FAQs

The neurodiversity movement is a social justice movement which promotes the understanding and awareness that the way neurodivergent people experience and interact with the world is part of natural diversity. Neurodiversity is a framework for understanding human brain function that considers the diversity within sensory processing, motor abilities, social comfort, cognition, focus, and communication as neurobiological differences. Respecting the principles of neurodiversity means holding the belief that all ways of being in the world are valid. The neurodiversity paradigm views autism as a natural part of human neurological diversity, and not as a disorder or condition. It is part of one's identity. Critically, this paradigm moves away from the medical model which is deficit-based and pathologising. The medical model is based on the principle that there is one gold standard neurotype, called a neurotypical brain type, and that all other brain types are somehow flawed, undesirable and lacking when compared with the neurotypical brain. In reality, there is no single neurotype. Diversity across human neurotypes is a naturally occurring fact.

A neuroaffirming attitude believes that it is a natural and normal part of humanity to be autistic, or otherwise neurodivergent, and that there is nothing to be cured or fixed in neurodivergent people. Adopting a neuroaffirmative approach means valuing and respecting neurodivergent individuals for who they are, instead of viewing their differences as deficits. A neuroaffirmative approach focuses on strengths and provides support for challenges that are experienced due to external environmental factors which create barriers for neurodivergent thriving. There is a strong advocacy role in the neuroaffirmative approach which highlights the need for environmental changes rather than trying to change individuals. The neuroaffirmative approach sees it as critical that we reshape language to be respectful and inclusive, and that we reshape environments, emphasising the importance of accommodating neurodivergent needs. The neuroaffirmative approach is anti-conformity, promotes dignity and autonomy, and the human right to authentic self-expression. The neuroaffirmative attitude recognises, validates, and values difference, and works to find ways to support and advocate for autistic individuals, so that they can feel safe and free to be their normally autistic selves.

Difficulties in life arise for neurodivergent people when environments do not validate and accommodate neurodiversity and the range of differences that exist in relation to their needs and preferences. Non-neurodivergent people often do not understand that neurodivergent people have, for example, different sensory needs and communication styles, and lived experience, and that this is where challenges arise for neurodivergent people. Dr Luke Beardon captures this central point with his Golden Equation: Autism + Environment = Outcome. This signifies that autistic flourishing, and all neurodivergent flourishing, is driven by the relationship between the individual and their environment.

Intersectionality considers the complex and multiple identities that a person may have, the combination of which will shape their individual experience. Race consciousness is central to intersectionality. Intersectionality directs clinicians to actively reflect on the role that cultural beliefs and assumptions have on clinical decision making. Taking an intersectional approach means being committed to actively seeking to understand how diverse aspects of a person's identity interact and overlap, including social group, culture, ethnicity, gender orientation, and sexual orientation, to compound marginalisation and discrimination.

It is the preference of the autistic community to use identity-first language rather than person-first language. Identity-first language means stating that a person is autistic. Person-first language means describing a person as having autism. Most autistic people consider being autistic to being central to every part of their identity and therefore prefer others to refer to them as autistic, rather than a person with autism, which would otherwise suggest that being autistic is just one part of an otherwise non-autistic person. Out of respect for the preference of the autistic community, we use identity-first language within our service. We are also respectful of each individual’s language preferences.

In line with best practice guidelines (see PSI and NICE autism assessment guidelines), we gather detailed information relating to the DSM-5 criteria. While current classification systems (DSM-5-TR and ICD-11 criteria) are not neuro-affirmative in their description of autistic experience, and also exclude many autistic experiences from their categorisation, they are required to be used as part of best practice. The language used to describe autistic experience within the classification systems is problematic and deficit-focused and is inappropriate within the neurodiversity affirmative framework. It is vital therefore that while these classification systems are used to guide the identification process, how autistic experience is explored, understood and described must reflect the neuro-affirmative framework. It is important that the strengths and limitations of the classification systems are understood, and applied with clinical competency, in the identification process.

At Rewild Therapy we are committed to being inclusive, and work in a deeply respectful way, supporting personal choice. We are LGBTQIA+ affirmative. We believe in freedom of self-expression and have experience working with transgender and gender questioning young people. We are delighted to help support young people who may wish to share their gender identity exploration, or their clarity around their gender variance with us, and to support them through an autistic identification process. We are gender-affirming, sexual orientation-affirming, and neuro-affirming in our identification process, and strive to validate lived experiences within these different identities.

You can contact us directly to refer your teenager, either through the website or by emailing info@rewildtherapy.ie. We will provide you with further information and referral forms. Once you have returned the referral forms, we will add your young person to our waitlist, in preparation for scheduling their assessment.

Yes, our multidisciplinary assessments reports are accepted by the HSE and the Department of Education, as they are in line with best practice and adhere to national requirements.

Please give us as much notice as possible if you need to reschedule or cancel your appointment. Your appointments are reserved especially for you and your family. If we do not receive sufficient notice, we may be unable fill the appointments, which will delay others on our waitlist receiving support. Please note that we schedule our appointments well in advance, and so there may be a waiting time before we can offer an alternative appointment should you need to reschedule. Missed appointments will be charged at the full rate. We request at least 24 hours’ notice of a rescheduled appointment or cancellation. We reserve the right to charge late cancellations at the full rate.

No, we specialise in autism identification, and supporting autistic young people and their parents. If however it becomes apparent that your child or teenager may have other assessment needs, we will discuss this with you and support you with onward referrals where appropriate.

We do not assign DSM-5 levels to young people, as they are often misleading and can be inaccurate, and do not reflect strengths. Levels are typically focused on externalising needs (i.e. what others see) rather than internalising needs (i.e. what a person experiences). This means that levels are assigned from the outside perspective, often with little understanding of the internal state of the autistic young person. A person's support needs change over time, depending on specific demands and environmental barriers. It is more beneficial to consider your child's detailed individual strengths and support needs across settings, as they are emerging and evolving.

Our identification process involves online and in-person appointments. We use a therapeutic clinic setting in Carrigaline, Cork for our in-person sessions.

Yes, we offer a one-hour parent consultation for those who wish to to discuss if exploring whether their young person is autistic is warranted or not. The fee for this consultation is €150. Please note that it will not be possible to provide a determination or a report based on this consultation alone.

Your outcome report will include detailed recommendations for your young person's school or education setting. We do not offer direct school consultations at this time.

Your child's information will be stored in compliance with EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).