Description
Table of Contents Co-Authors and Contributors Foreword by Winnie Dunn Preface Bryden Carlson-Giving Key Notes About the Book Chapter 1 - Introduction to Neurodiversity Lori Vaughn, Christopher D. Edwards, and Sarah Selvaggi Hernandez Spotlight: How Neurodivergence and Transness Have Brought Me Home Aster Gallus Chapter 2 - Disability and Ableism: Models, Perspectives, & Implications for Occupational Therapy Alisa Jordan Sheth & Laura VanPuymbrouck Chapter 3 - Neurodiversity & Occupation Aaron R. Dallman and Melanie E. Wright Spotlight: The Occupations of Communication and Playwriting Sofi Ghassaei and Bryden Carlson-Giving Chapter 4 - Disability Justice Bryden Carlson-Giving and LaVonne Fox with Sam Brandsen, Maya Brandsen, Diamond Rashad, Razan Hamad, Khalilah R. Johnson, Shayda Kafai, Toni Saia, Georgia Vine, and Daryl Patrick Yao Chapter 5 - The Bodys Story: Trauma, Interoception & Occupational Therapy Katie ODay & Kelly Mahler Spotlight: Trauma-Informed Approaches for Supporting Individuals with IDD Sam Brandsen Chapter 6 - Antiracism Occupational Therapy Practice: Why, What, How? Musharrat J. Ahmed-Landeryou Chapter 7 - Strengths-Based Approaches: Foundations for Practice and Anti-Ableist Occupational Therapy Education Kavitha Murthi and Kristie K. Patten Spotlight - Supporting Individuals with High Support Needs Through a Strength-Based Approach Lucio Serio, Kelsie Reed, Breea M. Rosas, and Haley Biddanda Chapter 8 - Critical Reflexivity Julia Sterman and Janet Njelesani Chapter 9 - Inclusive Evaluations Lisa Marnell, Kathryn L. Hansen, Rachel Robertson, and Bryden Carlson-Giving Spotlight - The Cultural Identity Assessment Mary Katherine Howell Chapter 10 - Neurodivergent Empowerment: Affirming Practices and Supportive Strategies Amy Laurent and Lisa Marnell Chapter 11 - Advocacy Greg Boheler, Jacklyn Boheler, and Elizabeth Duffy Spotlight - Sass Meets Advocacy: Wit and Wisdom from a Nonspeaking Advocate Bri Guerra and Bryden Carlson-Giving Chapter 12 - The Empowering Neurodivergent Occupational Participation and Well-being (EMPOWER) Model Bryden Carlson-Giving Chapter 13: Stories of Practice Elizabeth Duffy, Kelsie Olds, Stephanie Olszewski, Robert B. Pereira, and Rachel Robertson Acknowledgements Appendix A - Reflections for Change Appendix B - Matrices for Action Appendix C - List of Supplemental Downloads and Resources in the Vault
Bryden Carlson-Giving is a Neurodivergent occupational therapist and activist who combines clinical expertise with lived experience to champion inclusive, anti-ableist practice. He earned his post-professional doctorate from Boston University, where he developed a toolkit to help occupational therapy practitioners challenge ableism in pediatric settings - work that led to the creation of the EMPOWER model, the first neurodiversity-focused occupational therapy framework. Bryden is the founder of Neurodivergent Nexus, an online resource hub for supporting anti-ableist OT practice and is the recipient of Boston Universitys Emerging Leader Award. Based in Minnesota, he works in the public schools to foster equitable practices that affirm the identities of all students.