Neurodiversity is often viewed merely as a medical term or an educational need, yet it is in fact an inseparable part of human cognition, culture, and evolutionary diversity. In recent years, the rapid increase in neurodiversity awareness has made it more important than ever to understand this concept accurately and to address it on a solid scientific foundation. But what do we see if we approach neurodiversity not merely through diagnostic categories but from the multidimensional perspective offered.
This course approaches the concept of neurodiversity through a multidimensional perspective that unites various disciplines under the umbrella of cognitive science. Over four week, it will explore the scientific foundations of neurological differences, language and cognitive development processes, educational approaches, technological transformations, and ethical applications within a comprehensive framework. Participants will move beyond understanding typical and atypical development to discover more equitable, functional, and empowering ways of engaging with neurodiverse individuals; ultimately viewing neurodiversity not merely as a set of traits, but as an integral part of humanity’s evolutionary, cultural, and cognitive diversity.
Our instructor, Eda Denker, completed her undergraduate studies in Psychology at Istanbul Bilgi University. She holds two master’s degrees, one in Speech and Language Therapy from Üsküdar University and another in Clinical Psychology from Istanbul Gelişim University. She is currently pursuing her PhD in Speech and Language Therapy at Istinye University. Her clinical and research interests include autism, developmental language disorder, attention deficit, specific learning difficulties, aphasia, dementia, and traumatic brain injury. She specializes in cognitive assessment, speech and language therapy, neuropsychologically based intervention methods, and interdisciplinary therapy approaches.
The course will take place on September 3, 10, 17, and 24, Wednesdays, from 7:30 PM to 10:30 PM, and will be conducted online via Zoom. The total duration of the course program will be approximately 12 hours.
Week 1 (September 3): Conceptual Foundations of Neurodiversity
- Introduction: What is atypical development? Concepts of spectrum, difference, and disorder
- Nervous System and Brain Development: Synaptogenesis, myelination, plasticity
- Neurophysiological differences in typical and atypical development
- Interest-Based Nervous System (IBNS): motivation, attention, learning
- Origins of the Neurodiversity Concept: Judy Singer and the rise of the social model
- Comparison of the medical model, social model, and neurodiversity model
- Neurodiversity and Evolution: Evolutionary functions and adaptive advantages of diversity
We will explore the historical, biological, and conceptual foundations of neurodiversity, analyzing it through the lenses of neural development, evolutionary differences, and interest-based learning models.
Week 2 (September 10): Language, Cognition, and Neurodiversity
- Neural representation of language: Broca, Wernicke, and connectionist approaches
- Language–cognition relationship: attention, memory, executive functions
- Functions of language: communication, thought, social bonding, identity, culture
- Functional diversity of language in neurodivergent individuals
- Typical language development: phonology, morphology, semantics, pragmatics
- Atypical language development profiles: Autism, DLD, SLD, ADHD, etc.
- Clinical assessment and therapy approaches
- Evolutionary perspective: adaptive aspects of language diversity
We will begin with the neural representation of language, explore typical and atypical language development profiles, and discuss the functional diversity of language use among neurodivergent individuals, linking these insights to clinical assessment and intervention practices.
Week 3 (September 17): Education, Psychology, and Social Inclusion
- The place of neurodivergent individuals in education and inclusive practices
- Psychological resilience, stress regulation, and mental health
- Multidisciplinary vs. transdisciplinary support systems
- Participant-based education and intervention models
- Identity, subjectivity, and empowerment approaches
- Applied Section: Case analysis and goal-setting exercise
We will analyze support systems for neurodiversity within educational, psychological, and social contexts, and discuss strategies for developing empowering and inclusive intervention models that promote active participation and well-being.
Week 4 (September 24): Ethics, Technology, and Future Perspectives
- The evolving practitioner identity: the companion-expert approach
- Ethical responsibilities: intervention boundaries, child participation
- Technological tools: AI, digital therapy, ethical dilemmas
- The atypical brain and technology: adaptive advantages
- Neurodiversity and artistic production: Grandin, Williams, Lerman…
- Activism, commercialization, and the influence of social media
- Looking ahead: participation and fields of application
We will evaluate technological advancements, ethical responsibilities, and the evolving role of practitioners within the framework of neurodiversity. We will also explore artistic production and exceptional cases such as savant syndrome, discussing future perspectives on inclusion, creativity, and applied practice.
The participation fee for the course is 1,750 TL per person, including VAT. Payment details will be shared with participants whose applications have been approved as soon as possible.
