Neuroaffirming practices

Neuroaffirming Practices is a workshop offered as part of the University’s commitment to building a diverse and inclusive campus where all people can safely work and study. The session provides a conversational introduction to neuroaffirming approaches, which affirm and celebrate neurodiversity rather than viewing it through a deficit-based or medicalised lens. The workshop offers an opportunity to reflect on how our ways of thinking and working can either marginalise or include neurodivergent people.

No prior knowledge is required to participate in this session. However, to get the most out of the workshop, you might like to:

• Get familiar with a few key terms like neurodivergent, neurotypical, neurodiversity, and neuroaffirming.

• Reflect on your own experiences at uni in classes, group work, or social spaces and how these environments may (or may not) be inclusive of different ways of thinking, learning, or communicating.

• Think about your role as a student and how traditional ideas about “normal” behaviour or performance might show up in your courses, clubs, or other parts of university life.

• Bring any questions, thoughts, or examples you’re curious about

• Optional: If you're interested in exploring broader ideas around neurodiversity and systems of power, Empire of Normality: Neurodivergence and Capitalism by Robert Chapman is available online through the ANU Library. You don’t need to read the whole book, even dipping into a chapter or two can offer valuable context.

Participants will explore what neurodivergence means in practice and develop a clearer understanding of the neurodiversity paradigm. The session includes insights from lived experience and prompts reflection on common misconceptions and assumptions. Through guided conversation and practical examples, participants will learn about everyday ways to foster more inclusive, respectful and affirming environments, whether in classrooms, offices, or community settings.