Evergreen Faculty Supporting Inclusion

A plain text version of the zine produced by Learning and Teaching Student Partner Jess Yusko in the 2025-2026 academic year. [pdf for download]

Cover

Evergreen Faculty Supporting Inclusion

A Framework for Inclusive and Culturally Sustaining Teaching at Evergreen volume 1 issue 1

Learning and Teaching Across Significant Differences

Evidence-based practices for diverse learners

Page 2

Welcome to this human-made zine

Providing a new context for the publication: A Framework for Inclusive and Culturally Sustaining Teaching at Evergreen. 

This zine features inclusive teaching strategies including inspiring practices developed by our own faculty 

The contents of this zine were compiled by Jess Yusko, Learning and Teaching Partner at the Evergreen State College during fall 2025-winter 2026 

As you read you will hear from Evergreen faculty in their own words. Let’s learn from one another! 

This zine was intentionally created without the use of generative AI after considering the ethical and environmental impacts of its use and as an effort to promote the intentional, slow creation of human-made art and writing at TESC. 

In an effort to reduce the stigma surrounding neurodivergence, I would like to share my own personal, lived experience as a neurodivergent student. Living with a diagnosis of ADHD made completion of a college degree more challenging, yet I am pleased to say (as of Spring 2025) I have earned completion of credits toward a B.A. from Evergreen with a focus on Studio Arts and Cultural Studies. 

Page 3

Key Themes:

  1. Flexibility (page 10)
  2. Clarity and Transparency (page 16)
  3. Self-agency and Autonomy (page 19)

Zine Adventure Guide: pages 4-6 introduction

  • Terminology
  • Identity/Stigma
  • Introducing Disability Justice

Key Concepts:

Page 23 Strength based strategies

Page 28 Accessibility

Page 6 Intersectionality

Page 7 Disability justice

Page 30 Call to Action

What are Evergreen already doing to promote inclusion of neurodivergent students and support learning outcomes? 

Let’s find out! 

Choose your adventure!  

Page 19 Agency and autonomy  

Flexibility page 10 

Page 4

Defining Neurodivergence and Neurodiversity:

“Coined by sociologist Judy Singer in, neurodiversity refers to the idea that all brains function differently and that this diversity is natural and beneficial for our species. Neurodiversity includes neurotypicality and neurodivergence.”- Shmulsky, S.(2022). Neurodiversity is diversity: how educators can support students who learn differently. 

Neurodivergence: Brains which diverge from the societal standard.  

(*Thanks to ADHD 2e MB Twoemb.medium.com and Carolyn Prouty for the following info.)  

Neurodivergent: a person whose brain differs, or diverges from the statistical norm 

Neurotypical: a person whose brain does not differ from the statistical norm 

Neurodiverse: a group of people with different types of brains 

Page 5

Neurodiversity Terminology and Identity

While recognizing there are many dimensions to identification, it is important to note that there can be both benefits and harms when it comes to labels. 

Many people prefer identity first language, but not all. If you are in doubt about how a person chooses to identify, the best practice is to ask them! 

Leadership of those Most Impacted 

As my teacher, and disability justice community organizer, Tara Hardy told us, remember that the experts in any subject are the ones with experience. We listen to the voices of those most impacted first. 

Note on Identity and Labels: 

Labels/Diagnoses 

Pros:  

Can improve access to service/ accommodations 

 Knowledge of others’ experience 

(community and support, reducing isolation) 

self-understanding 

Treatment learning outcomes fighting off stigma through unabashed appropriation of the label