Neuroinclusion

17/10/2025

What would you add? 👇

Things I’m scared of as a neurodivergent occupational therapist:
⚠️ Disabled people’s human rights being violated and disregarded
⚠️ Compliance-based goals that push neurotypical social skills over authentic connection
⚠️ People still striving to cure neurodivergence instead of understanding it
⚠️ The ongoing loss of autonomy for disabled people under the guise of “care”
⚠️ The lack of understanding around the complexity of intersectionality within neurodiversity

✅ These fears remind me why advocacy, education, and neuroaffirming practice matter so deeply. This is because real inclusion means safety, choice, and respect for every neurotype. 💛

✨ If this resonates, share this post to help more people understand what true neuroinclusion looks like.

15/10/2025

🌟 ADHD Awareness Has Evolved 🌟

✨ ADHD awareness today is more inclusive, compassionate, and informed than ever before. We now understand that:

🧠 ADHD is a neurodevelopmental and cognitive difference, not a behavioural problem. It affects how the brain manages attention, motivation, emotion, and daily tasks.

⚖️ Attention differences and inconsistencies with tasks are core features. It is not laziness. Someone with ADHD may hyperfocus on something deeply interesting one day and struggle to start a basic task the next.

💭 Executive functioning and emotional regulation can look different for everyone. This might mean difficulty planning, organising, shifting focus, or managing big feelings. This is especially in environments that aren’t ADHD-friendly.

⚧ ADHD impacts all genders, but it doesn’t always look the same due to the hormonal influences. Many AFAB, women, and gender-diverse people go undiagnosed because their ADHD can appear more internalised. This might show up as anxiety, perfectionism, or daydreaming rather than hyperactivity.

💬 Support options exist including coaching, therapy, occupational therapy, adjustments at school or work, and medication when appropriate.

🌈 The shift in ADHD awareness is about understanding, not pathologising. It’s about recognising how differently wired brains process the world and creating spaces where each person can thrive.

14/10/2025

✨ Understanding DCD (Dyspraxia) ✨
Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD), also known as Dyspraxia, is a lifelong neurodevelopmental difference that affects motor coordination, planning, and sequencing. It’s not about intelligence or effort — it’s about how the brain organises movement and timing.

🧠 Around 5–6% of children experience DCD, and many continue to face coordination challenges into adulthood. It often co-occurs with ADHD and Autism, meaning each person’s profile can look quite different.

💡 Support can include:
• Occupational therapy to develop practical skills and confidence
• Strength and coordination support from physiotherapists
• Adjustments at school and home to reduce barriers
• Encouragement to build self-esteem and celebrate strengths

Small changes can make a big difference. 💜

If you’re exploring supports or an assessment for DCD, our neurodiversity-affirming team at Neuroinclusion can help.

14/10/2025

🎙 This week’s Clinical Conversations is all about SCREEN TIME!

Let’s reframe the conversation 💻✨
Whilst transitions after technology can be tricky, they also offer powerful learning opportunities, especially when supported in neurodiversity-affirming ways.

Here’s why technology can be so valuable in neurodivergent people’s lives:
💡 It provides consistent, predictable praise and rewards
💬 It offers accessible and comfortable ways to socialise
🎧 It meets sensory needs and supports regulation
🧠 It gives dopamine boosts that optimise mental health and focus
🌙 It’s only a concern if it impacts essential tasks like sleep
⚖️ And it’s something we can engage with in both low and high-capacity moments

Join Alyce Svensk & Claire Britton for this week’s Clinical Conversations to unpack the latest research and practical strategies around screen time — when it helps, when it hinders, and how to use it meaningfully in therapy and family life.

🗓 Wednesday 15 October
🕛 12–1:30pm NSW / 9–10:30am WA
💻 Recordings available
💲 $40

Part of our Clinical Conversations series — a space for paediatric therapists to reflect, share, and grow together.

💬 Want ongoing support like this? Our Group Mentoring program takes these conversations even deeper — supporting you to embed neuroaffirming practice with confidence.

🔗 Link in stories

11/10/2025

🌈 5 Times I’ve Been Discouraged From Being a Neurodiversity-Affirming Therapist

1️⃣ 2013 – Uni Placement: Lost marks for saying “Autistic person.” I was told it was wrong, even though I knew Autistic people who preferred identity-first language.

2️⃣ 2016 – South Africa: A non-speaking boy I’d met was restrained by four adults and taken to a psych hospital without warning. I was told it was “normal.” It wasn’t. He deserved dignity and support.

3️⃣ 2016 – Final Year Placement: I failed for not ignoring “challenging” behaviours. I later learned the harm of compliance-based approaches like ABA.

4️⃣ 2017 – Graduate Job: I was told I spent too long building rapport and that students with intellectual disability had “limited capacity.” They didn’t but the system definitely did.

5️⃣ 2018 – Restraint Training: I questioned consent and dignity. I was dismissed. That organisation was later shut down for those who exact restrictive practices.

💬 These moments shaped me.
Being neurodiversity-affirming isn’t always easy, but it’s always right.

When have you felt discouraged to be neurodiversity-affirming? 👇

10/10/2025

🌍💚 World Mental Health Day 2025 is today!

Neurodiversity includes all minds. That means those living with mental health diagnoses are included too. 🧠✨

From anxiety, depression, and OCD to bipolar, PTSD, and beyond, these are part of the diverse ways human brains experience, process, and respond to the world. ⭐️

Today’s reminder: mental health challenges aren’t deficits; they’re part of our collective neurodiversity. When we move from pathologising to understanding, from “fixing” to supporting, we create space for every brain to belong. 🫶🏼

Let’s keep breaking stigma and building systems that affirm, include, and empower all neurotypes.

Some mental health symptoms can require support and others may not. If you’re unsure, please consult your GP and gain an individualised professional opinion 🙌

09/10/2025

🌟 Did you know… the first meta-analysis exploring gender differences in ADHD wasn’t published until 1997? And the very first book dedicated to understanding females with ADHD didn’t appear until 2002. 🤯

📆 That means for decades before then, the world’s understanding of ADHD was almost entirely based on male presentations, particularly in hyperactive young boys. Because of this, generations of girls, women, and gender-diverse people were overlooked, misdiagnosed, or completely missed.

📗 When ADHD was first studied, researchers mainly looked at children referred for behavioural concerns. This meant those who were loud, impulsive, and disruptive creates the initial ADHD stereotype. But what about the ones who daydreamed quietly, masked their struggles, or worked twice as hard to appear “fine”?

🙃 Many female and AFAB ADHDers developed coping strategies like perfectionism, masking, people-pleasing, and internalising distress. These patterns that often led to anxiety, depression, or burnout being diagnosed instead.

⭐️ It took until the late 1990s and early 2000s for the conversation to begin shifting. This means researchers and clinicians have only been exploring what ADHD might look like beyond the traditional stereotypes for the past couple of decades.

✅ Today, we know ADHD doesn’t have a gender.

🌈 But the understanding, identification, and supports have historically been shaped by gender bias and the ripple effects are still being felt.

💬 Awareness matters.
📚 Research matters.
🧠 Representation matters.

✨ The more we talk about this, the fewer people will grow up feeling like they’re “lazy,” “too much,” or “not trying hard enough.”

📢 Let’s keep amplifying voices that were left out of the research for far too long.

04/10/2025

✨ It’s ADHD Awareness Month! 💛

🧠 This month, we’re sending understanding, validation and solidarity to everyone touched by ADHD both directly or indirectly.

💕 Sending Support To Those Who:
• Weren’t diagnosed until later in life
• Are still waiting for assessment
• Work with or advocate for ADHDers
• Love an ADHDer
• Are learning about ADHD for the first time
• Feel they can’t safely unmask
• Are navigating medication (or not)
• Can’t access the supports they need
• Continue to destigmatise and educate others

💭 My Personal ADHD Toolbox Includes:
• Daily movement and physical activity
• ADHD therapists & supportive friends
• Habit stacking and realistic routines
• Medication
• ADHD podcasts and resources
• Prioritising sleep
• Delegating tasks and accepting help
• Body doubling
• Nourishing foods
• Time for hobbies and creativity

🌟 My Dreams for ADHDers Everywhere:
• Access to neurodiversity-affirming supports
• Affordable, effective medication options
• A fulfilling, balanced life
• To be heard, seen and truly understood
• Increased acceptance of ADHD strengths and preferences
• Access to ongoing therapy and peer connection
• Supportive communities and inclusive workplaces
• Knowledge, compassion and choice in every decision

🌈 Let’s continue raising awareness, fostering understanding, and building a world where ADHD is accepted and supported.

Learn more about neurodiversity-affirming ADHD support at 👉 www.Neuroinclusion.com.au

03/10/2025

Are you ready to create the perfect sensory-friendly home office for your neurodivergent needs? Discover 10 essential tips to enhance your workspace and boost productivity! These essential tips will help you create a focused and inspiring workspace that fosters creativity and efficiency. 📚

Share your workspace transformation stories in the comments! 🌈

Read more: https://wix.to/oYMUdw1

By Claire Britton on 3rd of October, 2025 Creating a sensory-friendly home office is vital for neurodivergent individuals who may be sensitive to certain stimuli. A well-designed office can help you focus better, feel comfortable, and boost productivity. It’s not just about making a space; it's ab...

02/10/2025

As occupational therapists, we often hear the words capability and capacity used interchangeably. However, they mean very different things in practice ✨

🔹 Capability = What a person can do in an ideal situation, with supports, strategies, and the right environment.
🔹 Capacity = What a person is able to do consistently and sustainably in real-world, everyday contexts.

🧠 Why does this matter? Because someone may be capable of completing a task once, but not have the capacity to repeat it daily without burnout, stress, or harm.

⭐️ In neurodiversity-affirming practice, recognising this difference is crucial. It ensures our assessments, supports, and recommendations truly reflect lived experiences, not just “best case” scenarios.

💡 By considering both capability and capacity, OTs can advocate for realistic supports, sustainable participation, and equitable opportunities.

✨ Have you noticed the difference between what you’re “capable” of and what you actually have the “capacity” for day-to-day?

29/09/2025

If you’re neurodivergent, “typical” advice like:
💪 Do the hardest thing first
📈 Push yourself to grow
⏰ Be consistent with routines
⚡ Develop motivation and willpower
🔑 Persistence and practice are key

…can actually make life harder.

Instead, try this:
✨ Do the easiest thing first
💖 Be self-compassionate
🌿 Honour your energy and needs
🛠️ Develop a toolbox of strategies
⏳ Try again when you’re ready

Neurodivergent growth happens on your terms. 💛

For more neurodiversity-affirming strategies, visit 👉 www.neuroinclusion.com.au

29/09/2025

Have you or someone you know been called “too much” for your ADHD traits?

ADHDers are often considered “too much” but this comes from misunderstanding, not reality. Here’s why ⬇️

🤝 Social interaction differences – ADHDers may interrupt, talk passionately, or switch topics quickly. It’s not rudeness — it’s excitement, connection, and fast-paced thinking.

🧠 Attention & memory differences – Forgetting details or hyperfocusing on passions isn’t laziness. It’s how ADHD brains prioritise novelty, interest, and urgency.

🎧 Sensory processing preferences – Seeking stimulation (like fidgeting or music) or avoiding overwhelm (like noise or textures) are self-regulation strategies, not quirks to “fix.”

💛 Emotional regulation differences – Feeling deeply and expressing big emotions is part of ADHD neurology. These emotions bring empathy, creativity, and authenticity.

📅 Executive functioning differences – Challenges with planning, organising, or time management reflect brain wiring, not character flaws. With the right supports, ADHDers can shine.

➕ Co-existing diagnoses – Anxiety, depression, or learning differences can add extra layers, but they don’t define worth or potential.

👉 ADHDers aren’t “too much.” They’re simply navigating a world that often expects “less.” When we meet ADHDers with understanding instead of judgment, we unlock their brilliance. 🌟