Neurodiversity Awareness and Best Practices

Neurodiverse youth and adults bring distinct strengths, perspectives, and experiences to every space they inhabit. As awareness continues to grow, more people seek to understand how to create spaces that center belonging and inclusivity for all.

This interactive workshop builds foundational knowledge about neurodiversity through a strengths-based lens, covering practical adaptations for inclusion and support across home, school, and clinical settings. Participants hear directly from neurodiverse individuals and their family members through personal stories and Q&A sessions, grounding research-based best practices in real-world experiences.

The workshop also addresses mental health considerations, including self-harm, depression, and the co-occurrence of autism and gender dysphoria, and how best to support young people and adults with intersecting identities who are navigating multiple systems at once.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES 

1. List and describe several main categories of diagnoses associated with neuroatypical experiences. 
2. Explain and express the strengths and contributions commonly associated with several main categories of neurodiversity. 
3. Discuss and identify salient examples of neurodiversity inclusion vs. exclusion from the guest speaker’s life experiences during the interactive Q&A segment of the presentation. 
4. Analyze and plan best practices for inclusive, safe, and supportive interactions within a variety of contexts (families, coworkers, customer service, healthcare services, etc.)