Trauma doesn’t always look like abuse - it can be subtle, ongoing, and systemic. And for autistic kids, many “traditional” or compliance-based therapy approaches can actually retraumatize the very children we’re trying to support.

In this episode, we'll break down how familiar methods like suppressing stims, forcing eye contact, withholding AAC, or correcting natural autistic communication can trigger the nervous system into protection mode.

We’ll talk about what it truly means to follow a trauma-informed approach. And why this shift is a non-negotiable one.

On this episode, you'll learn:

Want access to our Trauma & Regulation Lens Packet? It's available in our NeuroAffirm Academy: www.neuraffirmacademy.com 

On this episode of the NeuroAffirm Show, we'll dive into strategies to strengthen foundational skills that make attention, focus, and daily planning easier, explore practical ways to support kids in staying on track, and share tips for building routines that actually stick. 

Joined by Tera Sumpter, an SLP who specializes in executive functioning, this episode will give you actionable insights you can use right away.

Whether you’re a professional, caregiver, or loved one, you’ll walk away with tools to help kids feel more confident, capable, and supported in their everyday lives.

Learn more about Tera on IG @terasumpter_slp

And about Tera's courses: https://terasumpter.com/ 

In this episode, we'll dive into strategies to prevent and address parental burnout, explore self-care practices that actually work, and share ways to build a supportive network for families.

Hosted by Celina Wright & Casey Mouton, both clinicians and parents of disabled children, this episode will give you actionable insights you can use right away.

On this episode, you'll learn:

Whether you’re a professional, caregiver, or loved one, you’ll walk away with tools to help parents feel seen, supported, and empowered.

Learn more about Casey here: https://www.caseymouton.com/

And on social: @therapy.with.casey

Looking for more resources to support your neurodivergent clients and their families?

Check out our training and tools in the NeuroAffirm Academy: http://neuroaffirmacademy.com/ 

In this quick tip show, Chris, aka Speech Dude, will dive into how SLPs can use ChatGPT to save time, generate creative therapy ideas, and support neurodiversity-affirming practices.

Whether you’re curious about AI or looking for practical ways to integrate it into your sessions, this episode is packed with insights and demos you can start using immediately.

Want to learn more about using AI in your therapy? Click here to catch the replay of Chris's free webinar: ChatGPT for SLPs - https://www.speechdude.com/replay-chatgpt-for-slps-oct-2025 

Want to learn more about supporting language development in autistic trainings? Catch trainings with Melanie & Jessie inside the NeuroAffirm Therapy Academy: http://neuroaffirmacademy.com/

Today we're talking about how to decode the meaning behind repeated phrases and understand what autistic kids are really trying to say. “What if the words we’ve been trying to quiet are actually the ones we need to hear most?”

On this episode of the NeuroAffirm Show, we're diving into echolalia and how scripting is not a deficit but instead a bridge to communication. You’ll walk away with practical insights on decoding meaning, validating scripts, supporting Gestalt language development, and embracing neurodiversity-affirming practices in your work.

We're discussing:

Join us in the NeuroAffirm Academy for continuous trainings to better support your clients! http://neuroaffirmacademy.com/ 

Get all of these activities in our NeuroAffirm Academy! https://neuroaffirmacademy.com/

Learn how to design sensory-friendly Halloween sessions that build regulation and language.

Are you overwhelmed trying to plan fun, themed sensory activities?

This week on our live show, we’re diving into sensory-friendly Halloween sessions that actually work.

Join us to learn how to plan ready-to-use, neuroaffirming activities that keep kids regulated, engaged, and having fun! And walk away with session plans you can use right away!

Want these activities to print out and use this Halloween? Join us in the NeuroAffirm Academy to access to these (plus so much more!) https://neuroaffirmacademy.com/

Save your seat for the free Sensory SLP Workshop on October 24th: https://www.sensoryslp.com/workshop

To get our "When to Refer" packet, plus tons of trainings, monthly live calls, and an incredible community, join us in the NeuroAffirm Academy: https://neuroaffirmacademy.com/

Did you know that only 15% of autistic preschoolers receive early intervention before age 2?

That number should shock us all. Because the truth is, early intervention changes everything.

Every $1 invested in early intervention saves between $7 and $17 later in educational and social costs. But beyond money, it’s about giving autistic kids the best possible chance at thriving and giving families the confidence they need to support them.

On this episode, we're discussing:

✔️ Why doctors often miss early referrals (and how it leaves kids behind)

✔️ The real developmental milestones most parents don’t hear

✔️ The science-backed benefits of early intervention: higher language, higher IQ, less stress for families, and long-term cost savings

✔️ How to normalize early intervention so families feel supported

References:

Karoly, L. A., Kilburn, M. R., & Cannon, J. S. (2005). Early Childhood Interventions: Proven Results, Future Promise. RAND Corporation.

AEIOU Foundation. (2023). Investing in autism-specific early intervention yields long-term dividends. Report summary via The Sector. 

Rogers, S. J., Dawson, G., & Mandell, D. S. (2019). Early intervention for autism: Penn study finds significant cost savings. University of Pennsylvania / WHYY News.

Learn more about the largest online community of neuroaffirming therapists: https://neuroaffirmacademy.com/ 

Want a Strengths Assessment you can use with your clients - the kind of tool that helps families and teachers focus on possibilities instead of limits?

Join the NeuroAffirm Academy to get the brand new Strengths Assessment we just released!

https://www.neuroaffirmacademy.com/

We're so excited to welcome Autistic Adult Kyle Manske to the show!

When Kyle was three, schools and doctors told his mom he had just a 5% chance of finishing high school. He was diagnosed with autism, hearing loss, and a learning disability. His mom was told that he would likely never live on his own.

But Kyle’s mom refused to accept that. She advocated relentlessly, fought for accommodations, and focused on his strengths.

Today, Kyle lives independently in New York and has been a successful accountant for over 10 years. He credits his mom's fierce advocacy & love of baseball to helping him communicate and connect with others.

In this powerful episode, Kyle shares:

- The challenges and barriers he faced growing up autistic in the 90s

- How his family’s advocacy changed his trajectory

- The role of strengths, special interests, and self-identity in his success

- Strategies for handling negativity and building confidence

- Advice for neurodivergent individuals, families, and professionals

Do you feel stuck with writing neurodiversity affirming goals that actually work in practice?

Then tune in for this special goal writing masterclass!

On this episode, we're diving into:

✔️ How to align goals with a child’s authentic communication style.

✔️ Why traditional goals often backfire and how to reframe them.

✔️ A powerful framework for writing goals rooted in access and advocacy.

✔️ Real-life examples you can apply right away.

✔️ And more!

Want to learn more about writing neuroaffirming goals?

Join us in the NeuroAffirm Therapy Academy for a more comprehensive neuroaffirming goal writing training & guide: neuroaffirmacademy.com

Are you ready to transform your speech sessions with your autistic clients?

On the final day of the Sensory Mini Course for SLPs we're focusing on preventing dysregulation before it starts—in a way that is neurodiversity-affirming and strengths-based.

In this episode, we'll explore:

✔️ Proactive strategies that honor a child’s sensory and emotional needs.

✔️ Practical tools to create a supportive, regulation-friendly environment for the kids you work with.

✔️ Real tips and advice from a teacher turned school-based SLP on how to use these principles in any setting.

✔️ And more!

PLUS, you can earn PDHs for listening!

All you have to do is listen to the episode and then request a certificate of attendance by clicking here: https://www.sensoryslp.com/sensory-mini-course-replay

You can also use the link above to grab your free Sensory Mini Course Workbook.

Click here to join our free Sensory Mini Course facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/sensoryminicourse

If you enjoyed this free bonus training, you're going to love the Sensory Certificate Program.

Enrollment is officially OPEN for our brand-new cohort of the Sensory Certificate Program for SLPs! 🎓

For the first time in 3 years, we’re bringing back LIVE sensory + speech coaching calls 🎉

That means real-time support, expert guidance, and a community of SLPs who get it—all while learning practical sensory strategies you can use right away in your sessions.

Join the movement of SLPs who are transforming their therapy sessions with their autistic clients.

Learn more or join now at https://www.sensoryslp.com/sensory-certificate-course