Reframing Challenging Behaviours through a Neuroaffirmative Lens

Expert Faculty: ASLP Yaashna Rajani Haryani

This intensive 3hour course is designed to take you through various aspects that we as adults find challenging while working and living with neurodiverse children. This session focuses on understanding children’s behaviour in a more meaningful and respectful way, especially in neurodivergent children.
We will move away from viewing behaviour as “defiant” or “attention-seeking” and instead understand it as communication linked to regulation, sensory needs, and communication challenges.

Key Takeaways:

• Rethinking “challenging behaviour”
Understanding why behaviours are not random, but meaningful responses seen across home, school, and therapy settings.

• Why common behaviour strategies often fail?
A clear, parent-friendly explanation of why traditional approaches may not work and can sometimes escalate situations.

• Behaviour as communication
Learning to identify what a child may be expressing through behaviour when words are not available.

• A practical response framework
A simple, usable framework to help parents and therapists pause and evaluate regulation, communication access, sensory load, and task demands before reacting.

• Hidden challenges behind behaviour
How receptive language difficulties, processing delays, and unclear instructions contribute to meltdowns, refusals, and shutdowns.

• Using regulation tools effectively
How to use tools like Zones of Regulation in a supportive way, without turning them into compliance-based systems.

• Real-life scenarios and problem-solving
Working through common therapy and home situations, including what to do in the moment when behaviour escalates.

• What to change when behaviour shows up
How to adapt therapy sessions and home tasks and adjust expectations instead of pushing through when a child is overwhelmed.

• Collaborative conversations with parents and therapist
How to discuss behaviour without blame, and with a focus on the child’s dignity and support needs.

• Redefining progress
Shifting from behaviour reduction to meaningful outcomes like participation, emotional safety, communication, and autonomy