Neuroaffirming Care Training for Milwaukee-Area Agencies 

Neurodivergent people are over-represented in nearly every population your agency serves. In behavioral health caseloads, in recovery programs, in housing services, in the child welfare system, in the justice system. And they are routinely served by teams trained in models that were built to change their behavior rather than understand it.

The cost of getting this wrong is measurable: clients who disengage, no-show, get discharged for "non-compliance," or comply on the surface while masking so hard they burn out. Teams see it as a client problem. It's usually a fit problem.

The cost of getting it right is that people stay in services.

• Increased awareness of how neurodivergence shows up and why it is important in our agency culture and the services we provide. 

• Understanding traits that impact the lives of folks with ADHD and autism such as masking, stimming, shutdown, meltdown, RSD, executive dysfunction, and demand avoidance.

• Develop clinical skills and responsiveness to the needs of neurodivergent folks to create more effective, inclusive and safe interactions with those we serve.

• Support the neurodivergent colleagues. Roughly 20% of the workforce is neurodivergent, this number is likely higher in the mental health field. 

• Create language, practices, and environment of trust for neurodivergent clients and team members. 

We train from a neurodivergent-led perspective, not an outside-observer one. Our trainers are skilled trainers and clinicians who have lived experience with ADHD, AuDHD and other neurodivergent identities. We draw on our professional and lived experience to support learning, growth and agency culture change. 

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That means our training is affirming in its content and in its delivery: varied learning activities, no forced participation, no eye-contact policing, breaks that are actually breaks, materials in advance for people who need to pre-read.