ABSTRACT
Practitioners and educators are often the frontline professionals who interact most frequently with neurodivergent children and their families. This places a profound significance on each and every interaction between the professional and the child and their family. Every contact has a momentous potential in terms of creating a supportive environment and consequently, adequate planning to maximize the success of such opportunities, is of paramount importance. This chapter explores the importance of each opportunity for contact between professionals and neurodivergent children and their families, and specific strategies which can be employed to make every contact count. The distinctive issues which influence the families of neurodivergent children as they interact with practitioners and educators are explored within this chapter, presenting an appreciation for the lived reality concerning what families bring with them to the table. This chapter presents unique and targeted, practical, proactive and supportive approaches, aimed at maximising positive outcomes for neurodivergent children and their families, by making every contact count.
