The ADHD Social Playbook Breaking Free from the Mask: A Real Conversation with Emily Kircher-Morris and Amanda Morgan [Part 1]
Sep 2, 2025
Emily Kircher-Morris, a clinical mental health counselor, focuses on neurodiversity-affirming education, while Amanda Morin, an education consultant, shares her insights as a parent of neurodivergent children. They dive into the pressures of masking and perfectionism in schools, explaining how these behaviors hide true needs and increase stress. Both share personal stories that reveal the profound impact of masking on anxiety and burnout, and advocate for empowering students with choices to foster authenticity in learning environments.
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School Expectations Drive Masking
- Schools often require students to mask by expecting them to act contrary to their authentic neurodivergent selves.
- Creating neurodiversity-affirming classrooms starts with educators recognizing masking and offering options for authenticity.
Let Teachers See The True Student
- Teachers should recognize they may not be seeing the true student when masking is present.
- Offer classroom opportunities that reveal authentic behavior rather than judging surface-level conduct.
Perfect Facade, Inner Disconnection
- Caroline describes her outwardly perfect school appearance while internally being 'in outer space' the whole time.
- She used a kilt, braids, and a name sweater as a facade that hid her inattention.