By Anwyn Yap, Lead Senior Speech Pathologist for the Stronger Together Foundation
On Friday 30th August, Em Mainey from Neurowild came to present to a room full of educators, therapists and support workers.
Her message was loud and clear – we can build our neurodivergent children up by ensuring their foundations are strong.
Children need the people in their lives to be their support network, understand their strengths and channel these to support learning opportunities, build a sense of positive identity and prioritise their safety and health. This is the foundation for all learning.
Only once these foundational areas are nurtured, can children start to learn to regulate their sensory systems, emotional systems and co-regulate with others.
The higher order skills of focusing, learning, impulse control, memory, planning, flexible thinking, language and problem solving can only be built on a strong foundation.
I left the training feeling empowered as a therapist.
Others said:
“I found it so beneficial, not just for learning about ways to support neurodivergent children, but to support all children!” (Educator at a Community Preschool)
“Now that we’ve got the information, we can change our practise for the better.” (Speech Pathologist at Stronger Together Foundation)
“Hearing Em speak was so affirming to what I had noticed throughout my career. Safety, connection and strengths based supports are fundamental to all children and should be the foundation for all learning relationships.” (Therapist at Stronger Together Foundation)
Thank you Em for sharing your expertise!
