Interwoven: A Sensory-Friendly Poetry & Neuroart Workshop

Interwoven is a free, virtual, sensory-friendly youth workshop exploring collaborative poetry and visual neuroart as tools for creative expression, connection, and belonging. Designed to welcome neurodivergent, neurotypical, and gender-expansive young people, the workshop creates space for youth with different identities, perspectives, and ways of experiencing the world to express experiences that may be difficult to put into words or images alone.

Led by Youth for Neurodiversity ambassadors and mentors, participants will begin in small collaborative writing circles of 7 to 8 youth. Each person starts a poem inspired by overwhelm, quiet, identity, connection, belonging, or any experience they choose, then contributes 1 to 2 lines to poems shared throughout the group. By the end, each poem is interwoven with many individual perspectives, creating a shared creative voice.

Participants will then explore neuroart, using abstract linework, shapes, patterns, and color to translate thoughts, emotions, identities, and experiences into visual form. Youth can create from their own imagination or draw inspiration from a line in one of the collaborative poems, weaving language and visual art together.

The workshop is designed with accessibility and different modes of participation in mind. It includes a visual schedule, a sensory-friendly screen break, small groups, and flexible opportunities to write, make art, listen, and share. No prior writing or art experience is needed.

Finished poems and neuroart will be invited for publication in YND Expressions, Youth for Neurodiversity's multimedia magazine celebrating the creativity and perspectives of neurodivergent youth, neurotypical peers, gender-expansive youth, friends, families, and allies.

Register Here