Many people are new to the world of occupational therapy. Put simply, occupational therapy is the work of helping people complete the things that they need or want to do. We care about people’s ability to participate in their daily activities, and work to eliminate any problems that may be preventing them from having enjoyable, enriching lives. As you can imagine, this looks very different for each person! We are trained to identify the best ways to help, whether it is to support a child in developing necessary skills, changing the environment to fit their needs, or altering the activities themselves to match their current abilities.
What does it mean to be “Neurodiversity-Affirming”?
“Neurodiversity-Affirming” seems to be a buzzword these days. Many places use this term because it’s trendy without really integrating it into their care. As a therapist, researcher, and educator, I am on the cutting edge of what it means to provide neurodiversity-affirming care for autistic children and I am guided by the following principles in my approach:
Valuing your child as a unique individual with strengths and difficulties
Supporting self-esteem and positive mental health by considering autism as part of a person’s identity, impacting how they experience and act within the world
Identifying ways to make environmental and routine accommodations as much as possible, instead of merely looking to “fix” or “change” the child
Valuing perspectives of the autistic community and learning from experiences shared by autistic people
As a result, I see children as more than their behaviors and I take a much more holistic approach to care.
