Texas · LISD
Neurodiversity in FIRST
Making FIRST genuinely accessible for neurodiverse students — not just permitted, but truly welcoming.
The Problem
Neurodiverse students are underrepresented in STEM programs. The barrier isn’t ability — it’s environment and communication.
- 01 Started FIRST Access in LISD — 7 dedicated teams for neurodiverse and physically disabled students.
- 02 Mentored students weekly throughout the season.
- 03 Advocated to the LISD CTE Board for program integration.
- 04 Collaborated with FIRST in Texas.
- 05 Worked with researchers: Dr. Stasik (Vanderbilt), Dr. Grandin (University of Illinois), Dr. Harrison (University of Melbourne), and Mr. Bernstein (published author).
- 06 Mentored FTC team 15477 through the Neurodiversity Education Research Center.
- 07 Hosted an FLL Mock Scrimmage — 8 teams attended.
7 FIRST Access teams
4 university research partners
1 FLL scrimmage
40+ students reached
Developing a mentor-connection app and a video resource library for neurodiverse-focused teams nationwide.