Why We're Developing a Neurodiversity-Affirming SEL Measure

One of the most exciting Social Stencil research projects currently underway isn't the curriculum itself—it's the measure we're creating to evaluate it.

For decades, social and emotional learning (SEL) programs, and the measures used to evaluate them have reflected only neurotypical social and emotional preferences. The skills, behaviours and communication styles considered "socially competent" were typically defined through a neurotypical lens, while anything outside of those expectations was often understood and measured as a deficit.

We now have inclusive SEL programs that recognise social and emotional differences as natural variations to understand and respect, rather than deficits to correct.

But we don't yet have measures that evaluate those programs from the same perspective.

Building a Measure That Matches the Paradigm

Together with a small team of psychology students from the University of Melbourne, we've created a potential SEL measure for schools.

The project has involved carefully developing questionnaire items that reflect neurodiversity-affirming principles, capturing social emotional themes and variations, rather than assuming one "correct" way to communicate, build relationships or regulate emotions.

The current stage of the research focuses on two initial elements, pilot testing and construct validity. We’re now trialing the measure in an Australian school pre- and post- intervention (Social Stencil Tier 1). We’re also now asking experienced neurodiversity-affirming advocates, trained Social Stencil Facilitators and young people to review each item and provide feedback about whether it measures what it is intended to measure, whether the wording is affirming, and whether the questions are clear and meaningful for young people.

This community feedback is an important first step before moving into larger-scale psychometric testing.

More testing and development will happen over time, and once psychometric properties are strong, this measure will be freely available to researchers, schools and clinicians.

We're excited to share updates as this research progresses and grateful to everyone contributing their expertise along the way.