Navigating the Family Justice System: Supporting Neurodivergent Clients

The Family Justice Council has recently published new guidance aimed at assisting family practitioners who work with neurodivergent clients. This initiative brings much-needed clarity and support to a system that can be daunting and overwhelming even without additional challenges. For many people, the family justice system is a complex maze of paperwork, jargon, and lengthy delays. Now, imagine navigating this system while also managing a neurodivergence.

At Family Solutions, we’ve made it our mission to transform how clients experience this process from the very first point of contact. We understand how stressful and confusing it can be for anyone, especially those who may find the typical legal environment particularly challenging due to conditions like ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, or other neurodiverse traits. That’s why we’ve worked hard to create an inclusive, welcoming space both online and in person, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to engage comfortably and effectively.

Making Our Services Accessible

We’ve put extra care into designing our website to be as user-friendly as possible. By using simple, clear language, we avoid confusing jargon and acronyms, which can often add to the anxiety of navigating the legal system. Additionally, we’ve partnered with Future World 3D to create an online tour of our office spaces. This allows prospective clients to see exactly what to expect before visiting us. Clients can take a virtual tour of the office spaces, which helps to reduce stress and uncertainty ahead of their visit.

The online tour also gives clients the ability to assess whether any adjustments need to be made before their visit, such as considering seating arrangements or the lighting in the room. For some people, maintaining eye contact can be a challenge, so we can work together to figure out the most comfortable seating plan. By making these adjustments, we can ensure that the environment works for everyone.

Re-thinking our office space

Over the last few months we’ve re-designed the space in our Havant office, to offer a warmer and less stark environment.

We’ll now offer a range of rooms, bright or soft lighting, comfy chairs or sitting at a table and background music. It’s crucial to us that all of our clients can have a positive experience. And all of this is available to see on our website, before anyone steps through the door.

A Tailored Approach to Communication

Once clients come in for their initial meeting, we take the time to discuss the best communication methods for them. For example, some may prefer information presented in clear bullet points rather than long paragraphs, or they might feel more at ease communicating through written forms. These simple but important details help us build a tailored experience for every client.

The goal is always to ensure that the family justice process doesn’t feel like another barrier, but rather a series of manageable steps. When clients can comfortably navigate our spaces and feel understood throughout the process, it makes a huge difference in their overall experience.

A Resource for Neurodivergent Clients

If you want to know more about how we use online tours and how they could help reduce the stress of accessing legal services, please feel free to reach out to Neil Hawkins or visit Future World 3D’s website at www.futureworld3d.com. We’ve found the online tours to be incredibly useful—our Havant office, with six separate spaces, was set up in just a few hours! The flexibility and speed of Neil’s service mean that we were able to adapt our offering quickly and efficiently.