This Is Me: NeuroKind Circles The Squish & Sculpt Clayground - (Air-Dry) Clay Edition

FAQs

• What is parallel online?

  This means we’re doing something side-by-side without social pressure.

  Your camera can be:

  • on or off

  • pointed at your clay, pointed at the ceiling, or nowhere at all.

  Talking is optional. Listening is optional.

  Being present in your own way is enough.

  Some people like chatting while they create. Some prefer silence.

  Both are completely welcome.

• What do we bring?

  • air-dry clay

  • a small cup of water

  • simple tools (toothpicks, forks, butter knife, pencil)

  • a cloth or tray to work on

  But you can also join with:

  • play-dough

  • blu-tack

  • slime

  • kinetic sand

  • or nothing at all.

  Watching counts too.

• What do we do with the clay?

  • roll it

  • flatten it

  • make tiny creatures

  • make abstract shapes

  • fidget with it

  • sculpt something meaningful

  • or simply enjoy the texture

  There’s no right way to clay.

• Sensory notes with clay?

  Air-dry clay can feel:

  • cool

  • slightly gritty

  • soft when kneaded

  • firm and hard as it dries

  • some clay may have earthy fragrances

  If clay textures aren’t your thing, feel free to stim, draw, knit, doodle, or simply hang out.

• What will we have by the end of the session?

  • a tiny sculpture

  • a strange creature

  • a wonky bowl

  • a pocket stone

  • or just a pleasantly squished piece of clay.

  All outcomes are excellent outcomes.

• What are the accessibility and support considerations?

  All sessions should aim to include:

  • Clear visual schedules and session outlines

  • Quiet break times or low-stimulation options

  • Flexible participation expectations

  • Sensory supports

  • Camera-optional online access

  • AAC, text, and multimodal communication supports

  • Movement-friendly spaces

  • Low-demand facilitation approaches

  • Consent-based interaction practices

  • No forced icebreakers or mandatory sharing

• What does a general schedule look like?

  Activity

  Check-in via chat/voice/reactions

  Parallel play/body doubling/interest sharing

  Optional discussion or collaborative activity

  Gentle close and decompression

• What are DNA Inc. community values?

  These spaces are grounded in:

  • Neurodivergent autonomy

  • Mutual respect

  • Compassionate communication

  • Disability justice principles

  • Co-regulation over compliance

  • Authenticity over masking

  • Community care rather than behavioural control

  • Connection without pressure

  The aim is not to teach people how to appear neuronormative.
  The aim is to create spaces where people can safely exist as themselves.