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One of the key findings from our research is that staff attitudes toward neurodivergence can be a significant barrier to providing better care for Autistic consumers.
These attitudes, often shaped by outdated stereotypes or a lack of training, can create environments that are not only unwelcoming for patients, but also unsafe for Autistic staff to disclose their neurodivergence. When Autistic employees don’t feel safe to be open about who they are, we lose the opportunity to build teams enriched by lived experience, teams that are better equipped to deliver neuroaffirming, person-centred care. In these videos, you’ll hear from Cecilia Smith, a late-diagnosed Autistic ADHD clinician, and Cherise Smith, the coordinator and midwife of the Women’s Individual Needs Clinic at The Royal Women’s Hospital in Melbourne. They share reflections on the importance of neuroaffirming practice and offer practical ways to embed it into everyday care
