Supporting neurodivergent children and young people

Practical guidance

We have created 3 information sheets about supporting neurodivergent children and young people. 

They define key terms associated with neurodivergence and provide guidance on understanding and accommodating 2 common areas of difference for neurodivergent children and young people: 

• neurocognitive functioning
• sensory processing.

Our aim is to enhance readers’ basic neurodivergence literacy, lay the groundwork for further learning and promote informed discussions about neurodiversity.

They can be used by anyone involved in supporting neurodivergent children and young people, including practitioners supporting children and families as well as parents and carers. 

About these resources

The 3 information sheets were written by Holly Helprin. Dr Jasmine B. MacDonald is the second author of the neurocognitive functioning information sheet. They were planned and revised in collaboration with Dr Jasmine B. MacDonald and Dr Stewart Muir. 

The Australian Government Department of Social Services funded this work as part of a larger project aimed at building workforce capability in the Family Mental Health Support Services. 

Defining key terms relating to neurodivergence

We used information from a range of publicly available online sources including: 

• child and adolescent mental health organisations
• neuro-affirming service providers and neurodivergent academics (browse our Related resources below). 

Neurodivergent researchers and frontline staff delivering mental health supports to children and young people reviewed the findings and their feedback informed and guided the creation of the information sheets. Some of the practitioners were also parents of neurodivergent children, and some identified themselves as neurodivergent.

The authors would like to thank the individuals from the following groups who consulted on this project: the Department of Social Services, Family Relationship Services Australia, and Family Mental Health Support Services staff and team leaders.  

Supporting sensory processing and neurocognitive functioning for neurodivergent children

These resources were based on a CFCA report and webinar published in 2022. Consultation with frontline staff delivering mental health supports to children and young people informed the selection of content from the previous resources and the framing of the updated resources.

The authors would like to thank the individuals from the following groups who consulted on this project: the Department of Social Services, Family Relationship Services Australia, and Family Mental Health Support Services staff and team leaders.

Related resources

Supporting children

Supporting children with neurodiversity – This AIFS policy and practice paper explores 3 areas of developmental differences associated with neurodivergence. It presents strategies for supporting neurodivergent children based on a review of research evidence. 

AIFS also recorded a webinar that builds on the paper using practitioner insights.

How to use neurodivergent-affirming strategies to support child mental health – This webinar, co-produced by AIFS and Emerging Minds, explores neurodivergent-affirming strategies to support the mental health and wellbeing of autistic and ADHDer children. It presents the lived experiences of practitioners and parents supporting neurodivergent children.

A neurodivergent-affirming approach to children’s mental health – This podcast episode from Emerging Minds explores how neuro-affirming approaches support the mental health of autistic and ADHDer children, from the perspectives of practitioners and parents. 

Defining neurodiversity

Neurodiversity and neurodivergence: A guide for families – This article from the Raising Children Network examines how neurodiversity can be embraced in families, communities and schools. It can be downloaded in 10 languages other than English.

What is neurodiversity? – This toolkit from the Australian Disability Network uses the social model of disability to explore the meaning of neurodiversity, common differences and associated conditions.  

Neurodiversity 101: Terms and introductory concepts – This resource from Dr Megan Anna Neff (Neurodivergent Insights) provides an overview of the history of the term neurodiversity. It describes the Neurodiversity Paradigm and defines core related concepts, including ableism, the Double-Empathy Problem and social models of disability.

The neurodiversity approach(es): What are they and what do they mean for researchers? – This open access journal article from Dr Patrick Dwyer explores contemporary discourse around the concepts of neurodiversity and neurodiversity approaches. It contrasts different ways of understanding neurodiversity and provides recommendations for researchers studying neurodivergent people.

Sensory screening tools

The following resources are publicly accessible screening tools that can be used to indicate whether a child is having difficulty with sensory processing and needs professional support. 

• Symptoms checklist from the STAR Institute

• Sensory checklist from Sensory Smarts

Relevant websites

Neurodivergent Insights is a blog by Dr Megan Anna Neff sharing accessible articles, infographics, podcasts and fact sheets relating to neurodivergence, mental health and wellness. 

Australasian ADHD Professionals Association (AADPA) is an interdisciplinary professionals organisation that aims to enhance lifetime outcomes for people with ADHD. Their website hosts articles, presentations, reports, fact sheets and guidelines for professionals supporting people with ADHD.

Autism CRC is a cooperative research organisation that aims to produce collaborative research and best practice guidance to benefit all autistic people. Their website hosts resources, tools and publications, including their best-practice guides.

Reframing Autism is a charity organisation that combines lived experience with research evidence to promote respectful, affirming approaches to autism. Their website hosts a mix of publicly accessible and paid resources for autistic people, as well as parents and professionals supporting autistic people.

Yellow Ladybugs is a charity organisation that aims to support inclusivity for autistic girls, women and gender diverse folks. Their website hosts resources and supports that may be of interest to people who support neurodivergent children.

Disclaimer

We recognise that there are a range of perspectives on neurodiversity and neurodivergence. We have aimed to create strengths-focused resources that promote inclusive ways of understanding and valuing the diversity of human brains. We hope these foundation-level and brief resources contribute to the existing wealth of information to prompt further learning and more informed discussions about neurodiversity.

We have used identity-first language (neurodivergent person), rather than person-first language (person who is neurodivergent), to align with a self-identifying understanding of neurodivergence. This decision was informed by consultation with neurodivergent researchers and frontline staff delivering mental health supports to children and young people. However, when speaking with an individual, it is vital to ask about and respect their language preferences and needs.

The examples of clinical diagnoses included in the information sheets are from the neurodevelopmental disorders classification in the DSM-5-TR. The authors have used the DSM-5-TR terminology because the resources have been written for community mental health practitioners, who are likely to be familiar with these diagnoses. We recognise the problematic nature of attributing clinical diagnosis to neurodivergence as a self-identifying term, including the use of the term ‘disorder’. We also recognise evolving discussions about how acquired neurological conditions fit within neurodivergence.

We encourage anyone focused on supporting neurodivergent people to work alongside those with lived experience, including through co-design and co-research.