Programme (6+2 hours): Developing your neurodivergent self-advocacy
(in education &/or the workplace)
Overview:
In this three week programme (three, two-hour sessions, six hours total), Dr Chloe Farahar, an Autistic academic, aims to help students, and/or employees explore their personal neurodivergent experience and develop an individual learning/working plan to create a solutions framework that can be used to navigate different environments. There is also an accompanying teacher/employer two-hour workshop.
Student/employee programme aims/session outlines:
Workshop ONE: What is neurodiversity? aims:
- Learn what neurodiversity is as a sociopolitical paradigm
- Learn some example neurodivergent experiences (neurodevelopmental)
- Understand the difference between “autism” and Autistic experience
- Understand that everyone has challenges and strengths because as a society we are neurodiverse
- Learn that the environment needs to adapt for neurodivergent experiences, not disable us for being different
Workshop TWO: Developing your neurodivergent self-advocacy: Development of Individual/Inclusive Learning Plan/Inclusive Working Plan aims:
- Learn the important difference between labels and identity when it comes to being neurodivergent
- Understand the pathology/medical narrative of labelling difference perpetuates stigma
- Learn the types of differences, difficulties, and barriers we might experience and face as ND people/students/employees
- Learn what self-advocacy is and think about how you might self-advocate
- Start to learn and build your neurodivergent profile
- Start to build your personal Inclusive Learning/Working Plan (ILP/IWP)
Workshop THREE: Continuing your Inclusive Learning/Working Plans & putting them into practice: Continuing to build your self-advocacy aims:
- Continue to build ILPs/IWPs – feedback support
- Continue to build self-awareness
- Start to build your skills to communicate your needs
- Start to have an awareness of your legal rights
Staff neurodivergent self-advocacy for students/employees workshop overview
In this two-hour workshop, staff will cover material about supporting neurodivergent students, as well as receive information outlining effective methods of support and communication. The workshop also aims to challenge stereotypes and educate on the realities of the neurodivergent experience.
Staff neurodivergent self-advocacy for students/employees workshop aims/session outline (pre-reading and questions further down):
PART ONE: Understanding, accepting, & embracing neurodivergent ways of experiencing the world
- Learn what neurodiversity is as a sociopolitical paradigm and example neurodivergent experiences (neurodevelopmental)
- Understand that everyone has challenges and strengths because as a society we are neurodiverse
- Learn that the environment needs to adapt for neurodivergent experiences, not disable us for being different
PART TWO: Practical approaches to building neurodivergent-inclusive practices
- Learn the types of differences, difficulties, and barriers we might experience and face as ND people/students/employees
- Learn how you can help students self-advocate, and how you can adjust your practices to support ND student/employee needs
- Learn what an Inclusive Learning Plan/Inclusive Working Plan is, and what is required by law to put in place for disabled students/employees
Each individual workshop suits a two-hour (or more) timeframe to incorporate interaction, reflection, and discussion.
Attendees: There are no limits as to the number who can attend, and workshops have been delivered to both small (e.g. 10) and large groups (80+). Workshops are appropriate for all age groups and backgrounds (upwards of age 14 years+, and 10 years+ for the neurodiversity day event), and have been carried out with: teenage school children; foundation degree students; degree students; charitable organisation staff/volunteers; Metropolitan Police personnel; support and well-being staff etc.
Fees:
Online training: Training sessions are £130 per hour, per trainer for online training, plus £100 for a recording of the session hosted privately by Aucademy for attendee personal use.
In-person training: Training sessions are £160 per hour, per trainer, plus travel for in-person training (plus food if whole day/s wanted), plus £100 for a videographer to attend and provide a recording of the session hosted privately by Aucademy for attendee personal use. A booking of four hours minimum is required for in-person training. Please confirm in-person training with us before using our booking system.
If you are a charitable organisation with limited funds still get in touch and we can see what we can do – we never want to price out organisations wanting to improve their understanding of Autistic experience.