Panelists discussed their individual journeys and impact of later-in-life and self-diagnoses. They helped our audience understand that being neuro-diverse, whether due to Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, Autism, or other brain-based conditions, can bring challenges that are easier to manage when understood.

Takeaways from our Lived Expert Panel about the little gestures that Humans and other adults can make that have lots of meaning and impact.

Have you ever asked someone “what do you need?” and they don’t have an answer? Or maybe they asked you for the kind of support you don’t have the capacity to offer. This session focused on how we can make tangible offers of support based on our strengths in balance with setting and maintaining boundaries so we don’t overextend ourselves.

This Lived Expert panel helped Humans and permanency caregivers understand that the hardest moments are often the most important ones to stay through. People tend to pull away when things get hard because of a lack of knowledge of what to do as well as strong feelings about what is going on. Here we explore those feelings and practical tips to cope and manage “when I pushed you away.”

Harm Reduction is known as an evidence-based, public health approach to working with people with addictions. Concepts from Harm Reduction have a broader application in figuring out how to show up in supportive ways in relationships, especially when significant and early trauma are present, as it is for Living Experts of child welfare.

How do we support those living with FASD to thrive and flourish? Our Living Expert panelists came together to discuss how FASD has impacted their lives and which support strategies have been the most helpful for them. Participants heard about addressing the stigma of FASD diagnosis, how to support success, navigating sibling relationships and real stories of challenges and celebrations from Living Experts and their family members. The panel was moderated by Sylvia Gibbons. 

Somatic therapist and author, Nadia George, explored what somatic healing truly is—and what it isn’t. Drawing from her professional expertise and lived experience, Nadia demystified the science behind somatic practices, shared real-life examples of what works (and what doesn’t) in the heat of the moment, and guided participants through practical tools they can start using right away.

Fight, flight, freeze or fawn? The nervous system is often thought of as the body’s control system. It’s responsible for processing information received about the world, triggering responses and regulating bodily functions. Understanding how it functions and the impacts that trauma has on the nervous system can help us select the appropriate tools and strategies for dysregulated moments. Lived Expert facilitator, Wendy, provided an overview of the nervous system in simple terms (and some science-y ones) as well as shared some of their personal tools for managing dysregulation for self and as a Kin Caregiver/Human.

How can Humans build trust, support their Lived Experts to feel safe, and strengthen their relationships? This panel featured Lived Experts and was moderated by Lived Expert Coordinator Charlene April, to hear directly from Living Experts on what kinds of relationship building approaches would be helpful on permanency journeys.