The Project
This project supports neurodivergent-inclusive teaching and learning. Based on workshops, interviews, and reviews of existing literature and resources, we collaborated with neurodivergent students and staff to co-create the NESTL Toolkit – a practical and reflective resource to promote neurodivergent-inclusive teaching and learning.
Download the NESTL Toolkit (PDF).
Access the interactive course (Canvas).
Advisory Board:
- Dr Jo Billington, University of Reading
- Dr Louise Creechan, Durham University
- Dr Cora Beth Fraser, The Open University and Asterion
- Dr Richard Lawes, University of Oxford
- Dr Sahana Rajan, O.P. Jindal Global University
- Emily Rudgard, University of Oxford
- Dr Anna Stenning, Durham University
- Dr Catherine Walter, University of Oxford
- Dr Di Wang, University of Oxford
Project Team:
- Dr Xin Xu (Co-PI; University of Oxford)
- Dr Laura Seymour (Co-PI; Swansea University)
- Professor Siân Grønlie (Co-I; University of Oxford)
- Dr Cressida Ryan (Co-I; University of Oxford)
- Georgia Lin (Doctoral Research Fellow; University of Oxford)
- Hanrui Li (Research Intern; University of Oxford)
The NESTL Toolkit
The toolkit presents a framework for neurodivergent-inclusive teaching and learning, which comprises four areas of action:
- Awareness and Understanding
- Teaching Practice, Space, and Materials
- Assessment and Feedback
- Adjustment and Support
Each area requires four forces of change to drive progress:
- Individual Initiatives
- Communal Efforts
- Institutional Changes
- Sector-wide Transformations
The toolkit provides ideas for practice, offering practical guidance on how to make teaching and learning more neurodivergent-inclusive. It also includes case studies, checklists, myth busting, glossary, and further resources.
The NESTL Toolkit is also accessible via the University of Oxford’s Canvas platform, which includes interactive activities.
Downloads
NESTL Toolkit Main Documents
- Main Toolkit Document
Download PDF | Download Word (Read-only)
- Toolkit Overview / Summary
Download PDF | Download Word (Read-only)
Key Resources
Eight practical tools have been extracted from the main toolkit and are available as separate downloadable documents.
Contents include:
- Framework for Neurodivergent-Inclusive Teaching and Learning
- Individual Checklists (x4):
-
- Awareness, Understanding, and Reflection
- Teaching Practice, Space, and Materials
- Assessment and Feedback
- Adjustment and Support
- Myth Busting
- Glossary
- Further Resources
Download Key Resources (PDF)
Key Resource 1 – Framework for Neurodivergent-inclusive Teaching and Learning
Key Resource 2 – Individual Checklist on Awareness, Understanding, and Reflection
Key Resource 3 – Individual Checklist on Teaching Practice, Space, and Materials
Key Resource 4 – Individual Checklist on Assessment and Feedback
Key Resource 5 – Individual Checklist on Adjustment and Support
Key Resource 8 – Further Resources
Download Key Resources (Word Read-Only)
Key Resource 1 – Framework for Neurodivergent-inclusive Teaching and Learning
Key Resource 2 – Individual Checklist on Awareness, Understanding, and Reflection
Key Resource 3 – Individual Checklist on Teaching Practice, Space, and Materials
Key Resource 4 – Individual Checklist on Assessment and Feedback
Key Resource 5 – Individual Checklist on Adjustment and Support
Case Studies
Six case studies, also extracted from the main toolkit, illustrate neurodivergent-inclusive teaching approaches in real academic settings.
Contents:
- Case Study 1: Syllabus Accessibility Statement – Dr Laura Seymour
- Case Study 2: How to Make the Classroom Neurodivergent-Inclusive – Dr Laura Seymour
- Case Study 3: Opening Disability Conversations – Dr Cressida Ryan
- Case Study 4: Undergraduate Lesson Plan – Professor Helen Swift
- Case Study 5: Neurodivergence and Class – Dr Cora Beth Fraser
- Case Study 6: Teaching Improvisationally – Professor Sonya Freeman Loftis
Download Case Studies (PDF)
Download Case Studies (Word Read-Only)
Promotional Materials
Postcards (Set of 8)
Featuring key quotes and ideas from the NESTL Toolkit, suitable for printing (A6) or digital sharing.
Download Postcards below (PDF)
Poster
Designed to help promote the NESTL Toolkit, suitable for printing (A4) or digital sharing.
Download PDF
Promo Slide
This one-page slide introduces the NESTL Toolkit and is suitable for use in training sessions, awareness events, meetings, or teaching development activities. If you find the toolkit helpful, you are welcome to re-use this slide for your own sessions.
Download PowerPoint
