By Dr Wesley Turner – Clinical Psychologist / Clinic Director
Autism Awareness Month is a perfect time to pause, reflect, and genuinely deepen our understanding of autism and neurodivergence. In my work with neurodivergent individuals and their families, I am often reminded of a crucial distinction: the difference between what is innate and non-modifiable, and what can be changed through supportive environments and understanding.
Autism is a neurodevelopmental difference. It shapes how individuals process sensory information, communicate, and engage with the world around them. These neurological differences are intrinsic -they are part of how a person is wired. The goal is not to change these differences but to respect, accommodate, and affirm them.
Where challenges often arise is not within the person themselves, but in how their environment responds, or fails to respond, to these differences. Sensory overload, miscommunication, invalidation, and social misunderstandings can create a persistent sense of stress and unsafety. These are modifiable factors. When we address these factors, we can reduce unnecessary distress and open pathways for individuals to thrive.
To understand how this stress builds, it helps to consider how our brains operate day-to-day. Our brains are designed to predict what might happen next – what we see, hear, or feel. These “top-down” expectations are constantly compared to what we actually experience, our “bottom-up” sensory input. When things go as expected, this system saves physical energy and helps us feel secure.
However, when reality doesn’t match what our brains have predicted, we experience what is referred to as a “prediction error.” For neurodivergent individuals, especially those with heightened sensory sensitivity or different communication styles, these mismatches are likely to happen more frequently. Everyday environments, like classrooms, workplaces, or social settings, can quickly become overwhelming when they don’t align with what was predicted.
Imagine expecting a quiet room but walking into bright lights and loud chatter. Now imagine that happening repeatedly throughout your day. Over time, this leads to chronic stress, emotional exhaustion, and difficulty trusting one’s own perceptions.
It’s important to recognise that these responses are not signs of weakness or failure. They reflect a natural reaction to environments that demand constant adaptation without providing sufficient support. This is why creating predictable, compassionate spaces is so vital.
Another layer to this experience is how past overwhelm shapes our current reactions. Many neurodivergent individuals have learned (often unconsciously) that their natural responses are “wrong” or “too much.” This can lead to masking, avoidance, or emotional suppression. Helping individuals distinguish between genuine present-day stress and echoes of past invalidation is key to building resilience and self-trust.
Supporting someone to reconnect with their feelings, sensory experiences, and core needs is not always easy – but it can be transformative. It can allow them to respond to life with greater flexibility, confidence, and authenticity.
At Minds & Hearts, we focus on providing a safe, structured, and understanding environment where neurodivergent individuals can explore these challenges without fear of judgment. We work alongside our clients to help them:
- Recognise and manage prediction errors and sensory stressors;
- Reconnect with core developmental needs like safety, autonomy, belonging, and emotional expression;
- Build awareness of internal experiences and differentiate them from external realities; and
- Develop practical strategies to navigate a world not always designed with neurodiversity in mind.
Families, educators, employers, and peers also play an essential role. Simple adjustments, like offering quiet spaces, using clear and direct communication, and validating emotional experiences, can significantly reduce daily stress and foster a sense of safety.
This Autism Awareness Month, we encourage everyone to move beyond passive awareness and take meaningful action. While we cannot, and should not, change the innate neurological differences that define neurodivergence, we can change how both individuals and their communities respond to these differences.
For those around neurodivergent individuals – families, educators, employers, and peers – this means reducing unnecessary stressors, fostering predictable and supportive environments, and promoting genuine understanding over rigid expectations. Simple, thoughtful adjustments can create spaces where neurodivergent individuals feel safe, respected, and valued.
At the same time, neurodivergent individuals can be supported to explore how they respond to themselves and others. While their neurobiology is not something to change, the psychosocial factors – such as how they interpret experiences, manage stress, express needs, and build self-trust – can evolve with the right support. Learning to recognise past patterns of masking, avoidance, or self-criticism, and developing more compassionate, flexible ways of engaging with the world, can be profoundly empowering.
Creating genuine support involves a partnership: communities adjusting to reduce external pressures, and individuals building the skills and confidence to navigate challenges without compromising their authentic selves. By working together on these modifiable factors, we can reduce avoidable distress and open pathways for neurodivergent individuals to thrive.
If you, or someone you care about would like guidance in navigating these experiences or building a more supportive environment, we are here to help. At Minds & Hearts, we are committed to walking alongside neurodivergent individuals and their families with curiosity, compassion, and respect.
To learn more or to take that next step, contact us or reach out via email info@mindsandhearts.net.