Championing Neurodiversity OT Workshop

Championing Neurodiversity: Empowering Approaches to Foster Neurodivergent Participation and Challenge Ableism within the Profession

Session Description: Research indicates a significant lack of representation and focus on neurodivergent outcomes in occupational therapy, which undermines the quality and effectiveness of the services provided. Current practices often prioritize improving sensory processing, minimizing neurodivergent play, and enforcing neurotypical social participation. These traditional methods not only reinforce neurotypicality as the standard but also lead to the marginalization of neurodivergent individuals, ultimately affecting their quality of life. In response to these challenges, this session aims to recognize neurodivergent ways of being as valid and meaningful occupations. The presenter will introduce the EMPOWER model, a neurodiversity-focused framework designed to combat ableism within occupational therapy. This innovative model emphasizes the importance of reflecting on ableism, conducting meaningful evaluations, employing affirming treatment practices, setting targeted neurodivergent outcomes, and actively advocating for inclusion. In addition to implementing the anti-ableism occupational therapy process, participants will also gain practical strategies for integrating the foundations of the EMPOWER model into their practice. These foundations include principles of disability justice, anti-racism, trauma-informed care, and strengths-based approaches. By learning about the EMPOWER model, occupational therapy practitioners will feel empowered to promote neurodivergent participation and contribute to the profession’s commitment to being anti-ableist. Ultimately, the EMPOWER model will provide the means to support OTPs to reflect on their practices, and empower neurodivergent ways of living in a disabling world.

Learning Objectives

• Participants will recognize characteristics of neuronormative and Neurodivergent occupations.
• Participants will identify aspects of the EMPOWER model, including its foundation components and the anti-ableist OT process.
• Participants will reflect on current practices and modify approaches to ensure they align with the neurodiversity framework.

Two (2) MN State Licensed OTP Contact Hours available

Presenter Bryden Carlson-Giving is a neurodivergent and disabled occupational therapy practitioner (OTP) with extensive experience in pediatric outpatient, inpatient, and school-based settings. Bryden earned his post-professional doctorate from Boston University, where his research focused on creating a toolkit to support OTPs in challenging ableism within the OT profession. This work led to the development of the first neurodiversity-affirming occupational therapy model, the EMPOWER model. Bryden is also the creator of Neurodivergent Nexus, an online resource hub that supports practitioners in challenging ableism throughout the OT process. He received the 2024 Emerging Leader Award from Boston University, and will publish a book on this work in March 2026, titled "Neurodiversity-Affirming Occupational Therapy: Empowering Approaches to Foster Neurodivergent Participation."  More information can be found at the website: https://neurodivergentnexus.com/

Workshop questions? Contact Dr. Kelly Erickson, OT Department Chair, kerickso@css.edu
General questions? Contact us at learn@css.edu

Free and open to the public