Reframing Reflection: How Lived Experience-Led Supervision Shapes Neuro-Affirming Practice
Tracks
Monarch - In Person Only
| Monday, August 11, 2025 |
| 1:25 PM - 1:45 PM |
| Monarch Room |
Overview
Renai Buchanan - Renai Buchanan
Speaker
Mrs Renai Buchanan
Consultant & Educator
Renai Buchanan
Reframing Reflection: How Lived Experience-Led Supervision Shapes Neuro-affirming Practice
Presentation Overview
Three Key Learnings:
1. Challenging Neuronormativity and Sanism: Learn how neurodivergent-led reflective supervision challenges biases, neuronormativity, and sanism, fostering a more inclusive environment for all staff.
2. The Value of Peer-Led Reflection: Understand the benefits of co-reflection led by neurodivergent peers, which centers lived experience and encourages critical reflection on harmful norms in systems of care.
3. Building Neurodivergent-Affirming Practices: Discover how neurodivergent-led reflective practice helps create neurodivergent-affirming practices, empowering individuals, strengthening team dynamics, and promoting inclusivity and collaboration within professional settings.
Reflective spaces, particularly those led by Lived Experience Neurodivergent Peer Supervisors, offer a unique opportunity to challenge the dominant paradigms of traditional clinical and supervisory models. By engaging in peer-led reflective supervision, teams can identify and unpack their biases, confront sanism, and challenge neuronormativity, ultimately fostering a more inclusive approach and strengthening neurodivergent-affirming practices.
Co-reflection is grounded in the principles of Lived Experience Work, where neurodivergent peers lead and shape the reflection process. This approach differs from clinical supervision by centring the perspectives and expertise of those with lived experience. It encourages reflection on how systems of care and support often perpetuate biases and reinforce normative ideas of what is considered “acceptable” or “appropriate” in both professional and personal contexts.
By integrating neurodivergent-led reflective practice, teams can better identify and challenge the structures that perpetuate exclusion or marginalization. These reflective spaces are essential for increasing inclusivity, allowing all staff to feel heard, supported, and empowered in their roles. This approach not only helps to de-stigmatize neurodivergent identities but also enhances team collaboration and trust by fostering an open dialogue about how biases affect work dynamics.
As teams engage in reflective supervision, they cultivate a neurodivergent-affirming practice—one that not only acknowledges the value of diverse perspectives but actively works to create an environment where neurodivergent individuals can thrive. By challenging the dominant paradigms of supervision and embracing lived experience, we shift toward more equitable, inclusive, and affirming practices that benefit both individuals and teams.
1. Challenging Neuronormativity and Sanism: Learn how neurodivergent-led reflective supervision challenges biases, neuronormativity, and sanism, fostering a more inclusive environment for all staff.
2. The Value of Peer-Led Reflection: Understand the benefits of co-reflection led by neurodivergent peers, which centers lived experience and encourages critical reflection on harmful norms in systems of care.
3. Building Neurodivergent-Affirming Practices: Discover how neurodivergent-led reflective practice helps create neurodivergent-affirming practices, empowering individuals, strengthening team dynamics, and promoting inclusivity and collaboration within professional settings.
Reflective spaces, particularly those led by Lived Experience Neurodivergent Peer Supervisors, offer a unique opportunity to challenge the dominant paradigms of traditional clinical and supervisory models. By engaging in peer-led reflective supervision, teams can identify and unpack their biases, confront sanism, and challenge neuronormativity, ultimately fostering a more inclusive approach and strengthening neurodivergent-affirming practices.
Co-reflection is grounded in the principles of Lived Experience Work, where neurodivergent peers lead and shape the reflection process. This approach differs from clinical supervision by centring the perspectives and expertise of those with lived experience. It encourages reflection on how systems of care and support often perpetuate biases and reinforce normative ideas of what is considered “acceptable” or “appropriate” in both professional and personal contexts.
By integrating neurodivergent-led reflective practice, teams can better identify and challenge the structures that perpetuate exclusion or marginalization. These reflective spaces are essential for increasing inclusivity, allowing all staff to feel heard, supported, and empowered in their roles. This approach not only helps to de-stigmatize neurodivergent identities but also enhances team collaboration and trust by fostering an open dialogue about how biases affect work dynamics.
As teams engage in reflective supervision, they cultivate a neurodivergent-affirming practice—one that not only acknowledges the value of diverse perspectives but actively works to create an environment where neurodivergent individuals can thrive. By challenging the dominant paradigms of supervision and embracing lived experience, we shift toward more equitable, inclusive, and affirming practices that benefit both individuals and teams.
Biography
Renai Buchanan (she/they) is a passionate advocate, facilitator, and supervisor with nearly 20 years’ experience across queer, sex work, disability, and mental health peer spaces. Grounded in grassroots advocacy, they champion authentic connection, deep listening, and neurodivergent affirming practice. An Emotional CPR Trainer and Peer Supervisor, Renai creates inclusive, reflective spaces that explore multiple truths and challenge systemic barriers. With warmth, humor, and a commitment to social justice, they cultivate learning environments where lived experience leads the way. At home, they embrace the chaos of life with their wife and two young children—often surrounded by Lego, lullabies, and laundry.
