Let’s face it. A lot of goals that are still being written for Autistic kids….well, they suck. This may come across as harsh but some of these goals truly do more harm than good. I genuinely believe that. So why are we talking about goals that suck? Because it’s a big problem. If we don’t talk about goals that suck, the people who are still writing these goals aren’t going to understand WHY it’s such a big problem, and what they can do better. So this week on Making the Shift, we're talking about therapy goals we need to stop writing and what we can do instead. And make sure you download this free handout with my top guidelines for writing speech therapy goals for Autistic kids: https://drive.google.com/file/d/13DYLnvOkRNwlTaOhI-mFqlxaE5SyThrN/view

This week on Making the Shift, we are sitting down with Dr. Karen Wilson, a renowned clinical neuropsychologist and the founder of ChildNEXUS to discuss the importance of differential diagnosis in neurodivergent children. With extensive expertise in neuropsychological assessments and evidence-based interventions, Dr. Wilson has devoted her career to understanding and supporting children with ADHD, Autism, Learning Disorders, and other neurodevelopmental differences. She also hosts a popular podcast called Diverse Thinking, Different Learning. You can find Dr. Karen Wilson at https://westlaneuro.com/

In this week's episode of Making the Shift, we’re breaking down the absolute most powerful ways you can support nonspeaking Autistic children. On this episode, we're discussing: why kids may not be speaking, when to start introducing alternative methods of communication, how we talk about and talk to our nonspeaking kids, how to prioritize what matters most to make the greatest gains, and more!

A few weeks ago we were invited to attend the screening of the movie Ezra. And I’m still pinching myself. I reached out to the associate producer of the movie, Alex Plank, and he agreed to be interviewed on our live show! In this interview we discussed the importance of autistic characters being played by an autistic actors, how autistic actors and consultants were accommodated on set for the movie Ezra, why this movie will change the narrative & help others to better understand Autistic people, and more. You can find Alex at www.alexplank.com or learn more about his projects on his IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2420485/

What if it doesn’t feel right? In this episode, you get to meet Sandy Hughes, parent of an Autistic son who found Jessie on Instagram and then started therapy in her clinic. Join Sandy as she shares her powerful story, starting from when her son had therapists and teachers who were not the right fit, through her self-advocacy journey, and seeing her son progress with an ND affirming approach.

On this episode of Making the Shift, I'm sitting down with my clinic's Speech & Language Program Director Emily Byers Chaney and we are talking about how we've been implementing ND affirming practices over the years. We're sharing what works well for us, and hopefully it works well for you too! You can find Emily on Instagram @ndaffirming.slp To learn more about our clinic visit www.pediatrictherapyplayhouse.com

This week on Making the Shift, we're celebrating the release of Jessie's brand new already BEST SELLING book, Ready Set Connect. We're diving into WHY a book like this is so important, and the very hard lessons that were learned that shaped the way we support Autistic children. To get the book & the incredible free bonuses, visit: https://www.readysetconnectbook.com/

In this powerful episode with Child Psychologist Dr. Tay, we dive into characteristics of a child with a PDA profile...many you likely haven't heard of! PDA is known as Pathological Demand Avoidance, but we like to use the more affirming term, Pervasive Drive for Autonomy. In this episode, we talk about how PDA can externalize, internalize, and how you can help kids no matter their age. Dr. Tay is a child psychologist who specializes in early autism diagnosis and PDA...and she's licensed to practice in 39 states! Learn more about Dr. Tay and her group therapy programs at https://drtaylorday.com/

This week on the Making the Shift we are diving into using sensory strategies for in-home therapists. And we have a special guest! I am so excited to sit down with Melanie Weber to talk about using sensory strategies in home sessions. Melanie has 10 years of experience and most of that has been as a home-based therapist. She is passionate about using sensory strategies and making sure caregivers feel supported and involved in sessions.

This week on Making the Shift we have a special guest! I am so excited to sit down with Celina Wright to talk about implementing a sensory-based approach in a clinic setting. Celina is my right hand woman and has worked closely with me over the last several years. She has over 14 years of experience as a practicing therapist. She is a Sensory Trained SLPA and is currently in graduate school to become an SLP. Celina is passionate about leading others to breakthrough and advocating for SLPAs.