Talk Title: Youth Crime and ADHD

Yael is an Educational & Developmental Psychologist who works mainly with OCD and Anxiety in Autistic/ADHDers of all ages. Yael provides consultancy and training to psychologists and other allied health professionals about clinical practice within the neurodiversity affirming framework.

She is on the steering committee for the AAPi Neurodiversity Interest Group and is involved in research projects with The Kids Research Institute Australia and LaTrobe and Griffiths Universities. Yael’s passion is building communities that are committed to affirming research and support in all matters related to Autistics. She is a former schoolteacher and has worked with children in schools and in therapy for over since 1991. As a mother and grandmother to neurodivergent children, and as an AuDHDer herself, Yael’s work is
imbued with academic and clinical professionalism as well as humour and authenticity about lived experience.

In June 2024, Yael launched LOAPAC (League of Autistic Psychologists and Affirming Colleagues). LOAPAC is a professional association for psychologists who are committed to providing affirming care within a decolonising paradigm to Autistic
and ADHD Australians and their families. LOAPAC advocates for its members to be recognised as the leaders in their field; the professionals to turn to for training, consultancy, assessment, and support.

In this talk Yael will discuss how ADHD is a neurobiological profile characterised by both strengths and challenges. Over the past decade, the neurodiversity-affirming movement has transformed our understanding of these traits. The social model of disability has gained traction within
the community, challenging the outdated ‘just try harder’ narrative. ADHD is neither characterological nor intrinsically pathological. While we celebrate the entrepreneurial, innovative, and many aspects of ADHD, today I want to focus on those whose behaviours are harder to embrace youths in trouble with the police, turning to drugs, struggling with explosive anger, and seeking dopamine in harmful ways. I want to make sure that our celebration of ADHD doesn’t abandon these young people and their parents.

Keywords: Youth Justice; Conduct Disorder; Parent blaming; PDA; Drugs.