EP77: Why Neurodivergent Kids Shut Down at School (And How to Fix It)

A child who's shut down isn't being difficult. They've decided the room isn't safe to try in. Bright, capable neurodivergent kids quietly check out of school every day—and it almost never gets read as what it really is. In this episode, I sit down with educator and author Victoria Bagnall to unpack why trust erodes, how to spot it before a kid disappears entirely, and what it actually takes to win them back. Spoiler: it isn't a reward chart. You'll walk away able to see disengagement completely differently—and with a real path to rebuild. Find Victoria's work and her book, The Neuroinclusive Educator, at victoriabagnall.com or connect her on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoria-bagnall-38204251/