Understanding Neurodiversity & How We Support It
At Chatterbox, we believe that every child deserves to feel understood, accepted, and celebrated for who they are. That’s why we’re proud to be a neurodiversity affirming practice.
What is Neurodiversity?
Neurodiversity is the idea that all brains are different, and that’s a good thing! Just like we all have unique fingerprints, we all have unique ways of thinking, learning, communicating, and experiencing the world. Neurodiversity is the idea that all people have different neurotypes (which means different brains). Some of these neurotypes include such as Autistic, ADHD and dyslexic brains.
These are not problems to be fixed, they are part of natural human variation. Neurodivergent people face challenges that others don’t and have incredible strengths that others don’t, offering unique and valuable perspectives. We’re here to affirm and support both.
What is Neurodiversity Affirming Practice?
Being neurodiversity affirming means we see your child’s differences as strengths, not deficits. We don’t approach therapy with a goal of making children “fit in” or appear more “typical.” Instead, we work alongside your child to support their goals, their needs, and their ways of engaging with the world. Our role is not to “change” your child, but to empower them and to equip you as their parent with strategies and support that feel respectful, useful, and affirming of who they are.
At the same time, we recognise that some things can feel harder for your child and that’s okay. Being neurodiversity affirming doesn’t mean ignoring those challenges. It means approaching them with compassion and understanding. We work with your child to build skills in a way that supports their growth, development, and identity, always with the aim of helping them feel more confident, capable, and connected in their everyday life.
How Does Neurodiversity-Affirming Practice Benefit My Child?
When children feel seen, heard and supported, they thrive. A neurodiversity affirming approach means your child:
- Is respected for who they are, without being asked to mask or suppress their identity
- Builds confidence by working on goals that are meaningful to them and your family
- Feels safe and supported in therapy spaces designed around their sensory and emotional needs
- Gains skills in ways that are fun, functional and aligned with their own pace and learning style
Most importantly, they learn that they are enough, just as they are.
Why Chatterbox?
At Chatterbox, our values guide everything we do. We aim to make a difference every day, and for us, that means supporting children and families in a way that feels safe, respectful and genuinely helpful.
Our team is committed to:
- Ongoing training in neurodiversity affirming approaches
- Listening to autistic and neurodivergent voices
- Updating our practices and language as we learn more
- Creating spaces where kids can be their true selves
- Partnering with families so you feel confident and empowered
One of our other values as an organisation is Education Matters. We value education, for families, for kids, and for ourselves. The neurodiversity affirming movement is constantly evolving, and so are we through constant education for our our Paediatric Occupational Therapy and Paediatric Speech Therapy services. We’re committed to learning, growing, and making sure our therapy is as helpful and respectful as possible.