Neuroaffirmative Practice and What This Means, When Considering Mental Health and Wellbeing

Davida (she/her) is an Adjunct Professor in the UCD School of Psychology and Chartered Educational and Child Psychologist with the Psychological Society of Ireland.
She founded and is Clinical Director at The Adult Autism Practice (www.adultautism.ie), a fully online service that covers the UK and Ireland, with a vision of providing respectful, neurodiversity affirmative, autism identification (assessment) work within a team that is shaped by the Autistic voice and experience. She is also co-founder, Clinical Director and Principal Psychologist at The Children’s Clinic, Dublin (www.thechildrensclinic.ie) run on these same principals. Prior to this, Davida worked for many years within the Irish public health service, in teams supporting Autistic and otherwise neurodivergent children.
Davida has written several books with Jessica Kingsley Publishers, including being lead author on the first ever book on adult autism assessment "The Adult Autism Assessment Handbook: A Neurodiversity Affirmative Approach." In 2025, "The Neurodiversity Affirmative Child Autism Assessment Handbook" will be released.
Davida has also brought to Ireland the not-for-profit Gig Buddies (www.gigbuddiesireland.ie), where she is a Board Director. Gig Buddies aims to reduce loneliness and increase social participation for adults with a learning disability who may or may not also be Autistic.
Davida is late identified ADHD and part of a multiply neurodivergent family. She is a passionate ally of the Autistic community.