56 Recommendations The following are the recommendations from the current study. They include recommendations for addressing neurodiversity, Christian schools for specialized learning, the profession, and potential future research. Recommendations for Schools Addressing Neurodiversity The first recommendation is to create a calm environment facilitated by teachers who have been given relevant training and are equipped to provide multisensory instruction for neurodiverse students. Additionally, administrators need to prioritize hiring qualified staff members who have a passion for and/or are specifically trained to meet the needs of the neurodiverse student. Providing a classroom setting that meets the needs of the learning-disabled student also includes classrooms with personnel who understand the social and emotional needs of these diverse students. An additional recommendation for schools with neurodiverse student populations is hiring counselors and the inclusion of emotional support dogs. The curriculum should include provisions for a relaxing and comforting setting for the neurodiverse learner. Although academic progress is generally the main goal of schools addressing neurodiverse students, the social and emotional elements and other comorbid diagnoses complicate elements of the environment. Public and private schools with neurodiverse learner programs provide accommodations and some modifications of the curriculum but only secondarily notice the social and emotional struggles of these complex learners. Evaluation of academic progress and success has made the dependency on high stakes testing a normal part of the educational environment. Because the neurodiverse learner is one who is best evaluated holistically, the researcher recommends administrators and professionals in the role of instruction prioritize standards-based grading and portfolio style evaluation where teachers provide feedback, and students reflect on their own progress and growth. One additional recommendation from the current study is that administrators choose curriculum that provides the best method of instruction for all students. Recommendations for Christian Schools with a Specialized Learning Environment Heads of Christian Schools begin by presenting the mission/vision of the school, setting the tone, and ensuring that stakeholders hold to the principles of inclusion of all students, especially neurodiverse learners. Out of all of the educational environments, the Christian environment best develops leaders for the future by appreciating and helping address the holistic needs of neurodiverse students. Perhaps better than any public school, Christian schools include two additional dimensions, character training and development of true gifts and talents, due to their flexibility in teaching their students the love of God and acceptance of all learners. In addition to the social and emotional components addressed in the current study, the culture and spirit of a Christian school were also examined. The current study found a strong correlation to the Christian atmosphere, which included Biblical integration, prayer, and acceptance of students as “fearfully and wonderfully made by God” (New International Version, 1984, Psalms 139:14). Each theme noted in the current study overlapped with the theme of religious aspects, therefore suggesting the recommendation of a Christian environment for support and comfort for any specialized learning environment, whether for neurodiversity or other focused and targeted learning. Recommendations for Future Research The current study sets the foundation for other specialized private schools. Based on the findings of the current study, further research into the effects of emotional support animals and stress relief strategies is warranted. The researcher further recommends more individual studies into the exact elements found in this Christian environment, as there is no record of other specified learning environments meeting the needs of a neurodiverse learner in a Christian school. Participants pointed to an encouraging Christian tone for which they had underestimated the impact. Inspire Academy is a small Christian private school dedicated to the instruction of neurodiverse learners. Research into the effects of a larger private Christian school implementation with the same program components as Inspire Academy would be a suggested addition to the study. Dana Judd, Ed.D.
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