Support For Neurodiverse Individuals From Caroline Maguire

Neurodiversity – neurodiverse individuals (people with cognitive or neurological impairments such as ADHD, executive function weakness, high functioning Autism, Learning Disabilities LD, nonverbal learning disabilities, dyslexia, twice exceptional (2e), giftedness) – may struggle connecting to peers. Social skills weaknesses and the inability to read social cues are often the culprit. These lagging skills basically mean their social radar and social response system aren’t as robust as they need to be, thus making it hard to read social cues accurately, to understand the unspoken rules of social relationships or play, or to adapt their behavior in response to others or situations.

Whatever your age, or neurodiverse diagnosis, consider me your partner on the journey to becoming your best self. The methods and approaches that I recommend are meant to demystify social learning so you can better connect with everyone!

Caroline’s presentation at The Executive Function Online Summit 2020 How to Help Your Child with Weak Executive Function Connect and Be Social: Steps to Ensuring Your Child Doesn’t Feel Lonely or Isolated, Even If They Currently Don’t Have Friends

Neurodiverse individuals have unique learning styles and unique strengths, not disabilities

Without social competency skills, neurodiverse individuals pay a high cost in childhood, and even more so in adolescence and into adult life as people skills become more and more essential in personal relationships and the workplace.

I have had the pleasure to work with many people who are talented, highly intelligent, athletic, musically gifted and kind, yet long to fit in. Some of these folks:

  • Know 5 languages but cannot read the room.
  • Feel invisible, weird, annoying or bossy.
  • Are the only ones in class not invited to a birthday party.
  • Never get tossed the ball.
  • Don’t have friends or anyone to play (or have wine) with.
Unfortunately, social problems do not automatically resolve themselves and no amount of talking to, begging or pleading to just try harder will work. Pressure will only trigger the brain’s fight-flight-or-freeze survival reflex—not helpful behaviors in any scenario (unless charged by a saber tooth tiger!). 

If they could, they would - They just don’t know how. 

Inconsistent Kid

 

Without social competency skills, neurodiverse individuals pay a high cost in childhood, and even more so in adolescence and into adult life as people skills become more and more essential in personal relationships and the workplace.

“I wish Why Will No One Play With Me, was written when my son was a toddler and was never invited to birthday parties, in teenage years no Bar Mitzvah invites, and on the soccer field bullied for not having the social awareness needed to be a team player. Maguire’s book is straight from the heart, written with empathy and passion coming from someone who has lived this painful journey. This “Play Better Plan” helped educate me as a parent with an ADDer and guided me through my own anxieties of parenting a child who “colors outside the box.”

A full range of clinical and coaching interventions

The methods in Why Will No One Play With Me? are based on a growing volume of scientific literature that addresses a full range of clinical and coaching interventions. The Play Better Plan (which can easily be aged-up) is designed for, and works with, anyone struggling socially.

Enjoy this humorous – and informative – video of parenting a child with executive function challenges with me and Laura the ADHD Mama

flavors of friendship

What Makes a Good Friend?

What is more valuable than having good friends who love and support you for who you are? 
 
 Figure out what makes a good friend, and learn how you can be there for your friends when they need you most.
 

ADHD and Social Skills –

Highlights:

– What are the 7 things to be socially successful 
– Defining what it means to have a social challenge 


– The importance of friendships

Traits of a Flexible Personality

How flexible are you? Can you change when needed? Adapting to change is fundamental when it comes to overcoming life’s challenges.  A flexible personality plays a strong role in defining how a person survives even in hard situations.

Neurodiversity Products

These recommendations have been specifically curated for you. Please feel free to browse these – and many other products – in our Store

Neurodiversity Articles:

Parenting kid with ADHD - advice from Caroline Maguire.

Managing Your Love/Hate Relationship With Your ADHD Child

Kids with ADHD can be tough. You love them with all your heart and yet, your child seems out of touch at times. They don’t ...
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How to Improve Social Skills in a Teen Who is Gifted or has Learning Differences

My Child is Lonely Q: How can I improve social skills in a child who is gifted or has learning differences? I try to help ...
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Additional Resources for executive function challenges

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