The course is intended to help you understand how to work as a coach with people who are diagnosed as neurodivergent or who appear to show traits associated with neurodivergence.
At the end of the course, you will:
- understand the typical strengths and difficulties associated with common neurotypes
- understand what is important in your coaching work to meet the needs of neurodivergent individuals
- know what wider support is available.
The course consists of 3 x 3-hour online sessions. This will allow you to reflect on your learning, read around the topic and discuss your learning from one session to the next. The course is intended to fit around work and home commitments. To be eligible for a certificate at the end of the course, you need to attend the 9 hours (3 half days), this also counts towards your CPD.
The course will involve formal teaching inputs, exercises, case study material and some pre-reading. A suggested biography will be provided for background reading while you are on the course. There will also be some reflective work between the sessions.
Please note: due to the sensitive nature of this course, we will not be sending out a recording in order to ensure confidentiality for our participants.
Programme dates
March 2025 cohort
- 7 March 2025
- 11 April 2025
- 16 May 2025
10.00am - 1.00pm
April 2025 cohort
- 4 April
- 25 April
- 16 May
2.00pm - 5.00pm
June 2025 cohort
- 13 June
- 27 June
- 18 July
10.00am - 1.00pm
Cost
- Standard price - £500
- Oxford Brookes University staff and alumni - £450.
Sessions
Session 1: Setting the context for coaching neurodivergent individuals
- understanding the language of neurodivergence
- what is neurodivergence?
- what is the legal context?
- discussion of common neurotypes: dyslexia, dyspraxia, ADHD, autism and dyscalculia. Taking a look at acquired neurodivergence.
- how is neurodivergence recognised?
- understanding the strengths and challenges of neurodivergence
- do stereotypes matter?
- intersectionality and neurodivergence
- having a diagnosis - a cause for shame or relief?
- exploring some ways neurodivergent people may see themselves.
Session 2: Themes in coaching neurodivergent individuals
- gender, ethnicity/race, age, heritage
- organisation, time management, communication, memory, overwhelm, teamwork
- identity and neurodivergence
- building self-esteem and valuing of self
- exploring your own assumptions
- how will you know when you are ready to stand in someone else’s shoes?
- case study and exercise.
Session 3: Developing your coaching approach
- models, tools and techniques
- evidence base
- self as an instrument of coaching
- ongoing personal and professional development
- wider support for neurodivergent individuals.
Eligibility criteria
This is an introductory programme on coaching neurodivergent individuals. Delegates would normally have a recognised qualification/accreditation in coaching/mentoring. This would indicate an essential knowledge upon which to develop an understanding of coaching neurodivergent individuals.
If candidates do not have a coaching qualification but do have considerable experience in coaching (e.g. a minimum of 2 or 3 years of regular coaching practice) or considerable experience in working in the neurodiversity field (e.g. assessment, working in diversity and inclusion, etc), this will also be considered as suitable to meet the expectations of the course.
To be eligible for a certificate at the end of the course, you need to attend the 9 hours (3 half days), this also counts towards your CPD.
