'Social skills' is a massively important area of support that we all need to pause and examine what we've been teaching neurodivergent kids. We need to check if the programs, resources and goals we've worked on previously still apply under a Neurodiversity Affirming approach.   There's a lot that we need to change.   In short, we do not want to be teaching neurodivergent kids that they should act 'more neurotypical' to be accepted and socially connected.   Today we discuss some of the bigger ideas that underpin what affirming social supports look like, and in the next episode we'll cover specific aspects of support that form a neurodiversity affirming approach to supporting social skills and social interactions for autistic kids.   In this episode you'll learn about:

• The importance of unlearning old practices and adopting Neurodiversity Affirming approaches to support for autistic children
• Understanding neurodivergent communication styles can be different to neurotypical communication styles, but not wrong - we discuss the 'Double Empathy Problem'
• Why we should focus should on respecting the unique strengths, challenges, quirks, and preferences of each child, instead of trying to make neurodivergent kids conform to neurotypical 'norms'
• The impact of sensory differences on socialising, for neurodivergent people

    If you found this episode helpful, please share it with a friend, family member or a colleague!   Links   📝 Free download for parents of autistic and neurodivergent children: https://playlearnchat.ck.page/8c5072e2e7@undefined   👩‍💻 My webinar 'Affirming Ways to Support Social & Peer Interactions' for therapists and therapy assistants: https://courses.playlearnchat.com/offers/2ARTUmfd/   🖼 Fellow AuDHDer Speech Therapist Em @Neurowild_'s cartoon about the Double Empathy Problem is on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/p/CoGbw44PziC/) and Teachers Pay Teachers (https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Differences-in-Autistic-and-NT-communication-styles-9-page-infographic-9079365?st=a31d3c6801571aefbb50f2ff8414a384)     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