Lessons from a Black Autistic Behavioral Therapist with Joy F. Johnson

Strengths-Based Goal Writing in Action with Rachel Dorsey: Many of us have never seen strengths-based, neurodiversity affirming goal writing in practice. In this episode, Autistic SLP Rachel Dorsey walks us through the ins and outs of how to write truly affirming goals for our Autistic clients that contribute to their well-being, not to burnout. Check out the newest version of Rachel’s CE course, Goal Writing for Autistic Students, (co-taught with an incredible team of OTs and SLPs) at learnplaythrive.com/goals. by Two Sides of the Spectrum

36 min listen

The Power of Presuming Competence with Ido Kedar: Ido Kedar is a non-speaking AAC user who chronicles his experience in therapies both before and after he learned to type to communicate. In this re-airing of episode 9, Ido shares concrete advice on how therapists can be more respectful and effective when supporting non-speaking Autistic clients. Ido Kedar is an autistic-self advocate and the author of two books. by Two Sides of the Spectrum

27 min listen

Reclaiming our Wholeness with Honey Schneider: What is “neurosupremacy” and “neuronormativity,” and how does this differ from the idea of “neruotypicality”? What does peer counseling offer that traditional therapy misses? How can creativity help us break seemingly firm limits set by the systems of power and oppression that exist around us? In this episode, Honey Schneider helps us see the path to reclaiming our own wholeness, and to helping our clients do the same. Honey Schneider has an MA in Mental Health Counseling from NYU. They're white, disabled, and transsexual. Honey currently works as a peer coach. by Two Sides of the Spectrum

68 min listen

The Cultural Model of Disability and Empowering Practice Frameworks with Bryden Carlson-Giving: Our practice frameworks are supposed to guide our work…but what happens when their authors of our practice framework haven’t analyzed their biases? In this episode, we discuss how ableism is built into the practice framework of occupational therapists, and what it looks like to do something totally different. Today’s guest, Dr. Bryden Carlson-Giving, wrote the first neurodiversity-affirming practice framework for OTs – and there’s something to learn from it no matter what field you work in. We also dive into the cultural model of disability, the limitations of evidence-based practice, and so much more. Dr. Bryden Carlson-Giving is a queer, neurodivergent, and disabled occupational therapy practitioner who developed The EMPOWER Model. by Two Sides of the Spectrum

52 min listen

More Than Motor Milestones: Affirming Physical Therapy and Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration with Iris Warchall: We talk a lot about neurodiversity-affirming practice…but what does this look like for physical therapists? Should their work be guided by developmental milestones? Is it ethical to use physical prompts and assistance? How do you know when toe walking is really a problem? And how exactly should we go about finding affirming physical therapists for referrals? Join Autistic PT Iris Warchall in episode 89 to tackle this and more. by Two Sides of the Spectrum

57 min listen

Transforming the Parent Experience with Jen Schonger: When this episode first aired, it was just directed at OT practitioners. But it’s simply too full of insight to not share again with our broader audience. Jen Schonger is the part time operations manager at Communication FIRST and the mom to two daughters, one of whom is Autistic. In this conversation, Jen shares her insight about the important blind spots many providers have, and the concrete ways we can support parents to develop an empowering understanding of their Autistic kids. by Two Sides of the Spectrum

52 min listen

Preparing Autistic People for the Lives They Want to Live with Dr. Monique Botha: As professionals, we are always working towards something with our Autistic clients. But are we working on the things that will truly help them lead the lives they want to live? In this episode, Autistic researcher Dr. Monique Botha helps us dive into the nuance, meaning, and impact of this question. They also help us identify what research should guide our practice as professionals, and what research we can leave behind. by Two Sides of the Spectrum

68 min listen

Trauma-Informed Practices for Your Neurodivergent Clients - with Lisa Hoeme and Sharon Hammer: We all know by now that feeling safe is foundational for learning, healing, and growing. But what does it look like to cultivate safety for our Autistic clients who have experienced trauma? LPCs Sharon Hammer and Lisa Hoeme help us get into the nitty-gritty of what trauma-informed care looks like in the context of neurodiversity. Get on the waitlist for their new CE course at learnplaythrive.com/trauma by Two Sides of the Spectrum

46 min listen

The Holiday Dragon +A Gift from Us to You: Happy New Year! We're giving away a FREE 1.5 hour continuing education course by Autistic psychologist Matt Lowry to every professional who wants to watch it. It's called Understanding the Autistic Neurotype: A Deep-Dive from an Autistic Psychologist. It's registered for ASHA, AOTA, NASP, and ASWB CEUs and it's available on-demand from January 10 - February 21, 2024. Fill out the form at learnplaythrive.com/summit and to grab your spot! We'll be back in two weeks with a new episode. by Two Sides of the Spectrum

2 min listen

AAC for All: Here’s How We Do It! with Karina Saechao: In this conversation, Karina Saechao helps us understand what it looks like now for multiply marginalized kids to try and access and use AAC, and what concrete steps we can all take to try and change that. Karina gives the best advice to therapists on the ground who are collaborating with parents and teachers to improve access to communication for our clients. Karina Saechao is an SLP, researcher, scholar, and activist who's really passionate about increasing equity, access, and outcomes related to research, clinical practice, and course curriculum. She’s also a PhD student and a speaker at the upcoming Learn Play Thrive continuing education summit. Check it out at learnplaythrive.com/summit by Two Sides of the Spectrum

46 min listen

Creating Gentler Approaches to Feeding Differences with Marsha Dunn Klein: So many therapists are grappling with how to reconcile our feeding therapy training with what we are learning from Autistic adults. On the podcast, we’ve heard that systematic desensitization - even when it’s play-based - can feel like torture. We’ve learned that what looks like progress towards accepting new foods can actually be Autistic masking. And we’ve learned that family meals simply aren’t best for every child. In this episode, Marsha Dunn Klein, creator of the Get Permission Approach, shares with us her own journey towards aligning her work with neurodiversity-affirming practices. We dive into what this looks like for her, what she’s learned from interviewing Autistic adults, and what affirming feeding therapy can look like in your work. by Two Sides of the Spectrum

56 min listen

Culturally Responsive Care with Native Clients with Joshuaa Allison-Burbank: At Learn Play Thrive, we are recognizing Native American Heritage month with an episode that centers how we can support the well-being of our Native clients. In this episode, Diné and Acoma Pueblo SLP Dr. Joshua Allison-Burbank helps us dive into Native views on disability, cultural responsiveness for therapists who are supporting Autistic people on reservation or off reservation, and ways that non-Native folks can build trust and connection in their relationships with their Native clients. To keep learning from Joshuaa, join us in the 2024 Neurodiversity CE Summit at learnplaythrive.com/summit. by Two Sides of the Spectrum

60 min listen

Strengths-Based OT and Self-Determination In Action with Kelsie Olds "The OccuPLAYtional Therapist": Most of us who are trying to work in a way that is aligned with our values have so many moments of doubt. Are we actually doing a “skilled intervention”? Is the work we are doing truly making an impact on the child’s life? Are we inadvertently causing harm? Is there something we should know but don’t know that would help more in this situation? One of my favorite things to do is to find therapists who have really done the work to align their work with their values. Kelsie Olds (she/they) exemplifies this. In this episode, we dive into the details of Kelsie’s practice as a school-based OT and their journey to where they are today. by Two Sides of the Spectrum

60 min listen

What Families of Autistic Kids Wish Providers Knew with Tiffany Hammond: On the podcast we often hear from Autistic mothers diagnosed after their kids. But today, Tiffany Hammond (@fidgets.and.fries) tells us a different story. We hear about her life at the intersection of being Black and Autistic; navigating services for her two Autistic sons; and her new book, A Day With No Words. Listen to the end for Tiffany’s takeaway to providers. It’s such a simple shift, but one we could go our whole careers without learning. by Two Sides of the Spectrum

56 min listen

Strengths Based Diagnostics & "The Legend of Autistica" (re-release) with Matt Lowry: In this episode, Autistic psychology practitioner Matt Lowry helps us dive into what a strengths-based diagnostics process looks like for autism, and the incredible difference this can make. We also explore what parents and other professionals should look for to find a neurodiversity-affirming evaluator when making a referral. And Matt reads us a story that he wrote called The Legend of Autistica, which is his poignant, hilarious, and insightful origin story of the Autistic people. This episode is re-release of episode 51. by Two Sides of the Spectrum

64 min listen

Sensory Processing, Autistic Catatonia, Safety, & Love: An Autistic OT's Perspective with Kim Clairy: In today’s episode, Autistic OT Kim Clairy talks about sensory differences, Autistic catatonia, and interdependence in a way that should be part of our life and graduate school curricula. She weaves in her clinical expertise with her personal story and her poetry, and even brings in a surprise guest at the end. Warning: the ending is so sweet it may leave you in tears. by Two Sides of the Spectrum

59 min listen

How Therapists Can Move from Allies to Accomplices with ChrisTiana ObeySumner: Pull up a chair for this conversation! We are going to talk about how intersectionality is like Rubik’s cube, what Plato’s Allegory of the Cave has to do with our therapy work, the Barbie movie, and so much more. This podcast episode was gentle, profound, and transformative. Our guest, ChrisTiana ObeySumner, reminds us that our biases do come out in our work. And, gently, she encourages us to examine them. The 2024 Learn Play Thrive Continuing Education Summit has early bird tickets on sale now! Visit learnplaythrive.com/summit to see the lineup. by Two Sides of the Spectrum

65 min listen

Let's Talk About Autistic Sex with Sarah Selvaggi Hernandez: In this episode we explore the role of therapists in promoting positive sexual identity and reducing the risk of sexual assault for our clients. Our guest, Sarah Selvaggi Hernandez is an autistic occupational therapist and educator working to promote an intentional identity-first approach to autism and OT. Promoting bodily autonomy starts with what we teach our youngest clients and how we treat them in our sessions. This is a must-listen episode for all therapists no matter their setting. This is a repeat episode. Sarah Selvaggi-Hernandez' course, Ethics & Neurodiversity: Let's Talk About Sex is now registered for ASWB, ASHA, and AOTA CEUs. Check it out at learnplaythrive.com/ethics by Two Sides of the Spectrum

46 min listen

Autistic Love, Sex, & Dating with Jen Harr: If you work with kids, here’s the thing: Autistic kids become Autistic adolescents, who may become interested in sex and dating. And if we don’t take the time to learn about what this means for them, as Autistic people, we are likely to miss the mark in how we support them. And if we don’t support them, it’s likely that no one will. The good news is that Autistic social worker Jen Harr is here to talk us through exactly what we should know about Autistic love, dating and romance. And hey social workers, good news! Our course, Ethics & Neurodiversity: Let’s Talk About Sex, is now registered for ASWB CEUs (with more to come!). Check it out, along with our other courses (always registered for ASHA & AOTA CEUs!) at learnplaythrive.com/trainings. by Two Sides of the Spectrum

44 min listen

How to Align Our Work with Our Deepest Values with Dr. Melanie Heyworth: In this episode, Autistic researcher Dr. Mel Heyworth guides us in completely rethinking the pathologized model of autism. We talk about how we can tell kids they are Autistic, how we can support their passions, and so much more. Dr. Mel Heyworth is the founder of the Australian organization Reframing Autism. by Two Sides of the Spectrum

55 min listen

A Therapist's Guide to Supporting Authentic, Autistic Social Communication with Rachel Dorsey and V Tisi: We know by now that Autistic adults are the real experts on how Autistic people experience the world. In this episode, Autistic SLPs Rachel Dorsey and V Tisi take us deeper than we’ve ever gone into how we can understand and support authentic, Autistic social communication in any context. If you listen to this episode and want to keep learning, check out their newly released CE course Let’s UNMASC: Understanding the Needs and Motivations of Autistic Social communication at learnplaythrive.com/unmasc by Two Sides of the Spectrum

65 min listen

Organizing for a Better Future with Finn Gardiner: What can those of us working in behaviorally oriented spaces do to try and protect the well-being of our Autistic clients? What impact does shame have on the wellbeing of Autistic kids? What's it like to be a Black Autistic organizer in mostly white spaces? Why should we shift from a charity model to a direct aid model in supporting marginalized groups? In this episode, we dive into all of these issues with Finn Gardner, the Director of Policy and Advocacy at the Autistic People of Color Fund. He is a Boston-based queer, Black, and disabled writer, designer, community organizer, speaker, editor, researcher, advocate, activist, and more. by Two Sides of the Spectrum

41 min listen

Gender-Affirming Voice Care for Autistic Clients with Ruchi Kapila: In this episode we talk about the experience of trans and gender non-conforming Autistic people and their voices. Our guest, SLP Ruchi Kapila, has a really unique practice where they support their clients to use their voices in ways that feel authentic to them and their gender identity. But this episode isn't just for SLP’s: the lessons about gender-affirming care are relevant to all of us supporting Autistic people. by Two Sides of the Spectrum

52 min listen

Who has a seat at the table? Thinking beyond representation and advocacy with Reyma McCoy Hyten: In this episode, Reyma McCoy Hyten helps us explore the root causes of oppression for Autistic people, and sit with the discomfort of examining our role in it. Reyma McCoy Hyten is Autistic and was the first Black woman to ever serve as the US Department of Health and Human Services Commissioner for the Administration on Disabilities. After two decades as a helping professional, Reyma now focuses her work on “how systems create marginalization in the first place.” by Two Sides of the Spectrum

46 min listen

Unmasking Autism in Action with Dr. Devon Price: In this episode, our guest, Dr. Devon Price, helps us explore the concepts of masking and authenticity and how we, as professionals supporting Autistic people, can push back against these pressures. We also explore some of the more foundational questions around being Autistic and neurodiversity. Dr. Devon Price is a social psychologist, professor, author, and proudly Autistic person. He has written 'Unmasking Autism' and 'Laziness Doesn't Exist'. by Two Sides of the Spectrum

52 min listen

Changing the World with Books, Narwhals, and Letting Kids Say “No” with Lei Wiley-Mydske: This conversation starts with books, then goes into more books, takes a turn into self-advocacy, and then finishes with a powerful message for therapists working with Autistic kids. And if you're wondering, we'll get to the narwhals too. Our guest, Lei Wiley-Mydske, is an Autistic and otherwise neurodivergent and disabled writer, artist, advocate, activist, and parent. Lei runs so many cool projects – including a neurodiversity library inside of a tattoo shop – that we discuss in this episode. by Two Sides of the Spectrum

33 min listen

Safety as the Foundation for Everything with Dr. Gillian Boudreau: Often as OTs and SLPs we skip right to teaching our Autistic clients new skills. But what about their feelings of felt safety while they are with us? What work do we need to do so that we can show up calm and connected and ready to support our Autistic kids to feel truly safe enough to learn? Psychologist and school psychologist Dr. Gillian Boudreau talks us through this essential and often over-looked first -step to supporting our Autistic clients. by Two Sides of the Spectrum

48 min listen

Helping Autistic PDAers feel Safe with Casey Ehrlich: Autistic PDAers need different kinds of supports to feel safe. And before we can provide those, we have to get curious and learn about their needs. Casey Ehrlich from At Peace Parents helps us learn how to foster true safety for our PDA clients. Content warning: this episode includes a detailed description of Autistic burnout for a young child. by Two Sides of the Spectrum

48 min listen

Research that Centers Autistic Well-Being as Defined by Autistics with Dr. T.C. Waisman: Far too often research centers outcomes that actually harm Autistic people. Today’s guest, Dr. T.C. Waisman, helps us move toward research that centers Autistic well-being as defined by Autistics. by Two Sides of the Spectrum

39 min listen

Gestalt Language Processing Q&A with Alex Zachos: In this episode, we field listener questions to Alex Zachos of Meaningful Speech to learn how we can more authentically and effectively support kids who learn language through delayed echolalia. This episode is a follow-up to Episode 40 on supporting Gestalt Language Processors. by Two Sides of the Spectrum

41 min listen

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Lessons from a Black Autistic Behavioral Therapist with Joy F. Johnson

Lessons from a Black Autistic Behavioral Therapist with Joy F. Johnson

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