[Because this neurodivergent brain loves a creative constraint.]
“Neurodivergent-affirming” (aka neuroaffirming, ND-affirming, neurodiversity-affirming, and so on) has become quite the buzzword in my world.
Lots of providers and services promote themselves as neurodivergent-affirming (guilty!), while potential clients and service users want to know what that actually means.
“How are you neurodivergent-affirming?”
“Can you explain how your approach is ND-affirming?”
“Specifics, please! What makes your approach uniquely neuroaffirming?”
On the upside, being a buzzword at least means we’re talking about it more. And when used genuinely, “neurodiversity-affirming” can signal a shared understanding, a sense of belonging and, hopefully, safety.
But buzzwords have a downside. They can gain popularity quickly, become overused or misused, and eventually lose their meaning altogether.
After being asked (and answering) these questions in so many slightly different ways, I was starting to feel like an AI-slop version of myself.
But if people are asking, there’s probably a very real and important reason why. And as a practitioner committed to affirming practice, I refuse to let something this important become just another generic, meaningless buzzword.
Enter: midnight haikus.
Enjoy!
What does it even mean,
To be an affirming OT?
Means you belong here.
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Marginalised? Yes!
We both are. You’re welcome here.
We’ll write our own norms.
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Safety matters most.
It’s not just something we say.
It is everything.
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Neurodivergent?
I see your beautiful brain.
Nothing to hide here.
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We do with, not for.
Authority? Compliance?
No space for that here.
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You can be you here.
Let's be weirdly wonderful,
In our very own ways.
