Creating Neurodivergent-Affirming Spaces at Home: Practical Strategies for Occupational Therapists (October 17, 2025)

Friday, October 17, 2025

10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Time)

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With an increase in dedicated sensory-friendly spaces for neurodivergent children and youth in schools and their community, sometimes their own home setting can be overlooked. With over 9% of children in Canada being diagnosed with a neurodevelopmental disorder such as ADHD or ASD, there is a need to ensure that this population has tailored spaces available for them (Kids Brain Health Network, 2021). 

This one-day, virtual workshop is designed for occupational therapy professionals working with neurodivergent children and youth—especially those supporting families in home settings. While many therapeutic strategies begin in the clinic, sustainable impact happens when these supports are embedded into daily routines and into the physical home environment. Through a practical, room-by-room approach (e.g., kitchen, bathroom, dining space, play area and bedroom), this workshop will guide participants in co-creating with families and adapting home spaces to support occupational participation at home. Drawing on the BEST (Body, Emotional, Sensory, Thinking) Strategies Framework, participants will explore key assessment and intervention components that promote psychological and physical safety. Participants will gain practical tools, renewed confidence, and an evidence-based framework to guide families in creating neurodivergent-affirming spaces that support regulation, occupational participation and family well-being.

Preliminary workshop agenda

Learning objectives

By the end of this workshop, you will be able to:

1. Define key principles of neurodivergent-affirming practice and their relevance to home settings.
2. Become familiar with the most common neurodivergent profiles and how they may impact participation
3. Apply the BEST (Body, Emotional, Sensory, Thinking) Approach to environmental assessment to identify adaptations that support occupational participation at home
4. Identify practical, renter-friendly, and cost-conscious strategies to modify home spaces to best support neurodivergent children and youth
5. Problem-solve environmental adaptations for common challenges such as elopement, navigating shared spaces, risky play and difficulties with transitions.
6. Develop skills to effectively collaborate with and coach families in sustaining supportive home environments that align with each child’s unique needs.

Target audience

Occupational therapist clinicians; Occupational therapist educators; and/or Occupational therapist assistants who wish to feel more confident in their ability to co-create home spaces that better address the sensory, emotional, motor, and cognitive needs of neurodivergent clients.

Please note: Each participant is responsible to ensure they apply the information within the context of their licensure, provincial/territorial legislations, institution regulations, scope of practice, etc.

Client age group

Young children (0-4 years old) Children (5-12 years old) Adolescents (13-19 years old)

Areas of practice

Autism/Neurodiversity Developmental Disability Sensory Integration & Processing

Workshop level

Intermediate (3-5 years of experience in this specific practice area)

Please note: Participants with more or less than this stated level of experience are welcome to attend the workshop. The workshop content will be geared towards those with 3-5 years of experience.

Presenter

Moira Pena, BScOT, MOT, OT Reg. (Ont.)

Moira is an occupational therapist with over 25 years of experience supporting autistic children, youth, and their families. She works at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital and is the founder of Moira Peña Sensory Workshops, where she delivers professional development trainings. She is the creator and host of Holland Bloorview’s Autism Summit, a knowledge-sharing initiative featuring two international summits, a coaching program for occupational therapists, an open-access autism toolkit, and the Autism Occupational Therapy Guiding Principles—co-developed in collaboration with autistic individuals, families, and professionals. Moira is also an Expert Hub Team member of the ECHO Ontario Autism Program, supporting clinicians and educators in implementing best practices in autism care. She is a published author, an Adjunct Lecturer at the University of Toronto, and a certified Solution-Focused Healthcare Facilitator and Coach (C-SFHC).

Registration fees

Early bird rates: Registration and payment completed by September 3, 2025

Regular rates: Registration and payment completed after September 3, 2025

Registration deadline: October 17, 2025 at 9:59 a.m. (Eastern Time)

Please note that CAOT does not offer group registration fees.

*It may be more cost effective to become a CAOT Member or Associate rather than pay the non-member rate. See “Can a non-member register for a Workshop?” in our Professional Development FAQs to know which membership category you are eligible for.

Included in your registration fee:

Online workshop, access to the recording for a period of 14 days following the workshop, electronic copy of presentation slide handouts, opportunity to network and make connections with other occupational therapists interested in this topic, electronic certificate of attendance.

Cancellation/refund policy

All cancellation/refund requests must be sent in writing to education@caot.ca. All cancellation requests received by October 1, 2025 will be given a full refund minus a $50.00 administrative fee. No refunds will be given after October 1, 2025. Substitutions and transfers requests received by October 1, 2025 are permitted and are subject to a $50.00 administrative fee.

If you are exceptionally unable to complete the workshop, please reach out to education@caot.ca by 25 days following the end of the workshop for extended access to the recording (up to one month after the end of the workshop) or a one-time transfer to another offering of the same workshop if currently open for registration. 

CAOT reserves the right to modify the workshop title, description, registration dates and information on the workshop webpage. CAOT will notify participants on or before September 5, 2025, if there is insufficient registration by that date and reserves the right to cancel a Workshop due to insufficient registration up until September 19, 2025. CAOT reserves the right to modify the offering, interrupt Workshops, change the timing of a Workshop, cancel a Workshop or change the technology for the Workshop due to the presenter no longer being able to present the Workshop, severe weather, power failure, building closures or other special circumstances that are beyond the control of CAOT by notifying participants as soon as possible. If the Workshop is cancelled by CAOT, registrants will receive a full refund of the registration fee. CAOT will not be responsible for other costs or expenses incurred by registrants as a result of any such changes. 

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The Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT) is committed to accessibility as expressed in the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). We provide an electronic copy of the handouts approximately one week ahead of time in multiple slide layouts, auto-generated closed captioning through Zoom (excluding breakout rooms), as well as access to the recording for two weeks following the workshop. If you require additional special arrangements for accessibility, please contact education@caot.ca or 1-800-434-2268.  

Please note that workshop is offered in English.