In this episode, Nicole Casey discusses the challenges faced by speech-language pathologists (SLPs) when supporting autistic students, particularly the difficulty of starting communication support without knowing the child well. She emphasizes the importance of a structured approach to identify key communication functions, such as asking for help, protesting, and directing actions. Nicole advocates for a child-led approach that empowers students to communicate authentically and autonomously, moving beyond traditional methods that may hinder their development. The conversation highlights the significance of rubrics in goal setting and the need for a supportive environment that fosters trust and communication.

Takeaways

• The system has flaws that impact how we support autistic students.
• It's challenging to write an IEP without knowing the child.
• A structured approach can simplify the process of supporting communication.
• Starting with requesting is common but not always the best approach.
• Protesting is a crucial skill for safety and autonomy.
• Communication should empower the child, not just be a performance.
• Directing actions helps children feel powerful in their communication.
• Child-led approaches foster authentic communication.
• Rubrics can help target a variety of communication skills.
• Building a communication ecosystem is essential for growth.

Chapters

00:00 Navigating the Challenges of Supporting Autistic Students 05:18 The Importance of a Systematic Approach 20:07 Identifying Key Communication Functions 23:37 Rethinking Strategies for Asking for Help 28:17 Creating Supportive Environments for Communication 39:37 The Importance of Protesting and Rejecting 46:05 Empowering Children Through Directing Actions 48:28 The Role of Requesting in Communication 56:04 Building a Communication Ecosystem

autism, communication, support, IEP, SLP, rubrics, child-led approach, education, special education, neurodiversity

In this episode, Nicole Casey emphasizes the critical importance of collaboration among professionals supporting autistic students. She discusses the need for empathy, trust, and understanding within teams, particularly focusing on the roles of paraprofessionals and support staff. Nicole shares practical strategies for building relationships, advocating for change, and fostering a supportive environment that prioritizes the well-being of both students and staff. The conversation highlights the systemic challenges faced by educators and the necessity of a team-centered approach to effectively support autistic students.

Takeaways

• Collaboration is essential for supporting autistic students.
• Support staff need empathy and understanding from professionals.
• Building trust within teams enhances collaboration.
• Generosity and service are key values in education.
• Human connection is vital for effective teamwork.
• Practical strategies can improve support for colleagues.
• Advocating for systemic change benefits everyone in education.
• Self-care is important for professionals in high-stress environments.
• Paraprofessionals play a crucial role in student support.
• Creating a culture of trust leads to better outcomes for students.

Chapters

00:00 The Importance of Collaboration in Supporting Autistic Students 02:50 Understanding the Role of Support Staff 06:09 Building Trust and Empathy in Teams 08:40 The Impact of Systemic Issues on Support Staff 12:02 The Value of Generosity and Service 14:54 Creating a Supportive Environment for Team Members 17:45 The Need for Human Connection in Professional Relationships 20:44 Practical Strategies for Supporting Colleagues 23:37 Advocating for Team Morale and Culture 26:31 Balancing Self-Care with Team Support 29:51 The Role of Presence and Action in Team Dynamics 32:46 Understanding the Challenges Faced by Support Staff 35:37 The Importance of Listening and Empathy 38:22 Future Directions for Team Support and Collaboration

autism, collaboration, support staff, education, empathy, trust, teamwork, communication, advocacy, self-care

In this conversation, Nicole Casey challenges traditional notions of attention and connection in learning, particularly for autistic students. She emphasizes the importance of accommodating diverse sensory needs and creating an engaging learning environment that allows students to feel regulated and at ease, thus enhancing their ability to learn and engage.

Takeaways

• We need to rethink how we understand connection and attention.
• Attention doesn't mean sitting still; it can look different.
• Accommodating a child's sensory system is crucial for learning.
• Creating an engaging environment helps students feel regulated.
• Students are more likely to engage when they feel at ease.
• We should challenge traditional teaching methods that require stillness.
• Learning can be more effective when students are allowed to move.
• Understanding neurodiversity is key to effective teaching.
• Teachers should think outside the box for engagement strategies.
• A calm environment is essential for accessing learning.

Chapters

00:00 Revisiting Eye Contact and Engagement 01:13 The Holy Trinity of Harm: Eye Contact, Calm Body, Quiet Hands 02:12 Empowering Autistic Students Through Understanding 02:14 Encouraging Growth and Change in Practices

autism, learning, attention, connection, sensory system, education, engagement, teaching strategies, neurodiversity, classroom management

In this episode of Let Them Lead, Nicole Casey discusses the concept of "yes spaces" in therapy and educational settings, emphasizing their importance for both autistic students and educators. She explains how creating environments where children can explore safely without constant redirection fosters authentic communication and co-regulation. Nicole shares practical tips for setting up yes spaces, highlighting the balance between freedom and safety, and the benefits for both students and educators.

Takeaways:

• Creating yes spaces allows children to explore safely.
• Yes spaces reduce the need for constant redirection.
• They foster authentic communication and co-regulation.
• Yes spaces benefit both students and educators.
• Balance between freedom and safety is crucial.
• Yes spaces are not about chaos but thoughtful design.
• Boundaries are built into the environment, not enforced.
• Yes spaces make therapy feel lighter and freer.
• They help educators focus on connection, not crisis management.
• Yes spaces support nervous system regulation for all.

Chapters

00:00:00 Introduction to Yes Spaces 00:03:00 Benefits of Yes Spaces 00:06:00 Creating a Yes Space 00:09:00 Balancing Freedom and Safety 00:12:00 Practical Tips for Yes Spaces 00:15:00 Conclusion and Reflections

yes spaces, child-led therapy, autism, co-regulation, educational environments

In this episode, Nicole Casey discusses the challenges and emotional impact of working with autistic children, focusing on incidents where educators face physical injuries. She shares personal experiences, emphasizing the need for systemic change and proactive support to prevent such situations. Nicole advocates for understanding over blame and highlights the importance of co-regulation and emotional safety.

Takeaways

• We need to talk about the hard things to move forward.
• Injuries at work are not the child's fault.
• Systemic issues contribute to workplace injuries.
• Co-regulation is key to preventing incidents.
• Blame should not be placed on children or staff.
• Proactive support systems are necessary.
• Understanding the nervous system is crucial.
• Reflective debriefs can lead to real change.
• Safety trainings should focus on prevention.
• Advocacy is essential for systemic change.

autistic children, physical injuries, systemic change, co-regulation, emotional safety

In this episode, Nicole Casey discusses how to handle situations where one's approach in therapy is questioned or judged. She emphasizes the importance of understanding the root of such questions, often stemming from fear, and advocates for a collaborative and curiosity-driven response rather than defensiveness. The conversation also touches on setting boundaries with colleagues and the challenges of implementing child-led therapy, highlighting the need for clear communication and shared goals.

Takeaways

• When feeling questioned, it's important to pause and reflect.
• Defensiveness can hinder effective communication and learning.
• Understanding the root of questions can lead to better responses.
• Finding common ground helps in collaborative discussions.
• Child-led therapy is evidence-based and not chaotic.
• Protest from children can be a sign of autonomy, not failure.
• Setting boundaries with colleagues is crucial for maintaining focus.
• Providing clear information about therapy can alleviate concerns.
• It's essential to connect and collaborate rather than convince.
• Child-led therapy requires flexibility and self-awareness.

Chapters

00:00 Navigating Questions and Judgments 10:09 Defensive Responses and Their Impact 19:40 Finding Common Ground in Therapy 24:18 Setting Boundaries with Colleagues 31:22 The Challenges of Child-Led Therapy

therapy, child-led, communication, defensiveness, collaboration, behaviorism, GLP, education, parenting, professional boundaries

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In this episode, Nicole Casey discusses the challenges of writing meaningful goals in therapy, particularly for autistic students. She emphasizes the importance of aligning goals with therapeutic approaches and using dynamic assessments and rubric-based documentation to capture authentic progress. Nicole provides strategies for confidently defending these methods in conversations with administrators and highlights the need for a shift in how progress is measured to better support students' communication development.

Takeaways

• Conversations about student goals can be challenging.
• Goals often don't reflect actual progress seen in therapy.
• It's important to align goals with therapeutic approaches.
• Dynamic assessment can provide more meaningful data.
• Rubric-based goals offer a clearer picture of progress.
• Measurable goals should reflect real-life communication needs.
• Testing and intervention should not be conflated.
• Collaboration among team members enhances data collection.
• Rubrics can help prevent vague or overloaded goals.
• Confidence in goal writing can improve outcomes for students.

Chapters

00:00 Navigating Goal Conversations in Therapy 03:45 The Importance of Meaningful Goals 09:32 Dynamic Assessment and Rubric-Based Goals 14:42 Defending Your Goal Writing Approach 29:11 The Future of Goal Writing in Therapy

goal writing, therapy, rubric-based goals, dynamic assessment, meaningful progress, autism, communication, IEP goals, data collection, child-led approach

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In this episode, Nicole Casey discusses the unique challenges faced by autistic children in relation to their childhood experiences. She emphasizes the importance of understanding the balance between therapy and allowing children to simply be kids. The conversation highlights the need for unstructured time, the impact of excessive therapy, and the significance of quality over quantity in therapeutic approaches. Nicole encourages parents and professionals to prioritize the well-being and happiness of autistic children, advocating for a more holistic view of childhood that includes joy and relaxation alongside skill development.

Takeaways:

• Autistic children experience childhood differently than neurotypical children.
• Progress in therapy is not always linear and can fluctuate based on a child's emotional state.
• Parents should sometimes reframe their perspective on their child's behavior to see it as part of being human.
• Excessive therapy can lead to burnout and detract from a child's ability to simply enjoy childhood.
• Quality of therapy is more important than the quantity of hours spent in therapy.
• Children need unstructured time to play and explore without therapeutic demands.
• Rest and downtime are essential for both children and families.
• Parents should trust their instincts about what is best for their child.
• Therapists should be mindful of the impact of their recommendations on a child's childhood.
• Childhood should be a time for joy, exploration, and connection, not just therapy.

Chapters

00:00 Understanding Childhood for Autistic Kids 07:18 The Impact of Therapy on Childhood 14:30 Quality Over Quantity in Therapy 22:30 Balancing Structure and Freedom 30:35 The Importance of Rest and Unstructured Time

autism, childhood, therapy, gestalt language processing, parenting, neurodiversity, child development, mental health, unstructured play, balance

Join the FREE Rubric Reset Workshop, live on November 12:

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In this episode, Nicole Casey discusses the challenges of writing effective goals for autistic students, emphasizing the limitations of traditional goal writing systems. She introduces rubrics as a solution to create individualized, meaningful, and measurable goals that reflect the child's needs. The conversation highlights the importance of moving away from compliance-based goals and focusing on authentic progress. Nicole also invites listeners to join her free Rubric Reset Workshop, where they can learn to implement this new approach in their practice.

Takeaways:

• Goal writing can feel overwhelming and frustrating.
• It's common to feel like goal writing is a personal struggle.
• Traditional goal writing often doesn't reflect the child's needs.
• The education system's limitations impact goal writing.
• Compliance-based goals can hinder authentic progress.
• Rubrics can streamline the goal writing process.
• Individualization is key to effective goal setting.
• Progress should be measured in a meaningful way.
• Rubrics allow for capturing nuanced communication skills.
• Advocacy is essential for changing the goal writing system.

Chapters

00:00 The Struggles of Goal Writing 02:47 Understanding the System's Flaws 06:05 The Compliance Trap in Goal Writing 08:46 Introducing Rubrics as a Solution 12:03 The Importance of Individualization 14:59 Measuring Progress Beyond Compliance 17:50 The Rubric Framework Explained 21:03 Capturing Authentic Progress 23:52 Implementing Rubrics in Practice 26:47 Preparing for the Rubric Reset Workshop

goal writing, autistic students, rubrics, compliance, individualized education, therapy, progress measurement, child-led therapy, IEP, education system

In this conversation, Nicole Casey explores the discomfort surrounding the topic of therapy goals for autistic children, emphasizing the importance of listening to autistic voices. She discusses the harmful nature of compliance-based goals, such as suppressing stimming and forcing eye contact, and advocates for a shift towards neuroaffirming, child-led therapy that prioritizes the child's needs and experiences. The conversation highlights the need for collaboration among therapy teams and the importance of empowering autistic individuals to advocate for themselves. Takeaways:

• Discomfort can be a sign of growth and learning for us as professionals.
• Listening to autistic voices is crucial in therapy.
• Many traditional therapy goals can be harmful.
• Suppressing stimming can hinder a child's regulation.
• Eye contact is not necessary for effective communication.
• Goals should focus on the child's needs, not compliance.
• Neurotypical expectations can be limiting for autistic individuals.
• Empowering children to self-advocate is essential.
• Therapy should honor the child's authentic self.
• Shifting from compliance to connection can change lives.