A student with sensory processing differences is hypersensitive to sound. I invite you to take a moment to think about all the sounds filling the cafeteria at lunchtime. There are sounds of commercial equipment running, timers going off, the clanking of sheet metal pans, students talking with their friends, dismissal bells ringing, cafeteria staff reminding students to (pretty please) take a half cup of fruit or vegetable, or even the crunchy sound of a carrot. When you take a
neurodivergent students. And I agree. As School Nutrition Professionals, we have an opportunity to reimagine and reinvent the student experience in the cafeteria, where accessibility and safety are prioritized for all students, no matter their identity or diagnosis. But where do we start? I may not have the exact answer, but I have four suggestions that may be helpful. 1. Build awareness and keep learning. The awareness and learning phase is exactly where I‘m at right now. I’m following and learning from folks who have the lived experience of being neurodivergent. I’m also learning from professionals like Dietitian Naureen Hunani and organizations like Responsive Feeding Pro . 2. Invite, inquire, and involve neurodivergent students and their families. No one knows better than the students themselves (and their families) what kind of support they need in the school cafeteria. Find out how the school cafeteria could be doing better by asking willing students and families to share their experiences and recommendations. If you haven’t already, consider building a relationship with the Occupational Therapist, Speech Therapist, and 504 Coordinator. Share knowledge between your departments to work towards better supporting neurodivergent students. 4. Move towards action. It isn’t enough to know that we need to do better; we must implement the change that best supports neurodivergent students and their families. Remember that what that looks like will vary by student and that individualized solutions are best. When you look towards Professional Development this school year, how do you plan on expanding your perspective so that all students that come through the cafeteria are cared for and supported? 3. Build a relationship with other departments at school.
moment to think about it, it’s a lot. This everyday cafeteria setting can be overwhelming to a student who is hypersensitive to sound.
A student with social anxiety. The cafeteria is a very social environment. Students interact with their peers and adults throughout the entire lunch period. For a student with social anxiety, this is also an overwhelming environment that may impact how they communicate in the cafeteria. This could look like limited eye contact or not verbally communicating with cafeteria staff in the lunch line.
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A student with difficult hand- to-mouth coordination. Oral motor differences are common in neurodivergent students. Most cafeteria lunch times can feel rushed for students who do not have feeding difficulties. Now imagine how short lunchtime is for students who have to physically slow down and take their time to eat because that is what‘s best for their bodies. After reading those three examples, you might be thinking that the typical experience in a school cafeteria might not be what’s best for some
Angela is a second-career Registered Dietitian and recently transitioned out of her role as a Nutritionist at an Arizona school district to the School Lunch Coordinator position with LunchAssist. She started her career as a Dietitian over 4 years ago after unexpectedly falling in love with School Nutrition during her dietetic internship. Angela sees School Nutrition as the ideal place to bridge her passion for tasty food, nutrition education, health equity, and food justice. She loves any opportunity to be creative and feels that the world of School Nutrition continues to be a great place to flex those creative muscles. Angela Gomez, RDN, SNS LunchAssist; School Nutrition Coordinator
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