Harnessing Novelty and Routine: Neurosensory Approaches for Supporting System-Involved Youth

Shoshana Phoenixx

Training Description

Drawing from evidence-informed understandings of autistic sensory processing, trauma-informed care, and environmental support, this training looks at how participants can use novelty and routine as practical support approaches when working with autistic and neurodivergent system-involved youth. Participants will examine the seven neurosensory systems and consider how hyper-attunement and hypo-attunement shape a young person’s relationship to stimulation, predictability, movement, sound, touch, space, attention, and environmental change. Through applied examples, participants will practice noticing when novelty may create interest, access, and curiosity; when routine may create steadiness, trust, and orientation; and how a balanced combination of both can help participants  offer support that is more respectful, responsive, and usable with system-involved youth.

Learning Objectives

• Identify at least 2 assumptions that can affect how caregivers and service providers understand autistic and neurodivergent system-involved youth.

• Classify at least 3 examples of youth support strategies according to whether novelty, routine, or…