Educationist Advocates Safe, Inclusive Learning Environment for Neurodiverse Children

A Syrian-trained educational psychologist, Wael Al Awabdah, has urged teachers to embrace compassionate and inclusive teaching methods, stressing that children learn best when they feel safe and understood.
Awabdah made the call during a webinar themed Beyond the Cane and Command: The Modern Mystery for Neurodiverse Learning, organised by Solution Nest Education Initiative.
Speaking during the session, he explained that neurodiverse learning recognises conditions such as Autism Spectrum Disorder, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Dyslexia as natural differences in brain function rather than defects.
According to him, fear-based discipline methods are outdated and harmful to children’s ability to process information effectively.
“Fear blocks learning. If a child feels afraid, he or she is unlikely to learn anything because the prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain responsible for processing information, shuts down when the learner feels fear or anxiety,” he said.
Awabdah explained that children with ADHD are not intentionally difficult, noting that their brains are wired for novelty, urgency and immediate interest rather than delayed rewards or future consequences.
He advised teachers to break learning into short tasks with clear and immediate benefits, especially for children with unconventional learning styles.
The educationist also dismissed the notion that constant movement among some children amounts to misbehaviour, explaining that it is often a neurological response that helps them reset before another task.
He encouraged educators to establish routines and predictability in classrooms to reduce anxiety and improve concentration, while also avoiding sarcasm, idioms and vague instructions that may confuse neurodiverse learners.
Awabdah further noted that emotional meltdowns should not be treated as tantrums deserving punishment, but as signs of nervous system overload requiring calm intervention and support.
He also recommended sensory-friendly learning environments, including reducing loud noises and introducing short “brain breaks” to help learners regain focus.
Founder of Solution Nest Education Initiative, Henrietta Ikediashi, recounted how her perspective on children with learning differences changed while studying in Dubai.
She admitted that she once believed such children only needed stricter discipline until a classroom discussion on neurodiversity transformed her understanding.
According to her, the experience inspired the creation of the initiative in December 2025 to support children with learning differences through teacher training, parental support and safeguarding systems.
Also speaking, trustee of the organisation, Olufunke Amos, emphasised the importance of replacing punishment with empathy and understanding in classrooms.
She recently served as lead panellist at the webinar, which focused on promoting inclusive learning practices and supporting neurodiverse children across Nigeria.