Exploring Neurodiversity with Adina Levy from Play. Learn. Chat

Show Notes: In this episode I share my answer to this question I hear often: Is it Neuroaffirming to Work on Pretend Play Skills with Autistic Children? And my short answer is... it depends! Tune in to hear the things you need to ask yourself and keep in mind to weigh up a more personalised answer to this question. LINKS: Allied Health Professionals, you're invited to my FREE on-demand webinar: Neurodiversity Affirming Practice Kickstart - Register here to kick off or clarify your next steps on your Neurodiversity Affirming Practice journey! https://playlearnchat.com/free-neurodiversity-webinar/

Podcast Link: https://pod.link/1625478932

Website: www.playlearnchat.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/play.learn.chat

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/play.learn.chat

Show notes:

In this episode, I chat with the amazing Hat, also known as Harriet Richardson, a significant voice in the neurodivergent community. Hat not only is an autistic ADHDer but also shines in her roles as a speech and language therapist, blogger, and public speaker. We discuss AAC, Internallised Ableism, Joy of claiming ND identity, mental health, consent for goals, and her beautiful dog Meeno.

Watch this chat on Youtube: https://youtu.be/G2QpnnR2GJ4

LINKS:

Hat's Website: www.hattalks.uk

Hat on IG: https://www.instagram.com/hat.talks.uk/

Podcast Link: https://pod.link/1625478932

Website: www.playlearnchat.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/play.learn.chat

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/play.learn.chat

Show Notes: In this episode I share a few practical ideas of what it actually looks like to be changing the world around a child, to be most supportive and enable positive social interactions and connections for neurodivergent children. I talk about changes to the world around the child in 3 ways: • changes to other people • changes to the physical environment • changes to schedules and expectations Links:

• Get your FREE PDF DOWNLOAD -💡 Cheatsheet of Ideas: Social Supports - Changing the World Around the Child https://playlearnchat.ck.page/d8fca3bbc9
• More freebies here! playlearnchat.com/freebies
• Learn more about supporting neurodivergent children in Neurodiversity Affirming ways, with my webinar series 'Turn Theory into Practice'! - https://playlearnchat.com/neurodiversity-affirming-practice-webinar-series/

Podcast Link: https://pod.link/1625478932

Website: www.playlearnchat.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/play.learn.chat

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/play.learn.chat

Show Notes: In this episode I chat with the fabulous Chrissie Davies, from Chaos to Calm Consultancy and author of books including the wonderful 'Love Me Love my ADHD' and 'Love your Brain'. We discuss all kinds of big ideas around trauma-informed practice in schools, tips for families supporting neurodivergent children, practicing radical acceptance, and building trusting relationships with children. Watch our interview as a video on YouTube if that's your groove! https://youtu.be/OF6LG5Bqtv8 LINKS: Chrissie's website: https://www.chaostocalmconsultancy.com/ Find Chrissie on IG: https://www.instagram.com/chrissiechaostocalm/ Chrissie's book 'Love Me Love my ADHD' - https://www.chaostocalmconsultancy.com/love-me-love-my-adhd Chrissie's book 'Love your Brain' - https://www.chaostocalmconsultancy.com/product/love-your-brain

Sharing 3 key strategies for therapists supporting Autistic children: 🤫 The Power of Silence 🤗 Valuing Relationship-Building Time 🗣 Growing into Advocacy This is a shortie version of my free webinar for Speech Therapists who support Autistic Children - Turning Affirming! Speech Therapists ➝ You're welcome to register to get the full webinar free - https://playlearnchat.com/free-speechie-webinar/ - it's available on-demand 🙂 My course for speech therapists 'Affirming Communication for Autistic Children' is open for enrollment (at the time this episode is out!) and doors close on 1st August 2023. If you're seeing and hearing this after that date, no worries, get on the waitlist to be first to hear when doors open next & get super duper offers! Learn more about the course here: https://playlearnchat.com/acac-course/

Podcast Link: https://pod.link/1625478932

Website: www.playlearnchat.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/play.learn.chat

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/play.learn.chat

Today I'm sharing a shortie, practical episode - all about how you can teach neurodivergent children about self-advocacy in these 3 ways: - Explicit teaching (this doesn't mean swear words!) - Model when you did and didn't self-advocate - Incidental teaching as natural opportunities arise Listen in to hear some ideas for how these teaching strategies can look in action with the neurodivergent kids that you support! LINKS: Speech Therapists! Join my Affirming Communication for Autistic Children course: https://playlearnchat.com/acac-course/ And also for speechies, you're invited to my free webinar 'Turning Affirming', which is running live on Monday 24th July 2023 and the recording will be available afterwards so register any time! Here's your link ➝ https://playlearnchat.com/free-speechie-webinar/ You'll learn 3 practical, Neurodiversity Affirming strategies to support your Autistic clients. Podcast Link: https://pod.link/1625478932 Website: www.playlearnchat.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/play.learn.chat Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/play.learn.chat

In this episode I share my perspectives about the role that 'play' should take in speech therapy sessions for autistic children. I also share my ideas for how you can support learning and progression towards various goals for a child, through connecting with the way they enjoy playing! If you're a Speechie and you're keen to learn more with me, this course is for you - Affirming Communication for Autistic Children: https://playlearnchat.com/speechie-course/ Podcast Link: https://pod.link/1625478932 Website: www.playlearnchat.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/play.learn.chat Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/play.learn.chat

I'm sharing 8 key ways you can do Neurodiversity Affirming Therapy - You can find all of the points I discuss on the free PDF download here: Neurodiversity Affirming Speech Therapy Practices for SLPs supporting Autistic Children: https://playlearnchat.ck.page/76b2db1d09 Here are the 8 key practices that I encourage you to do, as a Neurodiversity Affirming Therapist:

1. Accept all forms of communication as valid - actions, gestures, sounds, signs, AAC, visuals
2. Plan sessions around using child's interests and motivating topics as the main activities
3. Join the child (sometimes), playing in their way. Or let them play in their way solo
4. Support the child to listen and attend to others in their own way
5. Observe & use the child's sensory preferences to build engagement and support their participation at all times
6. Assess children using holistic tools and qualitative approaches that consider child & family perspectives & quality of life
7. Set collaborative goals that are for the child's benefit - leading to wellbeing and connectedness
8. Set collaborative goals that are about changing the world around the child (other people, environments, expectations) to be most supportive

👩‍🎓 🌈 If you're a Speechie and you're keen to learn more with me, check this out - Affirming Communication for Autistic Children: https://playlearnchat.com/speechie-course/

Podcast Link: https://pod.link/1625478932

Website: www.playlearnchat.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/play.learn.chat

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/play.learn.chat

In this episode I chat with the wonderful Annie Crowe. Friend, Neurodivergent Empowerment Coach and NeuroAccess Consultant who brings her lived experience as a late-identified Autistic ADHDer 2e PDAer, together with her professional experience as a human rights lawyer to help neurodivergent adults gain the skills, confidence and community needed to live their best neurodivergent life! We go all sorts of places in our chat, including: • How healthcare settings can be more NeuroAccessible & supportive for neurodivergent people • What to do with non-affirming information that many of us learn at university • How Annie advocates for her son's needs with his childcare educators... shifting their perception of autism to a more strengths-based understanding • Some great nuggets of advice for neurodivergent parents • Using tech tools for 'knowledge management' - technology that supports our executive functioning challenges Watch our interview as a video on YouTube if that's your groove! https://youtu.be/6IpaIvNXGL0 LINKS: Annie's Links - https://linktr.ee/anniecrowe Annie on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/_anniecrowe/ Princess & the Pea Podcast - https://pod.link/1621639421 Annie's book 'NeuroAccessibility: How to Build Accessible Healthcare for Neurodivergent People' - https://www.amazon.com.au/NeuroAccessibility-Accessible-Healthcare-Neurodivergent-People-ebook/dp/B0BZL7HGKH ABC News article we mentioned - https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-05-21/managing-autism-in-hospital-setting/102364014 Podcast Link: https://pod.link/1625478932 Website: www.playlearnchat.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/play.learn.chat Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/play.learn.chat

Today I'm sharing three actionable, practical changes that you can make (or start to make) today around language, relationship strategies, and a commitment to keep learning, to support you on your Neurodiversity Affirming Practice journey. This is an abridged version of my recent webinar (Neurodiversity Affirming Practice Kickstart: 3 Actionable Tips to do Today), where I share actions you can start doing right now to help you become more confident that your approach as a professional who supports neurodivergent kids is aligned more and more with a Neurodiversity Affirming approach. LINKS: All the resources that I discussed and more are linked here: www.playlearnchat.com/resources Join me so I can support you going deeper into your Neurodiversity Affirming Practice journey! 2 Hour Introductory workshop for Allied Health Professionals: https://playlearnchat.com/neurodiversity-affirming-practice-intro-workshop/