Two Sides of the Spectrum

By Meg Ferrell

What's Two Sides of the Spectrum about?

A place where we explore research, amplify autistic voices, and change the way we think about autism in life and in professional therapy practice.

Visit learnplaythrive.com/podcast/

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Two Sides of the Spectrum episodes:

04.17.2024
The Power of Presuming Competence with Ido Kedar
Ido Kedar is a non-speaking AAC user who chronicles his experience in therapies both before and after he learned to type to communicate. In this re-airing of episode 9, Ido shares concrete advice on how therapists can be more respectful...
04.03.2024
Reclaiming our Wholeness with Honey Schneider
What is “neurosupremacy” and “neuronormativity,” and how does this differ from the idea of “neruotypicality”? What does peer counseling offer that traditional therapy misses? How can creativity help us break seemingly firm limits set by the systems of power and...
03.20.2024
The Cultural Model of Disability and Empowering Practice Frameworks with Bryden Carlson-Giving
Our practice frameworks are supposed to guide our work…but what happens when their authors of our practice framework haven’t analyzed their biases? In this episode, we discuss how ableism is built into the practice framework of occupational therapists, and...
03.06.2024
More Than Motor Milestones: Affirming Physical Therapy and Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration with Iris Warchall
We talk a lot about neurodiversity-affirming practice…but what does this look like for physical therapists? Should their work be guided by developmental milestones? Is it ethical to use physical prompts and assistance? How do you know when toe walking is...
02.21.2024
Transforming the Parent Experience with Jen Schonger
When this episode first aired, it was just directed at OT practitioners. But it’s simply too full of insight to not share again with our broader audience. Jen Schonger is the part time operations manager at Communication FIRST and the...
02.07.2024
Preparing Autistic People for the Lives They Want to Live with Dr. Monique Botha
As professionals, we are always working towards something with our Autistic clients. But are we working on the things that will truly help them lead the lives they want to live? In this episode, Autistic researcher Dr. Monique Botha helps...
01.17.2024
Trauma-Informed Practices for Your Neurodivergent Clients - with Lisa Hoeme and Sharon Hammer
We all know by now that feeling safe is foundational for learning, healing, and growing. But what does it look like to cultivate safety for our Autistic clients who have experienced trauma? LPCs Sharon Hammer and Lisa Hoeme help us...
01.03.2024
The Holiday Dragon +A Gift from Us to You
Happy New Year! We're giving away a FREE 1.5 hour continuing education course by Autistic psychologist Matt Lowry to every professional who wants to watch it. It's called Understanding the Autistic Neurotype: A Deep-Dive from an Autistic Psychologist. It's registered...
12.20.2023
AAC for All: Here’s How We Do It! with Karina Saechao
In this conversation, Karina Saechao helps us understand what it looks like now for multiply marginalized kids to try and access and use AAC, and what concrete steps we can all take to try and change that. Karina gives the...
12.06.2023
Creating Gentler Approaches to Feeding Differences with Marsha Dunn Klein
So many therapists are grappling with how to reconcile our feeding therapy training with what we are learning from Autistic adults. On the podcast, we’ve heard that systematic desensitization - even when it’s play-based - can feel like torture....
11.15.2023
Culturally Responsive Care with Native Clients with Joshuaa Allison-Burbank
At Learn Play Thrive, we are recognizing Native American Heritage month with an episode that centers how we can support the well-being of our Native clients. In this episode, Diné and Acoma Pueblo SLP Dr. Joshua Allison-Burbank helps us dive...
11.01.2023
Strengths-Based OT and Self-Determination In Action with Kelsie Olds "The OccuPLAYtional Therapist"
Most of us who are trying to work in a way that is aligned with our values have so many moments of doubt. Are we actually doing a “skilled intervention”? Is the work we are doing truly making an impact...
10.18.2023
What Families of Autistic Kids Wish Providers Knew with Tiffany Hammond
On the podcast we often hear from Autistic mothers diagnosed after their kids. But today, Tiffany Hammond (@fidgets.and.fries) tells us a different story. We hear about her life at the intersection of being Black and Autistic; navigating services for her...
10.04.2023
Strengths Based Diagnostics & "The Legend of Autistica" (re-release) with Matt Lowry
In this episode, Autistic psychology practitioner Matt Lowry helps us dive into what a strengths-based diagnostics process looks like for autism, and the incredible difference this can make. We also explore what parents and other professionals should look for to...
09.20.2023
Sensory Processing, Autistic Catatonia, Safety, & Love: An Autistic OT's Perspective with Kim Clairy
In today’s episode, Autistic OT Kim Clairy talks about sensory differences, Autistic catatonia, and interdependence in a way that should be part of our life and graduate school curricula. She weaves in her clinical expertise with her personal story and...
09.06.2023
How Therapists Can Move from Allies to Accomplices with ChrisTiana ObeySumner
Pull up a chair for this conversation! We are going to talk about how intersectionality is like Rubik’s cube, what Plato’s Allegory of the Cave has to do with our therapy work, the Barbie movie, and so much more. This...
08.16.2023
Let's Talk About Autistic Sex with Sarah Selvaggi Hernandez
In this episode we explore the role of therapists in promoting positive sexual identity and reducing the risk of sexual assault for our clients. Our guest, Sarah Selvaggi Hernandez is an autistic occupational therapist and educator working to promote...
08.02.2023
Autistic Love, Sex, & Dating with Jen Harr
If you work with kids, here’s the thing: Autistic kids become Autistic adolescents, who may become interested in sex and dating. And if we don’t take the time to learn about what this means for them, as Autistic people, we...
07.19.2023
How to Align Our Work with Our Deepest Values with Dr. Melanie Heyworth
In this episode, Autistic researcher Dr. Mel Heyworth guides us in completely rethinking the pathologized model of autism. We talk about how we can tell kids they are Autistic, how we can support their passions, and so much more. Dr....
07.05.2023
A Therapist's Guide to Supporting Authentic, Autistic Social Communication with Rachel Dorsey and V Tisi
We know by now that Autistic adults are the real experts on how Autistic people experience the world. In this episode, Autistic SLPs Rachel Dorsey and V Tisi take us deeper than we’ve ever gone into how we can understand...
06.21.2023
Organizing for a Better Future with Finn Gardiner
What can those of us working in behaviorally oriented spaces do to try and protect the well-being of our Autistic clients? What impact does shame have on the wellbeing of Autistic kids? What's it like to be a Black Autistic...
06.07.2023
Gender-Affirming Voice Care for Autistic Clients with Ruchi Kapila
In this episode we talk about the experience of trans and gender non-conforming Autistic people and their voices. Our guest, SLP Ruchi Kapila, has a really unique practice where they support their clients to use their voices in ways that...
05.17.2023
Who has a seat at the table? Thinking beyond representation and advocacy with Reyma McCoy Hyten
In this episode, Reyma McCoy Hyten helps us explore the root causes of oppression for Autistic people, and sit with the discomfort of examining our role in it. Reyma McCoy Hyten is Autistic and was the first Black woman to...
05.03.2023
Unmasking Autism in Action with Dr. Devon Price
In this episode, our guest, Dr. Devon Price, helps us explore the concepts of masking and authenticity and how we, as professionals supporting Autistic people, can push back against these pressures. We also explore some of the more foundational questions...
04.19.2023
Changing the World with Books, Narwhals, and Letting Kids Say “No” with Lei Wiley-Mydske
This conversation starts with books, then goes into more books, takes a turn into self-advocacy, and then finishes with a powerful message for therapists working with Autistic kids. And if you're wondering, we'll get to the narwhals too. Our guest,...
04.05.2023
Safety as the Foundation for Everything with Dr. Gillian Boudreau
Often as OTs and SLPs we skip right to teaching our Autistic clients new skills. But what about their feelings of felt safety while they are with us? What work do we need to do so that we can show...
03.15.2023
Helping Autistic PDAers feel Safe with Casey Ehrlich
Autistic PDAers need different kinds of supports to feel safe. And before we can provide those, we have to get curious and learn about their needs. Casey Ehrlich from At Peace Parents helps us learn how to foster true safety...
03.01.2023
Research that Centers Autistic Well-Being as Defined by Autistics with Dr. T.C. Waisman
Far too often research centers outcomes that actually harm Autistic people. Today’s guest, Dr. T.C. Waisman, helps us move toward research that centers Autistic well-being as defined by Autistics.
02.15.2023
Gestalt Language Processing Q&A with Alex Zachos
In this episode, we field listener questions to Alex Zachos of Meaningful Speech to learn how we can more authentically and effectively support kids who learn language through delayed echolalia. This episode is a follow-up to Episode 40 on supporting...
02.01.2023
The Children Who Deserve a Better World with Meghan Ashburn & Jules Edwards
Today’s guests, Meghan Ashburn from Not an Autism Mom, and Jules Edwards from Autistic, Typing, will be our guides in examining how we as professionals can create the world Autistic kids and their families deserve. Together we’ll dig through everything...
01.18.2023
A Social Curriculum that Centers Authenticity with Carolyn Long and Nick Kelsch
This episode is about how we as therapists build something different to support our autistic clients' social and emotional development, with our ethics and values guiding us and our autistic students as our co-creators. Our guests are SLP Carolyn Long...
01.04.2023
Happy New Year!
We are gearing up for our OT Neurodiversity Continuing Education Summit and it's going to be transformative. Learn more about it here or visit learnplaythrive.com/summit
12.21.2022
Sensory Processing in Everyday Life with Dr. Winnie Dunn
Dr. Winnie Dunn totally changed how we think about sensory processing for Autistic people. In this episode, we explore a person-centered, strengths-based way to consider our Autistic clients’ sensory needs in their daily lives. We also get Dr. Dunn’s advice...
12.07.2022
How to Reduce Adult Demands to Increase Autistic Joy with Amanda Diekman
There’s a tool that is missing from most of our therapy bags: it’s lowering the demands for our Autistic clients. This tool is irreplaceable for helping Autistic people recover from the burnout cycle, and even for preventing burnout all together....
11.16.2022
Culturally Responsive Therapy for Native Autistic Kids with Jules Edwards
How does the historical and present-day trauma of Native Autistic kids impact their experience of our therapy? And how does the linear worldview of non-Native therapists create a gap between us and our Native clients? In this episode, Jules Edwards,...
11.02.2022
When Autistic Kids Become Adults: Authentic Participation & Community Access with Dr. Kristy Coxon & Dr. Caroline Mills
In this episode, Dr. Kristy Coxon and Dr. Caroline Mills look at how we can support Autistic people’s meaningful participation in daily life as they enter older adulthood. And then they help us apply these lessons to supporting Autistic people...
10.19.2022
Breaking Out of the Medical Model with Dr. Mel Houser
The medical model is pervasive, and it asks us to silo the health needs of our Autistic clients. But our Autistic clients are full people, and their needs are intertwined. In this episode, Autistic primary care physician Mel Houser helps...
10.05.2022
Supporting Multiply Disabled Kids: Parent Perspectives
In this three part episode, we hear from parents of multiply disabled kids on their experiences of inclusion in the schools, collaborating with therapists, and AAC. This episode takes us back in time into the history of the disability rights...
09.21.2022
Culturally Responsive Therapy: A Moral Imperative with AC Goldberg
Here’s the truth: if we aren’t engaging in a process to learn about our clients’ cultures and our own biases, we are likely causing harm. In this episode, intersex and transgendered SLP AC Goldberg helps us explore how culturally responsive...
09.07.2022
Picky Eating, PDA, & PICA: What Every Feeding Therapist Should Know with Laura Hellfeld
Ready to dive deeper into neurodiversity-affirming approaches to feeding? Our guest Laura Hellfeld, Public Health Nurse, explores the relationship between PDA and feeding, dives into eating disorders, and shares her personal experience with PICA. This episode will take you deeper...
08.17.2022
Affirming Approaches to Picky Eating: Moving Beyond Systematic Desensitization with Naureen Hunani
In this episode, neurodivergent RD Naureen Hunani helps us unpack the harm of systematic desensitization for picky eating in autistic kids. Then she lays out a framework for what we can do to support picky eaters in a more affirming...
08.03.2022
Listener Q&A: All About AAC with Kate McLaughlin
Have questions on teaching AAC to your autistic clients? Kate McLaughlin, M.S., CCC-SLP has answers! In this episode we field listener questions to Kate and get her insight on the ins and outs of teaching AAC without prompting, where to...
07.20.2022
Strengths Based Diagnostics & "The Legend of Autistica" with Matt Lowry
In this episode, Autistic psychology practitioner Matt Lowry helps us dive into what a strengths-based diagnostics process looks like for autism, and the incredible difference this can make. We also explore what parents and other professionals should look for to...
07.06.2022
We Can't Address Disability Without Addressing Race - with Lydia X. Z. Brown
Lydia X. Z. Brown is an autistic attorney and disability justice advocate who specifically focuses on violence against multiply-marginalized disabled people. Join us as we explore how racism impacts the lives of Brown, Black and Indigenous Autistic people, and what...
06.15.2022
How To Change the System: An OT, SLP, And Physicist's Story with Sam Brandsen, Janelle Fenwick, & Jenna Meehan
This episode is the story of how an autistic physicist, an autistic occupational therapist, and a neurotypical speech language pathologist came together to try and break down the barriers to truly authentic inclusion for autistic kids in Durham, North Carolina....
06.01.2022
Applying a Disability Studies Lens to Therapy with Chelsea Wallaert
In this episode we explore how our ideas about disability – both as a society and as individual therapists - can deeply impact a parent’s relationship with their child and the child’s own view of themselves. Our guest, Chelsea Wallaert,...
05.18.2022
Social Learning, Game Theory, & Autistic Girls with Vanessa Gill
In this episode, we explore neurodiversity-affirming social-emotional learning through video games and stories. Our guest, Vanessa Castañeda Gill. Vanessa is autistic and the founder of Social Cipher. Our conversation goes into why game-based learning works, and how we can teach...
05.04.2022
Let's Talk About Autistic Sex with Sarah Selvaggi Hernandez
In this episode we explore the role of therapists in promoting positive sexual identity and reducing the risk of sexual assault for our clients. Our guest, Sarah Selvaggi Hernandez is an autistic occupational therapist and educator working to promote...
04.20.2022
Comprehensive Literacy with Jane Farrall
In this episode we explore how a comprehensive literacy framework can totally transform how we approach speech and OT goals around reading and writing. Our guest, Jane Farrall, is a speech pathologist and special educator with extensive training and experience...
04.06.2022
Autism & Interoception with Kelly Mahler
In this episode we dive into interoception, our ability to understand the messages we are getting from inside our bodies. Our guest, Kelly Mahler, makes the connection between interoception and truly neurodiversity-affirming therapy practices. Kelly Mahler presents internationally on interoception...

What's Two Sides of the Spectrum about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Two Sides of the Spectrum episodes:

The Power of Presuming Competence with Ido Kedar

Reclaiming our Wholeness with Honey Schneider

The Cultural Model of Disability and Empowering Practice Frameworks with Bryden Carlson-Giving

More Than Motor Milestones: Affirming Physical Therapy and Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration with Iris Warchall

Transforming the Parent Experience with Jen Schonger

Preparing Autistic People for the Lives They Want to Live with Dr. Monique Botha

Trauma-Informed Practices for Your Neurodivergent Clients - with Lisa Hoeme and Sharon Hammer

The Holiday Dragon +A Gift from Us to You

AAC for All: Here’s How We Do It! with Karina Saechao

Creating Gentler Approaches to Feeding Differences with Marsha Dunn Klein

Culturally Responsive Care with Native Clients with Joshuaa Allison-Burbank

Strengths-Based OT and Self-Determination In Action with Kelsie Olds "The OccuPLAYtional Therapist"

What Families of Autistic Kids Wish Providers Knew with Tiffany Hammond

Strengths Based Diagnostics & "The Legend of Autistica" (re-release) with Matt Lowry

Sensory Processing, Autistic Catatonia, Safety, & Love: An Autistic OT's Perspective with Kim Clairy

How Therapists Can Move from Allies to Accomplices with ChrisTiana ObeySumner

Let's Talk About Autistic Sex with Sarah Selvaggi Hernandez

Autistic Love, Sex, & Dating with Jen Harr

How to Align Our Work with Our Deepest Values with Dr. Melanie Heyworth

A Therapist's Guide to Supporting Authentic, Autistic Social Communication with Rachel Dorsey and V Tisi

Organizing for a Better Future with Finn Gardiner

Gender-Affirming Voice Care for Autistic Clients with Ruchi Kapila

Who has a seat at the table? Thinking beyond representation and advocacy with Reyma McCoy Hyten

Unmasking Autism in Action with Dr. Devon Price

Changing the World with Books, Narwhals, and Letting Kids Say “No” with Lei Wiley-Mydske

Safety as the Foundation for Everything with Dr. Gillian Boudreau

Helping Autistic PDAers feel Safe with Casey Ehrlich

Research that Centers Autistic Well-Being as Defined by Autistics with Dr. T.C. Waisman

Gestalt Language Processing Q&A with Alex Zachos

The Children Who Deserve a Better World with Meghan Ashburn & Jules Edwards

A Social Curriculum that Centers Authenticity with Carolyn Long and Nick Kelsch

Happy New Year!

Sensory Processing in Everyday Life with Dr. Winnie Dunn

How to Reduce Adult Demands to Increase Autistic Joy with Amanda Diekman

Culturally Responsive Therapy for Native Autistic Kids with Jules Edwards

When Autistic Kids Become Adults: Authentic Participation & Community Access with Dr. Kristy Coxon & Dr. Caroline Mills

Breaking Out of the Medical Model with Dr. Mel Houser

Supporting Multiply Disabled Kids: Parent Perspectives

Culturally Responsive Therapy: A Moral Imperative with AC Goldberg

Picky Eating, PDA, & PICA: What Every Feeding Therapist Should Know with Laura Hellfeld

Affirming Approaches to Picky Eating: Moving Beyond Systematic Desensitization with Naureen Hunani

Listener Q&A: All About AAC with Kate McLaughlin

Strengths Based Diagnostics & "The Legend of Autistica" with Matt Lowry

We Can't Address Disability Without Addressing Race - with Lydia X. Z. Brown

How To Change the System: An OT, SLP, And Physicist's Story with Sam Brandsen, Janelle Fenwick, & Jenna Meehan

Applying a Disability Studies Lens to Therapy with Chelsea Wallaert

Social Learning, Game Theory, & Autistic Girls with Vanessa Gill

Let's Talk About Autistic Sex with Sarah Selvaggi Hernandez

Comprehensive Literacy with Jane Farrall

Autism & Interoception with Kelly Mahler