Claudia Rose Addeo expands children's book series

For students in Roslyn and beyond, the narrative surrounding neurodiversity is shifting from a focus on deficits to one on varied learning styles. Claudia Rose Addeo, a 30-year-old author and educator, is positioning her personal history as a model for this approach. She has announced plans to expand her debut children's book into a series that will cover her middle school and high school years.

Addeo's journey began in early childhood. At age 2½, she received diagnoses for pervasive developmental disorder, a severe speech delay, and an auditory processing delay. She did not speak until she was four years old. At age 3, doctors also identified spastic diplegia, a form of cerebral palsy affecting muscle control. For the next decade, she underwent speech, occupational, and physical therapy while attending school with accommodations.

In fourth grade, her diagnosis was reclassified as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, specifically the inattentive presentation. Addeo recalled crying when her parents explained these changes, feeling something was wrong with her. However, the conversation provided clarity on why certain tasks were harder for her than for peers. She began advocating for herself, requesting extended test time and note copies from teachers.

By age 21, Addeo had earned a bachelor's degree in childhood education and a master's degree in literacy education from St. John's University. She graduated on the dean's list. After nearly 10 years of classroom experience in public schools, she turned to writing. In 2020, at age 23, she received the Young Writer Award from Autism Parenting Magazine for essays on growing up neurodiverse.

Her first book, "What Makes Me Special: A Neurodiverse Child's Journey," was published after she signed a contract with Imagine I Wonder Publishing in 2021. She met the publisher's representatives at an educational panel during Comic-Con. The book outlines challenges such as sensory issues and social development, but it emphasizes strengths in art and writing. Addeo said she wanted to show that difficulty in one area often coincides with thriving in another.

The text introduces concepts including ADHD, autism, dyslexia, Tourette syndrome, and sensory processing disorders. Addeo noted that the language is age-appropriate for younger children but resonates with middle schoolers who recognize their own experiences. She has read the book to students and cited their positive reactions as a primary motivation for her work.

Addeo's academic credentials continued to grow. At 27, she received the John Beach Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Ph.D. literacy program at St. John's University. She graduated at the top of her class with a doctorate in literacy and a cognate in special education. Her dissertation focused on writing for students with ADHD. Today, she serves as a graduate professor in the literacy education and special education departments at St. John's University.

She also works as an educational consultant, freelance author, and professional speaker. Her research centers on neurodiversity, confidence, and social-emotional learning. Addeo returned to the Roslyn Public School District to speak at a SEPTA meeting and connect with families. She aims to help neurodiverse individuals and their families understand that success takes many forms. Her website, ClaudiaAddeo.com, provides further information on her work.