Download - Neurodiversity Strengths Checklists

Neurodiversity Strengths Checklist

Thomas Armstrong, Ph.D.www.institute4learning.com

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http://www.institute4learning.com/

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Neurodiversity Strengths Checklist – Elementary - Secondary

Personal Strengths

___ Enjoys working independently___ Has a good sense of his/her personal strengths and weaknesses___ Learns from past mistakes___ Has persistence in carrying out assignments or activities___ Is courageous in dealing with adversity and/or the unknown___ Keeps a personal diary or journal___ Has a good sense of humor___ Possesses a sense of responsibility___ Has strong opinions about controversial topics___ Marches to the beat of a different drummer___ Handles stressful events well (e.g. is resilient)___ Has good character (e.g. honesty, integrity, fairness)___ Has the ability to set realistic goals for him/herself___ Has a sense of confidence or high self-esteem___ Has good self-discipline___ Has personal ambitions in life___ Displays good common sense___ Possesses personal vitality, vigor, or energy

Communication Strengths

___ Explains ideas or concepts well to others___ Asks good questions___ Is a good storyteller___ Is a good joke teller___ Has good listening skills___ Handles verbal feedback (especially negative feedback) well___ Has good articulation ability___ Is able to effectively use non-verbal cues to communicate with others___ Is persuasive in getting someone to do something___ Has good assertive skills without being pushy

Emotional Strengths

____ Is emotionally sensitive to perceiving the world around him/her ____ Has an optimistic attitude toward life____ Can tell how he/she is feeling at any given moment____ Can easily pick up on the emotional state of another person____ Is able to handle strong internal feelings in a constructive manner____ Receives gut feelings about things

From: Thomas Armstrong, Neurodiversity in the Classroom: Strength-Based Strategies to Help Students with Special Needs Succeed in School and Life. Alexandria, VA: ASCD, 2012. "Reproduced with permission. Learn more about ASCD at www.ascd.org."

Neurodiversity Strengths Checklist –Elementary - Secondary

Social Strengths

___ Has leadership ability___ Has a good sense of empathy for others___ Enjoys socializing with others___ Is good at helping others___ Is kind or affectionate towards others___ Has at least one good friend___ Prefers working with others___ Likes to play board games and/or card games with others___ Has skill in refereeing disputes conflicts between classmates___ Is polite and has good manners___ Is able to work out his/her own conflicts with others___ Works well in groups___ Volunteers his/her time in some worthy cause___ Belongs to at least one club or social group (e.g. Scouts.)___ Has a good relationship with at least one family member___ Is friendly to others___ Is good at sharing with others___ Follows class rules___ Has a good relationship with at least one teacher in the school___ Has good personal hygiene___ Trusts others without being taken in___ Is liked by his peers

Cognitive Strengths

___ Has good organizational skills___ Has good study skills___ Is able to use cognitive strategies (e.g. self-talk) in solving problems___ Is able to pay close attention to details___ Has a good short-term and/or long-term memory___ Is able to think ahead___ Is able to become totally absorbed in an activity___ Can easily divide his attention between two or more activities

Cultural Strengths

___ Has traveled to other countries___ Speaks more than one language___ Is tolerant of others who have cultural, ethnic, or racial differences___ Has pride in his/her own cultural, ethnic, or racial background___ Likes to find out about historical events around the world___ Enjoys learning about different cultural traditions


Neurodiversity Strengths Checklist –Elementary - Secondary

Literacy Strengths

___ Enjoys reading books___ Has good reading comprehension___ Enjoys doing word puzzles or playing word games___ Is a good writer in one or more genres (e.g. poetry, stories, reports, letters)___ Is a good speller___ Has a large vocabulary___ Enjoys listening to audio books or to someone telling a story or reading out loud

Logical Strengths

___ Does well in science class___ Can estimate things easily___ Enjoys working with numbers and/or statistics___ Is good at solving math problems___ Has a chemistry set or other science kit that he/she works with at home___ Has an interest in astronomy, chemistry, physics, or biology___ Enjoys logical or number games or puzzles like Rubik’s cube or Sudoku___ Can easily calculate numbers in his/her head

Visual-Spatial Strengths

___ Has an aptitude for fixing machines___ Likes to create three-dimensional structures with building materials___ Is good at doing jigsaw puzzles or other visual puzzles___ Is able to read maps well___ Reports being able to visualize images clearly___ Gets information more easily through pictures than words___ Is sensitive to the visual world around him/her

Physical Strengths

___ Has a good sense of balance___ Learns material best when moving around___ Likes to ride his/her bike, skateboard, and/or other self-powered personal vehicle___ Is good at playing team sports like baseball, soccer, basketball, or football___ Is good at playing individual sports like tennis, swimming, gymnastics, or golf___ Is in good physical health___ Likes to dance___ Is physically strong___ Is a fast runner or has other athletic abilities___ Likes to exercise (e.g. weights, aerobics, jogging, treadmill)___ Has good physical endurance___ Has good physical flexibility



Dexterity Strengths

___ Has a hobby building model cars, planes, ships or other similar projects___ Displays good handwriting___ Likes to juggle or do magic tricks___ Enjoys hand crafts like knitting, crocheting, embroidery, or needlepoint___ Likes to make things with his/her hands___ Has good tactile ability___ Enjoys arts and crafts like origami, collage, and/or paper maché ___ Enjoys woodworking, carpentry, carving, and/or metal work____Has good eye-hand coordination

Nature Strengths

___ Has good rapport with animals___ Is good at taking care of plants in the classroom or at home___ Is sensitive to weather patterns___ Takes care of a pet at home or at school___ Is concerned about the welfare of the planet (e.g. is ecologically-minded)___ Likes to go hiking and/or camping in nature___ Enjoys studying nature (e.g. insects, plants, birds, rocks, and/or animals)___ Likes to hunt or fish___ Has a good sense of direction

Musical Strengths

___ Is sensitive to the rhythms of music___ Enjoys playing a musical instrument___ Knows the music and lyrics of many songs___ Has a particular interest in one or more musical genres (e.g. rock, classical, jazz) ___ Enjoys listening to music___ Has a good sense of hearing auditory acuity___ Has a good sense of pitch___ Has a good singing voice___ Makes up his/her own tunes or melodies with or without/lyrics

High Tech Strengths

___ Likes to spend time using a computer, tablet, or smart phone___ Has a facility for playing video games___ Likes to surf the Internet___ Knows how to set up audio-visual or computer equipment___ Likes to text on the phone___ Enjoys social networking (e.g. blog, website, Facebook)___ Enjoys using a still camera or video camera to record events or express him/herself___ Has several his/her own favorite movies or TV shows that he/she likes to talk about____Understands at least one computer language



Creative Strengths

___ Expresses him/herself dramatically___ Has a good imagination___ Enjoys doodling, drawing, and/or painting___ Likes to act in plays and skits___ Works well with clay or other forms of sculpture___ Demonstrates creativity in one or more school assignments___ Possesses a love of beautiful things___ Has ideas for futuristic or fantastic projects___ Comes up with ideas that nobody else has thought of

Spiritual Strengths

___ Enjoys meditation, yoga, or some other form of contemplation___ Asks big life questions (e.g. what is the purpose of life?)___ Has a deep sense of wisdom___ Participates in religious or other spiritual events___ Has a philosophical attitude toward life___ Has a strong faith in something higher than him/herself

Miscellaneous Strengths

___ Likes collecting things (e.g. stamps, coins, buttons)___ Loves to cook___ Has a love of learning new things___ Is a good test taker___ Possesses a good memory for nighttime dreams___ Is curious about the world around him/her___ Has a good sense of time___ Manages money well___ Has good fashion sense in the clothes he/she wears___ Has good entrepreneurial skills (e.g. has started own business) started his/her own business

Other Strengths (write in other strengths not mentioned Other Strengths (write in any other strengths not mentioned in checklist): elsewhere in checklist):


Neurodiversity Strengths Checklist -Early Childhood

Personal Strengths

___ Enjoys working independently___ Learns from past mistakes___ Has persistence in carrying out activities___ Is courageous in dealing with adversity and/or the unknown___ Has a good sense of humor___ Possesses a sense of responsibility___ Has strong opinions about things___ Marches to the beat of a different drummer___ Handles stressful events well.___ Has good character (e.g. honesty, integrity, fairness)___ Has a sense of confidence or high self-esteem___ Has good self-discipline___ Has personal ambitions in life___ Displays good common sense___ Possesses personal vitality, vigor, or energy

Communication Strengths

___ Explains ideas or concepts well to others___ Asks good questions___ Is a good storyteller___ Is a good joke teller___ Has good listening skills___ Handles verbal feedback (especially negative feedback) well___ Has good articulation ability___ Is able to effectively use non-verbal cues to communicate with others___ Is persuasive in getting someone to do something

Emotional Strengths

____ Is emotionally sensitive to perceiving the world around him/her ____ Has an optimistic attitude toward life____ Can accurately tell how he/she is feeling____ Can easily pick up on the emotional state of another person____ Is able to handle strong internal feelings in a constructive manner



Social Strengths

___ Shows leadership ability___ Has a good sense of empathy for others___ Enjoys socializing with others___ Is good at helping others___ Is kind or affectionate towards others___ Has at least one good friend___ Prefers working with others___ Likes to play games with others___ Has skill in refereeing between peers___ Is polite and has good manners___ Is able to work out his/her own conflicts with others___ Works well in groups___ Has a good relationship with at least one family member___ Is friendly to others___ Is good at sharing with others___ Follows rules well___ Has a good relationship with at least one teacher___ Has good personal hygiene___ Trusts others without being taken in___ Is liked by his peers

Cognitive Strengths

___ Has good organization___ Uses self-talk) in solving problems___ Is able to pay close attention to details___ Has a good memory___ Is able to think ahead___ Is able to become totally absorbed in an activity___ Can divide attention between two or more activities

Cultural Strengths

___ Has traveled to other countries___ Speaks more than one language___ Is tolerant of others who have cultural, ethnic, or racial diversities___ Has pride in his/her own cultural, ethnic, or racial background___ Enjoys learning about different cultural traditions



Literacy Strengths

___ Enjoys having books read to him/her___ Engages in emergent reading activities___ Enjoys manipulating word blocks___ Engages in emergent writing activities.___ Has a speaking vocabulary advanced for age___ Enjoys listening to audio books or to someone telling a story___ Likes to be around books.

Logical Strengths

___ Does well with science-related activities___ Enjoys playing with number blocks or games.___ Enjoys counting or using numbers in different ways___ Likes to engage with math manipulative materials___ Has an interest in science topics.____Often asks ‘’why’’ questions (e.g. ‘’why is the sky blue?”)

Visual-Spatial Strengths

___ Is attracted to machines.___ Likes to create structures with building blocks or other materials___ Is good at doing jigsaw puzzles or other visual puzzles___ Likes to look a maps.___ Seems to have a good imagination.___ Gets information more easily through pictures than words___ Is sensitive to the visual world around him/her

Physical Strengths

___ Has a good sense of physical balance.___ Learns material best when moving around___ Likes to ride his/her bike, trike, skateboard, and/or other self-powered personal vehicle___ Enjoys playing team sports ___ Is in good physical health___ Likes to dance or move around creatively___ Is physically strong for age___ Is a fast runner or has other athletic abilities___ Has good physical endurance___ Has good physical flexibility

FFrom: Thomas Armstrong, Neurodiversity in the Classroom: Strength-Based Strategies to Help Students with Special Needs Succeed in School and Life. Alexandria, VA: ASCD, 2012. "Reproduced with permission. Learn more about ASCD at www.ascd.org.""


Dexterity Strengths

___ Likes to make things with his/her hands___ Has good tactile ability (e.g. gets information by touching things)___ Enjoys arts and crafts activities like finger painting or collage.___ Has good eye-hand coordination for age

Nature Strengths

___ Has good rapport with animals___ Is good at taking care of plants in the classroom or at home___ Is sensitive to weather patterns___ Takes care of a pet at home or at school___ Is concerned about the welfare of the planet (e.g. is ecologically-minded)___ Likes to go hiking and/or camping in nature___ Enjoys studying nature (e.g. insects, plants, birds, rocks, and/or animals)___ Has a good sense of direction

Musical Strengths

___ Is sensitive to the rhythms of music___ Enjoys playing around with a musical instrument___ Knows the music and lyrics of many songs___ Enjoys listening to music___ Is sensitive to sounds.___ Likes to sing___ Makes up his/her own tunes or melodies.

High Tech Strengths

___ Likes to spend time using the computer or tablet___ Has a facility for playing video games___ Likes to go on the Internet___ Enjoys using a still camera or video camera to record events or express him/herself___ Has several his/her own favorite movies or TV shows that he/she likes to talk about

From: Thomas Armstrong, Neurodiversity in the Classroom: Strength-Based Strategies to Help Students with Special Needs Succeed in School and Life. Alexandria, VA: ASCD, 2012. "Reproduced with permission. Learn more about ASCD at www.ascd.org."m, 2012. "Reproduced with permission. Learn more about ASCD at www.ascd.org."

Neurodiversity Strengths Checklist – Early Childhood

Creative Strengths

___ Expresses him/herself dramatically___ Has a good imagination___ Enjoys doodling, drawing, and/or painting___ Likes to act in made up plays and skits___ Makes interesting things with clay ___ Demonstrates creativity in other ways.___ Possesses a love of beautiful things___ Has ideas for futuristic or fantastic projects___ Comes up with ideas that nobody else has thought of

Spiritual Strengths

___ Enjoys meditation, yoga, or some other form of contemplation___ Asks big life questions (e.g. what is the purpose of life?)___ Seems to have a deep sense of wisdom___ Participates in religious or other spiritual events___ Has a philosophical attitude toward life

Miscellaneous Strengths

___ Likes collecting things (e.g. stamps, coins, buttons)___ Loves to cook___ Has a love of learning new things___ Remembers and talks about nighttime dreams___ Is curious about the world around him/her___ Has a good sense of time___ Seems to take interest in the clothes he/she wears.___ Has good entrepreneurial skills for age (e.g. thinks about starting own business).

Other Strengths (write in any other strengths not mentioned in checklist):
