Seeking Refuge: A Community Educator’s Reflections on Neurodivergent Teaching and Hope
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37119/ojs2026.v31i1.941Abstract
How does art help to engage youth, and how can educators help create spaces where art can be created in ways that are critical and that connect with everyday life? In this reflective narrative essay, Courtney Fowler, a community educator and performer, shares her approach to teaching and learning by exploring her experiences with the Blackout Project. The piece examines how shame-free spaces can help neuroqueer youth use art to affirm their identities and to frame complex issues through storytelling and artistic performance.
Keywords: neurodivergence, neuroqueer, community-based arts education, community-educator
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Copyright (c) 2026 Courtney Fowler
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