Neurodivergence and Physical Health Workshop with Dr Emma Bede

It is becoming increasingly clear that neurodivergent people are more likely to have a wide range of physical health problems, compared to neurotypical people. These are often chronic, complex, interacting and multisystemic conditions, including hypermobility, fatigue, pain, and circulatory and digestive problems. It is also harder for neurodivergent people to access appropriate and supportive healthcare, with obstacles including the "triple empathy problem", sensory sensitivities, and communication barriers, and self-care can also be hard for people who have difficulties making or changing routines, maintaining a healthy diet, and so on. This session will give an overview of the main issues in this area, and some practical suggestions and resources for neurodivergent people to manage and maintain their health and access healthcare as needed.

Learning Objective Participants Can Expect From This Event

• Get to know the range of health challenges that neurodivergent people may be more likely to experience.
• Understand some of the obstacles to self-care and medical care that neurodivergent people may face.
• Gain strategies and resources that may support neurodivergent people in managing their physical health.

Who is This Workshop Appropriate For?

• Neurodivergent people, and anyone working with neurodivergent people who would like to support their clients to understand and manage their physical health.

How May This Workshop Impact Your Practice?

• Increased awareness of potentially relevant areas of physical health to explore with clients, and ways to support clients and/or improve self-care and self-advocacy.