![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.kidsburgh.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/peter-burdon-C2zX9DEVSDs-unsplash.jpg\")
<\/a>Photo by Peter Burdon<\/a> on Unsplash<\/a>.<\/p>\nNEURODIVERGENT-AFFIRMING CARE IS AVAILABLE
There was a time when support for neurodivergent individuals was often approached from the perspective of \u201ctreating\u201d or \u201cfixing\u201d autism or ADHD,\u201d Vidal-Phelan explains. \u201cToday, the conversation has shifted. Rather than focusing on a cure, the emphasis is on acceptance, understanding, and recognizing that people think, learn, and experience the world in different ways.\u201d<\/p>\n
Today, neurodiversity-affirming care often includes interventions such as Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and other evidence-based supports that are designed to help children and young adults build skills, increase independence, and improve quality of life. The focus is not on changing who a person is, but on providing the individual and their family with the tools, strategies, and supports they need to thrive.<\/p>\n
One example, Vidal-Phelan says, is a behavior known as stimming.<\/p>\n
\u201cSome children with autism engage in self-stimulatory behaviors, commonly referred to as stimming,\u201d she explains.<\/p>\n
Stimming can serve a variety of purposes, including self-regulation, self-expression, or coping with excitement, stress, or sensory input. \u201cHistorically, the goal was often to reduce stimming simply because it was viewed as different,\u201d she says. \u201cA neurodiversity-affirming approach recognizes that these behaviors may serve an important purpose and should be respected unless they are causing harm to the individual or others.\u201d<\/p>\n
If stimming helps a child communicate, self-regulate, or navigate their environment, the goal is to understand its purpose rather than eliminate it. \u201cWe\u2019re focused on understanding the reasons behind behaviors and supporting the child in a way that respects their autonomy, preferences, and individual needs,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe goal is to create an environment in which we see neurodivergence as, in my words as the parent of a neurodivergent child, beautiful. We have different brains, and our brains have different talents, strengths, and ways of functioning. We should appreciate the fact that, within the neurodiversity community, those differences should be welcomed, supported, and included, rather than viewed as negative or as something that needs to be cured.\u201d<\/p>\n
SEEK COMPASSIONATE CARE AND SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY
Families can cultivate acceptance within their own households while also seeking providers who practice neurodiversity-affirming care. If one provider is not the right fit, it is appropriate to seek a clinician who listens, understands your concerns, and respects your child\u2019s individual needs.<\/p>\n
A strong partnership with a pediatrician or healthcare provider can be especially valuable. Families benefit from working with professionals who take the time to understand not only the child, but the needs of the entire family.<\/p>\n
\u201cCreating an environment where children with autism or ADHD can thrive requires intention, support, and understanding from families and communities,\u201d Vidal-Phelan says. \u201cParents and caregivers need support as well.\u201d<\/p>\n
She recalls that when her son was younger and frequently running, climbing, and displaying the high energy often associated with ADHD, she sometimes encountered judgment from others.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere were not a lot of parents who were sympathetic,\u201d she says. \u201cI felt criticism and stigma, as if the expectation was that I should simply be able to control my child. But it\u2019s not about controlling the child. It\u2019s about understanding their needs and helping them succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n
The experience can feel isolating at times, she acknowledges, but it often becomes easier as families gain knowledge and support.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a journey,\u201d she says. \u201cYou don\u2019t learn everything in a single day. Even as a trained pediatrician and the parent of a neurodivergent child, it has taken me years to fully appreciate the complexity and diversity of neurodivergent experiences.\u201d<\/p>\n
YOU ARE YOUR CHILD\u2019S BEST ADVOCATE
\u201cWhen a child receives a diagnosis such as autism or ADHD, parents and caregivers often find themselves taking on the role of advocate,\u201d Dr. Vidal-Phelan says. \u201cWe advocate for our children at school, in community settings, in places of worship, on the playground, and anywhere they live, learn, and grow.\u201d<\/p>\n
Advocacy often includes helping others understand a child\u2019s strengths, needs, and experiences. It also means creating opportunities for children to be themselves and to participate fully in their communities.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need to create space for our children to be who they are,\u201d she says. \u201cThat is why acceptance is so important. Rather than focusing on changing who they are, we should focus on understanding, support, and helping them reach their full potential.\u201d<\/p>\n
Many neurodivergent young people today are expressing exactly that message.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey are telling us, \u2018We do not need to be fixed. We want to be accepted,’\u201d Vidal-Phelan says. \u201cI hear that from our patients and clients, and I hear it from my own son, who has ADHD and autism.\u201d<\/p>\n
Now a young adult, her son has a clear perspective: \u201cHe tells me that the goal is to understand his neurodivergence, recognize his strengths, and use those strengths to shape his future, his career, and his path in life.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"What are the best steps to take if you are noticing developmental delays or your child has been…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":257079,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[73,75,74,62822],"class_list":["post-257078","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-pittsburgh","tag-pittsburgh","tag-pittsburgh-headlines","tag-pittsburgh-news","tag-the-childrens-institute"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/257078","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=257078"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/257078\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/257079"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=257078"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=257078"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=257078"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}