Scaffolding

Scaffolding is a way of offering structured support to help someone tackle something they might not be ready to handle alone — yet.

It’s used a lot in education, but the concept is helpful in any setting where someone is learning, adapting, or navigating new challenges. This can be especially important for neurodivergent people, where executive function, sensory load, or processing differences might make tasks harder.

Scaffolding could be as simple as breaking down a task into smaller steps, using visual aids, reminders, or doing something together the first few times. It’s about meeting someone where they are, not where we assume they should be.

Crucially, scaffolding is temporary. As confidence and ability grow, the support is gently pulled back — like taking stabilisers off a bike — until the person is able to manage more independently.