Neuroaffirming IEPs: Moving Beyond Compliance

This course equips Special Educators with practical strategies to develop neuroaffirming IEPs that center student identity, autonomy, and strengths—moving beyond basic compliance toward truly inclusive, student-centered support.

Explore Course

Explore how to create neuroaffirming IEPs that go beyond compliance to center student identity, autonomy, and strengths. Special Educators (and SLPs) will learn to design goals, supports, and environments that honor neurodivergent communication and regulation. Gain tools to advocate for inclusive, student-centered practices.

Registration for this course includes our free Language Swap Chart—a printable tool that helps IEP teams shift from outdated labels to affirming, student-centered alternatives.

Presenters

Dr. Destiny Huff
LPC
Dr. Destiny Huff, LPC, is a late-diagnosed Autistic and ADHD military spouse, therapist, and advocate. She empowers families to navigate special education and trains schools on neuroaffirming practices. Serving on the boards of PDA North America and Sistahs with Ausome Children, she champions the rights and well-being of neurodivergent learners.

Learning Objectives

Describe how neuroaffirming IEP practices can support authentic communication, regulation, and learning for neurodivergent students.
Discuss the role of Special Educators and SLPs in promoting autonomy, inclusion, and identity-affirming supports within the IEP process.
Explain how to develop goals and accommodations that reflect neurodivergent students’ strengths, sensory needs, and preferred communication styles.

Agenda

5 minutes	Introduction
15 minutes	Foundations of Neuroraffirming Practice
20 minutes	Roles in Centering Identity and Autonomy
15 minutes	Application to IEP Goals and Supports
5 minutes	Reflection and Next Steps

Disclosures

Financial Disclosures:	- Owner and sole Mental Health Therapist of HRG Counseling & Supervision, a private practice where individual and family therapy are provided virtually to children, adolescents, and adults. - Owner and sole Non-Attorney Special Education Advocate of Destiny Huff Consulting, LLC, a company that provides advocacy and consulting services to parents of learners in special education and organizations seeking trainings on special education, advocacy, mental health, and disabled learners. - Receives financial compensation for creating and recording this course. Dr. Destiny is receiving compensation for this course.
Non Financial Disclosures:	- Non-Attorney Special Education Advocate & Neuroaffirming IEP Coach who creates resources shared widely across platforms - Personal and professional experience supporting the mental health of disabled learners for over 15 years - Member of professional organizations supporting BIPOC Autistic Individuals, Special Education Advocacy, Neurodivergent Individuals, and PDA Individuals
Content Disclosures:	Dr. Destiny has no additional content information to disclose.

ASHA

This course is offered for .1 ASHA CEUs, Introductory Level, Professional Area

Neuroaffirming IEPs: Moving Beyond Compliance: $29.00
Explore how to create neuroaffirming IEPs that go beyond compliance to center student identity, autonomy, and strengths. Special Educators (and SLPs) will learn to design goals, supports, and environments that honor neurodivergent communication and regulation. Gain tools to advocate for inclusive, student-centered practices.

Add-ons

Supporting Neurodivergent Kids Through Play & Connection

$7.00

In this insightful episode of Bright Conversations, trauma-certified SLP Polina Shkadron explores how play and relationships can be powerful tools in supporting neurodivergent children in therapy. Register to access the full episode in your dashboard and submit for ASHA CEUs.