Create classrooms where every reader and writer can thrive

Most teachers receive minimal training on supporting neurodivergent learners—yet these students make up a significant portion of every classroom. Neurodiversity in the Literacy Classroom fills this gap with clear, practical guidance for teaching literacy to all students, including those with dyslexia, ADHD, and autism.

This accessible guide delivers what literacy teachers need most: foundational knowledge paired with strategies you can use tomorrow. You′ll explore Universal Design for Learning, gain clarity around IEPs, and discover strengths-based practices for common learning profiles.

Inside you′ll find

• Research-backed insights with direct access to journal articles 
•  Guest contributions from leading experts in the field
• Tools, checklists, and FAQs designed for busy teachers
• Dedicated chapters on dyslexia, ADHD, and autism

Whether you′re preparing for an IEP meeting or reflecting on your instructional approach, this book equips you with the knowledge to create literacy classrooms where belonging and learning go hand in hand.

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Here’s why this book matters. Confusion and chaos continue to surround teaching students with learning disabilities. Too often policies driving educational practices cause major pivots away from the knowledge, resources, and expertise educators need to cultivate inclusive, liberatory literacy environments where all students thrive. Cruz cuts through this noise. With Neurodiversity in the Literacy Classroom, finally, every educator will have access to information and practical, research-based strategies to support neurodivergent students. Schools do not always have the resources to send educators to conferences or classes to acquire and develop the skills needed for inclusive classrooms to flourish. But now we have this incredible resource to keep at our fingertips, to use as our guide, and to light the way.

"Neurodiversity in the Literacy Classroom is a book I wish every general educator had access to! This book explains IEPs, UDL, dyslexia, ADHD, and autism in a clear and compassionate way, and celebrates the brilliance and complexity of students. It makes it very clear that literacy learning for neurodivergent children is not about perfection, but more about starting with joy, intention, and the belief that every child deserves access to high-level literacy learning." - Teachers College, Columbia University

"Neurodiversity in the Literacy Classroom is intended to be an approachable and supportive "mentor on the shelf." The author writes in an accessible and engaging voice and shares practical strategies for creating a responsive literacy environment for neurodiverse learners along with relatable anecdotes and wisdom that come from her vast experience in the field. You will find yourself reaching for this book again and again!"" - The City College of New York

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Early in this book, M. Colleen Cruz informs the reader that "this is a book about belonging." Being a literacy teacher who also deals with my own AuDHD, I am thrilled to have this powerful and practical road map for making my own classroom a place of joy and belonging for all students.