Neuroinclusive Teaching

Neuroinclusive Teaching
Mini-Course

Summer Session registration now open!

Summer Session begins July 15, 2026

The Neuroinclusive Teaching Mini-Course (NTMC) is a free, self-paced online professional development experience that introduces educators to strengths-based neuroinclusive teaching practices. Whether you're new to neurodiversity or already working toward more inclusive instruction, the course provides practical strategies you can begin using immediately.

Who Should Participate?

This mini-course is designed for:

  • STEM faculty
  • Academic staff
  • Graduate teaching assistants
  • Instructional designers
  • Administrators
  • Anyone interested in creating more inclusive learning environments

No prior knowledge of neurodiversity is required.

What You’ll Learn

Participants explore topics including:

  • Understanding neurodiversity and the strengths-based paradigm
  • Designing more inclusive learning experiences
  • Accessibility and Universal Design
  • Personalization and learner variability
  • Neuroinclusive active learning
  • Assessment practices
  • Creating cultures of belonging

Course Details

Course Launch Materials available online July 15, 2026 (anticipated)
Format Fully online and asynchronous
Pace Self-paced
Meetings None required
Cost Free

Estimated Time Commitment: 4-20 hours, depending on selected participation pathway.

What You’ll Receive

All registered participants receive:

  • Electronic copy of the Neuroinclusive Teaching Guidebook
  • Access to all course videos and learning modules
  • Downloadable reference materials
  • Digital participation certificate

Participants accepted into Practitioner and Ambassador Pathways also receive:

  • Personalized feedback on one course syllabus and planned revisions
  • Stipend support (if eligible, pending completion of all requirements and paperwork)
  • Digital completion certificate

Participation Pathways

Participation Pathways represent different modes of engagement rather than increasing levels of expertise. Participants should select the pathway that best aligns with their role, eligibility, goals, and available time.

Please review the following information prior to selecting your preferred participation pathway. If you wish, you may download the Participation Pathways Overview.

 

Infographic titled “Choose Your Participation Pathway” showing three participation options for a neuroinclusive teaching mini-course arranged in side-by-side cards. The Practitioner pathway emphasizes flexible exploration and is open to anyone with optional submissions and no stipend. The Fellow pathway emphasizes guided implementation for graduate TAs, instructors, or university staff and includes required reflections, a 6-week timeline, and a $1,000 stipend. The Ambassador pathway emphasizes leadership and dissemination for active higher education instructors and includes an 8-week timeline, dissemination planning, and a $2,000 stipend. A footer notes that pathways are flexible, participants may request pathway changes, and all participation pathways are welcome.

Scholar Pathway

The Scholar Pathway is designed for participants who wish to learn and explore neuroinclusive teaching concepts, AI-supported educational practices, and course resources at their own pace. This pathway does not require a teaching role or implementation activities.

Estimated time commitment: 4-10 hours

  • Open to anyone
  • Registration required
  • Self-paced participation with no completion deadline
  • Access to all mini-course modules and learning materials
  • Access to AI-supported tools and resources
  • Optional submission of reflections and artifacts
  • No stipend

Additional opportunities for U.S.-based higher education participants:

  • Optional participation in collaborative learning experience

Practitioner Pathway

The Practitioner Pathway is designed for U.S.-based higher education faculty and staff who wish to apply course concepts through guided activities and required submissions.

Estimated time commitment: 8-16 hours

  • Open to eligible higher education faculty and staff
  • Application required
  • 6-week completion requirement
  • Access to collaborative learning experiences, personalized feedback, AI-supported tools
  • Guided practice and structured engagement
  • Required submission of reflections and artifacts
  • May be eligible for a $1,000 stipend

Ambassador Pathway

The Ambassador Pathway is designed for U.S.-based higher education faculty and staff who are actively engaged in teaching or educational practice. Ambassadors are expected to apply neuroinclusive teaching principles by developing a course design or redesign, implementation plan, or classroom innovation. They will also share their experiences, resources, or outcomes with others to support broader adoption of neuroinclusive teaching practices.

Estimated time commitment: 10-20 hours

  • Open to eligible higher education faculty and staff
  • Application required
  • 8-week completion requirement
  • Access to collaborative learning experiences, personalized feedback, AI-supported tools
  • Guided practice and structured engagement
  • Required submission of reflections, artifacts, an implementation outline, and a dissemination plan
  • May be eligible for a $2,000 stipend

 

Registration & Application Timeline

Step 1. Register for the Mini-Course

Registration opens July 1, 2026
New registrations will be reviewed on a rolling basis, throughout the summer session.

Anyone interested in participating must first complete the course registration. Registration is free and provides access to the Scholar Pathway, which has no additional requirements and unlimited capacity.

Course access for Summer Session participants begins July 15, 2026.

Step 2. Apply for Advanced Participation Pathways (optional)

Participants interested in the Practitioner or Ambassador Pathways must submit a separate application after registering for the mini-course.

These pathways include additional required activities and have limited capacity.

1st Round Applications Open: July 1, 2026

2nd Round Applications (if space remains): August 1, 2026

 

Participation Pathways

Pathway Capacity Registration Application
Scholar Unlimited Yes No
Practitioner 20 participants Yes Yes
Ambassador 15 participants Yes Yes

What happens after I register?

After submitting your registration:

  • Your registration will be reviewed within 2 weeks.
  • You will receive an email confirming your acceptance status.
  • Accepted participants will receive instructions for accessing the course when it opens.
  • If you applied for the Practitioner or Ambassador Pathway, you will receive a separate notification regarding your application status. If these pathways are at capacity, you may be placed on a waitlist to be considered during the next round of application.

Questions?

We welcome questions, feedback, and accommodation requests. If you have any questions or require accommodations to participate in this mini-course please contact:

Contact

Connie Syharat, PhD

Assistant Research Professor
Include Program Manager
connie.syharat@uconn.edu