Julie Roberts, M.S., CCC-SLP – As an international Neurodiversity Speaker and formally late-identified Autistic Speech-Language Pathologist, I specialize in trauma-informed, evidence-based approaches grounded in the neurodiversity paradigm. I’ve delivered professional development to thousands of therapists and educators, bridging research, ethics, and the lived realities of autistic people and offering a perspective shaped by professional expertise and lived experience as an Autistic adult.
Before founding the Therapist Neurodiversity Collective, I spent 25 years working in public schools, owning a pediatric clinic, and holding senior leadership roles in national healthcare.
☑ Founder of Therapist Neurodiversity Collective, Inc.®
☑ Creator of The Neurodiversity-Paradigm Framework for Autistic Social Communication
☑ Bestselling author of The Gold Standard Fallacy of ABA: A Reference Guide for Therapists, Educators, & Parents
The Gold Standard Fallacy of ABA - A Reference Guide for Therapists, Educators, & Parents
Julie’s work focuses on empathetic evidence-based therapy alternatives to ABA and similar behavioral therapy models that
➔ are non-trauma inducing
➔ prioritize mental health
➔ respect autistic social communication differences
➔ champion neurodivergent human rights.
Her articles and educational resources have reached reached thousands and are frequently cited in other presentations and articles.
She is a frequent speaker, trainer, and writer on such topics as:
- Autistic Social Communication
- Evidence-Based, Neurodiversity-Affirming Therapy Practices
- The Neurodiversity Movement and the Implications for Therapy Practices
- An Educators’ Guide to Autism: Contemporary Research and the Implications for a Trauma-Informed Classroom
- The Detrimental Outcomes of Social Skills Training and an Alternative: “The Neurodiversity-Affirming Conceptual Practice Framework for Social Communication”
✦✦✦ The Neurodiversity Paradigm Framework for Autistic Social Communication (Roberts, J. © 2019 – 2025) is a groundbreaking neurodivergence–affirming, anti-oppressive therapy practice framework developed by Julie to replace social skills training for autistic individuals and promote autistic thriving.
✦✦✦ The Neurodiversity-Paradigm Framework for Autistic Social Communication course is informed by the neurodiversity paradigm and deeply rooted in the latest autism research:
➔ The Double Empathy Problem
➔ Diversity in Social Intelligence
➔ Monotropism, and
➔ Autistic Masking and Camouflage
Publications:
Roberts, Julie. The Gold Standard Fallacy of ABA: A Reference Guide for Therapists, Educators, & Parents. NeuroBloom Publishing. 2024.
Roberts J. (2023). Ableism, Code-Switching, and Camouflaging: A Letter to the Editor on Gerlach-Houck and DeThorne (2023). Language, speech, and hearing services in schools, 1–7. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1044/2023_LSHSS-23-00037
Hanna K. Ulatowska, Gloria Streit Olness, CaSaundra L. Hill, Julie A. Roberts & Molly W. Keebler (2000) Repetition in Narratives of African Americans: The Effects of Aphasia, Discourse Processes, 30:3, 265-283, DOI: 10.1207/S15326950dp3003_3
The E.C. Barksdale Memorial Essays in History 1993-1994, Volume 13 – First Place: M.M. McKnight Award in Texas Labor History – “Harry Weisbrod and the Founding of the American Federation of Government Employee Lodge 2132, Dallas, Texas, 1962”
Articles:
IEPs, Ableist Goals and Parents’ Rights. April 1, 2023.
SLPs directly contribute to autistic outcomes of trauma and suicidality through social skills training. March 16, 2023
Toxic Social Skills Training Goals, “Be yourself, but not like that.” February 22, 2023
Not allowed to say “I can’t.” February 16, 2023.
Neurodiversity-Affirming Therapy: Positions, Therapy Goals, and Best Practices. April 4, 2022
Neurodiversity and Autism Intervention (ABA) can’t be reconciled. November 5, 2021
Performative Neurodiversity – the appropriation and watering down of a Human Rights Movement for profit. October 2, 1021
So an SLP was late-diagnosed as Autistic this week… June 17, 2021
Nothing about Social Skills Training is Neurodivergence-Affirming – Absolutely nothing. May 27, 2021
Why We Model Language and Honor All Communication, instead of Using PECS®. January 13, 2021
On Writing Masking Goals for Middle School Girls – Stop it! August 13, 2020
Roberts, Julie, “FINDING THE RIGHT SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST (SLP) FOR YOUR AUTISTIC CHILD”. Thinking Person’s Guide to Autism. May 14, 2020
Why Perspective-Taking and Neurodiversity Acceptance? Part 2 of Training Social Skills is Dehumanizing: The One with the Therapy Goals. February 15, 2020
The Problem with PECS® February 4, 2020
Training Social Skills is Dehumanizing (Part 1). January 11, 2020
Why We Model Language and Honor All Communication, instead of Using PECS®. January 13, 2021
A Letter from an SLP to a Parent, Immediately After an Autism Diagnosis for a 5-Year-Old. November 15, 2019
An ASHA Certified SLP’s Personal Perspective on Collaboration, Interprofessional Practice and ABA. November 10, 2019
Challenging the ABA industry: Julie Roberts of Therapist Neurodiversity Collective: Noncompliant – the podcast. July 10, 2024
Julie Roberts Discusses Neurodiversity Affirming Care. Telepractice Today. Nov 13, 2023.
The shifting landscape of autism services: Noncompliant – the podcast. February 24, 2023
Shifting Therapies towards an empathetic and respectful Neurodiversity Paradigm: Alliance Against Seclusion & Restraint. September 23, 2021
Neurodiversity Experts Talk Interview. WBAI 99.5 FM Pacifica Radio NYC, April 16, 2021
“The practice of teaching people to suppress their autistic traits to present as more neurotypical can have long-term implications for those people”, says Julie Roberts of the Therapist Neurodiversity Collective. Attempts to “treat” autism can cause children to hide or mask their traits to fit in, she explains, noting that she has done this throughout her life. Continual attempts to mask autistic traits may have negative effects on a person’s mental health. Studies—like one published in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders in 2020—have linked masking to anxiety and depression, as well as to an increased risk for suicide…”
Watson, Stephanie. Constantino, Christopher D. ” Autistic is Me.” ASHA LeaderLive. May/June 2022.
Accessed 20, Aug. 2022.
“ABA is disrespectful of human rights,” Roberts says. “ABA interventions don’t look at the cause behind the behavior,” she says. “Is there a sensory issue? Is the child traumatized? Are they tired? Angry? Sleepy? Asking ‘why’ is just a compassionate way to deal with another human being, especially a child.” Roberts also opposes Applied Behavioral Analysis International’s (ABAI) support for the use of shock therapy by a residential center in Massachusetts. (The U.S. Food and Drug Administration banned the use of shock-therapy devices in March 2020.) “Not only does ABAI allow for the use of punishment, it offers guidance for exactly how to punish human beings in its code of ethics,” she says. The concept of “training” children with autism to present as neurotypical is artificial and unnecessary at best, and traumatic at worst, says Roberts. “‘Training’ social skills means that neurodivergent people must conform to unrealistic, obscure, and often confusing neurotypical standards through masking,” Roberts explains…
Volker, Nancy. “When SLP Meets ABA.” ASHA LeaderLive. Oct. 1, 2020. Accessed 15 Nov. 2020.
Read what SpeechPathology.com reviewers are saying about Julie’s presentations…
The Neurodiversity Movement: An Overview for Autism Service Providers
“The Neurodiversity Movement: An Overview for Autism Service Providers: 10164: Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD).” SpeechPathology.com, 21 June 2022,
Social Skills “Training”: A Neurodiversity-Affirming Framework
“Social Skills Training: A Neurodiversity-Affirming Framework: 10200: Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD): Social, Emotional, Behavioral.” SpeechPathology.com, 26 July 2022,