A Guide to Neuroaffirming Support
- Julian Vilsten
- 5 days ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
For decades, the standard approach to disability support often felt like a renovation project. The goal was to “fix” behaviours or make a person appear more “neurotypical.”
But trying to change the fundamental way a brain works is exhausting. It requires individuals to mask who they are just to make others comfortable. Worst of all, it rarely leads to long-term happiness or genuine independence.
Neuroaffirming practice takes a different path. It starts with a simple premise: The brain isn’t broken. It just works differently.
At Outcomes Lab, we practice “Evidence with Heart.” We don’t try to fix the person. We try to understand them.
What Do the Words Actually Mean?
These terms appear frequently in NDIS contexts. Here is the simplest way to understand the distinction:
Neurodiversity: Just like a forest has biodiversity (many types of trees), a community is neurodiverse when it includes different types of minds.
Neurodivergent: An individual whose brain processes information differently than the “norm”. This includes Autism, ADHD, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, and other cognitive variations.
Neuroaffirming: Support that accepts neurodivergence as an intrinsic part of a person, rather than a symptom to be cured.
The “Scissors” Analogy
The best way to understand neuroaffirming practice is to think about scissors.
Imagine a left-handed person trying to cut paper with right-handed scissors. The paper tears. Their hand cramps. They appear “clumsy” to an observer.
The old way of doing things would force that person to practice using their right hand until they stopped looking clumsy. It creates stress and pain to achieve a result that feels unnatural.
Neuroaffirming practice simply hands them a pair of left-handed scissors.
The approach changes the tools and the environment to fit the person, rather than forcing the person to fit the environment.
What This Looks Like in Real Life
For families and Support Coordinators, moving to a neuroaffirming model changes the look and feel of therapy sessions. Here is the practical difference:
1. Validating, Not “Correcting”
If a participant flaps their hands (stims) when happy, a traditional approach might try to extinguish that movement to help them “fit in.” A neuroaffirming practitioner understands that stimming helps regulate the nervous system. Unless it is causing harm, it is respected as a valid, helpful way to express emotion or release energy.
2. Focusing on Strengths
We don’t define a person by what they can’t do. Someone with ADHD might struggle with a rigid 9-to-5 schedule but possess incredible periods of “hyperfocus” and creativity. Effective support builds strategies that leverage that creativity, rather than shaming the lack of routine.
3. Changing the Environment
If a meltdown occurs in a busy shopping centre, the focus isn’t on “bad behaviour.” The focus is on the sensory load. Was it too loud? Too bright? The solution might be noise-cancelling headphones or shopping at quieter times, not “behaviour management.”
Why It Matters for NDIS Goals
When individuals feel safe and understood, they learn faster. When we stop fighting against a person’s natural neurology, we make room for genuine growth.
Anxiety drops when masking (hiding traits) is reduced.
Engagement improves when therapists respect autonomy.
Strategies actually stick because they are designed for the specific brain using them.
The Standard of Support
Support should empower, not change. The goal is always to find the “left-handed scissors.”
For enquiries or to discuss our Positive Behaviour Support, Psychology, or Neuropsychology services, please reach out.
About the Author
Julian Vilsten
Founder, Outcomes Lab | Clinical Neuropsychologist | Advanced Behaviour Support Practitioner. MClinNeuro, BBNSc (Hons)
With over a decade of clinical experience, Julian combines neuropsychology with practical behaviour support. He is dedicated to neuroaffirming practice and building support systems that champion autonomy and genuine well-being.
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