Supporting Neurodivergent Parents: Strategies for Strength-Based Engagement

Supporting Neurodivergent Parents: Strategies for Strength-Based Engagement

2 hr virtual session

November 5th, 2025 (1:00-3:00 pm EST)

Note: Your confirmation email will have the Zoom meeting details in it. You will also receive an additional reminder email one week, one day, and one hour before the training.

Course Description

Parenting can be especially complex for neurodivergent individuals, including those with ADHD or Autism Spectrum Disorder. Challenges such as executive functioning difficulties, heightened stress, and communication barriers often intersect with parenting responsibilities. However, these same parents frequently demonstrate remarkable resilience, dedication, and creativity in raising their children.

This training equips professionals with the tools and insights needed to support neurodivergent parents more effectively. Participants will learn how to recognize both the challenges and the unique strengths of "neuro-spicy" parents, building a foundation of trust, respectful communication, and individualized support. The goal is to foster stronger partnerships that empower parents and promote healthier family outcomes.

This intermediate-level virtual course is for an array of human services professionals, including social workers, psychologists, counselors, and other professionals supporting neurodivergent parents.

Learning Objectives:

By the end of this training, participants will be able to:

1. Identify key parenting challenges faced by autistic and ADHD parents, including executive function issues, stress vulnerability, and communication barriers.
2. Describe the core strengths of neurodivergent parents, such as resilience, commitment, and positive parenting skills.
3. Apply neuro-inclusive strategies that foster trust, improve communication, and promote skill-building in parents.

Continuing Education

This training is approved for 2 Social Work CE Credits. See additional information below.

Institute for Human Services, provider #1802, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 03/25/2023 – 03/25/2026. Social workers completing this course receive 2 continuing education credits.

To earn CE credits, participants must attend the session in its entirety, remain on camera, complete an evaluation, and pay the $10 CE fee at the time of registration.

The Institute for Human Services understands that circumstances arise that may prevent registrants from attending a pre-paid training. A training and continuing education credit (minus Eventbrite platform and any credit card fees) will be refunded if a registrant cancels their training attendance on the registration platform at least 7 days in advance of the training event. If the registrant does not cancel within 7 days of the continuing education session, no refund will be issued.

View Our Grievance and Refund Policy

Laura Gaines, MSW, LISW-S

Laura Gaines is a clinical social worker with over 28 years’ experience. She received her Master of Social Work (MSW) degree from The Ohio State University and is a licensed independent social worker. Career experience includes managing group homes for people with developmental disabilities; associate professor at the Nisonger Center, OSU; family service coordinator at Dahlberg Learning Center; and Mental Health Clinician for children and adolescents in private practice. She develops and presents training for helping professionals in the areas of child and adolescent development and mental health, Social Work Ethics, Individual and Community Resilience, Trauma-Informed Care, and supporting people who are neurodivergent. She is also a volunteer for the Crisis Text Line.