Our Story

Acorn was founded in 2018 in Tāmaki Makaurau in response to a lack of equity and inclusion for neurodivergent young people in education and employment.

Acorn is the only provider in Aotearoa offering an internationally recognised, gold-standard model of integrated multidisciplinary support for neurodivergent children and young people, addressing a significant gap in service provision. We support neurodivergent children and young people who are navigating autism, ADHD, FASD, sensory processing differences, developmental delays, dyspraxia, giftedness, and language processing differences.

What began with two professionals providing speech and language therapy has grown into a multidisciplinary team of 22 clinicians across two centres. Today, we support children and young people from across Auckland, working in homes, schools, and our purpose-designed centres.

Our team is made up of experienced clinicians and advocates who are committed to evidence-based practice. We work collaboratively to provide coordinated, holistic support that gives neurodivergent young people the skills, confidence, and opportunities to thrive. Our services include autism and ADHD assessments, speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, behavioural therapy, and psychology services, all delivered under one roof, with every family supported by a coordinated care team.

Originally established as Acorn Autism, the organisation transitioned to Acorn Neurodiversity in late 2021 and became a not-for-profit. This shift allows us to work in partnership with community stakeholders and focus on increasing equitable access to high-quality support for neurodivergent children and young people.