Coming August 25th!
Available for pre-order
An indispensable, first-of-its-kind roadmap for parents and educators of neurodivergent children, packed with science-backed strategies and real-life stories to help every child thrive in—and beyond—the classroom.
About the book
Your neurodivergent child is growing up in a world that wasn’t built for them. A world that asks them to sit still, learn in the same way as everyone else, and thrive in a system that too often ignores their unique strengths. Because of the way their brain is wired, school can feel overwhelming—for them and for you. But your child is not broken. They are amazing.
Child psychologist and mom of two neurodivergent sons, Emily W. King, PhD, has spent twenty years listening to kids, parents, and teachers, and building bridges between them. In The Neurodivergent Learner, she combines cutting-edge neuroscience with real-life stories to show parents how to stop pushing their children into a mold—and instead help them flourish on their own path. With warmth, expertise, and a deep understanding of how kids actually learn, Dr. King gives families the confidence and tools to partner with educators, reduce stress at home, and nurture the whole child.
Inside, you’ll discover:
What’s really happening in your child’s brain when school feels “too much.”
Why homework, testing, and traditional classrooms often miss the mark—and what to do instead.
Practical strategies for working with teachers (not against them) to create learning environments where your child thrives.
How to manage energy, anxiety, and overwhelm without sacrificing joy, curiosity, or confidence.
Stories from kids themselves that reveal how empowering it feels to be understood.
Tools to help your child embrace their uniqueness, find their allies, and redefine what success looks like—inside and outside the classroom.
As Dr. King writes, "our children don’t need fixing—they need understanding, creativity, and collaboration." Whether your child is autistic, gifted, has ADHD, or simply learns differently, The Neurodivergent Learner is the essential guide to helping them find success in school and beyond.
Praise for The Neurodivergent Learner
“Neurodivergence is like a snowflake, no two cases are alike, so how did Dr. Emily write a book that can help EVERYONE? Her approach is full of “scripts” that will help you facilitate vital conversations with teachers, administrators, and your incredibly awesome kid. With this book, you will have everything you need to connect with your child, and with the people who support them.”
— Penn Holderness, author of NYT best-seller ADHD is Awesome
“The Neurodivergent Learner will help both teachers and parents understand students who think and feel differently. There should always be an emphasis on rewarding a student when they do something right."
—Temple Grandin, PhD, author of Thinking in Pictures
"Dr. Emily King ’s deep expertise and understanding of neurodivergence and education shines in The Neurodivergent Learner, a book I will be recommending enthusiastically to both parents and teachers."
— Jessica Lahey, author of the NYT best-seller The Gift of Failure
"The Neurodivergent Learner is a treasure trove of practical tools and heartfelt advice from an expert psychologist and mother on the front lines. Every parent and teacher of neurodivergent learners should read this book!"
— Mona Delahooke, PhD, author of Beyond Behaviors and Brain-Body Parenting
"Emily King offers a thoughtful, practical, and deeply affirming guide for understanding and supporting neurodivergent children. The Neurodivergent Learner helps parents and educators move beyond behavior management and toward connection, regulation, and true belonging. Grounded in science and full of real-world wisdom, this book is an invaluable resource for anyone helping children thrive exactly as they are."
— Tina Payne Bryson, LCSW, Ph.D., co-author of NYT best-sellers The Whole-Brain Child & No-Drama Discipline
“The Neurodivergent Learner is filled with tangible, principled tips for families that want to empower their Autistic and ADHDer children in their unique learning journey. This book asserts that all neurodivergent children deserve to lead fulfilling lives that align with how their brains and bodies actually work, and helps parents figure out how to get them there.”
—Devon Price, PhD, author of Unmasking Autism
"The Neurodivergent Learner quietly changes the question parents have been asking. Instead of "how do I help my child fit in at school," Dr. King teaches us to ask, "how do I help the people around my child understand who they already are?" This book provides an affirming framework paired with real, usable tools, and exactly what parents have been missing."
— Emily Kircher-Morris, LPC, Co-author of Neuro-affirming Schools, Host of The Neurodiversity Podcast
"Expertly balancing professional and lived experience, Dr. Emily weaves a compelling narrative of actionable, interesting, and realistic internvetions to help any school or family better understand and meet the needs of their child. If you work with and/or love complex kids, this book is a MUST."
— Dr. Matt Zakreski, PsyD, author of Neurodiversity Playbook
"If only this book had existed when my own complex, neurodivergent child was struggling in school. It didn't — but now it does. The Neurodivergent Learner is the resource so many families need at the very start of this journey, with the potential to help an entire generation of neurodivergent kids move through school without the trauma so many of us know all too well."
— Debbie Reber, Founder & CEO Tilt Parenting, author of Differently Wired
"As a mom to neurodivergent boys and child psychologist, Dr. Emily King sits on both sides of the table. Her insight into learning strategies and academic opportunities is invaluable. This book will change how you view the academic experience for all neurodivergent students. A must-read for both parents and educators!"
— Carrie Cariello, co-author of the NYT best-seller Autism Out Loud
"With the latest science, personal experience, and engaging narrative, Emily King lights a path not just to understanding neurodivergent learners, not just to helping them function, but to positioning them for success as students and beyond. Parents, teachers, and the students themselves will hang on every word as Dr. Emily shows how to go beyond just completing school and schoolwork but to benefiting from it as much or more than any other student."
— Holden Thorpe, PhD, Editor-in-Chief of Science
"Dr. Emily King's book is the one I wish I'd had when my kids were younger. It's deeply practical, with helpful scripts and email templates, while grounding everything in how neurodivergent children's nervous systems, sensory worlds, and learning styles actually work."
— Dr. Megan Anna Neff, PsyD, author of Self-Care for Autistic People
“This book is equally essential and brilliant—a must-read for all parents of neurodivergent children. Dr. Emily offers concrete tools and important education, often kept only in therapy offices, making them accessible and easy for parents to understand and implement.”
—Jessica VanderWier, psychotherapist and creator of Nurtured First Parenting