Kara Dymond

Background

About Kara Dymond

Kara Dymond, OCT, Ph.D, is a late-diagnosed autistic and ADHD advocate, author, teacher, consultant, researcher, and award-winning university lecturer. Kara is a student-centred educator who is passionate about collaborating closely with students, other teachers, and families to better support all learners. Since 2011, Kara has taught autistic students in the Toronto Catholic District School Board. Her students inspired her first book, The Autism Lens, and their contributions are her favourite parts! Her students were also central to Kara’s late diagnosis, as she realized the extent of her own neurodivergences from relating to her students, to Danny, and to other neurodivergent adults. Kara’s second book, Creating a Neurodiversity-Affirming Classroom: Easy Ways to Achieve Access, Agency and Wellbeing for All, is upcoming with Jessica Kingsley Publishers (2025). Kara is passionate about creating truly inclusive classrooms. Her doctoral research focused on teacher professional development needs which helped her to design and deliver workshops which honour teacher expertise, interests, and classroom contexts. As a sessional lecturer, Kara teaches courses in accessible education, neurodiversity, learning differences, and mental health at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto. Kara was awarded the 2024 Award for Excellence in Initial Teacher Education, nominated by colleagues and 21 graduate students. She is a co-investigator in an ongoing study on universal design for learning and accessibility in graduate teacher education. She received a King Charles Coronation Medal, a Governor General Award for service for improving autistic lives across Canada in 2025. Kara consults with organizations to improve understanding of allyship, accommodations, and accessibility needs. She is a frequent presenter to organizations on autism, neurodiversity, and creating neurodiversity-affirming spaces. Kara also coaches neurodivergent youth and adults, helping them to identify and work toward their goals, grow in self-compassion and understanding, and self-advocate for their needs. For fun, Kara co-hosts a podcast called Autistic Tidbits & Tangents with Maja Toudal, an autistic psychologist from Denmark; and Bruce Petherick, another Canadian autistic advocate. Episodes are on Spotify, YouTube, and other platforms.