Our objectives are to strengthen communication and connection with teenagers who think, learn and work differently. Our neuro divergent youth sit in Takiwatanga – their own time and space. They are of huge value to building our future, offering new thought and making transparent the importance of our senses (other than verbal and auditory) as ways to relate to the world. While neuro divergence has much to offer, these young people suffer high anxiety in our current societal shape. They display confused or oppositional behaviour and often family and school functioning becomes dysfunctional as a result. Mind Over Manner works to help these individuals, their whanau and health, education, social and justice professionals to keep going when they just don’t know what to do next. Using a team of actors and a facilitator, Mind Over Manner creates a three-way conversation with workshop participants recognising the knowledge of all that are present in the room. Together they create new strategies to provide respect, connection and a positive future for the young people involved. We would like to see changes in Aotearoa’s education curriculum so it incorporates learning that is relevant to those who perceive the world in this creative and neurodivergent way. Mind Over Manner thanks The Lindsay Foundation for their committed support to this mahi.