Education and Giftedness Specialist
Sofie van de Waart is an education and giftedness specialist dedicated to the outliers in the classroom. Equal opportunities, giftedness, and inclusive education are themes she enjoys discussing. Neurodiversity in the workplace is also a current topic that frequently arises.
Our consultants would be happy to advise you on how best to tailor the narrative to your specific target audience.
Every neurodivergent child eventually becomes an adult. And then they enter the workplace.
Sofie van de Waart speaks with humor, decisiveness, and passion about giftedness, ADHD, and autism; both in education and in the corporate world. The challenges a child experiences in the classroom do not disappear when that same child joins your organization thirty years later. They merely shift location. Losing things, being late, immediately explaining how things are, or clinging to fixed routines are traits everyone recognizes. After her lecture, you will not only have laughed but also gained more understanding for that student or colleague and have concrete tools to address those challenges.
About Sofie:
Sofie van de Waart still enjoys teaching in the classroom on an irregular basis. Additionally, she likes to share her opinions on education through her contributions to the Algemeen Dagblad and Radio 1. She has extensive experience as a project leader in education, for a large Rotterdam school board, the Roosendaal partnership, and the Equal Opportunities Alliance.
ADHD, giftedness, and autism. What if ‘deviant behaviour’ is the key to better performance instead of a handicap you try to hide? Sofie turned her challenge into her strength and is eager to show how neurospicy colleagues can be a source of innovation. Would we have known Muhammad Ali as the greatest boxer of all time if he had been medicated because he was so hyperactive? Did you know that Gandhi had an extreme need for structure and barely spoke at school? And could Johan Cruyff have been gifted?
Sofie humorously takes the team through her unconventional perspective. Because the colleague who irritates you the most is often the one who adds the most value…
After this lecture, there is more understanding and job satisfaction for each other’s challenges and strengths, resulting in less absenteeism and better collaboration.
The child with ADHD, ASD, a language delay, the child with (school) trauma, gifted or struggling with learning… if they are all in one class with one teacher, it seems like an impossible task. Yet even more is expected from the education sector than we can currently achieve.
We have a shared mission to take steps towards inclusive education. But that doesn’t mean we can place everyone back in the same class without guidance. So how can you combine inclusive education with appropriate education for every child?
No golden promises, but concrete tools to make things a little better in the classroom tomorrow with everyone. So that together we can create equal opportunities and every child and teacher feels seen and acknowledged.
This lecture combines science, video clips, interaction, and courage with humour.
As a professional, humorous, and creative event chair, Sofie guides every event smoothly. Responding to unexpected situations, breaking the ice, and thorough preparation are naturally part of it.
With Sofie, you bring a burst of energy into the room. Without taking attention away from the speakers and guests, she unites the group, just like a class of children, into one whole. By making jokes, asking good questions, and being well-prepared on the topic, she knows how to break the ice and connect people.
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