TPP 514: An Introduction to Neurodiversity-Affirming OT, with Dr. Bryden Carlson-Giving

Today, I’m joined by Bryden Carlson-Giving, an occupational therapy practitioner and the creator of the EMPOWER model, the first neurodiversity-affirming OT framework. Bryden is both neurodivergent and disabled himself, and his work focuses on helping practitioners challenge ableism and create more supportive, affirming environments for neurodivergent individuals.

In our conversation, Bryden walks us through the EMPOWER model and what it looks like in practice, especially when it comes to evaluations, goal-setting, and therapy approaches. We talk about how ableism can show up in subtle and systemic ways, and what it means to truly shift toward inclusive, affirming care. This is a thoughtful, important conversation about reimagining support — not just in therapy, but across education and systems more broadly.

About Bryden Carlson-Giving 

Bryden Carlson-Giving, OTD, OTR/L is a neurodivergent and disabled occupational therapy practitioner (OTP) with experience in pediatric outpatient, inpatient, and school-based settings. Bryden earned his post-professional doctorate from Boston University, where his research focused on creating a toolkit to support OTPs in challenging ableism within the OT profession. This work led to the development of the first neurodiversity-affirming occupational therapy model, the EMPOWER model. He received the 2024 Emerging Leader Award from Boston University, and is the editor of the first neurodiversity-focused occupational therapy book, titled Neurodiversity-Affirming Occupational Therapy: Empowering Approaches to Foster Neurodivergent Participation.

Things you'll learn from this episode 

• How Bryden’s journey into occupational therapy led to creating a neurodiversity-affirming toolkit

• Why the Empower model centers strengths-based practice, anti-racism, disability justice, and trauma-informed care

• How inclusive evaluations can look in practice, especially within school-based systems

• Why implementing neurodiversity-affirming approaches in bureaucratic settings comes with both challenges and opportunities

• How ongoing self-reflection and unpacking internalized ableism are essential for practitioners

• How parents, educators, and therapists can take practical steps to amplify neurodiversity-affirming work

Resources mentioned

• Neuridivergent Nexus (Bryden’s website)

• Neurodiversity-Affirming Occupational Therapy: Empowering Approaches to Foster Neurodivergent Participation edited by Dr. Bryden Carlson-Giving

• Bryon Carlson-Giving on Instagram

• Activist Emily Ladau on Demystifying Disability (Tilt Parenting podcast)

• Kassiane Asasumasu (coined the term neurodivergence)

• Dr. Destiny Huff on Neurodiversity-Affirming Advocacy in School (Tilt Parenting podcast)

• Dr. Jade Rivera and Strength-Based Assessments (Tilt Parenting podcast)

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