Flourish Hosts Complimentary Early Years Webinar
Talking to Families About Neurodivergence: A Complimentary Flourish Webinar for Educators
In December, Flourish Autism Consultancy and Training hosted a complimentary online webinar titled Talking to Families About Neurodivergence: Partnering with Families. This session formed part of our ongoing commitment to strengthening neuroaffirmative practice across early years and school settings, with a particular focus on how professionals communicate with families.
The webinar was offered free of charge to Flourish Newsletter subscribers and members of the Flourish Professional Development Group, and was attended by early years educators, primary teachers, and Special Needs Assistants from across Ireland.
Why This Webinar Was Needed
For many professionals, conversations with families about neurodivergence can feel complex and emotionally charged. Educators often want to be supportive and affirming, yet may feel uncertain about language, framing, or how to build trust without increasing fear or pressure.
This webinar was designed to address that gap. Rather than focusing on deficit-based explanations or diagnostic processes, the session centred on relationship-based communication, neurodiversity-affirming perspectives, and practical ways to partner with families from a place of respect and collaboration.
What the Session Covered
The webinar explored how educators can approach conversations about neurodivergence in ways that are clear, compassionate, and grounded in contemporary understanding. Key areas included:
Understanding neurodivergence as a natural and valuable part of human variation
Communicating with families using affirming, non-pathologising language
Recognising the emotional context families may bring to these conversations
Building trust through transparency, curiosity, and shared understanding
Shifting from “raising concerns” to supportive, strengths-based dialogue
Aligning professional communication with neuroaffirmative values and lived experience
Throughout the session, emphasis was placed on reducing anxiety for families, avoiding unnecessary alarm, and supporting educators to feel confident in their professional role.
A Neuroaffirmative Approach Grounded in Lived Experience and Research
The content of the webinar drew on lived Autistic perspectives, personal family experience, and contemporary research in neurodiversity and inclusive education. This combination allowed the session to move beyond theory and into meaningful, real-world application.
Participants were supported to reflect on how their own language, assumptions, and systems can either strengthen or strain relationships with families, and how small shifts in communication can make a significant difference.
Practical Resources for Ongoing Use
All registered attendees received a practical resource pack designed to support continued reflection and application within their setting. These materials were created to be usable across early years and primary contexts, and to support consistent, affirming communication at team level.
A recording of the webinar remains available to eligible subscribers, ensuring ongoing access for those unable to attend live.
Our Commitment at Flourish
At Flourish Autism Consultancy and Training, we are committed to supporting professionals to work with families, not around them, and to embed neuroaffirmative practice across everyday interactions, not only formal supports.
This complimentary webinar reflects our broader work in professional learning, family partnership, and inclusive practice. We continue to develop training, resources, and learning opportunities that centre dignity, understanding, and collaboration.
To stay informed about future webinars, training opportunities, and free professional resources, we encourage educators and professionals to subscribe to the Flourish Newsletter or explore our Professional Development offerings.