Do you support families who may be “neurodiverse” (parents and/or their children who may be on this spectrum)?
Neurodiversity describes the idea that people experience and interact with the world around them in many different ways; there is no one “right” way of thinking, learning, and behaving, and differences are not viewed as deficits. Knowledge about neurodiversity and respectful language is also important for clinicians, so they can address the mental and physical health of people with neurodevelopmental differences. (from Harvard Health Publishing)
This Lunch and Learn will explore what may be considered “neurodiversity”, and consists of ideas and information curated by the C4F team in how to ensure parent-child programming maximizes it’s accessibility for all families. We will briefly discuss:
- the main types of “disorders” that may be categorized as “neurodiversity” (i.e. Autism Spectrum Disorder, Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder, and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder)
- why the “disorder” label misguides people to focus too much on weaknesses rather than strengths and what we can do to help switch that focus
- how to assess program accessibility
- tips on how to communicate openness to accommodating diverse needs without forcing people to disclose medical diagnoses
- possible resources for service providers to support their work with families
The goal of this session is to inspire thought and engagement about how our programs and services may not feel as accessible to some people due to neurodiverse needs, and to consider ways to change this.
Have lived experience with this? Please feel free to share as we learn together as a community. Discussion will be welcomed.
Join us! You are also welcome to stay for our regular monthly Coalition meeting, resourcing agencies serving downtown Winnipeg families.