Honoring Identity and Culture: Neurodiversity Affirming Strategies

It is essential to acknowledge the shift to a more balanced view of neurological differences, including autism. Families of autistic children and clients are often presented with deficit-focused narratives and overwhelming pressure to do more, and a lot, quickly. This course will highlight neurodiversity affirming principles and sensory strategies that can empower clients and encourage interdisciplinary collaboration. With knowledge of intersectionality and acknowledging both barriers and differences, therapy professionals can seek to uphold the welfare, culture, and identity of the diverse individuals they serve.

Presenters

Diamond Rashad
MHS, OTD, OTR/L
Dr. Diamond Rashad, is a neurodivergent pediatric occupational therapist, autism advocate, and doula who resides in Georgia. She has worked as an occupational therapist for over five years and received her post-professional doctorate with a specialty in pediatrics from Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions in 2019. Her experience includes working from a trauma-informed lens with children, adolescents, and young adults with difficulties in sensory integration, executive function, feeding & mealtime participation, and supporting autistic clients and their families. She is the founder of Emira’s Mamas & "A Dime of OT"; she is passionate about supporting black birthing parents from pregnancy to postpartum, diversity and inclusion in allied health settings, social-emotional support & co-regulation, and advocacy for culturally responsive, equitable care.

Learning Objectives

Discuss ways which structural barriers and evaluation pathways can impact family centered care for neurodivergent clients.
Discuss principles to advocate for neurodiversity affirming therapy practices from an intersectional lens.
Describe sensory strategies and changes that can be utilized to promote engagement and well-being.

Agenda

5 minutes	Introduction & Overview
10 minutes	Intersectionality & Neurodiversity
10 minutes	Family & Client Centered Care
15 minutes	Advocacy & Autonomy in Evaluation & Support
10 minutes	Recognizing Sensory Differences & Accommodations
10 minutes	Q&A

Disclosures

Speakers - Financial	Diamond Rashad is a salaried employee for an outpatient therapy center, Fun Factory Sensory Gym and a Contract Content Creator. Diamond Rashad is receiving compensation for this course.
Speakers - Nonfinancial	Diamond Rashad (she/her) is a late-identified Autistic; caregiver to a neurodivergent child.
Course - Content	Diamond Rashad has no additional content information to disclose.
Course - Financial Support & In Kind	This course, and all courses in the Equity Series, are being sponsored by Having Our Say and SLP Toolkit.

ASHA

This course is offered for 0.1 ASHA CEUs, Introductory Level, Professional Area, Professional Area

Honoring Identity and Culture: Neurodiversity Affirming Strategies