How do we hold students accountable for their actions, but acknowledge their unique neurological profiles at the same time? How do we help neurodivergents (e.g., ADHD, Autism) build genuine connections with others and succeed in academic, vocational, and social situations? In this episode, I invited special guest Miriam Campbell, founder of Skills for Connection (https://skillsforconnection.com/), to help answer these questions. Miriam is a speech-language pathologist and a social worker who works with students directly through her private practice. She also provides professional development for therapists and educators who support students with diagnoses that impact communication and academic skills. In this interview, Miriam and I discuss: ✅Why don't "social skills" we teach in therapeutic settings transfer to real-life situations? ✅How emotional regulation impacts our ability to connect with others, and how to help kids understand and navigate their own emotions. ✅How to help kids take responsibility for their behaviors in a way that builds a positive self-image. ✅How to help kids advocate for their sensory, emotional, and communication needs and still develop the skills for connecting with others. To connect with Miriam and learn more about her professional development opportunities and strategies for building connection, email her at miriam@skillsforconnection.com or visit her website here: https://skillsforconnection.com/ In this episode, I mention the Time Tracking Journal, (https://drkarendudekbrannan.com/timejournal), a tool to help parents and educators support kids in engaging in positive self-talk and self-reflection during day-to-day tasks. It's intended to help kids be more independent with tasks that require sequencing and planning; but it can also help kids reflect on social situations as well. You can get more information about the Time Tracking Journal here: https://drkarendudekbrannan.com/timejournal The De Facto Leaders podcast was formerly the “Are they 18 yet?®” podcast. As of November 2022, the name of the show has changed, and we’ve shifted from a focus on parenting to a focus on supporting clinicians and educators to design effective services for kids (but parents are still welcome to listen). Episodes published before November 24, 2022 will still contain some of our old branding. 
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