to create a more inclusive learning environment for ALL of my students. What a treasure!”―
Elizabeth A. Norell, author of The Present Professor and associate director of instructional support at the University of Mississippi
Book Description
“Jennifer Pusateri brings a wealth of knowledge, experience, and wit to what can easily feel like an overwhelming topic. Through her use of simple, elegant, and effective diagrams and figures, Pusateri practices what she preaches. This book is simply outstanding. Every page gave me new tools and insights to create a more inclusive learning environment for ALL of my students. What a treasure!”―Elizabeth A. Norell, author of The Present Professor and associate director of instructional support at the University of Mississippi
About the Author
Jennifer L. Pusateri is the senior Universal Design consultant at the University of Kentucky’s Teaching Center, where she fosters accessible teaching practices across campus. She is the author of Transform Your Teaching with Universal Design for Learning: Six Steps to Jumpstart Your Practice.
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