Spoon Savers Card Deck by Neurodivergent Ally

WHAT ARE SPOON SAVERS?

Spoon Savers is a deck of 60 cards, which act as the companion deck to Spoon Thieves. Each card shows activities, strategies and supports to help kids through to adults “get those spoons back in the drawer”. Each card portrays ND-affirming activities and strategies for conserving and replenishing physical, mental, and emotional resources for autistics and ADHD-ers. Language is simple and clear, and each card is illustrated to assist with communication and shared understanding. Spoon Savers are ideal for individuals, families, therapists, schools, case managers, and ND allies of all types.

WHO IS IT FOR?

Spoon Savers can be used with all ages (as a clinical psychologist, the youngest age I have used them with is eight, however it really depends on the capacity of the person to understand the concept of spoons and energy). This resource can be used by parents and families, individuals, therapists, medical professionals, teachers, and other support providers. They can assist neurodivergent people to identify and communicate to others, the things in life that help them the most.

HOW DO I USE IT?

In a therapy setting, the Spoon Savers cards can be used to explore which particular activities, supports, and accommodations help to conserve or replenish. Paired with a set of spoons (disposable ones are great as they can be written on), the cards can be laid out and categorised according to whether they are helpful, unhelpful, something to try, something others can help with, etc. The cards are designed to be used flexibly to suit the setting and needs of the individual.

Spoon Savers can improve communication, and help build self-understanding and self-awareness. They are ideal for helping parents and family members to understand the lived experience of their loved one, and lead to many ‘aha!’ moments and changes in family dynamics, leading to less overwhelm, dysregulation, and meltdowns. Spoon Savers can also help families to communicate with schools about what types of support are needed most, and are a great tool to take along to individual learning plan meetings.

For schools, the Spoon Savers cards can be used to educate at the classroom or whole of school level, while also providing valuable insights into individual students, their challenges, and support needs. When used effectively (in conjunction with a solid understanding of a person’s characteristics and challenges) Spoon Savers can help to reduce emotional dysregulation, sensory overwhelm, meltdowns, and demand avoidance, leading to calmer classrooms. They also provide amazing conversation and reflection points for staff development days, enhancing shared understanding and consistency of autism and ADHD supports provided throughout the school environment and helping parents to feel that your school understands their child.