Study Tips for Neurodeviants Learning to Code (2023)

Learning to code is a very personal and individual process: there is certainly no one-size-fits-all strategy because we all have different thinking styles, skills, and experiences.

You may have heard the term "neurodiversity» is used to recognize that people's brains work in different ways. Part of neurodiversity is recognizing that many people “neurodivergente”, a non-medical umbrella term that categorizes certain mental or developmental conditions, such as ADHD, autism, dyslexia and dyspraxia.

About 10-30% ofpopulationthey have neurodivergent characteristics, and these differences can manifest in the way people learn, work, and communicate. When it comes tolearning to program like a neurodeviant personFor example, there are unique traits and challenges that can help or hinder someone's progress.

"Being neurodeviant can mean many different things to different people; there's a huge spectrum," she says.Nathan Whitbread, founder of The Neurodivergent Coach, an organization that helps individuals and companies create neuro-inclusive workplaces. "It really is about the individual." Understand the learning methods they define.yousuccess is a way to embrace your neurodiversity and alleviate some of the pain points you may encounter in your coding journey.

For Mental Health Awareness Month, we share learning tips based on the experiences of people with neurodeviations. This is not an exhaustive list, and what works for one person may not work for another. We hope some of these ideas can be a helpful starting point for people who are struggling or wondering if coding is for them.

Redefine your strategies

We are constantly compiling strategies that help us in our personal and professional lives. For example, you probably have personal tricks you rely on to help you remember to feed your pet, pay for the car, or get to work on time.

The key is finding ways to transfer the tools we have to other situations, says Nathan, who is neurodivergent. If so, what habits or practices do you use in other areas of your life that could be applied to learning to code? “Think about how we can take the gold we already have and reuse it or reuse it in other contexts,” he says. "It won't be exactly the same, but we can use the lessons we've learned before about what works for us."

For example, let's say you always log your workouts in an app or journal so you can remember the types of workouts you do every day and plan your future workouts. See if taking notes on the coding skills you're learning and practicing helps you capture important information and ideas. You can use your notes to reflect on what you've learned and report what you'll learn next, just like you do in the gym.

Or, if you're someone who lives on checklists, perhaps you could make a checklist of coding concepts or lessons you want to cover in one study session and use it to hold yourself accountable. Do you want to know what others are doing?read this blogto get time management tips from other Codecademy students.

Don't try to do it yourself

Having a strong support system can be a guiding light on your coding journey. Look for trusted mentors to encourage and inspire you and who can provide practical guidance along the way. There are plenty of vibrant online communities where you can connect with other aspiring developers, including the Codecademy community spaces specifically. become a memberdiscussionsin our forums,attend a virtual eventwith other students orexplore local Codecademy chaptersIn your area.

Whether it's your team leader at work or a fellow Codecademy student you metDiscord, having someone who genuinely cares about your progress and holds you accountable can make a world of difference on your path to success. (read this blogfor some specific advice on how to find a technical mentor).

Treat learning as a project

At its core, coding is a project that involves change, development, and testing. It can also help you structure your learning journey like a project, says Nathan. Don't be afraid to play around to find what works best for you and identify habits that aren't serving you, she says. Perhaps that means experimenting with your schedule or weekly learning objective, trying different forms of practice, or changing your workspace to see if it updates your perspective? Be flexible and maintain a growth mindset as you discover the approach that resonates with you.

Get in the groove

A common challenge some people with neurodeviations face when learning a new skill, such as coding, is feeling overwhelmed with information or like they are learning too quickly. "Some neurodeviant people like to delve into a subject," says Nathan. For example, you may go into great detail about a specific area, but you may not have a comprehensive understanding of the topic as a whole.

Attention to detail and focus can be crucial when learning a new skill, or it can be overwhelming. If you want, try segmenting and breaking topics or lessons into bite-size pieces, says Nathan. focusing on oneshort term goal(such as completing a course on a route or submitting a pull request) will help you prepare. Also use other opportunities to practice your skills outside of the classroom, such asworking on a projectocontributing to the papers.

embrace outsourcing

Some people who are neurodeviant may experience a process calledexecutive function. "Executive function" is like your brain's task manager: it's the set of skills responsible for making sure all the different parts of your brain work together so you can get things done.Examples of executive functionsIt can include things like prioritizing tasks, managing time, filtering out distractions, and controlling impulses. A person with poor executive function may have trouble starting and completing projects, following multi-step instructions, or switching tasks.

Using organizational apps and tools can be a game changer by allowing you to outsource or automate some of these tougher executive tasks. For example, if you tend to lose track of time while you'rein a state-flow encoding, consider setting calendar reminders to take breaks, communicate with your team, or reply to Slack messages. (On the other hand, some people may need to snooze notifications to focus, in which case, there are apps and resources for that.) Make sure you do.check this blogfor more apps that can help you manage work life boundaries.

These are just a few suggestions that you can try incorporating into your coding routine. But he remembers: "You're the expert on your own stuff," says Nathan. For more inspiration and motivation,read these true storiesabout how Codecademy students launched new careers after learning to code.