Neurodivergent Social Work Student Goes From Surviving to Thriving to Helping Others Excel

Sophie Breslow '24, now an MSW candidate, credits the Learning Resource Program for her successful college experience and preparing her to support other neurodivergent students navigating their own college journeys.

Sophie Breslow '24, who graduated summa cum laude in May with a Bachelor of Social Work, recalled when she was named a Prestigious Panther and member of the Spirit Court at Spirit Weekend in the fall of 2023.

"It really validated that all of my extracurricular involvement had made an impact on campus and that I had accomplished something that I was proud of, especially with everything that I had gone through in all these four years," said Breslow, who is currently pursuing a Master of Social Work at Adelphi.

She was referring to her struggles as a neurodivergent student. Breslow has ADHD as well as a physical disability and other medical conditions. She was drawn to Adelphi by the Learning Resource Program (LRP), considered to be one of the first in the country to serve students who have a documented learning disability and/or ADHD.

LRP Director Lauren Lavoie, MS '02, said she utilized the program well. "I think the program helped Sophie to be the person she is today. She is an outstanding student and Adelphi community member."

A Difficult Transition

Even so, Breslow said the transition from high school, where she had done well, was difficult both socially and academically, especially since she started in the fall of 2020, when the majority of classes and clubs were held online.

Breslow met with Erin Truesdell, a senior clinical educator at the program, twice a week on Zoom. She credits the meetings with helping her to stay focused during her mental health challenges.

"It has been wonderful watching Sophie really grow into the student that she became," Truesdell said. "Even though she had obstacles, she was able to overcome them."

Breslow pushed out of her comfort zone to participate in student life. In Fall 2020, she started an Adelphi chapter of Spoon University, a food publication for college students, and she joined Tri Delta in the spring of 2021. She later became her hall council's building representative for the Resident Student Association, a senator for the Student Government Association, a member of National Residence Hall Honorary, a peer mentor for the Bridges to Adelphi program and a campus ally for the Learning Resource Program.

At Adelphi's Teaching and Learning Conference, she was a panelist at the "Breaking Down Barriers to Accessibility" discussion and shared "both my struggles and positive educational experiences as a neurodivergent student in the Learning Resource Program" to help faculty members in attendance create more inclusive and accessible classroom environments and "ensure that all students are able to receive the support that they need to learn successfully."

"There's a mental health crisis on college campuses," she noted, adding that neurodivergent students often struggle with "mental health comorbidities," such as depression and anxiety. "It can be especially difficult for [neurodivergent] students to find people to connect with and … where they fit in and feel accepted for who they are."

The World in Her Hands

"I've learned and grown so much in my undergraduate years," Breslow said, adding that she "accomplished so much more than I thought I could along the way. I look forward to continuing my education at Adelphi."

Truesdell said, "I got to watch Sophie becoming a leader over four years. She has already done so much. I really believe she's going to make a difference and will continue to be an advocate for students in similar situations to hers. She's got the world in her hands."