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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Clint_L" data-source="post: 9103318" data-attributes="member: 7035894">I've been a teacher for decades and run the D&D Club at my school, which is full of neurodiverse kids, my own child has autism and I have run games for him and his friends, and last summer I ran a D&D camp for neurodiverse tweens and teens. So I have some relevant experience!1. Be flexible. Maybe a kid just really wants to play as a Sith Lord or a particular Mortal Combat character (these both happened last summer). Find a way to let the kid have their fantasy without disrupting the game (last summer the answer was Hexblade Warlock for one and Monk for the other, with some extra flavour thrown in). Don't get stuck on how things "have" to be; it's an imagination game.2. Following that, kids on the spectrum tend to get "stuck" a lot more easily than other kids. When that happens, back off! Give them space, and figure out a solution by changing tactics and looking for mutual wins. Attempting to push through will shut them down completely, and you might well get a situation. Flexibility will be so, so important.3. Give them time. A lot of kids on the spectrum have trouble with speech in various ways. Help, but don't "interpret" or speak for them - it's really disempowering and trust me, they hate it. This game is going to move at a slower pace.4. Did I mention be flexible? The story might go in directions that you never planned. Roll with it!5. Some neurodivergent kids are great with math, but for a lot its their worst nightmare, and a source of embarrassment when they can't do simple sums quickly (especially if another kids shades them for it). Consider using DnDBeyond so that those who want to can use the automated dice rolling features. Or let them use a calculator and let everyone see that you appreciate folks taking time to double check their math, so it's not seen as a big deal.6. Cheating might happen (and not just with neurodivergent kids at this age). Don't make a big public deal about it; this is the time for a private, kind-hearted conversation.Kids on the spectrum face challenges that others don't, and typically don't even think about. For example, they don't quickly intuit social behaviours and norms, and will frequently need explanation. Handle these things privately and with a good heart, understanding that there is a lot you don't know, and that for many of them, even showing up at something like a D&D game is a huge and scary step. Typically kids on the spectrum spend a lot of time hiding in different ways because they are so afraid of screwing up, so above all do everything you can to make this a safe space.I really, really admire you for doing this. It's extra work but I promise that it is incredibly rewarding, and so important for these kids!</blockquote>

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