How does my student learn? Neurodiversity and the nature of learning in autism

Abstract

This paper reports on a framework of thinking, memory and learning that emerged from a qualitative research study into the nature of learning for individuals with autism. The framework is useful for professional development of teachers regarding the learning characteristics of neurodiverse students with autism spectrum disorder. The paper provides a review of the neuroscience and memory-in-autism literature and introduces the Learning Ladder, a new evidence-based model that facilitates explanation of the learning characteristics of neurodiverse learners and serves as a guide for pedagogical decision-making. The application of the framework for teaching and learning within the context of Christian education is considered.