Provides a 165-item checklist to describe strengths in students with special needs. This checklist can also be used with typically developing students. There are two checklists: one for elementary and secondary students, and one for early childhood education. The checklist is taken from my book Neurodiversity in the Classroom: Strength-Based Strategies to Help Students with Special Needs Succeed in School and Life, published by ASCD. For information on ordering this book, or for more information about ASCD, visit www.ascd.org. For more information about this book and other books I've written, go to my website, www.institute4learning.com (the website of the American Institute for Learning and Human Development). I'm am available for workshops and other presentations on helping educators reframe students with special needs as ''neurodiverse'' rather than ''disabled,'' and utilize strategies, tools, and resources to help students with special needs flourish.
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Neurodiversity Strengths Checklists
1. Neurodiversity Strengths
Checklist
Thomas Armstrong, Ph.D.
www.institute4learning.com
thomas@institite4learning.com
2. Neurodiversity Strengths Checklist –
Elementary - Secondary
Personal Strengths Communication Strengths
___ Enjoys working independently ___ Explains ideas or concepts well to others
___ Has a good sense of his/her personal strengths and ___ Asks good questions
weaknesses ___ Is a good storyteller
___ Learns from past mistakes ___ Is a good joke teller
___ Has persistence in carrying out assignments or activities ___ Has good listening skills
___ Is courageous in dealing with adversity and/or the ___ Handles verbal feedback (especially negative feedback)
unknown well
___ Keeps a personal diary or journal ___ Has good articulation ability
___ Has a good sense of humor ___ Is able to effectively use non-verbal cues to communicate
___ Possesses a sense of responsibility with others
___ Has strong opinions about controversial topics ___ Is persuasive in getting someone to do something
___ Marches to the beat of a different drummer ___ Has good assertive skills without being pushy
___ Handles stressful events well (e.g. is resilient)
___ Has good character (e.g. honesty, integrity, fairness) Emotional Strengths
___ Has the ability to set realistic goals for him/herself
___ Has a sense of confidence or high self-esteem ____ Is emotionally sensitive to perceiving the world around
___ Has good self-discipline him/her
___ Has personal ambitions in life ____ Has an optimistic attitude toward life
___ Displays good common sense ____ Can tell how he/she is feeling at any given moment
___ Possesses personal vitality, vigor, or energy ____ Can easily pick up on the emotional state of another
person
____ Is able to handle strong internal feelings in a
constructive manner
____ Receives gut feelings about things
From: Thomas Armstrong, Neurodiversity in the Classroom: Strength-Based Strategies to
Help Students with Special Needs Succeed in School and Life. Alexandria, VA: ASCD, 2012.
"Reproduced with permission. Learn more about ASCD at www.ascd.org."
3. Neurodiversity Strengths Checklist –
Elementary - Secondary
Social Strengths
Cognitive Strengths
___ Has leadership ability
___ Has a good sense of empathy for others ___ Has good organizational skills
___ Enjoys socializing with others ___ Has good study skills
___ Is good at helping others ___ Is able to use cognitive strategies (e.g. self-talk) in
___ Is kind or affectionate towards others solving problems
___ Has at least one good friend ___ Is able to pay close attention to details
___ Prefers working with others ___ Has a good short-term and/or long-term
___ Likes to play board games and/or card games with others memory
___ Has skill in refereeing disputes conflicts between ___ Is able to think ahead
classmates ___ Is able to become totally absorbed in an activity
___ Is polite and has good manners ___ Can easily divide his attention between two or more
___ Is able to work out his/her own conflicts with others activities
___ Works well in groups
___ Volunteers his/her time in some worthy cause Cultural Strengths
___ Belongs to at least one club or social group (e.g. Scouts.)
___ Has a good relationship with at least one family member ___ Has traveled to other countries
___ Is friendly to others ___ Speaks more than one language
___ Is good at sharing with others ___ Is tolerant of others who have cultural, ethnic, or racial
___ Follows class rules differences
___ Has a good relationship with at least one teacher in the ___ Has pride in his/her own cultural, ethnic, or racial
school background
___ Has good personal hygiene ___ Likes to find out about historical events around the world
___ Trusts others without being taken in ___ Enjoys learning about different cultural traditions
___ Is liked by his peers
From: Thomas Armstrong, Neurodiversity in the Classroom: Strength-Based Strategies to
Help Students with Special Needs Succeed in School and Life. Alexandria, VA: ASCD, 2012.
"Reproduced with permission. Learn more about ASCD at www.ascd.org."
4. Neurodiversity Strengths Checklist –
Elementary - Secondary
Literacy Strengths Visual-Spatial Strengths
___ Enjoys reading books ___ Has an aptitude for fixing machines
___ Has good reading comprehension ___ Likes to create three-dimensional structures with building
___ Enjoys doing word puzzles or playing word games materials
___ Is a good writer in one or more genres (e.g. poetry, ___ Is good at doing jigsaw puzzles or other visual puzzles
stories, reports, letters) ___ Is able to read maps well
___ Is a good speller ___ Reports being able to visualize images clearly
___ Has a large vocabulary ___ Gets information more easily through pictures than words
___ Enjoys listening to audio books or to someone telling a ___ Is sensitive to the visual world around him/her
story or reading out loud
Physical Strengths
Logical Strengths
___ Has a good sense of balance
___ Does well in science class ___ Learns material best when moving around
___ Can estimate things easily ___ Likes to ride his/her bike, skateboard, and/or other self-powered
___ Enjoys working with numbers and/or statistics personal vehicle
___ Is good at solving math problems ___ Is good at playing team sports like baseball, soccer, basketball, or
___ Has a chemistry set or other science kit that he/she works with football
at home ___ Is good at playing individual sports like tennis, swimming,
___ Has an interest in astronomy, chemistry, physics, or biology gymnastics, or golf
___ Enjoys logical or number games or puzzles like Rubik’s cube ___ Is in good physical health
or Sudoku ___ Likes to dance
___ Can easily calculate numbers in his/her head ___ Is physically strong
___ Is a fast runner or has other athletic abilities
___ Likes to exercise (e.g. weights, aerobics, jogging, treadmill)
___ Has good physical endurance
___ Has good physical flexibility
From: Thomas Armstrong, Neurodiversity in the Classroom: Strength-Based Strategies to
Help Students with Special Needs Succeed in School and Life. Alexandria, VA: ASCD, 2012.
"Reproduced with permission. Learn more about ASCD at www.ascd.org."
5. Neurodiversity Strengths Checklist –
Elementary - Secondary
Dexterity Strengths Musical Strengths
___ Has a hobby building model cars, planes, ships or other ___ Is sensitive to the rhythms of music
similar projects ___ Enjoys playing a musical instrument
___ Displays good handwriting ___ Knows the music and lyrics of many songs
___ Likes to juggle or do magic tricks ___ Has a particular interest in one or more musical
___ Enjoys hand crafts like knitting, crocheting, embroidery, genres (e.g. rock, classical, jazz)
or needlepoint ___ Enjoys listening to music
___ Likes to make things with his/her hands ___ Has a good sense of hearing auditory acuity
___ Has good tactile ability ___ Has a good sense of pitch
___ Enjoys arts and crafts like origami, collage, and/or paper ___ Has a good singing voice
maché ___ Makes up his/her own tunes or melodies with or
___ Enjoys woodworking, carpentry, carving, and/or metal without/lyrics
work
____Has good eye-hand coordination High Tech Strengths
___ Likes to spend time using a computer, tablet, or smart
Nature Strengths phone
___ Has a facility for playing video games
___ Has good rapport with animals ___ Likes to surf the Internet
___ Is good at taking care of plants in the classroom or at home ___ Knows how to set up audio-visual or computer equipment
___ Is sensitive to weather patterns ___ Likes to text on the phone
___ Takes care of a pet at home or at school ___ Enjoys social networking (e.g. blog, website, Facebook)
___ Is concerned about the welfare of the planet (e.g. is ___ Enjoys using a still camera or video camera to record
ecologically-minded) events or express him/herself
___ Likes to go hiking and/or camping in nature ___ Has several his/her own favorite movies or TV shows that
___ Enjoys studying nature (e.g. insects, plants, birds, rocks, he/she likes to talk about
and/or animals) ____Understands at least one computer language
___ Likes to hunt or fish
___ Has a good sense of direction
From: Thomas Armstrong, Neurodiversity in the Classroom: Strength-Based Strategies to
Help Students with Special Needs Succeed in School and Life. Alexandria, VA: ASCD, 2012.
"Reproduced with permission. Learn more about ASCD at www.ascd.org."
6. Neurodiversity Strengths Checklist –
Elementary - Secondary
Creative Strengths Miscellaneous Strengths
___ Expresses him/herself dramatically ___ Likes collecting things (e.g. stamps, coins, buttons)
___ Has a good imagination ___ Loves to cook
___ Enjoys doodling, drawing, and/or painting ___ Has a love of learning new things
___ Likes to act in plays and skits ___ Is a good test taker
___ Works well with clay or other forms of sculpture ___ Possesses a good memory for nighttime dreams
___ Demonstrates creativity in one or more school ___ Is curious about the world around him/her
assignments ___ Has a good sense of time
___ Possesses a love of beautiful things ___ Manages money well
___ Has ideas for futuristic or fantastic projects ___ Has good fashion sense in the clothes he/she wears
___ Comes up with ideas that nobody else has thought of ___ Has good entrepreneurial skills (e.g. has started own
business) started his/her own business
Other Strengths (write in other strengths not mentioned
Spiritual Strengths Other Strengths (write in any other strengths not mentioned in
checklist):
___ Enjoys meditation, yoga, or some other form of elsewhere in checklist):
contemplation
___ Asks big life questions (e.g. what is the purpose of
life?)
___ Has a deep sense of wisdom
___ Participates in religious or other spiritual events
___ Has a philosophical attitude toward life
___ Has a strong faith in something higher than
him/herself
From: Thomas Armstrong, Neurodiversity in the Classroom: Strength-Based Strategies to
Help Students with Special Needs Succeed in School and Life. Alexandria, VA: ASCD, 2012.
"Reproduced with permission. Learn more about ASCD at www.ascd.org."
7. Neurodiversity Strengths Checklist -
Early Childhood
Personal Strengths Communication Strengths
___ Enjoys working independently ___ Explains ideas or concepts well to others
___ Learns from past mistakes ___ Asks good questions
___ Has persistence in carrying out activities ___ Is a good storyteller
___ Is courageous in dealing with adversity and/or the ___ Is a good joke teller
unknown ___ Has good listening skills
___ Has a good sense of humor ___ Handles verbal feedback (especially negative feedback) well
___ Possesses a sense of responsibility ___ Has good articulation ability
___ Has strong opinions about things ___ Is able to effectively use non-verbal cues to communicate
___ Marches to the beat of a different drummer with others
___ Handles stressful events well. ___ Is persuasive in getting someone to do something
___ Has good character (e.g. honesty, integrity, fairness)
___ Has a sense of confidence or high self-esteem Emotional Strengths
___ Has good self-discipline
___ Has personal ambitions in life ____ Is emotionally sensitive to perceiving the world around
___ Displays good common sense him/her
___ Possesses personal vitality, vigor, or energy ____ Has an optimistic attitude toward life
____ Can accurately tell how he/she is feeling
____ Can easily pick up on the emotional state of another person
____ Is able to handle strong internal feelings in a
constructive manner
From: Thomas Armstrong, Neurodiversity in the Classroom: Strength-Based Strategies to
Help Students with Special Needs Succeed in School and Life. Alexandria, VA: ASCD, 2012.
"Reproduced with permission. Learn more about ASCD at www.ascd.org."
8. Neurodiversity Strengths Checklist -
Early Childhood
Social Strengths Cognitive Strengths
___ Shows leadership ability ___ Has good organization
___ Has a good sense of empathy for others ___ Uses self-talk) in solving problems
___ Enjoys socializing with others ___ Is able to pay close attention to details
___ Is good at helping others ___ Has a good memory
___ Is kind or affectionate towards others ___ Is able to think ahead
___ Has at least one good friend ___ Is able to become totally absorbed in an activity
___ Prefers working with others ___ Can divide attention between two or more
___ Likes to play games with others activities
___ Has skill in refereeing between peers
___ Is polite and has good manners Cultural Strengths
___ Is able to work out his/her own conflicts with others
___ Works well in groups ___ Has traveled to other countries
___ Has a good relationship with at least one family ___ Speaks more than one language
member ___ Is tolerant of others who have cultural, ethnic, or
___ Is friendly to others racial diversities
___ Is good at sharing with others ___ Has pride in his/her own cultural, ethnic, or racial
___ Follows rules well background
___ Has a good relationship with at least one teacher ___ Enjoys learning about different cultural traditions
___ Has good personal hygiene
___ Trusts others without being taken in
___ Is liked by his peers
From: Thomas Armstrong, Neurodiversity in the Classroom: Strength-Based Strategies to
Help Students with Special Needs Succeed in School and Life. Alexandria, VA: ASCD, 2012.
"Reproduced with permission. Learn more about ASCD at www.ascd.org."
9. Neurodiversity Strengths Checklist -
Early Childhood
Literacy Strengths Visual-Spatial Strengths
___ Enjoys having books read to him/her ___ Is attracted to machines.
___ Engages in emergent reading activities ___ Likes to create structures with building blocks or other
___ Enjoys manipulating word blocks materials
___ Engages in emergent writing activities. ___ Is good at doing jigsaw puzzles or other visual puzzles
___ Has a speaking vocabulary advanced for age ___ Likes to look a maps.
___ Enjoys listening to audio books or to someone telling a ___ Seems to have a good imagination.
story ___ Gets information more easily through pictures than words
___ Likes to be around books. ___ Is sensitive to the visual world around him/her
Logical Strengths Physical Strengths
___ Does well with science-related activities ___ Has a good sense of physical balance.
___ Enjoys playing with number blocks or games. ___ Learns material best when moving around
___ Enjoys counting or using numbers in different ways ___ Likes to ride his/her bike, trike, skateboard, and/or other
___ Likes to engage with math manipulative materials self-powered personal vehicle
___ Has an interest in science topics. ___ Enjoys playing team sports
____Often asks ‘’why’’ questions (e.g. ‘’why is the sky blue?”) ___ Is in good physical health
___ Likes to dance or move around creatively
___ Is physically strong for age
___ Is a fast runner or has other athletic abilities
___ Has good physical endurance
___ Has good physical flexibility
FFrom: Thomas Armstrong, Neurodiversity in the Classroom: Strength-Based Strategies to
Help Students with Special Needs Succeed in School and Life. Alexandria, VA: ASCD, 2012.
"Reproduced with permission. Learn more about ASCD at www.ascd.org."
"
10. Neurodiversity Strengths Checklist -
Early Childhood
Dexterity Strengths
Musical Strengths
___ Likes to make things with his/her hands
___ Has good tactile ability (e.g. gets information by touching ___ Is sensitive to the rhythms of music
things) ___ Enjoys playing around with a musical instrument
___ Enjoys arts and crafts activities like finger painting or ___ Knows the music and lyrics of many songs
collage. ___ Enjoys listening to music
___ Has good eye-hand coordination for age ___ Is sensitive to sounds.
___ Likes to sing
___ Makes up his/her own tunes or melodies.
Nature Strengths
High Tech Strengths
___ Has good rapport with animals ___ Likes to spend time using the computer or tablet
___ Is good at taking care of plants in the classroom or at home ___ Has a facility for playing video games
___ Is sensitive to weather patterns ___ Likes to go on the Internet
___ Takes care of a pet at home or at school ___ Enjoys using a still camera or video camera to record
___ Is concerned about the welfare of the planet (e.g. is events or express him/herself
ecologically-minded) ___ Has several his/her own favorite movies or TV shows that
___ Likes to go hiking and/or camping in nature he/she likes to talk about
___ Enjoys studying nature (e.g. insects, plants, birds, rocks,
and/or animals)
___ Has a good sense of direction
From: Thomas Armstrong, Neurodiversity in the Classroom: Strength-Based Strategies to
Help Students with Special Needs Succeed in School and Life. Alexandria, VA: ASCD, 2012.
"Reproduced with permission. Learn more about ASCD at www.ascd.org."
m, 2012. "Reproduced with permission. Learn more about ASCD at www.ascd.org."
11. Neurodiversity Strengths Checklist –
Early Childhood
Creative Strengths Miscellaneous Strengths
___ Expresses him/herself dramatically ___ Likes collecting things (e.g. stamps, coins, buttons)
___ Has a good imagination ___ Loves to cook
___ Enjoys doodling, drawing, and/or painting ___ Has a love of learning new things
___ Likes to act in made up plays and skits ___ Remembers and talks about nighttime dreams
___ Makes interesting things with clay ___ Is curious about the world around him/her
___ Has a good sense of time
___ Demonstrates creativity in other ways. ___ Seems to take interest in the clothes he/she wears.
___ Possesses a love of beautiful things ___ Has good entrepreneurial skills for age (e.g. thinks about starting
___ Has ideas for futuristic or fantastic projects own business).
___ Comes up with ideas that nobody else has thought of
Spiritual Strengths Other Strengths (write in any other strengths not mentioned in
checklist):
___ Enjoys meditation, yoga, or some other form of
contemplation
___ Asks big life questions (e.g. what is the purpose of
life?)
___ Seems to have a deep sense of wisdom
___ Participates in religious or other spiritual events
___ Has a philosophical attitude toward life
From: Thomas Armstrong, Neurodiversity in the Classroom: Strength-Based Strategies to
Help Students with Special Needs Succeed in School and Life. Alexandria, VA: ASCD, 2012.
"Reproduced with permission. Learn more about ASCD at www.ascd.org."