A Guide to Neurodiversity Affirming Practice with Children and Teens.

To be neurodiversity affirming is to acknowledge that all brain types, including those that are neurodivergent (different to what society considers the norm), are equal in value and valid in their right to exist.

While individuals with neurotypical brains are generally well catered for in society, it has become evident in recent years that we still have a lot to learn about supporting the neurodivergent community. This is particularly true in the field of medicine and allied health, where it has become clear that some so called ‘evidence-based’ therapies do more harm than good, and a focus on behavioural interventions ignores the basic human needs of connection, safety and autonomy. Many clinicians now face the challenge of abandoning long held beliefs about supporting neurodivergent individuals, and shifting to an affirming approach that honours neurodivergence and tailors therapy to an individual’s unique needs.

Neurodiversity affirming practice shifts away from treatments aimed at making an individual look more ‘neurotypical’ and pathologizing differences in social communication and sensory needs, to individualised supports that meet the needs of neurodivergent children and adolescents while celebrating and accommodating their differences.

This presentation aims to demystify neurodiversity affirming approaches to clinical practice by providing clinicians with information and practical ideas on how to make positive changes to their practice to ensure they are in line with neurodiversity affirming principles.

By the end of this presentation, attendees will be able to:

- Describe the difference between the Medical and Social models of disability.

- Understand terms such as Neurodiversity and Neurodivergence.

- Understand key features of Neurodiversity affirming approaches.

- Discuss Neurodiversity affirming approaches in terms of evidence-based practice.

- Apply Neurodiversity affirming concepts to clinical practice.

Suitable for Medical & Allied Health Professionals

Presented by Educational & Developmental Psychologist, Raelene Dundon.

A recording will be available for ticket holders after the event.

About your Speaker - Raelene Dundon

Raelene is an Autistic and ADHDer, Educational Developmental Psychologist and Play Therapist, and the Director of Okey Dokey Childhood Therapy, a large paediatric allied health practice in Australia that she runs with her husband, Andrew, who is also Neurodivergent. She is also a lecturer in Child Play Therapy at Deakin University. Raelene has extensive experience working with Neurodivergent children and their families providing educational, social/emotional and parenting support. Raelene is also the mother of three Autistic children and draws on both her personal and professional experience to provide support and guidance to children and families.

Raelene regularly presents webinars for parents and professionals on topics related to supporting Neurodivergent children in the classroom and in other settings, and has presented at international conferences in New York, Macau, Singapore, Prague, Edinburgh, and across Australia.

Raelene is the author of 4 books published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers in London, with her fifth book “A Therapist’s Guide to Neurodiversity Affirming Practice with Children and Young People” released in November 2023.

Raelene is passionate about supporting Neurodivergent children to understand and accept who they are — and to empower them to be themselves in a society that still has a long way to go in celebrating difference.