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Neurodiversity Affirming Practice Workshop for trained Parents Plus facilitators
In November 2025, Parents Plus was delighted to host an online workshop for trained facilitators to support you to integrate a neurodiversity affirming approach into your practice. The workshop comprised presentations from CAMHS Parent Support Lead Facilitator and Independent Neurodiversity Trainer, Abigail Patikis, and Parents Plus Clinical Director, John Sharry, as well as a panel discussion.
If you missed it, or would like to review the workshop content once more, you can watch the recording below.
Neurodiversity Affirming Practice & the Parents Plus Programmes
Welcome – John Sharry
A short welcome message for those attending Parents Plus’ facilitator workshop on Neurodiversity Affirming Practice from our Clinical Director, John Sharry.
Empowering your Practice: Integrating a Neuro-Affirming approach into Supporting Families – Abigail Patikis
CAMHS Parent Support Lead Facilitator and Independent Neurodiversity Trainer, Abigail Patikis, discusses:
- Neuro-affirming practice and why it matters.
- The unique challenges faced in neurodiverse families.
- How to create safe, inclusive spaces for parents.
- Ten practical tips drawn from lived experience that foster authenticity, validation, and connection.
- Tools to maximize parent accessibility, engagement, and retention, by meeting the needs of all parents.
0:00 – Introduction: An Inclusive Learning Space
1:58 – Learning Objectives
3:10 – Core principles of neuro-affirming practice
4:52 – Why a neuro-affirming approach matters to families
7:22 – Additional stressors on parents of ND children
13:58 – Inclusive Spaces
15:35 – Top 10 Tips for Neuro-Affirming Practice when working with families
32:14 – Conclusion: Notice the Glimmers
Embracing Neurodiversity within the Parents Plus Programmes – John Sharry
Parents Plus Clinical Director, John Sharry, discusses:
- How to deliver the Parents Plus Programmes in a neuro-affirming way.
- Evolving parenting models to meet the needs of neurodivergent (ND) children.
- The importance of ‘tuning in’ and responding to the needs of ND parents and families.
0:00 – Introduction & Context: Embracing Neurodiversity
3:44 – Neurodiversity and the Family
4:27 – A Neurodiversity Affirming, Strengths-Based Approach
5:32 – Parents Plus: A Brief History
9:50 – ‘Parent Training’: A History
12:00 – Authoritative Parenting Model: Getting the Balance Right
13:40 – Changing Models
16:44 – Delivering Parents Plus programmes in a neuro-affirming way
25:06 – Supporting families to find their own solutions
25:50 – The Pause Sandwich
Neurodiversity Affirming Practice: Panel Discussion
Prof. John Sharry, Dr. Eileen Brosnan, Abigail Patikis, Lisa Whitlock and Fred Ehresmann discuss Neurodiversity Affirming Practice and offer some of their own experiences and advice for practitioners during Parents Plus’ facilitator workshop in November 2025.
0:00 – Top Tips from the panel for being neuro-affirming in their practice
4:43 – Reflection from Abigail Patikis on group discussions and successes of workshop attendees
5:18 – Q & A
11:08 – Further Post-Training Support
To avail of further post-training support, including Community of Practice sessions, Individual Supervision, Accreditation, Refresher Courses and future training, please email Karin@parentsplus.ie.