Welcome back to the Take AACtion Podcast! This week we are joined by Nikki, a proud mom of three from New Jersey and the owner of Schultz Speech Therapy, a small practice dedicated to providing neurodiversity-affirming care. With a passion for the DIRFloortime® approach, Nikki focuses on supporting gestalt language processors and AAC users, empowering children to communicate in ways that work best for them.

(4:21) Nikki introduces us to the principles of DIRFloortime® and how the framework can be generalized into practice. (7:20) She then breaks down how AAC is incorporated into DIRFloortime®, and how the approach complements therapy. (20:22) This leads Lauren and Nikki into a discussion on how building executive functions is often the starting line for effective therapy, and coaching parents on its importance. (23:15) Nikki shares one of her success stories, where noticing individual needs supported effective intervention. (28:28) This leads Nikki and Lauren into a discussion about how we can acknowledge past mistakes so that we can learn and grow from them moving forward. (30:01) Nikki leaves us with tips on how we can support parents and clinicians when introducing individual, play-based techniques versus compliance-based approaches. As always, (38:08) Lauren gives us a TakeAACtion Step- check out the resource library to help!

Learn more about DIRFloortime®: https://bit.ly/4fgIW3g

• Instagram: @schultzspeechtherapy

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