Journeying Together

Indigenous Perspectives on Autism & Neurodivergence
About this Event

Len Pierre Consulting is proud to host, a community impact initiative designed to bring an important and underrepresented conversation on neurodivergence and autism to Indigenous communities, families, professionals working alongside them, and others looking to gain new insights and perspectives.

This gathering creates space for a different kind of conversation: one led by Indigenous knowledge, culture, lived experience, research, and relationship. Together, participants will explore how colonial ideas of "normal," behavioural compliance, and deficit-based support have shaped many systems of care, education, diagnosis, and intervention. The gathering will also invite participants into approaches grounded in dignity, belonging, community, and the understanding that all minds are sacred.

This is not a typical clinical training on autism or neurodivergence. It is a community-centred gathering that brings together leaders, practitioners, lived experience, family knowledge, and culturally grounded perspectives. Participants will be invited to consider what becomes possible when support is rooted in relationship, when people are met where they are, and when diverse ways of communicating, learning, sensing, relating, and being are honoured as meaningful parts of community life.

The day will support learning for people across many roles: educators, school staff, healthcare providers, social workers, counsellors, child and youth workers, support workers, Indigenous organizations, community leaders, families, caregivers, and autistic and neurodivergent people seeking culturally grounded perspectives.

What Participants Will Explore

• Indigenous perspectives on autism and neurodivergence
• Strengths-based and sensory-informed ways of understanding Neurodivergent identities
• The impacts of colonialism on ideas of behaviour, support, diagnosis, and care
• Relationship-based and culturally grounded approaches to wellbeing
• Compassionate, non-coercive responses to distress
• The importance of dignity, belonging, consent, and communication
• Practical reflections for families, schools, healthcare, social services, and community settings

Who Should Attend

• This gathering is designed for:
• Indigenous communities and organizations
• Families, parents, caregivers, aunties, uncles, and relatives
• Educators, school staff, and post-secondary professionals
• Healthcare professionals
• Social workers, counsellors, and mental health workers
• Child and youth workers
• Support workers and accessibility professionals
• Community leaders and service providers
• Neurodivergence professionals
• Autistic and Neurodivergent people seeking culturally grounded perspectives
• Organizations looking to better understand dignity-based, relationship-centred support

Tickets and Access

To help make this gathering more accessible, LPC is offering two ticket rates: a Community Access Rate and a Professional Rate.

• Community Access Rate: These tickets are intended for community members, families, caregivers, students, community service workers who cannot access full rate tickets and others for whom cost may be a barrier. [$50 for in-person tickets, $25 for online tickets]
• Professional Rate: These tickets are intended for those working in professional roles and/or who have organizational support to attend this event. [$100 for in-person tickets, $50 for online tickets]

Sponsorship And Community Support

Len Pierre Consulting is subsidizing the true cost of hosting this gathering as a community impact initiative, including venue, food, speaker fees, honoraria, and accessibility supports such as livestream technology. We are also welcoming sponsorship and community support to help keep ticket prices accessible and extend the reach of this conversation.

 Organizations interested in supporting this gathering are invited to reach out to Len Pierre Consulting. Sponsorship helps bring this conversation to more people, in person and online, while supporting Indigenous leadership, neurodivergent dignity, relationship, and belonging.

Events Sponsors

We raise our hands in deep gratitude to the following partners, allies and friends for helping make this important community event possible:

1. Clayton Heights Sports & Therapy Center
2. South Surrey Events Centre
3. Five Star Catering
4. We Film Events

Agenda

🕑: 08:30 AM - 09:30 AM
Doors Open: registration, coffee, tea, water, and pastries
🕑: 09:15 AM - 09:30 AM
Drumming & Singing Performance
🕑: 09:30 AM - 09:40 AM
Traditional Welcome & Protocol
🕑: 09:40 AM - 10:00 AM
Decolonizing Autism & Neurodivergence (Len Pierre Consulting)
🕑: 10:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Wellness Break
🕑: 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Presentation by Dr. Grant Bruno
🕑: 12:00 PM - 01:00 PM
Catered Lunch
🕑: 01:00 PM - 02:30 AM
Presentation by Louis Busch
🕑: 02:30 PM - 02:45 PM
Wellness Break
🕑: 02:45 PM - 03:00 PM
Closing