How to Find a Neurodiversity-Affirming Adult OT

This guide is for autistic, ADHD and other neurodivergent adults, and the people close to them. A neurodiversity-affirming occupational therapist works on goals you choose, changes tasks and surroundings rather than asking you to look typical, and keeps decisions with you. The term is not a credential, so ask each clinic how it works.⁠^1,2,3

What does neurodiversity-affirming occupational therapy mean?

It is occupational therapy that treats autistic, ADHD and other neurological differences as part of human variation, builds on your strengths and priorities, and changes the task or setting before asking you to change, although no single definition is agreed. A 2025 study of services for neurodivergent adults says the term means "lifespan, strengths-based support which is not diagnosis-dependent," notes that definitions "are still contested and in development," and calls the practice "an emerging and complex concept."⁠¹

The idea comes from the neurodiversity movement. The Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN) states its position this way: "Neurodiversity means that no two brains are exactly the same," and "there is no such thing as a ’normal’ brain."⁠¹¹

Researchers apply the idea in recurring ways:

• Your priorities lead. A 2022 paper argues that an ethical OT practice "should affirm neurodivergent ways of being," with therapists "listening to and collaborating with their neurodiverse clientele."⁠¹²
• The environment counts. The 2025 study describes needs that "can arise from the interaction between an individual’s neurotype and their environment, and are not solely due to individual limitations or difficulties."⁠¹
• You take part in decisions. A 2025 paper on daily living skills describes the movement’s aim that clinicians "actively listen and understand the autistic person’s priorities" and include the person in decisions about their care.⁠¹³

The movement is not one voice: the same 2025 paper notes it "is not a unified movement," so two clinics that both use the word can mean different things by it.⁠¹³

Is neurodiversity-affirming a certification or a type of license?

No. It describes an approach a clinic or therapist chooses to claim; the license to practice comes from the state. AOTA says occupational therapy services are "provided by licensed occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants," and that "state licensure law is the final authority on the scope of occupational therapy practice."⁠^3,14

A 2026 study of 24 websites of OT private practices serving autistic people found language that sometimes fit neurodiversity-affirming practice, sometimes diverged from it, and sometimes sat in between, and found that the services and language described often showed tensions with therapists’ stated intentions.⁠¹⁵ Treat the word on a website as a reason to ask questions, not as an answer.

Does neurodiversity-affirming care apply to ADHD as well as autism?

Yes, as the term is used. The 2022 paper describes neurodiversity as covering "autism, learning disabilities, synesthesia, hyperactivity disorders, and more," though it focuses on autistic clients, and the 2025 study covers "Autistic and otherwise neurodivergent adults."⁠^1,12 For ADHD, a 2026 scoping review of 125 studies notes growing calls "for strengths-based approaches" and found traits such as interest-based attention sometimes described as strengths.⁠¹⁶

AOTA’s 2024 practice guidelines are written for autistic people, so ask an ADHD-focused clinic how it applies the idea.⁠⁴

What does an affirming occupational therapist do differently?

An affirming OT starts from the goals you name, changes the task and the surroundings before asking you to change, treats stimming and other differences as meaningful, and keeps decisions with you. Several of these points come from AOTA’s own practice recommendations.⁠²

• Goals come from you. AOTA advises practitioners not to start intervention "without completion of the client’s occupational profile and setting collaborative goals," quoting its practice framework: "only clients can identify the occupations that give meaning to their lives and select the goals and priorities that are important to them."⁠² The occupational profile, a summary of your history, routines, interests, values and needs, is "obtained from the client’s perspective."⁠¹⁷
• Strengths are part of the plan. AOTA tells practitioners to "provide person-centered, strengths-based interventions" for autistic people.⁠²
• The setting changes first. AOTA’s 2024 guidelines recommend "the use of environmental adaptations, care partner education, and coaching."⁠⁴ For you, that can mean changing the lighting, the noise or the order of a task before you are asked to put up with more.
• Differences have reasons. AOTA notes that actions the DSM-5 calls "restricted and repetitive behaviors" "may serve as meaningful activities for self-regulation, communication, or self-expression."⁠²
• Decisions stay yours. ASAN’s position is that "No matter how much help we need, we should be able to make our own choices."⁠¹¹

Should an OT work on eye contact, stimming or masking with you?

Only if you ask for it, and only once the OT understands what the behavior does for you. AOTA advises against interventions to reduce or eliminate autistic repetitive behaviors "without evaluating and understanding the meaning of the behavior to the person," and warns that changing them "without direct request from the individual" commonly results in camouflaging, which it links to negative self-image, depression and an increased risk of suicidality.⁠² If you are thinking about suicide or are in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, which is free, confidential and available 24/7.⁠¹⁸

What autistic adults report fits AOTA’s caution:

• Stimming. In interviews and focus groups with 32 autistic adults, stimming emerged as "a self-regulatory mechanism," and participants objected to treatment that aims to eliminate it.⁠¹⁹
• Eye contact. In a study of first-hand accounts, teens and adults described "adverse emotional and physiological reactions, feelings of being invaded, and sensory overload while making eye contact."⁠²⁰
• Masking. In a study of 92 autistic adults, the consequences of camouflaging included "exhaustion, challenging stereotypes, and threats to self-perception."⁠²¹ The sensory survival guide for adults covers what masking costs, and the page on autistic burnout covers what can happen when those costs build up.

You may still choose such a goal. The 2025 paper on daily living skills notes that some autistic clients "would identify goals and seek therapeutic outcomes in the opposite direction of neurodiversity-affirming practice, such as learning how to socially engage in a neurotypical way."⁠¹³ An affirming OT treats that as your decision; the difference is who chose the goal.

Can an affirming OT still help you build skills that feel hard?

Yes; working on hard skills is part of affirming care when the goal is yours. The 2025 paper argues that targeted support for daily living skills differs from pressuring autistic people to change to fit in, and fits affirming practice when it is "driven by the autistic person’s desire to increase independence, access, and autonomy."⁠¹³ AOTA lists what OT can work on, including daily routines, returning to work, and "Techniques to aid in memory, concentration, and executive functioning."⁠¹⁴

A cooking goal, for example, might come with written steps and a quieter time of day, so the skill and the setting change together.

What does research show about neurodiversity-affirming OT?

Not much yet: the approach rests mainly on values, expert argument and what neurodivergent people report, and few studies test whether it changes outcomes, so no clinic can promise a result.⁠⁴

• AOTA’s 2024 practice guidelines drew on four systematic reviews covering 98 articles. They found "strong to moderate evidence" for "multidisciplinary, goal-oriented interventions to support autistic people," but "only emerging evidence" for building OT on autistic people’s strengths, interests and perspectives, and called the literature on neurodiversity-affirming practices for autistic youths "sparse."⁠⁴
• A 2025 study of 32 senior health and social care leaders in Scotland found "widespread professional support" for neuro-affirming practice for adults, alongside barriers such as limited resources.⁠¹
• A 2025 theoretical paper on daily living skills, written without consumer or community involvement, calls itself the first known paper on its question.⁠¹³
• A 2016 study of an online healthcare toolkit for autistic adults found fewer reported barriers to care and better satisfaction with communication after use, comparing the same people before and after, with no comparison group.⁠²²

Respectful care is worth asking for in its own right, but a specific technique still needs its own reason: ask what it should change, what supports it for adults, and when you review it together. The guide to an adult sensory assessment covers the research on sensory approaches for adults.

What can an occupational therapist help a neurodivergent adult with?

Occupational therapy works on the daily activities you want and need to do, from routines and self-care to home life and work. AOTA says OT practitioners "focus on the things you want and need to do in your daily life," and lists activities of daily living, adaptive equipment, daily routines, returning to work and executive functioning among what OT can recommend.⁠¹⁴ The evaluation has two essential parts, AOTA says: your occupational profile, and an analysis of how you perform activities using tools that look at "factors that support or hinder occupational performance."⁠²³

OT is not:

• A diagnosis. NIMH says adults asking about autism "can be referred to a neuropsychologist, psychologist, or psychiatrist who has experience with ASD," and describes ADHD in adults being diagnosed by "a primary care provider or mental health professional."⁠^5,6
• Medication care. NIMH lists medication and psychotherapy as the most common ADHD treatments for adults; medication questions belong with the prescriber.⁠⁶

The guide to occupational therapy for adults with ADHD sets OT beside coaching, therapy and medication.

Do you need a diagnosis before seeing an affirming OT?

Not necessarily. The occupational profile starts from why you are seeking services and what concerns you about daily life, and the 2025 study describes affirming support as "not diagnosis-dependent."⁠^1,17 Paying is a separate question: a plan pays for care it considers medically necessary, which HealthCare.gov defines as services "needed to diagnose or treat an illness, injury, condition, disease or its symptoms," so ask the clinic and your plan what they need.⁠²⁴ For where to start on a diagnosis, see neurodivergent adults and ADHD in adults.

What are the warning signs that an OT is not neurodiversity-affirming?

The clearest warning signs are goals set before anyone asks what you want, plans to stop stimming or build eye contact that you did not ask for, decisions made with someone else instead of you, and a refusal to adjust how you communicate. Each row rests on the position or findings of the source named, not on a test that proves a clinic good or bad.

One sign may be a misunderstanding worth raising; if it continues, look for another OT. Take the same care with sensory programs: AOTA’s recommendation against sensory-based interventions without "documented assessment results" is written for children and youth; asking for an assessment before you buy equipment or start a sensory program is still a fair request at any age.⁠²

How can you tell whether a clinic’s OT care is affirming?

Ask concrete questions on the first call and listen for specifics. A label is not enough; the 2026 study of practice websites found that therapists’ stated intentions to provide neuro-affirming care often sat beside service descriptions and language that showed tensions or inconsistencies.⁠¹⁵

What should you ask on the first call to an OT clinic?

Ask whether it sees adults, how it sets goals and how it adapts sessions; you do not need to share your full history yet.

How can you make your first OT appointment work for you?

Send a short "how I work best" sheet before the visit, ask in advance for the communication and sensory changes you need, and decide whether anyone comes with you. A sheet like this follows the AASPIRE Healthcare Toolkit, developed with autistic adults, whose Autism Healthcare Accommodations Tool lets a patient "create a personalized healthcare accommodations report" for a provider.⁠^22,27 In the toolkit’s 2016 evaluation, patients said it helped them "clarify their needs" and "prepare for visits more effectively."⁠²²

Some requests are backed by law. The ADA rules list the "professional office of a health care provider" among places of public accommodation.⁠²⁸ For people with vision, hearing or speech disabilities, the business running one must furnish "appropriate auxiliary aids and services where necessary to ensure effective communication"; ADA.gov’s examples include "simply allowing more time to communicate with someone who uses a communication board or device."⁠^9,26 For other needs, such as a change to waiting-room or scheduling policy, it must make "reasonable modifications in policies, practices, or procedures" when they are necessary, unless the change would fundamentally alter what it offers.⁠¹⁰ Whether a request qualifies depends on the facts, so ask early and in writing. If you use AAC, the guide to AAC device funding covers how devices are paid for.

What role should a partner or family member play in your OT?

The role you give them. Under the HIPAA Privacy Rule, a provider does not have to share your information with family or friends unless they are your personal representatives, and may share it with people involved in your care if you say it can or do not object.⁠²⁹ For an adult, a personal representative is a person with legal authority to make health care decisions for you, such as under a health care power of attorney or a court-appointed guardianship; being your parent or partner is not enough on its own.⁠³⁰

ASAN favors supported decision-making, in which "a disabled person works with a group of people they trust to make choices about their life," over guardianship.⁠¹¹ If you are the partner or relative, ask before the visit what the person wants from you, and expect the OT to speak to the person first.

How do you pay for occupational therapy as a neurodivergent adult?

The same way as any adult OT: through Medicare, Medicaid or a private plan when the care is medically necessary, or by paying yourself; an affirming approach does not change the payer’s rules. The guide to what adult occupational therapy costs gives Medicare’s 2026 amounts for the evaluation codes and the questions that get a clinic’s price.

• Medicare. Part B "helps pay for medically necessary outpatient occupational therapy if your doctor or other health care provider certifies you need it," including therapy to "improve or maintain your current capabilities"; after the Part B deductible you pay 20 percent of the Medicare-approved amount.⁠⁷ What is certified is your plan of care, the written treatment plan your OT sets: a physician, nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist or physician assistant certifies it, it is recertified at least every 90 days, and the rule does not require an order or referral for OT.⁠³¹ A Medicare Advantage plan must cover the services Part B covers; the Medicare therapy coverage guide explains both.⁠³²
• Medicaid. Occupational therapy is listed among the optional Medicaid benefits that a state may add through its state plan, so whether Medicaid pays for adult OT depends on your state.⁠³³
• A private plan. Start with your Summary of Benefits and Coverage, an "easy-to-read summary" of costs and coverage, and look for OT under rehabilitative services, which restore lost or impaired skills, and habilitative services, which help you keep, learn or improve skills.⁠^8,34,35 If the plan requires preauthorization, an approval "isn’t a promise" that it pays.⁠³⁶
• Paying yourself. If you have no coverage for the service, or choose not to bill your plan, the clinic must treat "any discussion or inquiry regarding the potential costs" as a request for a good faith estimate, and give it no later than 3 business days after your request.⁠³⁷ The guide to adult therapy without insurance covers other options.

If no in-network OT sees neurodivergent adults, see what to do when no in-network therapist is available; if the plan says no, see appealing a therapy denial.

How should OT goals be written so your plan pays for them?

As changes in daily activities you care about. Medicare describes outpatient OT as "Therapy to help you perform activities of daily living," so a goal written as an activity, such as cooking three evenings a week, fits how Medicare describes the service and is still your goal.⁠⁷ Ask the OT to show you the goals as written in your plan of care, and say so if the wording describes a goal you did not choose.

Can an occupational therapist help with workplace accommodations?

Yes, separately from your health plan. When a disability or the need for an accommodation is not obvious, an employer may ask for reasonable documentation, and the EEOC lists occupational therapists among the professionals it can come from; in most situations the employer cannot ask for your complete medical records.⁠³⁸ You can make the request in "plain English," without naming the ADA, and the EEOC treats a private employer as covered for disability discrimination when it has 15 or more employees for at least 20 calendar weeks.⁠^38,39 The guide to supporting autistic adults at work covers what to ask for.

How do you find a neurodiversity-affirming adult OT near you?

Search for clinics that see adults, shortlist those listing the areas you need, then ask the first-call questions, because no directory can tell you how a therapist practices. On DrSensory’s occupational therapy directory, enter your ZIP code, set "Who it is for" to "An adult," and narrow by a specialty such as "Autism (ASD)," "ADHD / attention," "Sensory processing (SPD)" or "Telehealth."

DrSensory is free for families and lists occupational, physical and speech therapy clinics for children and adults. It lists clinics rather than individual therapists, does not check clinical quality, does not rank clinics by payment, and has no label for an affirming approach, so a listing is not a recommendation. If a listing lets you message the clinic, the clinic reads your message in its portal and replies from its own address.

A children’s sensory program does not mean a clinic sees adults, so check before you book.

What might the search for an affirming adult OT look like?

Sources

1. Gray A, Maciver D, Curnow E, Johnston L, Rutherford M. Contextual factors influencing neuro-affirming practice: Identifying what helps or hinders implementation in health and social care (Autism, 2025;29(12):3111–3123; doi:10.1177/13623613251360275; PMID 40926307; PMC12618718). Checked October 24, 2026.
   Show the passageHide the passage

   “definitions of neuro-affirming practice are still contested and in development”; “that individual diversity in neurocognitive styles is a natural and important element of human society”; “The term ‘neuro-affirming’ means lifespan, strengths-based support which is not diagnosis-dependent”; “needs can arise from the interaction between an individual’s neurotype and their environment, and are not solely due to individual limitations or difficulties”; “Neuro-affirming practice is an emerging and complex concept”; “support for Autistic and otherwise neurodivergent adults”; “Views on current practice were sought through structured interviews with 32 senior professionals in leadership roles within Health and Social Care services in Scotland.”; “Results indicate widespread professional support for modifying practice to better accommodate neuro-affirming ideas, and scope to achieve this. However, some contexts, including limited resources, restrictive eligibility criteria and rigid service structures, hinder progress.”.
2. American Occupational Therapy Association. Practice Smart (AOTA's list of practice recommendations). Checked October 24, 2026.
   Show the passageHide the passage

   “Don’t provide intervention activities that are non-purposeful”; “Don’t provide sensory-based interventions to individual children or youth without documented assessment results of difficulties processing or integrating sensory information.”; “Don’t initiate occupational therapy interventions without completion of the client’s occupational profile and setting collaborative goals.”; ““only clients can identify the occupations that give meaning to their lives and select the goals and priorities that are important to them””; “Don’t provide interventions for autistic persons to reduce or eliminate “restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior, activities, or interests” without evaluating and understanding the meaning of the behavior to the person, as well as personal and environmental factors.”; “Occupational therapy practitioners should provide person-centered, strengths-based interventions”; “Actions that are considered “restricted and repetitive behaviors” by the DSM-5 (American Psychiatric Association, 2013) may serve as meaningful activities for self-regulation, communication, or self-expression.”; “Attempting to change or extinguish these behaviors without direct request from the individual, without understanding and incorporating the underlying meanings, or substituting other actions to meet self-regulatory reasons for the behavior commonly results in camouflaging (e.g., masking or hiding behaviors), that can result in negative self-image, depression, and an increased risk of suicidality.”.
3. American Occupational Therapy Association. Scope of Practice Questions & Answers (practice page). “State law defines occupational therapy practice. Therefore, state licensure law is the final authority on the scope of occupational therapy practice.”. Checked October 24, 2026.
4. Patten KK, Murthi K, Onwumere DD, Skaletski EC, Little LM, Tomchek SD. Occupational Therapy Practice Guidelines for Autistic People Across the Lifespan (American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 2024;78(3):7803397010; doi:10.5014/ajot.2024.078301; PMID 38758762; practice guidelines published by AOTA, abstract). Checked October 24, 2026.
   Show the passageHide the passage

   “These Practice Guidelines were developed on the basis of four systematic reviews”; “A total of 98 articles were included in the systematic reviews”; “Strong to moderate evidence indicates the need for multidisciplinary, goal-oriented interventions to support autistic people in different contexts.”; “Although there is only emerging evidence in the inclusion of autistic people’s strengths, interests, and perspectives to guide occupational therapy interventions, such practices can enhance the delivery of neurodiversity-affirming and trauma-informed practices.”; “We recommend the use of strengths-based language to describe autistic people and the use of environmental adaptations, care partner education, and coaching to enhance occupational therapy service delivery.”; “The literature is sparse regarding neurodiversity-affirming and trauma-informed practices for autistic youths”; “Copyright © 2024 by the American Occupational Therapy Association, Inc.”.
5. National Institute of Mental Health. Autism Spectrum Disorder (brochure). “Although evaluation for ASD in adults is still being refined, adults can be referred to a neuropsychologist, psychologist, or psychiatrist who has experience with ASD.”. Checked October 24, 2026.
6. National Institute of Mental Health. ADHD in Adults: 4 Things to Know (brochure). “To help diagnose ADHD, a primary care provider or mental health professional may ask to talk to people who know you well”; “The most common treatments for ADHD in adults are:”; “Medication, usually stimulant medications”; “Psychotherapy, like behavioral and cognitive behavioral therapy”. Checked October 24, 2026.
7. Medicare.gov. Occupational therapy services (coverage page). Checked October 24, 2026.
   Show the passageHide the passage

   “outpatient occupational therapy if your doctor or other health care provider certifies you need it”; “Therapy to help you perform activities of daily living (like dressing or bathing). You can get this therapy to help improve or maintain your current capabilities, or slow your rate of decline.”; “Your doctor or other health care provider (including a nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, or physician assistant) must certify you need this care.”; “you pay 20% of the”.
8. HealthCare.gov. Summary of Benefits and Coverage (SBC) (glossary). “An easy-to-read summary that lets you make apples-to-apples comparisons of costs and coverage between health plans.”. Checked October 24, 2026.
9. 28 CFR. §36.303, Auxiliary aids and services (ADA title III). “A public accommodation shall furnish appropriate auxiliary aids and services where necessary to ensure effective communication with individuals with disabilities.”; “A public accommodation should consult with individuals with disabilities whenever possible to determine what type of auxiliary aid is needed to ensure effective communication”. Checked October 24, 2026.
10. 28 CFR. §36.302, Modifications in policies, practices, or procedures (ADA title III). Checked October 24, 2026.
    Show the passageHide the passage

    “A public accommodation shall make reasonable modifications in policies, practices, or procedures, when the modifications are necessary to afford goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, or accommodations to individuals with disabilities, unless the public accommodation can demonstrate that making the modifications would fundamentally alter the nature of the goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, or accommodations.”.
11. Autistic Self Advocacy Network. What We Believe (the organization's statement of its positions). Checked October 24, 2026.
    Show the passageHide the passage

    “Neurodiversity means that no two brains are exactly the same.”; “there is no such thing as a “normal” brain”; “we should work to make sure that everyone gets the accommodations we need to reach our full potential”; “No matter how much help we need, we should be able to make our own choices.”; “Supported decision-making is when a disabled person works with a group of people they trust to make choices about their life.”; “They may try to talk to our families or helpers instead of talking to us”; “But there are some therapies that focus on making autistic people seem “normal” or appear “less autistic”.”; “Most self-advocates agree that autism doesn’t need to be cured.”.
12. Dallman AR, Williams KL, Villa L. Neurodiversity-Affirming Practices are a Moral Imperative for Occupational Therapy (The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy, 2022;10(2):1–9; doi:10.15453/2168-6408.1937; abstract). Checked October 24, 2026.
    Show the passageHide the passage

    “The term neurodiversity encompasses neurological differences such as clinical labels of autism, learning disabilities, synesthesia, hyperactivity disorders, and more.”; “This paper argues that an ethical and morally just occupational therapy practice should affirm neurodivergent ways of being, and that occupational therapists must be active agents of change by listening to and collaborating with their neurodiverse clientele.”; “We focus the discussion on our work with autistic individuals”.
13. Morrison C, Cashin A, Foley KR. Daily living skill support for autistic people through a neurodiversity-affirming practice lens (Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, 2025;72(2):e13002; doi:10.1111/1440-1630.13002; PMID 39406551; PMC11872785; a theoretical paper). Checked October 24, 2026.
    Show the passageHide the passage

    “It must also be noted that the neurodiversity movement is not a unified movement.”; “the neurodiversity movement’s objective for health‐care professionals to actively listen and understand the autistic person’s priorities, and to include them in decision‐making around their care”; “this suggests that targeted DLS support differs from compelling or pressuring autistic people to change or alter themselves to fit in socially. If DLS support for autistic people is driven by the autistic person’s desire to increase independence, access, and autonomy, then alignment can be drawn”; “it is likely the case that at least some autistic clients would identify goals and seek therapeutic outcomes in the opposite direction of neurodiversity‐affirming practice, such as learning how to socially engage in a neurotypical way”; “As this is the first known paper to the authors investigating DLS and neurodiversity‐affirming practice, further research investigating the phenomenon would benefit occupational therapists”; “No consumer or community involvement.”.
14. American Occupational Therapy Association. What is occupational therapy? (consumer page). Checked October 24, 2026.
    Show the passageHide the passage

    “Occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants focus on the things you want and need to do in your daily life.”; “Activities of daily living (such as bathing, dressing, and eating)”; “Adaptive equipment (such as shower chairs, or equipment to make daily tasks easier)”; “Planning and making the most of daily routines”; “Returning to work, school, and leisure activities”; “Techniques to aid in memory, concentration, and executive functioning (e.g., planning and prioritizing, functional cognition)”; “Occupational therapy services are provided by licensed occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants”.
15. Welch C, Shanmugarajah K, Li M. Exploring Occupational Therapists’ Transition to Neurodiversity Affirming Practice: A Discourse Analysis (Occupational Therapy in Health Care, online February 1, 2026; doi:10.1080/07380577.2026.2623234; PMID 41621051; abstract). Checked October 24, 2026.
    Show the passageHide the passage

    “the types of services occupational therapy private practice clinics claim to provide for autistic people”; “using content from 24 sites”; “some of which align with neurodiversity affirming practice, some of which diverge, and some of which inhabit a "grey zone"”; “While many occupational therapists express intentions to provide neuro-affirming care, the services described and language used often reveal underlying tensions or inconsistencies.”; “We discuss these gaps between stated intentions and implicit beliefs.”.
16. Rafael RB, Jia H, Rouel M, Wootton BM, Mitchison D. Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)-Related Strengths in Adults: A Scoping Review (Journal of Attention Disorders, 2026;30(10):1207–1232; doi:10.1177/10870547261425737; PMID 41889015; abstract). Checked October 24, 2026.
    Show the passageHide the passage

    “Increasingly, people with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), their clinicians, and others have called for strengths-based approaches in the understanding of ADHD.”; “A total of 125 studies were included”; “It was observed that typical ADHD characteristics were sometimes perceived or redefined as strengths: interest-based attention or positive differences in attentional ability”.
17. American Occupational Therapy Association. AOTA Occupational Profile Template (PDF, ©2022). Checked October 24, 2026.
    Show the passageHide the passage

    “The information is obtained from the client’s perspective through both formal and informal interview techniques and conversation.”; “Why is the client seeking services, and what are the client’s current concerns relative to engaging in occupations and in daily life activities?”; “What are the client’s priorities and desired targeted outcomes”.
18. 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. 988 Lifeline (home page). “The 988 Lifeline is available 24/7/365. Your conversations are free and confidential.”; “Call, text, or chat with a 988 Lifeline counselor for help during difficult moments anytime, day or night.”. Checked October 24, 2026.
19. Kapp SK, Steward R, Crane L, Elliott D, Elphick C, Pellicano E, Russell G. ‘People should be allowed to do what they like’: Autistic adults’ views and experiences of stimming (Autism, 2019;23(7):1782–1792; doi:10.1177/1362361319829628; PMID 30818970; abstract). Checked October 24, 2026.
    Show the passageHide the passage

    “Through interviews and focus groups, we asked 32 autistic adults to share their perceptions and experiences of stimming”; “we identified two themes: stimming as (1) a self-regulatory mechanism and (2) lacking in social acceptance, but can become accepted through understanding.”; “Autistic adults highlighted the importance of stimming as an adaptive mechanism that helps them to soothe or communicate intense emotions or thoughts and thus objected to treatment that aims to eliminate the behaviour.”.
20. Trevisan DA, Roberts N, Lin C, Birmingham E. How do adults and teens with self-declared Autism Spectrum Disorder experience eye contact? A qualitative analysis of first-hand accounts (PLoS One, 2017;12(11):e0188446; doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0188446; PMID 29182643; abstract). Checked October 24, 2026.
    Show the passageHide the passage

    “Results suggest people with a self- declared ASD diagnosis experience adverse emotional and physiological reactions, feelings of being invaded, and sensory overload while making eye contact”.
21. Hull L, Petrides KV, Allison C, Smith P, Baron-Cohen S, Lai MC, Mandy W. “Putting on My Best Normal”: Social Camouflaging in Adults with Autism Spectrum Conditions (Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 2017;47(8):2519–2534; doi:10.1007/s10803-017-3166-5; PMID 28527095; abstract). Checked October 24, 2026.
    Show the passageHide the passage

    “This qualitative study examined camouflaging experiences in 92 adults with ASC”; “Third, short- and long-term consequences of camouflaging included exhaustion, challenging stereotypes, and threats to self-perception.”.
22. Nicolaidis C, Raymaker D, McDonald K, Kapp S, Weiner M, Ashkenazy E, Gerrity M, Kripke C, Platt L, Baggs A. The Development and Evaluation of an Online Healthcare Toolkit for Autistic Adults and their Primary Care Providers (Journal of General Internal Medicine, 2016;31(10):1180–1189; doi:10.1007/s11606-016-3763-6; PMID 27271730; abstract). Checked October 24, 2026.
    Show the passageHide the passage

    “Our goal was to use a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach to develop and evaluate tools to facilitate the primary healthcare of autistic adults.”; “Evaluation consisted of a mixed-methods, single-arm pre/post-intervention comparison.”; “The AASPIRE Healthcare toolkit includes the Autism Healthcare Accommodations Tool (AHAT)-a tool that allows patients to create a personalized accommodations report for their PCP”; “the mean number of barriers decreased”; “satisfaction with PCP communication improved”; “Patients stated that the toolkit helped clarify their needs, enabled them to self-advocate and prepare for visits more effectively, and positively influenced provider behavior.”.
23. American Occupational Therapy Association. Evaluation & Assessment (practice page). “Essential components of an occupational therapy evaluation include:”; “Summary of the client’s occupational history and experiences, patterns of daily living, interests, values, needs, and relevant contexts”; “through assessment tools designed to analyze, measure, and inquire about factors that support or hinder occupational performance”. Checked October 24, 2026.
24. HealthCare.gov. Medically necessary (glossary). “Health care services or supplies needed to diagnose or treat an illness, injury, condition, disease or its symptoms and that meet accepted standards of medicine.”. Checked October 24, 2026.
25. Nicolaidis C, Raymaker DM, Ashkenazy E, McDonald KE, Dern S, Baggs AE, Kapp SK, Weiner M, Boisclair WC. “Respect the way I need to communicate with you”: Healthcare experiences of adults on the autism spectrum (Autism, 2015;19(7):824–831; doi:10.1177/1362361315576221; PMID 25882392; abstract). Checked October 24, 2026.
    Show the passageHide the passage

    “semi-structured, open-ended interviews with 39 autistic adults and 16 people who had experience supporting autistic adults in healthcare settings”; “Provider-level factors included providers’ knowledge about autism in adults, incorrect assumptions about individual patients, willingness to allow written communication, use of accessible language, openness to providing other accommodations, and skill in appropriately incorporating supporters.”.
26. U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division. ADA Requirements: Effective Communication (ADA.gov guidance, last updated February 28, 2020). Checked October 24, 2026.
    Show the passageHide the passage

    “People who have vision, hearing, or speech disabilities (“communication disabilities”) use different ways to communicate.”; “Covered entities must provide auxiliary aids and services when needed to communicate effectively with people who have communication disabilities.”; “In some situations, keeping paper and pencil on hand so the person can write out words that staff cannot understand or simply allowing more time to communicate with someone who uses a communication board or device may provide effective communication.”; “as well as with that person’s parent, spouse, or companion in appropriate circumstances”; “They cannot require a person to bring someone to interpret for him or her.”.
27. Organization for Autism Research. AASPIRE Healthcare Toolkit (toolkit home page; developed by the Academic Autism Spectrum Partnership in Research and Education). Checked October 24, 2026.
    Show the passageHide the passage

    “the ability to create a personalized healthcare accommodations report to help to make healthcare visits smoother—before, during, and after appointments”; “Let your healthcare provider know about your individual needs.”; “members of the Autistic community at large”.
28. 28 CFR. §36.104, Definitions (ADA title III; the definition of a place of public accommodation). “Place of public accommodation means a facility operated by a private entity whose operations affect commerce and fall within at least one of the following categories”; “professional office of a health care provider, hospital, or other service establishment”. Checked October 24, 2026.
29. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights. Family Members and Friends (HIPAA for individuals; content last reviewed December 23, 2022). Checked October 24, 2026.
    Show the passageHide the passage

    “The Privacy Rule does not require a health care provider or health plan to share information with your family or friends, unless they are your personal representatives.”; “However, the provider or plan can share your information with family or friends if:”; “They are involved in your health care or payment for your health care,”; “You tell the provider or plan that it can do so,”; “You do not object to sharing of the information, or”.
30. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights. Personal Representatives (HIPAA guidance; content last reviewed January 5, 2024). “A person with legal authority to make health care decisions on behalf of the individual”; “Health care power of attorney”; “Court appointed legal guardian”. Checked October 24, 2026.
31. 42 CFR. §424.24, Requirements for medical and other health services furnished by providers under Medicare Part B (paragraph (c), outpatient physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech-language pathology). Checked October 24, 2026.
    Show the passageHide the passage

    “The services were furnished under a plan of treatment that meets the requirements of § 410.61 of this chapter.”; “the certification must be signed by a physician or by a nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, or physician assistant who has knowledge of the case, except as specified in paragraph (c)(5) of this section.”; “Recertification is required at least every 90 days.”; “No references to an order or referral in this subsection shall be construed to require an order or referral for outpatient physical therapy, occupational therapy, or speech-language pathology services.”.
32. 42 CFR. §422.101, Requirements relating to basic benefits (Medicare Advantage). “Provide coverage of, by furnishing, arranging for, or making payment for, all services that are covered by Part A and Part B of Medicare (if the enrollee is entitled to benefits under both parts) or by Medicare Part B (if entitled only under Part B)”. Checked October 24, 2026.
33. Medicaid.gov. Mandatory & Optional Medicaid Benefits (benefits page). “States are required to provide all mandatory benefits under federal law.”; “States may provide optional benefits if they choose to add them through the state plan process.”; “Occupational therapy (1905(a)(11), 42 CFR 440.110(b))”. Checked October 24, 2026.
34. HealthCare.gov. Rehabilitative/Rehabilitation services (glossary). “Health care services that help you keep, get back, or improve skills and functioning for daily living that have been lost or impaired because you were sick, hurt, or disabled.”. Checked October 24, 2026.
35. HealthCare.gov. Habilitative/Habilitation services (glossary). “Health care services that help you keep, learn, or improve skills and functioning for daily living.”. Checked October 24, 2026.
36. HealthCare.gov. Preauthorization (glossary). “A decision by your health insurer or plan that a health care service, treatment plan, prescription drug or durable medical equipment is medically necessary.”; “Preauthorization isn’t a promise your health insurance or plan will cover the cost.”. Checked October 24, 2026.
37. 45 CFR. §149.610, Requirements for provision of good faith estimates of expected charges for uninsured (or self-pay) individuals (the No Surprises Act good faith estimate rule). Checked October 24, 2026.
    Show the passageHide the passage

    “Convening providers and convening facilities shall consider any discussion or inquiry regarding the potential costs of items or services under consideration as a request for a good faith estimate;”; “When a good faith estimate is requested by an uninsured (or self-pay) individual: Not later than 3 business days after the date of the request.”.
38. U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Enforcement Guidance on Reasonable Accommodation and Undue Hardship under the ADA (enforcement guidance, issued October 17, 2002). Checked October 24, 2026.
    Show the passageHide the passage

    “When the disability and/or the need for accommodation is not obvious, the employer may ask the individual for reasonable documentation about his/her disability and functional limitations.”; “Appropriate professionals include, but are not limited to, doctors (including psychiatrists), psychologists, nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, vocational rehabilitation specialists, and licensed mental health professionals.”; “This means that in most situations an employer cannot request a person’s complete medical records”; “To request accommodation, an individual may use "plain English" and need not mention the ADA or use the phrase "reasonable accommodation."”.
39. U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Coverage: Business/Private Employers (coverage page). “the business is covered by the laws we enforce if it has 15 or more employees for at least twenty calendar weeks (in this year or last)”. Checked October 24, 2026.
40. Behavior Analyst Certification Board. About Behavior Analysis (overview page). “Behavior analysis is the science of behavior”; “for the purposes of BACB certifications and examinations, ABA is defined as the content of the BCBA, BCaBA, and RBT Task Lists”. Checked October 24, 2026.
41. 45 CFR. §164.524, Access of individuals to protected health information (the HIPAA right of access). Checked October 24, 2026.
    Show the passageHide the passage

    “the covered entity must act on a request for access no later than 30 days after receipt of the request”; “The covered entity may have only one such extension of time for action on a request for access.”; “the covered entity may impose a reasonable, cost-based fee”.

Medical disclaimer. This page is for general educational purposes and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider about your individual situation.