Project Recap

The NeuroInclusive Learning Network supports museums and other informal STEM institutions in creating inclusive, welcoming environments for individuals on the autism spectrum through research-informed professional learning and organizational change.

Project Overview

The NeuroInclusive Learning Network is a multi-year initiative funded by the National Science Foundation that seeking to strengthen informal STEM learning organizations’ ability to create inclusive environments for individuals on the autism spectrum. Led by the Institute for Learning Innovation (ILI) in partnership with the Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center (SARRC), SciTech, and regional STEM ecosystem partners, this effort advances a hybrid train-the-trainer professional development model focused on long-term organizational culture change.

Rather than focusing solely on isolated accommodations, participating institutions are embedding inclusive practices into everyday operations and exhibit design. This approach aims to strengthen accessibility in free-choice environments so neurodiverse learners and their families can meaningfully engage with STEM experiences.

In its second phase, ILI collaborates with science centers, zoos, botanical gardens, children’s museums and history museums in Miami, St. Louis, Oklahoma City, and Pheonix/Mesa. Participating institutions engage in digital learning modules, online coaching, site visits, and peer-based communities of practice. Core teams take part in incubators and coaching cycles to adapt inclusive practices to their local contexts.

Research with autistic teens, caregivers, and community members informs this work by examining visitor experiences, community attitudes toward inclusion, and how professional learning translates into more welcoming and supportive learning environments. These insights guide the ongoing refinement of training content, tools, and evaluation strategies.

This initiative builds on ILI’s long-standing focus on how learning happens in free-choice environments and how learning ecosystems can better support participation and belonging. By integrating research and practice, the project generates evidence-based strategies that help institutions embed inclusion into everyday practice rather than treating it as a special program or add-on. The resulting professional learning framework, tools, and national community of practice are designed to be scalable, sustainable, and adaptable across diverse informal learning settings, strengthening the field’s capacity to support inclusive STEM learning for all.