Teaching the Whole Learner: Supporting Mental Health and Neurodiversity in ABE Presented by Jimmie Heags - Webinar - Advanced registration required!

Teaching the Whole Learner: Supporting Mental Health and Neurodiversity in ABE Presented by Jimmie Heags

Date: Friday, July 11, 2025

Time: 1 - 3 p.m. Central Daylight Time (Not sure what time this is in your time zone? You can use Google or an online time zone converter.)

Cost: There is no fee for this training, but your tax-deductible donation will support our tutor training program and literacy learners across Minnesota!

Presenter: Jimmie Heags, Jr., MA, LSC, LPCC, LADC, ACS (he/him), Part-Owner, Canopy Mental Health & Consulting. About Jimmie.

Description: Adult learners bring a range of experiences, learning needs, and emotional challenges. This session helps ABE volunteers and professionals recognize signs of mental health concerns and neurodivergence (like autism or ADHD) without stepping into diagnosis.

You'll learn practical, trauma-informed strategies and inclusive teaching tools based on Universal Design for Learning (UDL) to support every learner—especially those navigating trauma, language barriers, or unrecognized learning differences.

What You’ll Learn

By the end of this session, you will be able to:

• Recognize signs of mental health challenges and neurodivergent behavior in adult learners.
• Understand how trauma, learning disabilities, and language barriers can affect learning.
• Use simple, trauma-informed strategies to support all learners.
• Create a more inclusive classroom using Universal Design for Learning (UDL).
• Know when and how to connect students to outside help—without trying to diagnose.

Please note that you may be asked to participate in discussion groups during the webinar. Please plan to join us from a quiet setting where you can see the PowerPoint slides and use your audio.

CEUs will be emailed to participants after the webinar, typically within 1-2 business days. Please note that if you miss more than 15 minutes of the session, we are unable to issue you CEUs or count your attendance towards a certificate.

If your schedule changes and you are no longer able to attend, please check our training calendar for other dates or video trainings. Teaching the Whole Learner: Supporting Mental Health and Neurodiversity in ABE Presented by Jimmie Heags is NOT currently available as a recording but is offered periodically. Please watch the calendar for upcoming dates.

This workshop meets the Foundations of Adult Education Tutoring requirements.

This workshop meets the Foundations of Volunteering in the Adult Education Classroom requirements.

This workshop meets the Literacy Minnesota Equity and Cultural Awareness in Education Certificate Program requirements.

Advanced registration required! Please click "Register" above. Registration is open up until the webinar start time, but we recommend registering at least one day in advance if possible in case you need assistance. We may not be available if you request registration assistance immediately before or at the webinar start time.

Questions? Contact Kelly at [email protected] or 651-251-9074.

Literacy Minnesota is committed to providing access for people with disabilities at our trainings and events. To request accommodations, please contact Kelly at [email protected] or 651-251-9074 at least two weeks in advance.