A new toolkit to support professionals working with neurodivergent men who commit domestic abuse has been launched by our Department of Sociology’s Centre for Research into Violence and Abuse (CRiVA).
The NDiDA Practice toolkit offers practical help to work safely, effectively and inclusively with neurodivergent men, especially those who are autistic and/or ADHD.
The toolkit is based on our research, with input from neurodivergent people, neurodivergent-led organisations and domestic abuse specialists.
The NDiDA Practice toolkit aims to fill a gap in confidence, training and practical guidance reported by professionals who deal with neurodivergent clients.
In doing so, it takes a victim-survivor-centred approach that does not excuse abuse.
It is designed to be used by services delivering domestic abuse perpetrator interventions, programmes and criminal justice and community-based work.
It also supports voluntary and charitable organisations providing help to individuals and families.
The toolkit helps practitioners to work in neuroinclusive ways with neurodivergent men who are attending domestic abuse perpetrator programmes.
It explores how neurodivergence and domestic abuse can intersect, and translates evidence into practical tools.
It also includes ways of supporting practitioners to gain understanding around sensory awareness, predictability, communication and empathy within interventions, as well as guidance on neuroinclusive environments and workplaces.
Professionals can then adapt interventions to better meet client needs.
The focus is on making adjustments that are realistic in day-to-day work while enhancing safety for victim-survivors.
Our researchers have examined neurodivergence, domestic abuse and criminal justice interventions in the UK and internationally.
Central to their work is ensuring that neurodivergence is never used as a reason or excuse for domestic abuse.
It introduces tools for practitioners to challenge when violence and abuse is attributed to being neurodivergent while offering practical guidance to support clients to engage in meaningful behavioural change.
Visit the NDiDA Practice website.
The toolkit is based on research by project lead Dr Nicole Renehan, an Assistant Professor in Criminology, and Dr Vicky Butterby, a Postdoctoral Research Associate, both in our Department of Sociology.
More about our Centre for Research into Violence and Abuse (CRiVA).
Project partners include Community Justice Scotland, Probation Service North East, and Respect, the UK charity stopping perpetrators of domestic abuse.
Project Consultants include Neurodiverse Connection and Monika Labich Coaching and Therapy.
Our Department of Sociology is ranked seventh in the UK in the Complete University Guide 2026. Visit our Sociology webpages for more information on our undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.
/prod01/prodbucket01/media/durham-university/central-news-and-events-images/83431-1920X290.jpg)