Therapist Neurodiversity Collective

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Therapist Neurodiversity Collective’s Neurodiversity-Affirming Educational Courses

  • Live and on-demand online professional development courses and educational classes designed for Therapists, Educators, and the General Public.
  • Innovative lecture topics aligned with a Neurodiversity-Affirming Paradigm interconnect contemporary research and neurodivergent lived experiences with relevant and practical applications.
  • Professional Development Courses include Professional Development Hour certificates.

 

Therapists: our Collective Members get access to the recordings and professional education certificates for all previous, current, and upcoming educational events. If you are a neurodiversity-affirming therapist, join the Collective here.

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Neurodiversity Affirming Therapy for Difference in Sensory Integration and Processing

Therapist Neurodiversity Collective
Virginia Spielmann, PhD, OTR/L (she/her) Neurodiversity Affirming Therapy for Difference in Sensory Integration and Processing Sensory Integration Therapy (Ayres SI) – what it really is Sensory Informed Approaches The neurology of integration The neurology behind graded exposure and tolerance building approaches Consent and client-led therapy (the self-organized child) Virginia is a British-trained Occupational Therapist. She received […]

FROM DEFICITS TO DIFFERENCES: UNDERSTANDING MECHANISMS OF SOCIAL DISABILITY IN AUTISM

Therapist Neurodiversity Collective
Dr. Noah J. Sasson Video Training: FROM DEFICITS TO DIFFERENCES: UNDERSTANDING MECHANISMS OF SOCIAL DISABILITY IN AUTISM Dr, Sasson studies mechanisms of social disability in autism. Historically, his work has focused on social cognition, which refers to the perception, processing, and interpretation of social information. More recently, his research is highlighting extrinsic mechanisms of social […]

Neurodiverse Interaction – Communication and learning between autistic and non-autistic people.

Therapist Neurodiversity Collective
Therapist Neurodiversity Collective’s Neurodiversity-Affirming Practices Series Dr. Catherine Crompton Video Training: Neurodiverse Interaction – Communication and learning between autistic and non-autistic people. Dr. Catherine Crompton is a Chancellors Fellow in the Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh. Her research explores autistic communication and relationships, and she is particularly interested in communication between autistic […]

Interoception, the 8th Sense: The Science of How We Each Uniquely Feel – April 22, 2022

Therapist Neurodiversity Collective
Therapist Neurodiversity Collective’s Neurodiversity-Affirming Practices Series Kelly Mahler Presentation: Interoception, the 8th Sense: The Science of How We Each Uniquely Feel Kelly Mahler OTD, OTR/L, earned a Doctorate in Occupational Therapy from Misericordia University, Dallas, PA. She has been an occupational therapist for 20 years, serving school-aged children and adults. Kelly is the winner of […]

Providing Ethical, Respectful, and Effective Therapy for Autistic and Other Neurodivergent Clients – May 13, 2022

Therapist Neurodiversity Collective
Therapist Neurodiversity Collective’s Neurodiversity-Affirming Practices Series Donnie Denome – ASAN (Autistic Self Advocacy Network) Providing Ethical, Respectful, and Effective Therapy for Autistic and Other Neurodivergent Clients Donnie TC Denome (they/them) is the Publications Associate for the Autistic Self Advocacy Network. They hold a master’s degree in public health, with a concentration in health education and […]

Flipping the Autism Narrative – Neurodiversity in the Public Schools – Part 1

Therapist Neurodiversity Collective
A free Facebook Live Public Event  – Flipping the Autism Narrative – Neurodiversity in the Public Schools – Part on July 10, 2022 @ 12:00 pm CST Due to technical difficulties with the Facebook Live Event feed on July 8, this event will occur on Sunday, July 10. A conversation with a trauma-informed mom & […]

Flipping the Autism Narrative – Neurodiversity in the Public Schools – Part 2

Therapist Neurodiversity Collective
A Free Facebook Live Public Event – Flipping the Autism Narrative – Neurodiversity in the Public Schools – Part 2 A conversation with a neurodiversity-affirming special education team” – An SLP, a Special Education Coordinator, and a Special Education Teacher talk about how they collaborate to slowly, but surely reconstruct autism student services on a […]

Flipping the Autism Narrative – Neurodiversity in the Public Schools – Part 3

Therapist Neurodiversity Collective
A Free Facebook Live Public Event – Flipping the Autism Narrative – Neurodiversity in the Public Schools – Part 3 A conversation with a neurodiversity-affirming speech therapy team about their mission to reconstruct autism services on a PBIS campus and how they have radically flipped the social skills training narrative for autistic students on its […]

DEI and NeuroDivErsIty – July 22, 2022

Therapist Neurodiversity Collective
Therapist Neurodiversity Collective’s Neurodiversity-Affirming Practices Series Valerie Pitaluga, M.S. CCC-SLP, & Truvine Walker, M.ED. CCC-SLP DEI and NeuroDivErsIty (A DEI event) Val Pitaluga (she/her) is a bilingual and bicultural speech-language pathologist based in the unceded ancestral land of the Seminole Tribe in what is now referred to as Florida. She is a Venezuelan-born, naturalized American […]

The Process of Change: Evolving the ABA Discussion at the Provider Level – August 5, 2022

Therapist Neurodiversity Collective
Therapist Neurodiversity Collective’s Neurodiversity-Affirming Practices Series Dr. Sarah Zate, MD “The Process of Change: Evolving the ABA Discussion at the Provider Level” Subject Matter: ABA and ethics; MD therapy referrals for autistic patients; neurodiversity-affirming therapy providers – dialogue and relationship building with physicians; physician neurodiversity-affirming education tips for therapy providers. Dr. Sarah Zate, MD is […]

A Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Case Study in Acquired Neurodivergence – September 9, 2022

Therapist Neurodiversity Collective
Therapist Neurodiversity Collective’s Neurodiversity-Affirming Practices Series Dr. Alejandro Brice, PhD, CCC-SLP, BCS-CL “A subarachnoid hemorrhage case study in acquired neurodivergence” Subject matter: Neurodiversity, acquired neurodivergence, intersectionality, neurodivergent lived experiences Dr. Alejandro Brice is a Cuban-American immigrant (refugee). His family came to the United States in exodus from Cuba in 1960.  He is a second language learner, […]

Occupational Therapy with Autistic Clients: Valuing and Promoting Neurodiversity – October 7, 2022

Therapist Neurodiversity Collective
Therapist Neurodiversity Collective’s Neurodiversity-Affirming Practices Series “Occupational Therapy with Autistic Clients: Valuing and Promoting Neurodiversity” with Normandy Rindahl, OT Normandy Rindahl is an OT working in pediatric clinic and home health settings. She has been passionate about neurodiversity-informed practice since graduating with her Master of Occupational Therapy in 2019 from Texas Woman’s University. In her […]

The Relevance of Minority Stress, Intersectionality, and Community Connectedness for Affirmative Therapeutic Practice

Therapist Neurodiversity Collective
Therapist Neurodiversity Collective’s Neurodiversity-Affirming Practices Series Live Event with Dr. Monique Botha (They/Them) The Relevance of Minority Stress, Intersectionality, and Community Connectedness for Affirmative Therapeutic Practice Subject matter: Intersectional neurodiversity, neurodiversity-affirming therapists, affirmative therapy practices Dr. Monique Botha is an autistic and ADHDer Community Psychologist and Research Fellow at the University of Stirling. Their research […]

Authentic Connection: Maximizing Motivation and Learning for Emergent AAC Learners

Therapist Neurodiversity Collective
Therapist Neurodiversity Collective’s Neurodiversity-Affirming Practices Series Authentic Connection: Maximizing Motivation and Learning for Emergent AAC Learners with Kate McLaughlin, M.S., CCC-SLP Kate McLaughlin, M.S., CCC-SLP  is a speech-language pathologist who specializes in augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) for individuals with complex communication needs. Kate believes that autonomous communication, inclusion, and self-determination are fundamental human rights. […]

Live Event: Racial Disparities in Autism

Therapist Neurodiversity Collective
Therapist Neurodiversity Collective’s Neurodiversity-Affirming Practices Series Desiree R. Jones Live Event: Racial Disparities in Autism (A DEI event) Desi is a 4th-year doctoral student at the University of Texas at Dallas, working under the supervision of Dr. Noah Sasson. Her research focuses on how autistic people are perceived by their peers, and how these perceptions impact […]

AAC: Autistic Experience, Research, and Recommendations

Therapist Neurodiversity Collective
AAC: Autistic experience, research, and recommendations with endever* corbin, an Autistic AAC User Register: $15 USD Topic: Evidence-based best practices for Speaking AAC Users across all environments (schools, post-secondary education settings, places of work). Course Description: This evidence-based, neurodiversity-affirming educational presentation will draw on contemporary research and Autistic AAC user community wisdom, and connect the […]
$15

Inclusive School Practices for Complex Communicators

Therapist Neurodiversity Collective
Inclusive School Practices for Complex Communicators with Alexandra (Alex) Nelson, M.S., CCC-SLP, SYC in Educational Leadership Register: $15 USD Topic: Neurodiversity-affirming services for complex communicators in the school setting. #AAC Course Description: This educational session will compare outdated standard practices of special education”inclusion” in school settings with neurodiversity-affirming inclusion best practices that are grounded in […]
$15

Autism Pseudoscience: How providers can identify, educate and intervene to protect children

Therapist Neurodiversity Collective
Autism Pseudoscience: How providers can identify, educate and intervene to protect children with Anne Borden King, co-founder of Autistics for Autistics When: Thursday, July 13, 2023  12 – 1:30 pm PT / 2 – 3:30 pm, CT / 3 – 4:30 pm, EST Register: $15 USD Topic: The big business of Autism Pseudoscience and its real […]
$15

An End to Ableism: Adopting Neurodiversity-Affirming and Strengths-Based Therapy Approaches with Pediatric Autistic Clients

Therapist Neurodiversity Collective
An End to Ableism: Adopting Neurodiversity-Affirming and Strengths-Based Approaches with Pediatric Autistic Clients with Lisa Marnell, MBA, OTD August 3, 2023, @4:00pm Pacific / @ 6:00 pm Central / @ 7:00 pm Eastern. Register: $15 USD Topic: How to conduct neurodiversity-affirming assessments and write therapy goals for Autistic Children and Teens Course Description: Traditional therapy views autistic traits […]
$15

Ethical and Neuro-affirmative Approaches to Trauma Therapy

Therapist Neurodiversity Collective
— Ethical and Neuro-affirmative Approaches to Trauma Therapy with Dr. Gabriela Hurtado When: August 17, 2023, @4:30pm Pacific / @ 6:30 pm Central / @ 7:30 pm Eastern. Register: $15 USD Topic: Dr. Gabriela Hurtado, Ph.D., a Licensed Psychologist, will present a one-hour evidence-based LIVE presentation on neuro-affirmative trauma therapy approaches followed by a Q&A […]
$15

Knowing Oneself as Autistic: Impacts on Autistic Identity and Quality of Life

Therapist Neurodiversity Collective
Register: $15 USD Presentation DescriptionDr. Steven Kapp will discuss research related to the impact of becoming aware of one’s autism, including in childhood versus adulthood. It will include the importance of proactively and holistically sharing their child’s autism diagnosis with them, for the child’s autistic identity and well-being. Educators and therapists can use this information […]
$15

Be the Change: An OT’s Experience in Supporting a School to Become Neurodiversity Affirming

Therapist Neurodiversity Collective
Be the Change: An OT’s Experience in Supporting a School to Become Neurodiversity Affirmingwith Kristin Jones MS, OTR/L Register: $15 USD Topic: Neurodiversity-affirming and inclusive special education services in the school setting. Course Description: As a professional working in a school setting, it can be easy to become overwhelmed once you have changed your personal […]
$15

On the Dark History and Surprising Revival of Behavior Modification

Therapist Neurodiversity Collective
Register: $15 USD Presentation Description“On the Dark History and Surprising Revival of Behavior Modification” examines the history of behavior modification and chronicles its development in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), the most common treatment used for autism today. ABA sparks a complete range of antinomies in special education and disability health care—motivation and authority, freedom and […]
$15

Theory of (other) mind: (mis)understanding ‘others’ in a neurodiverse world

Therapist Neurodiversity Collective
Theory of (other) mind: (mis)understanding ‘others’ in a neurodiverse world, with  Dr. Gemma L. Williams, PhD., MA.  Register: $15 USD Topic: Autistic social communication, the ‘double empathy problem‘ and ‘relevance theory;’ countering the ‘Theory of Mind-deficit’ theory of autism. Course Description: A central diagnostic and anecdotal feature of autism is difficulty with social communication. Traditionally, […]

Neuro-Affirming Support and Intellectual Disability: Where Do We Start?

Therapist Neurodiversity Collective
Neuro-Affirming Support and Intellectual Disability: Where Do We Start? with Holly Sutherland, Autistic Autism Researcher Register $15 USD Topic: Neurodiversity-informed care for intellectually disabled autistic and wider-neurodivergent people.  Course Description: Environments, interventions, and supports for neurodivergent people are increasingly billed as “neurodivergent-friendly” or “neurodiversity-affirming”. Parents, carers, and other professionals are calling for “neurodiversity-informed” care. But what […]