Online Conference
– Neurodiversity and Trauma –
We are excited to welcome you to the Neurodiversity & Trauma Online Conference, hosted in partnership with ADHD Ireland, the Institute of Neurodiversity, University College Dublin, and NUI Maynooth. This two-day event brings together leading experts to explore the intersection of neurodiversity and trauma. Below is the full programme, featuring insightful sessions and expert speakers who will lead thought-provoking discussions and share valuable knowledge.
Conference Schedule
Thursday, May 22 – Session One | 14:00–16:25
Mapping the Terrain: Trauma in Neurodiversity – Pathways and Challenges
~ 14:00 – Welcome
Charlotte Valeur, Institute of Neurodiversity
~ 14:05 – An Evaluation of a Training on ACEs Science and Trauma-Informed Care in a U.S. K-12 Setting: The Importance of Self-Reflective Practice
Dr Shanta Dube, Wingate University
~ 14:50 – Being Neurodivergent in a Neurotypical World: The Road to Trauma
Dr Helen Gowling & Dr Becky Hull, The Divergent Space
~ 15:35 – How Neurodivergents Experience Trauma Through Obstacles to Understanding Neurotypical Spaces
Samuel Crutcher, Neurodiversity Activist
~ 16:20 – Short Break
Thursday, May 22 – Session Two | 16:25–18:40
Navigating the Complexities: Assessing Trauma Within a Neurodiversity Framework
~ 16:25 – Trauma or Autism? Understanding How the Effects of Trauma and Disrupted Attachment Can Be Mistaken for Autism
Dr Rachel Worthington, Manchester Metropolitan University
~ 17:10 – An Integrated Story: The Assessment of Children from Trauma-Sensitive, Attachment-Focused and Neurodivergent Perspectives
Dr Sara O’Byrne, Treehouse Practice
~ 17:55 – Panel Discussion
Dr Shanta Dube, Dr Helen Gowling, Dr Becky Hull, Samuel Crutcher, Dr Sara O’Byrne
~ 18:40 – Close
Friday, May 23 – Session Three | 14:00–17:55
Neurodiversity & Tailoring Trauma Treatment: Best Practice and Therapeutic Considerations
~ 14:00 – Welcome
Charlotte Valeur, Institute of Neurodiversity
~ 14:05 – Attachment and Interpersonal Trauma Among Autistic Adults
Dr Emma Taylor, Willow Psychology
~ 14:50 – Presentation
Dr Tony Lloyd, Psychologist & Pioneering Advocate
~ 15:35 – Short Break
~ 15:40 – Neurodiversity and the Echoes of Partition: Intergenerational Trauma, Identity and Resilience in Post-1947 South Asian Families
A Journey of Many Migrations: A Case Study on Collective Memory, Neurodivergent Narratives, and Healing Across Generations
Safiyya Ahmed, University of Warwick
~ 16:25 – Therapeutic Supports for Neurodivergent Children Who Have Experienced Interpersonal Trauma
Dr Alexandra Ure, Monash University
~ 17:10 – Panel Discussion
Dr Emma Taylor, Dr Tony Lloyd, Safiyya Ahmed, Dr Alexandra Ure
~ 17:55 – Close
ADHD Ireland 16th if April 2025