Friday 30 January 9am – 10am
For Mediators
Register here
Key learnings from mediators who have implemented changes to the mediation process to support neurodiverse individuals, looking at what’s worked and why, as well as what could have been done differently.
Almost a year since the release of the Toolkit, provided by FLANC and FLiP, to help practitioners provide the best support to neurodiverse clients accessing NCDR processes, we take stock and share what we’ve learned in mediation.
Elizabeth Fletcher of Family Law in Partnership and Caroline Croft from FLANC share practical tips and case studies from mediators who have implemented changes to the mediation process, looking at what’s worked and what could be done differently. This will be a practical session focusing on the reality of navigating mediation with clients who are neurodivergent, including autism and ADHD, from a mediator’s perspective.
By the end of the session, participants will:
- Be confident in identifying barriers to participation in mediation.
- Understand the breadth of reasonable adjustments they can make in mediation to support different types of neurodivergence.
- Be clear on how to identify the specific adjustments that could benefit their clients’ unique needs.
- Have a framework for proposing and agreeing reasonable adjustments.
- Have the tools to navigate resistance to adjustments from one party.
| Your speakers | |
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Elizabeth Fletcher is a family solicitor and Director at FLiP. She is also an accredited mediator and collaborative practitioner. She advises on all aspects of family law with a particular focus on complex arrangements for children — both in the UK and internationally — as well as financial disputes arising from marriage breakdowns. Elizabeth regularly supports neurodiverse clients and drew on this experience when working with FLANC to develop the NCDR toolkit. Elizabeth is on the Working Group for Family Mediation Week and is actively involved in several sub-groups of Family Solutions Group, including looking at how to ensure the voice of the child is heard in all NCDR processes. |
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Caroline Croft is a Barrister at Coram Chambers and a founder member of FLANC. Caroline was called to the Bar in 2010. She specialises in all aspects of the law relating to children, with particular expertise in cases involving issues of neurodivergence and complex medical evidence. Caroline is recognised as a leading junior barrister in the Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners. She was described as “the ultimate professional” and “passionate, knowledgeable and extremely thorough” in the 2025 edition of the Legal 500. The 2026 edition of Chambers and Partners describes Caroline as being “fantastic both in and out of court”; “going the extra mile for her clients” and “having a particular strength in supporting those who are neurodivergent” . Caroline was a contributor to the FJC guidance on neurodiversity which was published in January 2025 and has contributed to the guidance and tools published by FLANC. Caroline undertakes regular public speaking engagements, delivers training to a wide range of professionals including lawyers and social workers and often writes articles for professional journals and publications. |
