What will you learn?
In Part 1: Foundations of Neuro-Affirming Practice, you will learn the following:

Understand the Foundations of Neuro-Affirming Practice:

• Define neuro-affirming language and differentiate between neurodivergent and neurotypical perspectives.
• Recognise the importance of identity-first versus person-first language and apply participant-led preferences.
• Identify and replace deficit-based terminology with respectful, strengths-focused language.

Apply the 6 A’s of Neuro-Affirming Practice:

• Describe the principles of Acceptance, Awareness, Advocacy, Adaptability, Autonomy and Affirmation:
• Integrate these principles into clinical practice through case study analysis and reflective activities.
• Identify areas for personal and professional growth in adopting neuro-affirming strategies.

Develop Neuro-Affirming Goals

• Write SMART goals that reflect client values, strengths and sensory preferences.
• Evaluate and refine goals collaboratively through peer discussion and feedback.
• Align therapeutic interventions with client-driven objectives to promote autonomy and meaningful outcomes.

Part 2: Collaboration and Intervention Strategies
Extend these learnings further by building on the foundations of neuro-affirming practice, equipping you with practical skills for collaborative intervention planning and implementation. Key learning outcomes include:

• Understanding how to shift from a therapist-centred model to a collaborative approach where the participant is the expert in their experience.
• Developing strategies for co-creating intervention plans that respect autonomy, align with sensory and communication preferences to foster meaningful outcomes.
• Gaining tools to effectively engage families and support networks while keeping the participant’s voice central to decision-making.
• Practicing real-world application through role-playing and case study exercises to solidify your skills.

Who is this workshop for?

This two part workshop is suitable for OTs working with neurodivergent participants within the community. You may be a new graduate entering the NDIS or an experienced clinician.

You may be new to working with neurodivergent participants, seeking a refresher on neuro-affirming practices, or simply interested in enhancing your knowledge and skills in this area.

Whether you are a paediatric therapist or have an adult caseload, this training is for you.

This self-paced workshop will help you build confidence in implementing neuro-affirming language, principles and goal-setting to better support neurodivergent participants in your practice.


Why attend?

This workshop provides essential knowledge and skills to enhance your occupational therapy practice and professional development through neuro-affirming approaches. By attending, you will:

• Learn how to use inclusive and strengths-based language to build meaningful therapeutic relationships with neurodivergent participants.
• Deepen your understanding of the 6 A’s of Neuro-Affirming Practice and how to integrate them into interventions to support autonomy, advocacy and adaptability.
  Strengthen your ability to set client-centred, neuro-affirming goals that align with the participant’s values, strengths and sensory needs.
• Build confidence in co-designing interventions that are respectful, inclusive and neuro-affirming.
• Learn strategies to adapt interventions to match sensory and communication preferences, ensuring they are meaningful and accessible.
• Apply theory to practice through interactive exercises and group activities, helping you translate knowledge into actionable skills.
• Create a personal action plan to implement neuro-affirming practices in your daily work, fostering professional growth and better outcomes for participants.

Whether you are new to working with neurodivergent participants or an experienced OT seeking to refine your skills, this workshop will empower you to deliver ethical, inclusive and impactful therapy, enhancing outcomes for the participants you support.

What's included?

• Gain online access to the workshop – live workshops are delivered via Zoom, while self-paced options include access to recorded sessions
• Download workshop slides and any resources provided by the presenter
• Enjoy six months of access to the recording and resources via your Verve OT Learning Library
• Receive a certificate of completion for your CPD records, available via email upon completion of the workshop