My Story
My journey into this field began with my own need for speech therapy as a child. Those years were incredibly formative for me. My speech therapist, Mrs. Usher, was nurturing, supportive, and made our sessions FUN. They were so fun that I decided I wanted to be an SLP as well. I thought, "If being an SLP means playing all day, that's what I want to do when I grow up!"
​
Turns out, being an SLP isn't only about playing all day, but my goal is for the child I'm working with to think that (just like I did)! I’ve been an SLP for six years now, working with a diverse caseload. I'm especially passionate about supporting autistic and neurodivergent children using a neurodiversity-affirming approach.
My Approach
My approach hasn't always been neurodiversity-affirming. Initially, I was trained to view autism through a medical and neuronormative model, and I was taught to use compliance-based strategies. These methods never felt right, and when I first started using them as an SLP, it often felt like a struggle between me and the child.
​
If a child was dysregulated, didn't follow directions, or didn't participate in an activity, I somehow interpreted it as something they were doing on purpose or a sign they needed to build certain compliance-based "skills." But as Dr. Barry Prizant wisely says,
​
"To help autistic children, we don't need to change them or fix them. We need to work to understand them and change what we do."​
Learning and Advocacy
In my career, I've been fortunate to have been surrounded by mentors and colleagues who have also become passionate about using neurodiversity-affirming approaches. Thanks to them and various continuing education opportunities, I've gained a deep understanding of what it means to be neurodiversity affirming in general, and I've had the privilege of learning about the importance of sensory and emotional regulation, gestalt language processing, AAC, and more.
​
However, the most important learning has come from my autistic and neurodivergent clients and from listening to the voices of autistic and neurodivergent adults. The lived experiences they share are invaluable, and their voices need to be heard. I'm always learning. With my current knowledge of the importance of understanding and respecting sensory and communication needs, differences, and preferences, my goal is to spread awareness, educate others, and help advocate.
Because too many still aren't listening.
Join Me
I've witnessed the profound impact of a neurodiversity-affirming approach compared to compliance-based methods, and I'm passionate about sharing this with parents, families, and other professionals. A significant shift is happening in how we support autistic and neurodivergent children, and (if you haven't already) I invite you to join!