Young people are changing Scouting by bringing their diversity and self-awareness into our dens, camps, and meetings: Are you ready to make Scouting accessible to everyone?
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Every year, more young people are diagnosed with autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and a number of other neurological conditions. Find out how you can make sure your Scout group is accessible for them.
For Leaders
Neurodiverse Scout Groups are a different way of making sure everyone can participate in Scouting. Find out how you can give young people opportunities to thrive in Scouting no matter what.
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Articles for Leaders:
- Youth Leading, Adults SupportingGreat program happens when we support youth members to lead in Scouting – when young people get to set goals for the unit, create a programme, and deliver activities, they’re making a Scout group that meets their needs and interests. In the same way, we can create neurodiverse Scout groups which fit everyone’s needs byContinue reading “Youth Leading, Adults Supporting”
- Working together with parentsThe most important resource available to help you make Scouting an exciting and meaningful experience for neurodiverse Scouts is their own parents or caregivers. While you may not feel a need to engage too much with the parents of some Scouts, having a strong working relationship with caregivers is vital when a neurodiverse Scout mightContinue reading “Working together with parents”
- The Golden Rule of InclusionWhen modifying an activity or a program, it’s easy to become concerned about making it accessible to everyone, even those who aren’t participating. While we do need to ensure that every young person who wants to be part of Scouting can, don’t make any more modifications than are necessary to ensure everyone can be involved.Continue reading “The Golden Rule of Inclusion”
- Using checklistsChecklists can also help your Scouts (particularly older ones) manage themselves when they need to have or do multiple things. Again, it might seem mechanical or time-intensive to prepare the checklists, but the pay off is greater than the cost if you no longer have to prompt or nag every youth member when something needsContinue reading “Using checklists”
- Using Visual ResourcesVisual resources and instructional plans allow Scouts to keep working on a task without having to ask a leader or adult for immediate guidance or support. Using visual resources might seem like ‘turning Scouts into school’, but is actually a way to promote all the best things about Scouts – learning by doing rather thanContinue reading “Using Visual Resources”
Articles for parents:
- Medication on campIf your Scout is prescribed medication Before leaving for camp: Ensure your child is aware of what medication they take , when they need to take it (and how much), why they need to take it, who can help them manage their medication on camp and No matter who is managing medication, place all medicationsContinue reading “Medication on camp”
- Changing Scout GroupsAs your child grows and moves through the sections of Scouting, you may find that a Scout Group which was previously suitable is no longer providing a fun and enriching experience for your child. You may find that there has been a change in adult leadership, or that an older section may operate very differentlyContinue reading “Changing Scout Groups”
- Choosing a neurodiversity-friendly Scout groupJust like schools, every Scout group is different: It may be wise to try several Scout groups before choosing one to stay at. Some Scout Leaders and groups have extensive experience with neurodiverse Scouts. Others may think they don’t have any at all (although it’s likely this isn’t quite accurate – they may have justContinue reading “Choosing a neurodiversity-friendly Scout group”
- Who is The Neurodiverse Scout Group for?This book is for anyone who works with, parents, or is a neurodiverse Scout. You might be: A Leader of Youth (Cub Scout Leader, Scout Leader, etc.) who wants to lead neurodiverse young people more effectively A Group Leader who wants to make sure that everyone in their local community can be part of ScoutingContinue reading “Who is The Neurodiverse Scout Group for?”
About Us
The Neurodiverse Scout Group was started when leaders realised there had to be a better way to include every young person in Scouting – through a program which is designed to be accessible but still challenging.
The Neurodiverse Scout Group 