Julie Roberts, M.S., CCC-SLP, founding CEO of Therapist Neurodiversity Collective, Inc.™ is a late-diagnosed Autistic ASHA certified, licensed Speech-Language Pathologist who has been practicing in schools, pediatric clinics, rehab hospitals, and outpatient units since 1999.
Julie is a frequent neurodiversity speaker, educator, and trainer who delivers high-energy presentations that challenge audiences to re-examine their beliefs about Autism and reaccess outdated and damaging therapy and education practices.
Julie’s work focuses on professional, and public education about empathetic evidence-based therapy alternatives to ABA and behavioral therapy models that are non-trauma inducing and respectful of autistic social communication differences, social justice, and human rights. Her articles and educational resources have reached well over three-quarters of a million people and are frequently cited in other presentations and articles.
She’s a frequent speaker, trainer, and writer on such topics as:
- The Myth of ABA as the “Gold Standard of Autism Treatment”
- 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”
Julie developed The Neurodiversity-Affirming Conceptual Practice Framework for Social Communication (Roberts, J. © 2019 – 2022). The NCPFSC © is an evidence-based, trauma-informed alternative model to social skills training grounded in the Neurodiversity-Affirming Theoretical Framework for Social Communication (Roberts, J. © 2019 – 2022) of existing contemporary autism research including Monotropism, The Double Empathy Problem, Diversity in Social Intelligence, and Autistic Masking and Camouflage.
Throughout her career, Julie has served in various healthcare settings for both pediatric and adult populations and has held key healthcare leadership positions, including National Field Director of Corporate Compliance and Multi-state Regional Clinical Director for the nation’s largest provider of rehab post-acute care. She is a passionate human rights advocate and activist.
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,
Articles:
IEPs, Ableist Goals and Parents’ Rights. Therapist Neurodiversity Collective. April 1, 2023.
SLPs directly contribute to autistic outcomes of trauma and suicidality through social skills training. Therapist Neurodiversity Collective. March 16, 2023
Toxic Social Skills Training Goals, “Be yourself, but not like that.” Therapist Neurodiversity Collective. February 22, 2023
Not allowed to say “I can’t.” Therapist Neurodiversity Collective. February 16, 2023.
Neurodiversity-Affirming Therapy: Positions, Therapy Goals, and Best Practices. Therapist Neurodiversity Collective. April 4, 2022
Neurodiversity and Autism Intervention (ABA) can’t be reconciled. Therapist Neurodiversity Collective. November 5, 2021
Performative Neurodiversity – the appropriation and watering down of a Human Rights Movement for profit. Therapist Neurodiversity Collective. October 2, 1021
So an SLP was late-diagnosed as Autistic this week… Therapist Neurodiversity Collective. June 17, 2021
Nothing about Social Skills Training is Neurodivergence-Affirming – Absolutely nothing. Therapist Neurodiversity Collective. May 27, 2021
Why We Model Language and Honor All Communication, instead of Using PECS®. Therapist Neurodiversity Collective. January 13, 2021
On Writing Masking Goals for Middle School Girls – Stop it! Therapist Neurodiversity Collective. 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. Therapist Neurodiversity Collective. February 15, 2020
The Problem with PECS® Therapist Neurodiversity Collective. February 4, 2020
Training Social Skills is Dehumanizing (Part 1). Therapist Neurodiversity Collective. January 11, 2020
Why We Model Language and Honor All Communication, instead of Using PECS®. Therapist Neurodiversity Collective. January 13, 2021
A Letter from an SLP to a Parent, Immediately After an Autism Diagnosis for a 5-Year-Old. Therapist Neurodiversity Collective. November 15, 2019
An ASHA Certified SLP’s Personal Perspective on Collaboration, Interprofessional Practice and ABA. Therapist Neurodiversity Collective. November 10, 2019
Publications:
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”
“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.