Belonging by design
An accessibility-based approach to school connectedness for neurodivergent students
I wasn't failing school. School was failing to include me.
HARTS exists because exclusion is designed — which means belonging can be too.
Jóhanna Birna Bjartmarsdóttir
Founder, HARTS · Autistic, ADHD, dyslexic · MS Health Education & Behavior (University of Florida) · CHES certified
I founded HARTS at 21, after a system that had written me off worked perfectly once it was designed to include me. HARTS does that for institutions — universal design, assistive technology, and health-promoting environments where neurodivergent people participate fully.
- 10
- compulsory schools
- 2,000+
- students reached
- 1,000+
- educators trained
- 500+
- parents engaged
Implemented across every compulsory school in Hafnarfjörður. See how it works
Belonging is not a mood. It's a mechanism.
School for All / Skóli fyrir öll
- Designed for neurodivergent students — benefits everyone
- End-to-end: training, technology, implementation, follow-up
- Grounded in evidence: health promotion + UDL + belonging research
Partners & collaborations
From single schools to a whole municipality, and the institutions behind the research.
Hraunvallaskóli
Hvaleyrarskóli
Lækjarskóli
Öldutúnsskóli
Setbergsskóli
Skarðshlíðarskóli
VíðistaðaskóliHraunvallaskóliHvaleyrarskóliLækjarskóliÖldutúnsskóliSetbergsskóliSkarðshlíðarskóliVíðistaðaskóliJóhanna Birna Bjartmarsdóttir
- University of Florida Hall of Fame
- Outstanding Undergraduate, College of Education — 2025
- Master's Student of the Year — 2026
- Keynote speaker, CANVASCON Europe — 2024
- Summa cum laude
- CHES certified
Research
Peer-reviewed publications and ongoing research on school connectedness, mental health literacy and universal design for learning. ORCID
Four ways to work with HARTS
Courses
Accessible, inclusive courses designed in line with UDL, plus practical technology for learning.
- Designed around Universal Design for Learning (UDL)
- Slides, videos and Notion templates included
- Practical strategies you can use right away
Lectures
Motivating, educational talks on neurodiversity, accessibility and inclusive education.
- For students: diversity is a strength
- For teachers and education professionals
- Talks at national and international conferences
Implementation
An end-to-end education project that strengthens connection, accessibility and student wellbeing through practical technology.
- Implemented across all Hafnarfjörður primary schools
- Strengthens connection, accessibility and wellbeing
- Built for neurodivergent students, benefits everyone
Consultation
Advisory work for schools, municipalities and workplaces that want accessibility and inclusion designed into their environments.
- Accessibility reviews of learning and work environments
- Guidance on universal design and assistive technology
- Tailored recommendations, from quick wins to full implementation
Advocacy in public
Let's find the approach that fits
Whether you want a course, a lecture or full implementation, we'll find an approach that fits your context.