From Awareness to Action: Making the Athletic Training Facility a Safe Space
Abstract:
Athletic trainers care for a diverse patient population that includes a growing number of neurodivergent athletes, yet few educational resources address how to meet their needs. This course explores how the athletic training facility can become a place of both physical and emotional safety for these athletes. Participants will learn to distinguish between common neurodivergent diagnoses, with a focus on ADHD and autism, and will see how traits such as impulsivity, hyperactivity, inattention, and communication and social-interaction differences may show up in the athlete population. The course explains how neurodivergent nervous systems can register everyday sensory input as a threat, and why sensory overload from lighting, noise, smell, temperature, touch, and unpredictable environments can be a barrier to care. Participants will leave with practical, low-cost accommodations they can put in place right away, such as quiet hours, fragrance-free products, adjustable lighting, consistent routines, and clearly posted expectations, along with reflection prompts to guide meaningful change in their own setting.
Learning Objectives:
- Distinguish difference in neurodivergent diagnoses.
- Provide applicable, actionable steps to create an athletic training safe space.
- Understand how neurodivergence presents in the student-athlete population.
Level:
Essential
Domain(s):
Domain 1: Risk Reduction Wellness and Health Literacy
Domain 2: Assessment Evaluation and Diagnosis
Domain 4: Therapeutic Intervention
Orthopedic Domain(s):
Domain 1: Medical Knowledge
Domain 2: Procedural Knowledge
Domain 3: Professional Practice
CEUs:
1.0 Category A
Keywords:
Neurodiversity, ADH, Autism
Enhanced Access On-Demand Course Expiration:
Access to this course will expire at the end of the membership year on December 31 at 11:59 p.m. CST.
For full details, refer to the Expiration Date Policy on our FAQ page.
Katie Harris, MA, LPC, MEd, ATC, LAT
Katie Harris, MA, LPC, MEd, ATC, LAT, completed her undergraduate degrees in Athletic Training from Kansas State University and then onto Abilene Christian University for graduate assistant experience. Katie spent 10 years as a practicing athletic trainer ranging from secondary school level to professional. She found a passion for mental health concerns and returned to school for additional training and education in mental health and received a Master’s in Counseling from Northwestern University. She now serves as a licensed professional counselor in Texas and Oklahoma to those who are in the sports industry from athletes, coaches, athletic trainers, and more. Katie has presented on the topic of neurodiversity throughout her counseling career in order to provide education and advocate for those who may identify as neurodivergent.