Neurodiversity Affirming: Embracing the Differences and Applying It Into Practice
By Jessica Jordan, MS. OTR/L
What Is Neurodiversity?
Being neurodivergent means living, interacting with, and seeing the world in a way that is unique to your brain. Every person has strengths and challenges that reflect the way their brain is wired. These differences are not weaknesses that need to be cured or fixed. While some challenges may require added support, neurodivergent individuals often have strengths and insights that others might overlook.
Some common neurodivergent diagnoses include:
Autism
ADHD
Dyslexia
Tourette's
Dyspraxia / Apraxia
Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD)
Down Syndrome
Embracing the Differences
Being neurodiversity-affirming means recognizing that every person experiences and interacts with the world in their own way — and honoring that. It’s not about changing the person. It’s about offering tools, strategies, and support to make their challenges easier for them and their loved ones.
It also means taking the time to understand behaviors, without rushing to change or eliminate them. Actions like stimming or personal sensory seeking are often powerful forms of self-regulation. Our role isn’t to stop them—but to understand how the individual feels about them.
Sometimes, an individual may want support to shift a behavior that’s interfering with their comfort or participation. When that desire comes from the person themselves—not from discomfort in others—we can help them explore respectful, supportive tools that make life feel easier. Other times, the behavior itself is meeting a deep regulation need. In both cases, our job is to listen, support, and follow their lead.
Being neurodiversity-affirming also means looking at the full picture: How might the environment - or even well-meaning expectations -be adding extra stress or creating unnecessary difficulty?
And last, but certainly not least, language matters. The words we use—whether in conversation, therapy, or documentation—should reflect a deep respect for autonomy, dignity, and worth. Empowering, person-first language helps build trust and reinforce a positive sense of self.
What It Looks Like in Practice
Being neurodiversity affirming can look like:
Respecting bodily autonomy by using hand-under-hand instead of physically guiding a person’s body without consent
Presuming competence, speaking directly to the person (not about them), and using age-appropriate language
Understanding that communication varies with each individual and does not have to be the neurotypical way of making eye contact, “looking” like they are listening, or using spoken language
Understanding that non-speaking does not mean non-thinking
Not assuming that a person does not want to engage in an activity unless stated directly by them, rather it could be that their body is not responding the way they want it to
Building on a person’s unique interests, instead of relying on external rewards or punishments to elicit "compliance"
Non-speaking does not mean non-thinking!
When we change the environment and our expectations, we create space for people to show us who they truly are.
Take Home Points
The term Neurodivergent is inclusive of people who were once considered outside of the "norm," allowing for the elimination of ableism and the inclusion of individuals with unique brains. Neurodiversity affirming approaches eliminate ideas once considered practical; they empower neurodivergent individuals by introducing less harmful terms, presuming competence, and restoring bodily autonomy.
Implementing this practice in school, home, and other social settings will provide the necessary tools for a neurodivergent person to better understand how to manage their challenges and how to embrace themselves fully.
References
Hughes, Michaela. “A Neurodiversity-Affirming Approach: What Is It and How Can It Support Your Child(Ren)?” Your Mind Matters, 17 Jan. 2023, https://yourmindmatters.net.au/a-neurodiversity-affirming-approach-what-is-it-and-how-can-it-support-your-children/
Helpful Links
If you found this post helpful, you’ll love our therapy resources! Whether you’re a parent or therapist, our apraxia and autism courses are here to offer practical tools, compassionate guidance, and real-world strategies you can use every day.
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