In today's episode of the School Counseling Simplified podcast I interview Brandon Gernux, a school counselor who advocates for embracing neurodiversity in schools. Brandon discusses practical strategies for creating inclusive and sensory-friendly environments to support all students, including adjusting lighting and sounds, using visual timers, and collaborating with teachers.

Brandon I. Gernux (he/they) is an Elementary School Counselor in Santa Ana and serves on the CASC Social Justice, Equity, and Anti-Racism Committee, is a leader of the ASCA Elementary School Counselor Affinity Group, and is a recipient of the 2024 Orange County School Counselor of the Year recognition.

Some Highlights:

• Defining Neurodiversity and how it refers to the idea that every brain is unique, and counselors should presume competence in all students.

• Counselors can make their spaces more sensory-friendly by adjusting lighting, sounds, and providing calming tools like headphones.

• Collaborating with teachers to create sensory-friendly classrooms is key, as students spend most of their time in those environments.

• Using visual timers can help students with executive functioning challenges manage transitions between activities.

• Brandon encourages counselors to try new inclusive practices without fear of perfection, and offers to connect on Instagram (@BigSchoolCounselor) for further support.

 

Resources mentioned:

• Join my school counselor membership IMPACT here!

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More About School Counseling Simplified:

School Counseling Simplified is a podcast offering easy to implement strategies for busy school counselors. The host, Rachel Davis from Bright Futures Counseling, shares tips and tricks she has learned from her years of experience as a school counselor both in the US and at an international school in Costa Rica.

You can listen to School Counseling Simplified on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and more!