S2, E10: Cultivating Awareness and Acceptance for the Neurodivergent

Andrea Finnegan, Yale School of Nursing Co-Director of Operation House Call & Doctoral Student at Bridges Graduate School of Cognitive Diversity

Andrea brings a driven, compassionate approach to her work and teaching philosophy. Much of her desire to create a paradigm shift in society for twice-exceptionality and disability is credited to her ongoing personal experience as a devoted mother of multiple twice exceptional children with very different talents, learning styles and challenges.

Currently, Andrea serves as Co-Director and Parent Instructor for Operation House Call at the Yale School of Nursing. The OHC program uses families to support health care professionals in building confidence, interest and sensitivity in their work with individuals who have intellectual and/or developmental differences. (Operation House Call, 2016). It has been her passion to educate for better understanding of individuals whose neurological profiles don’t fit the standard textbook protocol in medical professions. These individuals have what is referred to as “IDD”, an umbrella term for a wide variety of intellectual and developmental differences. Yale graduate nursing students are taught how to think and treat these “outside of the box” patients with confidence in this program by using families as teachers.

Aside from teaching, Andrea is currently a doctoral student at the Bridges School of Cognitive Diversity in Education. Andrea earned her M.S. Ed at Southern Connecticut State University and served as a second and third grade teacher of a progressive education methodology classroom in the Clinton Public School System. It was in this inclusive, multi-age classroom that she was able to provide the support and growth for twice exceptional students, as well as those students solely with a disability. She continues to use this methodology today in her teachings at the graduate school level. In her Madison, CT community, Andrea is working on piloting an educational program called “In My Shoes” with the Madison Youth & Family Services assistant director. The In My Shoes program provides engaging lessons that cultivate awareness and acceptance for disabled and neuro-divergent individuals. Classes includes fun, hands-on lessons and counseling discussions on how children can be better friends to those who have differences. The most current class taught was focused on neurodiversity, teaching students how it may feel to have dyslexia, autism and AHDA. Its mission is to foster understanding, empathy and better supportive peer relationships, as well as teach students.

Please join us for this event! 
You are invited to a Zoom webinar. (Link leads to the event in the GHF Forum)
When: November 19, 2021 03:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Topic: Cultivating Awareness and Acceptance for the Neurodivergent

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