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

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 […]
Flipping the Autism Narrative – Neurodiversity in the Public Schools – Part 3

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

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

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

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. […]
Authentic Connection: Maximizing Motivation and Learning for Emergent AAC Learners

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

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) […]
ABA Therapy and PTSD

I was called “unethical” by a professional colleague today.
The reason may surprise you—I said “ABA is abuse”. My peer was naturally taken aback because they are an SLP-BCBA and “would never dream of abusing a child.” I always find this rebuttal interesting because we usually don’t hear about people walking around admitting to abusing people; even overt predators somehow convince themselves that they are helping their victim. The sanctimonious SLP-BCBA told me that it was the “old ABA” and not “new ABA” that was harmful, and then only a small fraction of the time. She accused me of “throwing the baby out with the bathwater” (I still don’t really understand how this idiomatic expression applies here) and she further went on to insist that there is “no way ABA could cause PTSD in people with Autism.” (She really meant “Autistic people,” I am sure.)
ABA is NOT Effective: So says the Latest Report from the Department of Defense

With 3,794 participants, this is the largest study ever conducted of ABA effectiveness. The 31-page report entitled, “The Department of Defense Comprehensive Autism Care Demonstration Annual Report 2020” concluded that “ABA services are not working.”
May is Better Hearing and Speech Month: Building Trusting Relationships through Therapy

As a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP), I often find myself trying to explain what I do. Our scope of practice is broad and not well understood by the general public. As an SLP specializing in feeding disorders, my work is even harder to explain! To educate the public about what SLPs (and Audiologists) do, the month of May has been designated as Better Hearing & Speech Month.