Episode 251: More Than Empty Claims: Creating Truly Neurodivergent-Affirming Events [featuring Yael Clark and Liam Spicer]

About this episode

Patrick Casale discusses building neurodiversity-affirming mental health spaces with guests Yael Clark and Liam Spicer.

In this episode, Patrick Casale talks with Yael Clark and Liam Spicer about building neurodiversity-affirming mental health spaces and the Neurodiversity Affirming Therapy Conference Australia & LOAPAC Expo. They discuss how collaboration among neurodivergent professionals can drive change—whether by centering lived experience, innovating inclusive practices, or redefining what “professional” environments look like. 3 Key takeaways: Practice What You Preach: Every layer of event planning—from speaker selection to seating arrangements—should be infused with neurodiversity-affirming values, not just the content itself. True Accessibility Means Change: Accommodations like sensory-friendly spaces, alternative seating, open movement, and even alternative applause create environments where more people can show up authentically and sustain their energy. Community-Led Innovation: Real impact comes from grassroots collaboration and feedback—welcoming new voices, ideas, and continuous adaptation, both onsite and online. If you’re creating events, building communities, or delivering care: model the values you want to see, because people notice—and they appreciate it. More about Yael…

People in this episode

Host: Patrick Casale

Guests: Yael Clark, Liam Spicer

Topics covered

• neurodiversity
• mental health
• event planning
• accessibility
• community collaboration

Keywords

• neurodiversity
• mental health
• event planning
• accessibility
• community
• collaboration
• inclusive practices

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Neurodiversity Affirming Therapy Conference Australia, LOAPAC Expo, Supporting Parents

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