~143~“Access Over Grit: Redesigning Learning for Neuro‑Diverse Teens” with Richard Comeau

#NeurodiversityEducation #ADHDLearning #StudentEngagement 1. Introduction & Podcast PurposeParenting Teens Advice Redefined – raw, real‑talk formatGoal: help parents raise “amazing human beings,” not just “kids”Guest introduction: Richard Comeau, founder of Above the Maze2. The Problem with the “Mindset / Grit” NarrativeOver‑emphasis on willpower, grit, and routine fixesHow this approach damages motivation and emotional energyKids internalise “I’m lazy / I can’t learn” instead of seeing systemic issues3. Understanding Diagnoses & AssessmentsLabels vs. lived experience (psychology jargon, psycho‑educational reports)What assessments actually reveal: visual discrimination, information overload, executive‑function gapsImportance of starting with observable behaviours (shutting down, cluttered pages)4. Core Learning Barriers in Traditional EducationVisual clutter & information density – “too much on the page”Lack of guided eye‑movement and clear focal points“Pace dump” lecture slides that leave no meaning‑making traceabilityThe inference burden placed on students to decode professor’s mental model5. Why Common Accommodations Often Miss the Mark17,000‑plus accommodations list – surface fixes, not state changesAccommodations don’t create a feeling of “I can do this”They force students to re‑organise incoherent info without providing context6. Sequential Disengagement & the “Threat vs. Play” SpaceDefinition of Sequential Disengagement – repeated barriers leading to avoidanceThe Threat Space: confusion → shame → “I can’t learn”The Play Space (Magic Circle): safe to fail, immediate feedback, intrinsic motivation7. The Need for Meaningful Context & Sense‑MakingBrain needs active sense‑making in a short time windowProviding real‑world context creates “shelves” for new info in memoryPartial understanding + rapid feedback = stronger retention8. Redesigning a Sample Lecture (Accounting Example)Original slide: dry objectives (“Explain how to account for current liabilities”)Problems: no relevance, heavy jargon, no connective narrativeRevised approach:Break down to the two pillars – debt vs. equityUse a single guiding question for every transaction– Turn abstract concepts into a story/real‑world scenario (hardware store purchase)Outcome: clarity, immediate relevance, actionable mental model9. Teaching Strategies & the “Three Core Questions”What do I need to know / be able to do?How do I know that I know it? (self‑check, evidence of mastery)What is the best way for this information to enter my brain? (mode of delivery)Aligns learning tasks with assessment of understanding, not rote recall10. Leveraging AI as an “Externalizer”AI externalises context that learners can’t generate themselvesGenerates simulations, podcasts, primers tailored to the student’s struggleTurns inaccessible material into play‑space affordances (feedback loops, instant results)11. Game‑Based / Serious‑Game LearningVideo‑game principles: immediate, intrinsic feedback; safe to failSimulated environments (e.g., “accounting office at Riverton Metalworks”)Engages the ADHD/ neurodivergent brain by activating interest & motivation12. The “Engagement Triangle” – Sustaining MotivationWay‑in: a meaningful entry point (clear “why”)Reason‑to‑stay: ongoing relevance, feedback, sense of progressWay‑back‑on‑track: tools/strategies to recover when engagement slips13. Richard's Coaching ProcessFour phases (2–3 sessions each) – rapid, dependency‑freePhase 1: intake, diagnosis of barriers, selection of a single coursePhase 2: building a learning workflow/engine for that coursePhase 3: testing, tweaking, handing over control to the studentPhase 4: scaling the system across other subjects14. Resources & Call‑to‑ActionWebsite: abovethemaze.ca – book an appointment, learn moreShow notes will contain links, contact info, and supplemental material15. Closing Remarks (Host – Cheryl)Introduction to Insight to Impact Coaching & ConsultingEmphasis on parent transformation as the foundation for teen successInvitation to a no‑pressure discovery call (90‑day life‑change promise)Richard Comeau is an educational systems designer and learning strategist who works with teens and university students who are capable but chronically overwhelmed, disengaged, or shut down by school. His work focuses on rebuilding a student’s trust in their own thinking by removing cognitive overload, clarifying what they are actually supposed to be doing, and creating learning environments where understanding becomes possible again. Rather than tutoring content, Richard designs personalized learning systems that help students move from confusion and avoidance to confidence, agency, and sustained engagement.Website: https://abovethemaze.ca Email: [email protected] https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-comeau-above-the-maze-809898388/Connect with Cheryl!The Good Divorce Show Episode https://open.spotify.com/episode/2hIILoayZV2oQu5zEzJdcP?si=wl8O0S9YSCCwkUSJQAYcrQLet’s Chat https://tidycal.com/cherylpankhurst/consultation-chatSleep supportDIRECT LINK TO COACHING WITH CHERYL email : [email protected] Website  cherylpankhurst.comSOCIALS:linkedin.com/in/l. R.cheryl-ann-pankhurst-1b611855https://www.instagram.com/cheryl.a.pankhurst/                       https://www.facebook.com/cheryl.a.pankhurstPODCAST- “PARENTING TEENS ADVICE REDEFINED FOR TODAY’S WORLDTHE PODCASThttps://open.spotify.com/show/4QwFMJMDDSEXJb451pCHO9?si=9c1a298387c84e13https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLYv9FQy1X43wwoYg0zF8zAJw6-nCpHMAk&si=7p-e4UlU2rsG3j_tOptin-podcast subscriberhttps://www.cherylpankhurst.com/teen-minds-redefined-podcastJoin our Podcast Private Facebook Group!https://www.facebook.com/groups/httpswww.facebook.comgroups1258426648646523What’s it like to work with me!MINI-COURSE