Disability is one of the most hidden forms of marginalization; it's easy for most of us who are able-bodied to overlook the privilege we have in how we move or how we relate to our bodies, and as such we live in a world that isn't always accessible to everyone. The same is true of neurodivergence - when considering conditions like Autism and ADHD, in what ways are birth practices and birth support frameworks inaccessible or exclusive to neurodivergent people, and why does this matter? 

Doula and midwifery care embraces the belief that how we give birth matters - from our experience during labour to early bonding, our relationship to our bodies, our bellies, and our babies changes how we see ourselves as parents. But what about the relationship to our brains? Autism and ADHD affect every aspect of a neurodivergent person's experience - from what and how they feed themselves to what situation create stress and fear. In this workshop, we will learn about common areas that we as care providers may overlook as being 'neuro-exclusive' and discuss ways to create a safer and more inclusive environment for neurodivergent birthers.