Neurodiversity-affirming OT approaches

This course is discounted for VOTA members.(Registration Guide)

Neurodiversity-affirming OT Approaches with Autistic Clients across Settings

This course introduces the Principles of Neurodiversity Affirming Practice in contrast to traditional Pathology Paradigm, and presents strategies for how to translate core principles into OT practice approaches with autistic clients across settings. Focus will be on centering autistic people’s lived experience in demystifying autism and identifying affirming treatment approaches through utilization of the Lived Experience Informed Practice Framework.

Essential terminology (neurodiversity, neurodivergent, neuronormativity, ableism, Double Empathy Problem, Ausocial) will be defined to support the identification of common stigmas, to support understanding of occupational justice considerations for autistic persons across practice settings, and to support evaluation of personal biases that create barriers to client-centered treatment outcomes. Practical tools for application of learning will be provided across the treatment process through the use of the Person-Environment-Occupation (PEO) model (chart review, goal writing, environmental adaptation, intervention selection, and advocacy).

Target Audience: Occupational therapists, occupational therapy assistants, occupational therapy students

Presented by:
Jordan Andrews Noah, she/her, OTD, OTR/L, QMHP
Dae Diamond-Melendez, they/them, OTD, OTR/L, QMHP

After completion of this occupational therapy continuing education course, participants will be able to:

Justify the use of the Lived Experience Informed Practice framework to bridge community advocacy and professional neurodiversity-affirming practice.
Examine their existing approaches through a neurodiversity-affirming lens to identify practices that may cause barriers to autistic clients.
Plan at least 3 practical changes at the person, environment, and occupation levels to align their clinical approaches with the principles of neurodiversity-affirming practice.

Jordan Andrews Noah, she/her, OTD, OTR/L, QMHP
VOTA Guest Instructor

Jordan earned a doctorate in Occupational Therapy from Pacific University in 2019. She obtained the NBCOT microcredential in OTR Adult Mental Health in 2025. Jordan’s professional mission is to promote holistic and person-centered practices, to be an advocate for those that have long been disenfranchised, and provide an empathetic approach to helping others. She currently works in a community mental health setting providing occupational therapy services as a part of the Early Assessment & Support Alliance (EASA) early psychosis program and Illness Management, & Recovery team. In addition, she is an adjunct professor for Pacific University’s occupational therapy program.

Dae Diamond-Melendez, they/them, OTD, OTR/L, QMHP
VOTA Guest Instructor

Dae graduated from Pacific University in 2025 with a doctorate in Occupational Therapy and a concentration in Interprofessional Education. Their approach to occupational therapy is shaped by their community organizing background and their own lived experiences as an autistic queer and trans person of color with bipolar. They are passionate about occupational justice and placing intersectionality at the forefront of care that is trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and neurodiversity-affirming. They served as an adjunct professor for Pacific University’s occupational therapy program in the 2025-2026 academic year, and work as an OT for the Early Assessment and Support Alliance (EASA) early psychosis program.

Learner cancellations: In the event that the learner requests to cancel or is unable to attend a course, a refund for the total paid for the course will be granted if Aspire OT is notified via email at info@aspireot.us within 10 business days prior to date of the scheduled course, minus a non-refundable registration fee of 25% of registration price. If the learner provides notification of cancellation less then 10 business days prior to the scheduled course, the learner will be offered the opportunity to attend the same webinar on an alternate date or enrollment in the recorded on-demand version of that webinar, instead of a refund.

No refunds will be issued after a course has been attended for more than 30 minutes. Partial credit will not be issued.

Provider cancellations: In the event of inclement weather or other event resulting in the inability for a live course to be provided within the scheduled time, learners will be offered an alternate date or a full refund for registration paid.

Neurodiversity-affirming OT Approaches with Autistic Clients across Settings

Registered already, but still seeing the enroll prompt? Click here to sign in.

This course is discounted for VOTA members.(Registration Guide)