On October 22, students from Class 1a of the Julius Janonis Gymnasium in Šiauliai visited the Šiauliai Academy of Vilnius University, accompanied by their homeroom teacher, I. Adomavičienė, and career counselor A. Abukaitienė.
The students attended an open lecture titled “Neurodiversity: Recognizing Differences, Discovering Common Ground,” led by Associate Professor Margarita Jurevičienė, Ph.D., and Associate Professor Simas Garbenis, Ph.D. The lecture gave the students an opportunity to expand their knowledge of neurodiversity and learn about career opportunities for special education teachers and speech-language pathologists. Neurodiversity was presented as a natural expression of differences in how people cognize, learn, communicate, and perceive the world. The students actively participated in the activities, engaged in discussions, asked questions, and completed various exploratory tasks. Their participation revealed their curiosity, initiative, and openness to different experiences. During the discussions, the students deepened their understanding of individual learning needs and the importance of recognizing each person’s strengths. While completing the tasks, they had the opportunity to reflect on how different ways of receiving and expressing information enrich the overall learning experience. When discussing the benefits of inclusive education, the importance of an accessible, flexible, and respect-based learning environment became clear. The activities encouraged students to view differences among people as a source of community diversity and knowledge. The lecture provided an opportunity to foster empathy, collaborative skills, and a respectful attitude toward each person’s individuality.
By learning about the profession of a special education teacher, the students gained insight into identifying individual educational needs, adapting teaching methods, and providing support to help students realize their potential. By learning about the profession of a speech-language pathologist, they broadened their understanding of the development of language, speech, and communication skills, as well as their importance for a person’s participation in daily life.