Neuro-affirming Homeschooling
Neurodivergent Wellness
Psycho-Social Services
ASCHP reg.no. WC24/9022
Neurodivergent Wellness
On our Journey though Life all of us may at times become unwell and need help to find our way back to Wellness.
Hope is the thing with feathers
by Emily Dickinson
Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune without the words,
And never stops at all,
And sweetest in the gale is heard;
And sore must be the storm
That could abash the little bird
That kept so many warm.
I've heard it in the chillest land,
And on the strangest sea;
Yet, never, in extremity,
It asked a crumb of me.
Image credit: Geneva Wilson, S Jade Studio
Finding your Way to Wellness
Seeing health from a wellness standpoint involves acknowledging it as a beneficial state of bio-psycho-social well-being. Therefore, health is defined as a condition where a person's body, soul and spirit are in harmony. Where the individual takes ownership for their own health and wellness through neuro-affirming self-care.
Self-Care is defined by the World Health Organization as: “the ability of individuals, families, and communities to promote health, prevent disease, maintain health, and cope with illness and disability with or without the support of a health worker.”
Essential Aspects of Wellness-Centered Healthcare:
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Self-Care plays a crucial role in Wellness-Centered Healthcare.
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Individuals must take ownership of their own Health and Wellness.
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Having an understanding of one's holistic self that includes your physical, emotional, mental, social and spiritual wellness is the key to wellness.
Self-care is not synonymous with self-indulgence or being selfish. Self-care means taking care of yourself so that you can be healthy, you can be well, you can do your job, you can help and care for others, and you can do all the things you need to and want to accomplish in a day.”
At times we may find that we are unwell, as we move though the changes, challenges, stress and traumas of life. Then we need help and support to find our Way back to Wellness.
Dimensions of Wellness
Neuro-affirming Aspects
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Emotional - Coping effectively with life and creating satisfying relationships. Emotional Regulation & Executive Functioning.
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Physical - Recognizing the need for physical activity, sleep and nutrition. Interoception, Exteroception, Proprioception, Sensory Differences, Gender-affirming, Sensory Regulation & Stimming.
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Financial - Satisfaction with current and future financial situations and goals. Autonomy & Functional Independence.
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Social - Having a sense of connection and a dependable support system. Social Differences, Social Masking, Communication Differences, LGBTQIA+ affirming & Neuro-tribe.
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Occupational - Personal satisfaction and enrichment from one’s work. ND Support, Accommodations & Self-advocacy.
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Environmental - Good health through pleasant environments that support well-being. ND-friendly & ND-affirming environments.
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Intellectual - Identifying creative abilities and expanding knowledge and skills. Special interests, SPINS & Monotropic Flow state.
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Spiritual - Expanding our sense of purpose and meaning in life. Spirituality, Core Values, Social Justice, Truth-seeking, Empathy, Inner Peace.
Autistic Wellness
Neurodivergent Wellness should be neuro-affirming, taking into account the person's neuro differences
and the support and accommodations
they need to thrive in life.
The Neurodivergent Umbrella
Neurodivergent is an umbrella term that includes neurodevelopmental conditions (that are present from birth) like Autism and ADHD. It is often referred to as ND, our Neuro-Tribe, and we are called Neurodivergents.
It includes neurodevelopmental conditions like Learning Differences ( Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, Dysgraphia, Dyscalculia, etc.), Tourette's and Tic Disorders. It also includes people with a Gifted IQ/2e, Sensory Processing Differences, Highly Sensitive Person (HSP), Alexithymia, and Gender Diversity. This is all part of your neuro-type and cannot be treated or cured, but needs to be supported.
The Neurodivergent Umbrella includes acquired neurological conditions (resulting from physical/ mental illness or trauma). These can often be treated or cured, while others are lifelong conditions that need to be supported.
Therefore, Neurodivergence and the Neurodivergent Umbrella encompasses a diverse spectrum of people, from those who are Autistic, or have ADHD, to those who are experiencing Mental or Physical Health Conditions that are affecting their neurology and neurological functioning. We are all different. Some people have challenges and strengths associated with neurodivergent conditions.
Source credit: Prof. Amanda Kirby, Do-It Solutions & The Neurodivergent Teacher
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