Honouring Neurodiversity: What Neuro-Affirming OT Looks Like at Forbes Care

At Forbes Care, we believe that every person deserves to be supported in a way that respects who they are — not who they’re expected to be. That’s why our Occupational Therapists are committed to neuro-affirming practice: an approach that recognises, respects, and celebrates the diverse ways neurodivergent individuals experience and navigate the world.

Whether someone is autistic, has ADHD, or identifies with another neurodivergent profile, our goal is always the same — to offer support that’s safe, collaborative, and empowering.

Understanding Neurodiversity

Neurodiversity refers to the natural differences in how people think, feel, process, and respond. It includes neurotypes like autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and more.

Being neurodivergent isn’t something that needs to be "fixed" — instead, it’s something to be understood and supportedwith strategies that align with each individual’s strengths, needs, and identity.

Key Concepts in Neuro-Affirming Practice

Masking
Many neurodivergent people learn to hide their natural behaviours — such as stimming, scripting, or avoiding eye contact — to blend in or meet expectations. This is known as masking. While it may appear as coping, masking can lead to significant exhaustion, anxiety, and even emotional shutdown. At Forbes Care, we aim to create spaces where clients can be themselves, without fear or pressure to "fit in."

Demand Tolerance
Some individuals experience lower tolerance to demands — even when those demands are minor or routine. This can result in avoidance, shutdowns, or overwhelm. By using low-demand language and offering choice and flexibility, we help reduce anxiety and support meaningful engagement in daily life.

The Double Empathy Problem
It's often assumed that autistic people struggle with empathy or communication — but research shows it's a two-way street. Neurotypical people can also misunderstand the communication styles of autistic individuals. This is known as the double empathy problem. Our therapists work to build mutual understanding, not one-sided correction.

Alexithymia
Some neurodivergent individuals may have difficulty identifying or expressing their emotions. This doesn’t mean they don’t feel deeply — it just means they may need alternative tools to recognise and process those feelings. Visual aids, body maps, and sensory strategies can help bridge this gap.

How We Support Neurodivergent Clients

Our neuro-affirming approach means therapy is individualised, respectful, and strengths-based. Here’s how we support:

• Visual aids, sensory strategies, and environmental adjustments
• Self-advocacy scripts and communication tools that support autonomy
• Celebrating identity and unique interests, rather than suppressing them
• Listening to lived experience — because autistic and neurodivergent voices matter

We collaborate closely with clients and families to build therapy that feels safe, purposeful, and aligned with how the person naturally experiences the world.

A Safe Place to Be You

At Forbes Care, we’re proud to support neurodivergent individuals to live, learn, and thrive — without needing to mask, conform, or change who they are. Whether we’re working with children, teens, or adults, our role is to stand beside our clients, not in front of them.

Because when people are supported to live authentically, they flourish — and that’s what truly matters.

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