What is this project about?

Many neurodivergent people have serious mental health challenges and have trouble finding appropriate support. Likewise, many clinicians feel unprepared to properly support neurodivergent people. Neuro-affirming care helps clinicians adapt their techniques in working with neurodivergent people and aims to help neurodivergent people build positive self-identities. However, there is no clear definition of what neuro-affirming care is, and how it should be delivered.

What will the researchers do?

We want to 1) create and 2) evaluate Best Practice Guidelines to help clinicians deliver neuro-affirming care. 1) We will run a Delphi study where we will identify experts in neurodevelopmental conditions and mental health (i.e., neurodivergent people and families, clinicians, and researchers). The research team will develop a long list of possible items to include in the Guidelines after looking at research papers and using personal and professional experience. We will then ask experts to rate the items in terms of their importance and clarity. 2) We will then review the Guidelines during a virtual workshop with clinicians from across Canada. We will ask clinicians to rate their knowledge of and confidence in providing neuro-affirming care before and after attending the workshop.