Make Neurodiversity and Disability Training Mandatory in Nevada Schools

As a mother of neurodivergent children in Nevada, I have seen firsthand how much a child can change when they feel understood, respected, included, and supported. I have also seen how important it is for the adults around them to have the knowledge and tools to recognize their individual needs and strengths.

For many neurodivergent children, the school environment can present challenges that are not always visible. Some may experience sensory overload, communication difficulties, emotional regulation challenges, social isolation, bullying, or difficulty engaging with traditional teaching methods. These experiences can affect how they learn, participate, build relationships, and feel about themselves and their school environment.

But inclusion does not mean lowering expectations or allowing children to do whatever they want. It means understanding individual differences and giving educators practical tools to teach, support, and maintain appropriate expectations while helping students succeed.

Teachers and school staff should not be expected to navigate these challenges without adequate preparation. Nevada needs a statewide standard that provides practical training in autism, ADHD, and other neurodevelopmental differences, including communication, sensory needs, emotional regulation, positive behavior support, inclusion, bullying prevention, appropriate boundaries, and classroom participation.

I am asking Nevada to establish mandatory, ongoing training for teachers and relevant school staff—not only special education personnel and not only when a student has an IEP, 504 Plan, or formal diagnosis. Neurodivergent children are part of the entire school community, and many adults may interact with them throughout the school day.

Nevada already has provisions for training certain personnel who work with students with autism. However, important provisions are conditioned on money being available from the Grant Fund. We are asking lawmakers to establish a permanent statewide requirement with sustainable funding so essential training does not depend on temporary grants or whether funding happens to be available.

Children’s needs do not disappear when a grant ends.

Neurodivergence is not a temporary issue that disappears when a grant ends or a program’s funding runs out. Every child is different, and their needs may change over time, but they deserve consistent access to understanding, appropriate support, and informed adults throughout their education.

Support should evolve with the child—not disappear when funding does.

We are also asking Nevada to provide free, accessible training and resources for parents and caregivers of neurodivergent children, including families who homeschool. Parents deserve reliable information and practical tools to support communication, emotional regulation, sensory needs, learning, independence, appropriate boundaries, educational rights, and available resources.

This is not about telling parents how to raise their children. It is about making sure families have access to reliable information, practical tools, and knowledgeable professionals when they need them.

This is also not about placing more responsibility on teachers without giving them the tools to succeed. It is about preparing educators so they can better support the students entrusted to them.

When we prepare the adults, we give children a better opportunity to succeed.

We are asking Nevada lawmakers and education leaders to make neurodiversity and disability training a permanent priority—mandatory, ongoing, practical, and adequately funded.

Not optional.
Not temporary.
Not dependent on whether a grant is available.

Please sign this petition and help us advocate for a Nevada where every child is understood, respected, included, and given a meaningful opportunity to succeed.