Ask The Experts | Fostering Empathy

It’s been said that before you judge someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. But when the person being judged is neurodivergent, it’s often hard for neurotypical peers to even find those shoes — let alone slide into their moccasins.

For children — who are often conditioned to mock, marginalize, or misunderstand anything that strays from the so-called “norm” — it can be especially tough to find common ground. Why does a classmate laugh at the “wrong” time? Or react in a way that seems unexpected? Or fixate on something others overlook?

It takes empathy. And helping neurotypical children and teens develop empathy for their neurodivergent peers is essential to building inclusive classrooms, campuses, and communities. The good news? With awareness, perspective-taking, shared experiences, and intentional modeling, parents, caregivers, and educators can help kids get closer to stepping into those moccasins.

On this episode of A World of Difference, our panel of national experts shares practical strategies for parents, schools, and communities to nurture empathy and inclusion.