Specialised support to develop practical, actionable, evidence-based skills and knowledge through a neurodivergent-affirming framework.
About Kate
"Embracing my children's and then my own autistic and neurodivergent identities changed my professional practice profoundly.
I now apply best practice principles through a neurodivergent-affirming lens and provide safe, and responsive services that change people's lives."
- Kate Donohue
More about KateKate's Specialisations & Presentation Topics
Autistic & Neurodivergent Culture
- how to meet autistic, and neurodivergent needs
- masking, unmasking, and autistic identity
- autistic burnout, shutdowns, and inertia
- neurodivergent trust, safety, and communication
- supporting sensory and emotional regulation needs
- executive functioning and information processing
- problem-solving using a neurodivergent affirming framework
- educational support and recommendations
- advocacy and teaching self-advocacy
- co-regulation and self-regulation
- addressing stress-based behaviours
- complex profiles including internalised profiles (masking), autism and ADHD (AuDHD), gifted and neurodivergent (2E), autistic with multiple diagnoses and autism with stress-based behaviours
Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA)
- lived experience PDA training from a PDA worldview
- how demands impact the nervous system
- fostering nervous system safety and regulation
- recognising, managing, and changing demands
- PDA stress-based behaviours
- understanding equalising and leveling
- modifying the environment and expectations
- understanding and meeting the drive for choice and control
- creating healthy, respectful relationships
- autonomy and boundaries finding a safe balance
- supporting PDAers from a regulation framework
- understanding PDA value systems and internal structures
- addressing health and safety concerns
- demand avoidant disability accommodations
"Your advice for me personally, was in short, pretty revolutionary,
and you've given me both food for thought and the impetus to make some important changes. In short, I think you're pretty rad! 😀"
~ Cat, Parent of 10-year-old boy, Autistic & Gifted
"Cultural change and meeting neurodivergent needs is possible through collaboration, education, and compassion"
-Kate Donohue
Being neurodivergent-affirming changes lives!
Becoming neurodivergent-affirming means you embrace the natural diversity of human brains and bodies. You believe it's normal to be different. Accepting brain differences does not mean ignoring challenges or minimising difficulties. Being neurodivergent-affirming is valuing neurodiversity and being responsive to meeting individual needs by supporting both strengths and challenges.
Neurodivergent people have always existed and there is not one single ideal brain, rather, neurotypical brains are advantaged in our culturally constructed world. Neurodivergent people need ongoing support to navigate everyday life as our social services and structures are built around neurotypical brains and bodies.
Neurodivergent-affirming practices are essential for neurodivergent people to thrive but most importantly they communicate that the person is considered, accepted and cared about for who they are.
We all deserve to belong, it is a basic human need and we can save lives by being neurodivergent-affirming.
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