Raising Resilient Neurodiverse Families in Uncertain Times

Parenting While Anxious: How to Support Our Kids and Ourselves

Leah Colinsky, PhD

Parenting anxious children is challenging, especially when caregivers are managing their own emotional dysregulation. In this presentation, Dr. Leah Clionsky explores the function of anxiety, how it shows up differently in children and parents, and why anxiety is often heightened in neurodivergent children, including those with ADHD and autism. Using real-life examples and evidence-based frameworks, participants will learn how parental regulation directly impacts children’s anxiety and behavior. The focus is on practical, realistic strategies that help caregivers respond more effectively to anxiety in the moment, without guilt, shame, or unrealistic expectations.

What Does Sensory Processing Have to Do with Anxiety? - Robin Rettie, MEd

Sensory processing and anxiety are deeply interconnected, often creating a cycle where overstimulated sensory systems trigger anxiety, and chronic anxiety increases sensitivity to environmental stimuli. Sensory input (sound, light, touch, smell) can act as a stressor, activating fight, flight, or freeze responses that lead to emotional distress, avoidance behaviors, and physical symptoms such as headaches, nausea, internal tremors and mood changes. Although symptoms are often common within neurodivergence, sensory and anxiety occurrence is nondiscriminatory. Learn life-changing strategies supported by scientific information regarding human sensory systems, much more in-depth than most know, and why sensory triggers anxiety, and most importantly, what to do to support calming and self-regulation.

Building Resilience in Neurodiverse Families - Ellen Delap, CPO

In this practical and engaging presentation, Certified Professional Organizer Ellen Delap explores the impact of building the skill of resilience and why it matters in every situation in everyday life. Participants will learn the foundational habits and systems that support resilience, as well as identify personal, workplace and family based strategies to improve personal well-being. Attendees will walk away with practical, actionable next steps including quick fixes, sustainable habits, and meaningful takeaways they can implement immediately.

Speaker Bios

Dr. Leah Clionsky is a licensed clinical psychologist, founder of Thriving Child Center and PCIT Experts, and host of The Educated Parent podcast. She specializes in evidence-based treatment for children and families, including Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), and has worked with hundreds of families across community, research, and private practice settings. Through her clinical work and podcast, Dr. Clionsky helps parents reduce anxiety, build confidence, and create calmer, more connected homes using practical, research-backed strategies. https://thrivingchildcenter.com/

Ellen Delap is a Certified Professional Organizer and productivity consultant and is the founder of Professional-Organizer.com that she launched in 2000. She is the Past President of (NAPO) the National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals. Ellen has extensive experience in working with ADHD individuals, and has additional training and certifications in ADHD and Chronic Disorganization. She is a member of the Institute for Challenging Disorganization (ICD) and serves on the ADDA-SR Board of Directors and Professional Advisory Council. Connect with her at www.professional-organizer.com and on Instagram EllenDelapCPO

Robin Rettie, M.Ed., has a life-time of experience supporting individuals with learning differences. Her 36-year career includes public and private teaching and formerly, Robin was Director of Life Academy and Employability for The Monarch School and Institute. Robin is the founder of Lighthouse Learning Resources (LLR). LLR provides Educational Consulting, and Staff Development in The Anchor Teaching Framework focusing on neurology of human behavior. Robin serves on the ADDA-SR Professional Advisory Council. www.LHlearningresource.com

Objectives

By the end of these presentations, participants will be able to:

Parenting While Anxious: How to Support Our Kids and Ourselves, Leah Clionsky, PhD

• describe the role of anxiety as a survival-based emotion and identify when it becomes unhelpful in parenting interactions.
• explain why children with ADHD and autism experience higher rates of anxiety and how environmental demands contribute to this response.
• identify practical, realistic strategies caregivers can use to improve their own emotional regulation in order to better support anxious children.

What Does Sensory Processing Have to Do with Anxiety? Robin Rettie, MEd

• name the three human systems that contribute to anxiety.
• identify 3 strategies to utilize to improve self-regulation.

Building Resilience in Neurodiverse Families, Ellen Delap, CPO

• explain what resilience is and why it is essential for executive function and well-being in all situations at home, work or school.
• apply practical personal, workplace and family resilience strategies through personal reflection.
• discuss supportive strategies to strengthen resilience in others, including neurodivergent individuals, through structure, external systems and communication

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Host or Publisher ADDA-SR