About Us
What is the Diverse Pathways of Development?
Rethinking Development: Beyond Milestones and “Red Flags”
Rethinking Development: Beyond Milestones and “Red Flags”
The Diverse Pathways of Development is a resource for early educators, families, and professionals to deepen their understanding of non-neuronormative child development. It centres strengths-led, neurodiversity-affirming guidance rooted in lived experience, early years practice, and justice-oriented values.
Rethinking Development: Beyond Milestones and “Red Flags”
Rethinking Development: Beyond Milestones and “Red Flags”
Rethinking Development: Beyond Milestones and “Red Flags”
Traditional views of child development rely on universal milestones and narrow definitions of progress. When children diverge from this path, their differences are often framed as delays or deficits. Diverse Pathways challenges this framing , recognising that divergence reflects equally valid ways of sensing, playing, feeling, learning, and moving through the world.
From Deficit to Dignity
Rethinking Development: Beyond Milestones and “Red Flags”
From Deficit to Dignity
Children on divergent developmental pathways deserve recognition not for what they lack, but for how they experience and interact with the world. They may have support needs, but these should be met with sensitivity, not correction. This work asks us to affirm developmental difference, not erase it.
The Problem with “School Readiness”
The Problem with “School Readiness”
The Problem with “School Readiness”
Current child development guidance often centres on getting children “school ready”, a concept that privileges conformity and standardisation. While preparation for life transitions is important, it must be shaped around the child’s needs, values, and wellbeing, not imposed norms.
Towards Developmental Justice
The Problem with “School Readiness”
The Problem with “School Readiness”
We believe that child development should not be dictated by rigid outcomes. Instead, we must tune into what is meaningful to each child, in ways that honour identity, experience, and quality of life.
A Growing Vision
The Problem with “School Readiness”
A Growing Vision
Diverse Pathways is just the beginning. We aim to expand this work to include pathways for other neurotypes and disabilities, broadening access to affirming and ethical development guidance across childhood.
The Neurodiversity Affirming Early Childhood Collective
