Tami Harris

Chief Executive Acorn Embracing Neurodiversity
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As a passionate contributor in the child disabilities and mental health sectors for the past 25 years in both the US and New Zealand, Tami is determined to achieve equity for all children in need of support. She’s proud that the model that guides Acorn is the gold standard internationally.

Tami is a registered psychotherapist. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of Michigan, a Master’s Degree in clinical social work from the University of Chicago and a Post Graduate Certificate in Inclusive Education from the University of Auckland.   

Tami has thirty years of experience managing non-profit organisations and programmes, providing parent guidance, child and family therapy, and school consultation specialising in autism, ADHD, anxiety, trauma and learning disabilities. Tami has worked in foster care, special education, early intervention and community mental health in the United States and New Zealand in a variety of leadership and direct service roles. Additionally, she is a professional development facilitator for the Ministry of Education through Core Education, specialising in inclusion, social/ emotional learning and trauma-informed practice. 

Tami has three lively neurodivergent children who keep her on her toes and remind her to keep pushing for an equitable Aotearoa.


Learn with Tami Harris

Acorn Embracing Neurodiversity

Acorn is the only provider of the international gold standard model of integrated multidisciplinary support for neurodivergent children, filling a huge gap in service provision. Acorn supports children and young people who are neurodivergent and experiencing challenges related to autism, ADHD, FASD, sensory processing, developmental delays, dyspraxia, giftedness and language processing.

We have grown from two professionals providing speech and language therapy to 22 professionals across two centres providing multidisciplinary services to children from all over Auckland in their homes, schools and our centres. 

We are a team of advocates and experts dedicated to providing evidence-based supports that give neurodivergent children the tools they need to reach their potential. We provide speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, behavioural therapy, and psychology services all in one place with coordinated care, giving every family a support team.

Originally started as a business, Acorn Autism was transformed into Acorn Neurodiversity, a not for profit, in late 2021 to allow us to partner with community stakeholders to increase equitable access to support for more neurodivergent children.
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