Permission to Play - A neurodiversity-affirming, movement and play-based space for adults

𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲

𝐴 𝑛𝑒𝑢𝑟𝑜𝑑𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦-𝑎𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑟𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑔, 𝑚𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑦-𝑏𝑎𝑠𝑒𝑑 𝑠𝑝𝑎𝑐𝑒 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑎𝑑𝑢𝑙𝑡𝑠

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬?

Permission to Play is a low-pressure space for adults to reconnect with free play — the kind that’s not about winning, performing, or doing it “right.” It’s guided by the principles of neurodiversity, creative freedom, and deep respect for each person’s needs and ways of being. The aim is to (re)discover our relationship with play and to learn more about ourselves, and maybe each other. Or to have fun. Or to rest. Or all of those things. Or none.

The space is designed with neurodivergent experiences at the centre; however, you don’t need to be neurodivergent to join. Expect sensory-friendly options, lots of autonomy, and permission to engage (or not) in whatever way feels authentic to you.
This is a series of four sessions. Each will have a different flavour, and while you're not required to attend all, coming to more than one can offer a richer experience.
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🗓️ 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 & 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞

🗓️ Saturdays 3pm-5pm
• 19th July
• 26th July
• 2nd August
• 9th August
📍 Auckland CBD; exact location will be shared after registration. An 8–10-minute walk from Britomart.
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👩 𝐖𝐡𝐨’𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬?

I’m Zsuzsa, a student in my final year of a Dance Movement Therapy (DMT) master’s program, currently writing my thesis.
I’m autistic, ADHD, and figuring out what it means to be these things — and how that shapes the way I create space for others.
These workshops are part of that journey. They’re free, because I’m still learning. But they matter deeply to me — and your presence and participation are part of how I’m learning to do this work.
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🧠 𝐍𝐞𝐮𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲

Neurodiversity includes the full range of brain wiring — autistic, ADHD, dyslexic, neurotypical, and more. Everyone is part of this spectrum, just as we’re all part of other forms of human diversity (e.g., gender, race, culture). We honour different ways of sensing, thinking, and moving through the world.
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🌱 𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫?

This space is for adults of any neurotype who are curious about play and open to exploring in their own way. You don’t need experience in movement, therapy, or being social — just a willingness to be with yourself and others, however that looks for you.
At this stage, the workshop is designed for people who can make independent decisions about their participation — those who can understand abstract ideas, follow flexible group agreements, and self-direct their engagement, as there is no individualised support available. As a one-person, student-run offering, I need to acknowledge the limits of what I can hold safely and responsibly right now.
This isn’t about anyone’s value or right to play — it’s just the boundary of this particular space.
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🎈 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲?

This is not about games or goals. It’s about free play — the kind that emerges spontaneously. Like when kids are left alone in a backyard: one gathers sticks and rocks, one lies in the grass staring at clouds, one invents a game and forgets the rules halfway through; others run around chasing each other until they can’t move anymore. There’s no “should,” no right way to do it.
Sometimes play begins in boredom or awkwardness. That moment of “I don’t know what to do” can open a door to surprising creativity. Let yourself linger in it — something might grow.
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🗝️ 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐨𝐦 & 𝐀𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲

Everything in this space is an invitation, not a requirement. Really. You can move, speak, rest, stim, sit with your eyes closed — whatever your body-mind needs. You can also change your mind at any time.
There will be different zones to support different needs:
• A “leave me alone” area
• A quiet drawing/colouring station
• A movement space with props and fidgets
You’re welcome to bring your own comfort/sensory items. I’ll have some on hand too, but not necessarily enough for everyone’s specific needs.
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🕒 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐩 𝐅𝐥𝐨𝐰 (𝟐 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬) – subject to change depending on what emerges on the day

• Arrival and settling in
• A short talk on play, permission, and neurodiversity
• Group agreements and soft introductions
• A light icebreaker or movement game
• 40–50 minutes of unstructured play — with objects, space, time, and permission
• Optional reflection or gentle sharing to close
Silence is welcome. Movement is welcome. Laughter, stillness, confusion, joy — all welcome.
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🤝 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬

If you say you’re coming, I’m asking you to really show up (as best you can). I know life happens — illness, energy crashes, sudden overwhelm — and that’s okay. To help manage my own anxiety, I appreciate knowing in advance how many people are coming and who they are. Just let me know if something changes.
Your presence, as you are, helps shape this space and this research. I want to meet you, not just a body in the room.
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𝐈𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐝 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 — 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐮𝐩 — 𝐈’𝐝 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐲𝐨𝐮.
𝐓𝐨 𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐮𝐩, 𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦:
𝐡𝐭𝐭𝐩𝐬://𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐬.𝐠𝐥𝐞/𝟗𝐳𝐆𝐏𝐏𝟐𝐒𝟕𝐢𝐝𝐱𝟓𝐏𝐅𝐄𝐦𝟖

𝐋𝐞𝐭 𝐦𝐞 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬, 𝐨𝐫 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐨.
𝐌𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐬: 𝐳𝐬𝐳𝐚𝟓𝟔𝟕@𝐚𝐮𝐜𝐤𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐧𝐢.𝐚𝐜.𝐧𝐳; 𝐬𝐳𝐚𝐛𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐳𝐬𝐮𝐳𝐬𝐚@𝐠𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐥.𝐜𝐨𝐦

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