Neurodiversity-Affirming Practise: What Parents & Educators Need to Know

06/10/2025 1h 12min

Listen "Neurodiversity-Affirming Practise: What Parents & Educators Need to Know"

Episode Synopsis

Content warning: Episode includes discussion of mental health, anxiety and mention of self-harm. In this powerful and emotional episode of Talking Together, Hermione and George dive deep into neurodiversity-affirming practise, a significant shift happening not only in speech pathology, but wider healthcare, education and our community.They cover:What "neurodiversity-affirming practise" actually meansWhy old therapy models (like ABA) can be harmfulThe dangers of masking and its mental health impactWhat parents should look for in a therapistHow schools need to evolve How language and identity matter deeply to neurodivergent kidsWith powerful personal stories, honest reflection, and up-to-date research, this episode is a must-listen for anyone supporting neurodivergent children.Plus: A crash course on terms like “neurokin”, “ADHDer”, “identity-first language”, and the “double empathy problem”.Whether you're a parent, teacher, therapist, or just someone trying to understand — this is the episode that will change how you see neurodiversity forever.References and Links:1. Crompton CJ, Ropar D, Evans-Williams CV, Flynn EG, Fletcher-Watson S. Autistic peer-to-peer information transfer is highly effective. Autism. 2020 Oct;24(7):1704-1712. doi: 10.1177/1362361320919286. Epub 2020 May 20. PMID: 32431157; PMCID: PMC7545656.2. Crompton, C.J., Foster, S.J., Wilks, C.E.H. et al. Information transfer within and between autistic and non-autistic people. Nat Hum Behav 9, 1488–1500 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-025-02163-z3. Diagnosis of common health conditions among autistic adults in the UK: evidence from a matched cohort studyO'Nions, Elizabeth et al.The Lancet Regional Health – Europe, Volume 41, 100907. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanepe/article/PIIS2666-7762(24)00073-5/fulltext4. Chazin KT, Ledford JR, Wilson-Moses JM, Rajaraman A, Juárez AP. Centering Autistic Perspectives: Social Acceptability of Goals, Learning Contexts, and Procedures for Young Autistic Children. J Autism Dev Disord. 2025 Mar;55(3):812-831. doi: 10.1007/s10803-024-06242-4. Epub 2024 Feb 17. PMID: 38367102.