Foundations of Neurodiversity-Affirming Practice

Description

This course addresses the historical disconnect between traditional clinical practices and the lived experiences of autistic peopleby advocating for a paradigm shift toward neurodiversity-affirming care. Many healthcare providers rely on a "clinician-as-expert" model that often views disability as a deficit to be fixed, which can inadvertently marginalize patients and limit their autonomy. By examining the evolution of disability models—from medical to social and biopsychosocial—participants will learn to recognize how their own conceptualizations of disability impact service provision and patient agency. The course further explores the importance of identity-affirming language, the "Double Empathy Problem," and the necessity of presuming competence in all communicators. This training is designed for speech-language pathologists, educators, and healthcare professionals working in outpatient clinics, schools, and diverse clinical settings. Through case-based activities and self-reflection, learners will gain practical strategies for strengths-based documentation and collaborative partnership with the autistic community.

Instructors

Learning Objectives

• Contrast the Medical, Social, and Biopsychosocial models of disability and their impact on the autistic person’s access, agency, and self-determination, as well as the professional’s service provision.
• Apply neurodiversity-affirming language and classification alternatives, such as "Support Needs," in clinical documentation.
• Analyze the "Double Empathy Problem" and its role in mutual communication breakdowns between neurotypes.
• Plan Formulate strengths-based intervention goals that prioritize self-advocacy and quality of life over normalization.
• Implement strategies to respect bodily autonomy and privacy, including the ethical management of "harmless stimming" and sensitive clinical information.

Agenda

All times in Eastern Time.

6:00pm–6:30pm

Chapter 1: The Impact of Disability Models

6:30pm–6:50pm

Chapter 2: Neurodiversity and Autistic Identity

6:50pm–7:05pm

Chapter 3: Communication Myths and Double Empathy Problem

7:05pm–7:10pm

Break

7:10pm–7:25pm

Question and Answer Session

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