What is neurodiversity and how can adults support the learning and wellbeing of neurodiverse children? Dr.Caroline Richter, founder and director of the Science of Child Development and Neurodiversity (STARS lab) at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, conducts research that aims to challenge socio-cultural expectations and reduce the social stigma surrounding neurodevelopmental disorders. Dr. Richter’s research highlights the need for a paradigm shift in neurodevelopmental disorder intervention strategies. She investigates how factors such as the learning and home environment and educator traits impact the emotional well-being and academic achievement of neurodiverse youth. In this lecture, Dr.Richter deconstructs what neurodiversity means from an ecological and evolutionary lens, showcasing how neurodiversity confers many advantages and strengths to the group. She then provides the latest information (from her own lab!) showing how certain environmental features and individual differences in teachers can have lasting positive impact on neurodiverse children’s health and learning.

Dr.Caroline Richter leads the Science of Child Development And NeuRodiverSity (STARS) laboratory at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Her research expertise is in the area of children with neurodevelopmental disorders. She is interested in understanding the cognitive and socio-emotional aspects that contribute to the variability of the academic achievement of individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders. She is particularly interested in working with children with learning disabilities, autism spectrum disorders, and Williams Syndrome. She hopes that the results of her research can be used to inform targeted assessments and interventions, leading to improvements in the quality of life of individuals with neurodevelopment disorders and their families.