Is ADHD a disorder, a difference, or a gift? And how does our response to that question inform our clinical work with clients presenting with different attentional and executive functioning?
Powerful collaboration with clients who are not neurotypical requires cultural competency and a willingness to learn on the part of clinicians. Best-fit intervention for brain differences like ADHD may include behavioral change on the part of the client - but when is the better course of action to identify meaningful environmental changes, schedule changes, or to expect change on the part of the people who work and live and learn with the neurodiverse client.
In this session we will begin to unpack our language around brain differences associated with the ADD/ADHD symptom constellation, and identify harm done by pathologizing terminology. We will consider “bottom-up” and “top-down” approaches to ADHD support and intervention, recognizing that success and well-being for our clients with these brain differences may include environmental/workplace/classroom accommodations as well as mindfully chosen efforts to “fit in” with a largely neurotypical population.