Jackie Bartell is back with us this episode for a fantastic discussion about a concept so essential to the ⁠Developmental, Individual differences, Relationship-based (DIR®) model⁠ and ⁠Floortime⁠, and that is that we are human beings not human doings. Jackie is a retired special educator with the International Council on Development and Learning (⁠ICDL⁠) and is a ⁠DIRFloortime® Expert Training Leader⁠.

Link to the full blog post with links to key discussion points and other ways to view or hear the podcast here: ⁠https://affectautism.com/2018/05/21/being/⁠

Consider joining our DIR® Parent Network or becoming an Affect Autism member for bonus content and support from a like-minded community of Floortimers here: ⁠https://www.icdl.com/parents⁠

⁠AUTISTIC Viewpoints⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ is a podcast hosted by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Turrell Burgess⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Daria Brown⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. On Episode 11, returning guest Khylil Robinson joins us!Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://affectautism.com/autistic-viewpoints/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Timestamps:

00:13 Introductions

01:27 Khylil's recent award

01:46 Khylil's sentiments about being a repeat guest

02:29 Setting up this episode's topics

03:29 Turrell's review of their recent conference presentation

04:43 Daria's comments about their presentation as an presentation attendee

05:39 Khylil's reflections on their conference presentation

08:34 Call out for hiring Khylil or Turrell to present online or in person, especially considering the unique experiences of young, black Autistic men

09:33 How this presentation differed from past presentations

11:35 Khylil's upcoming work events

15:47 Daria's reaction to Khylil's work events including incarceration

16:48 Turrell's upcoming work events

18:33 Daria's reaction to Turrell's work events and how we can advocate for all Autistics even if we can't speak to the experience of all Autistics

19:42 Khylil's work with police officers

21:23 Khylil's experience with law enforcement and his mental break about it

25:08 Daria highlighting the gravity of this experience for anyone, let alone Autistic, let alone with the intersectional of being Black and all of the prejudice that accompanies that, then the masking that happens and the toll that takes on one's mental health and emotional well-being

26:55 The work of KultureCity

27:22 Turrell's reflections on being Black and Autistic

30:07 Daria's comments on Autism awareness all year round and not just in April

30:40 Khylil talking about Mental Health Awareness month in May and specifically Men's Mental Health Awareness in June and managing his responsibilities, including his experience of his tire blowing on the highway and the aftermath

34:00 Daria's comments on Autistic rumination and the toll on mental health and the accumulation of traumatic experiences

35:43 Turrell's reactions about these experiences

37:02 Daria bringing up the last episode with KW that if someone describes their experience, believe them

37:31 Khylil talks about Autistics sharing their stories and lived experiences

39:04 Lightening up the topic to upcoming spring events and Autistic joy that can help to attempt to pull us out of our ruminations or suffering mental health experiences and her specific Autistic joy on display this episode

41:31 Khylil's humorous description of his latest fun events

45:20 International travels

46:15 Turrell's upcoming plans for the upcoming months

47:48 Khylil's interest in the Michael Jackson biopic is strictly related to Sonic the Hedgehog and Daria has no idea what he means

51:07 Turrell gives a teaser about the next episode

51:52 Wrap-Up

Resources:

KultureCity: Sensory Accessibility and Inclusion podcast episode ⁠https://affectautism.com/2021/10/16/kulturecity/⁠

Dr. Gordon Neufeld podcast episode on emotional well-being ⁠https://affectautism.com/2023/03/04/well-being/⁠

Khylil's stellar artist reference

Sexy Nerds Events ⁠https://sexynerds.net/⁠

* Thank you to Hungarian recording artist ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Post Analog Disorder⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for the intro/outro music permission: ⁠⁠https://postanalogdisorder.bandcamp.com/album/still-i-rise

In this episode we aim to give parents and caregivers a guide for being confident enough to trust in their intuition and what they want for their children when seeking DIRFloortime® practitioners to implement a DIRFloortime® approach.

Link to the show notes with links to key discussion points and other ways to view or hear the episode here: ⁠https://affectautism.com/2026/05/01/dialogues-7/

Consider joining our DIR® Parent Network or becoming an Affect Autism member for bonus content and support from a like-minded community of Floortimers here: ⁠⁠https://affectautism.com/support/

⁠In our last podcast episode together⁠, back in 2019, Dave Nelson and I discussed puberty and how we can best support our kids in a respectful way using a developmental approach. In this episode, we want to continue on that topic by touching on the developmental way to support our adolescents in taboo areas. Dave Nelson is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), a DIRFloortime® Expert Training Leader, and the Executive Administrative Director of the ⁠Threshold Community Program  in Atlanta, Georgia.Link to the show notes with links to key discussion points and other ways to view or hear the episode here: ⁠https://affectautism.com/2023/02/18/adolescence/⁠Consider joining our DIR® Parent Network or becoming an Affect Autism member for bonus content and support from a like-minded community of Floortimers here: ⁠⁠https://affectautism.com/support/

Occupational Therapist and DIR-Expert Maude Le Roux and homeschooling parent Daniela Bishop discuss the importance of clinical reasoning in attuning to the child by being present, staying in the moment, sitting in discomfort and uncertainty and making inferences about the child’s internal experience in order to have an essential starting point for developmental work.

Link to the show notes with links to key discussion points and other ways to view or hear the episode here: ⁠https://affectautism.com/2026/04/17/presence/Consider joining our DIR® Parent Network or becoming an Affect Autism member for bonus content and support from a like-minded community of Floortimers here: ⁠⁠https://affectautism.com/support/

KW is a Licensed Professional Counselor who was identified as AuDHD in his 30s. He lives with his neurodivergent spouse and five fur-kids in Midwest-USA. He is an artist, writer, photographer, and musician. At present, he is excited to be creating his first podcast: a music deep dive show that will air on the Autistic Culture Podcast Network this summer. He shares his diagnosis journey, his passions, and the process of "unbecoming" as he unmasks.

00:13 Introductions

01:28 KW's diagnosis journey including suicidality and trauma from being misunderstood * Trigger Warning *

04:45 KW's process of becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor

05:12 KW's confusion about diagnosis despite being an LPC

05:28 The therapist that suggested KW should be assessed for ADHD

06:43 Why KW became a counselor

08:32 The necessity of unpacking your own "stuff" as a counselor

09:00 How becoming a counselor was rewarding for KW

10:08 KW's reflections on providing a safe space for his clients and being your authentic self

11:37 KW's first session conversation with his clients

12:12 KW's case load of Autistic middle and high school boys before he understood Autism and instinctually following the client's lead

15:28 KW's lived experience presentation to his co-workers *Trigger Warning*

17:42 Turrell's response to KW's list of personal characteristics he had accumulated

19:10 KW's response to the value of having supportive people in your life

21:13 KW's most powerful realization and best advice

23:03 Daria's response to KW's lived experience of having personal support

23:58 The importance of seeking out support

25:01 The importance of letting go of fear when it's necessary to move on from what doesn't feel right

25:55 KW reconceptualizing himself as a musician, writer, photographer, and an artist starting with his love of music and his favourite band

26:25 Daria's response to KW

27:25 Reconnecting with his creativity as he unmasks

30:30 Maya Angelou's inspiring quote and KW's focus on "unbecoming"

31:11 KW's passion for music

33:36 KW's upcoming podcast mini-series on the Autistic Culture Podcast Network

35:27 Turrell's upcoming podcast mini-series on the Autistic Culture Podcast Network

36:09 The Autistic appreciation of sharing passionate interests

36:47 Wrap-Up

KW on Substack: https://substack.com/@mraskmore?r=3cfq85&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=stories&shareImageVariant=light

DIRFloortime https://affectautism.com/what-is-dirfloortime/

The Late Diagnosis Club https://www.autisticculturepodcast.com/

Maya Angelou's most famous quote on creativity is: "You can't use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have."

KW's favourite band The Color Morale

https://fearlessrecords.com/artists/the-color-morale/

Turrell's and my past episode on our love of the band Nirvana https://affectautism.com/autistic-viewpoints/

Another band KW is a fan of "Good Charlotte" https://www.goodcharlotte.com/

* Thank you to Hungarian recording artist ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Post Analog Disorder⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for the intro/outro music permission: ⁠https://postanalogdisorder.bandcamp.com/album/still-i-rise

Returning guest, Licensed Professional Counsellor and  DIR Expert Training Leader, Mike Fields from Floortime Atlanta and Inneractions Therapy Services, joins us this week to discuss how we want to be creating opportunities for our children in Floortime rather than stealing opportunities from them.

Link to the show notes with links to key discussion points and other ways to view or hear the episode here: ⁠https://affectautism.com/2021/06/26/opportunities/

Consider joining our DIR® Parent Network or becoming an Affect Autism member for bonus content and support from a like-minded community of Floortimers here: ⁠⁠https://affectautism.com/support/

In this episode, Turkish DIR® Expert Training Leader, speech-language pathologist, and physiotherapist Kemal Colay shares his theoretical framework integrating valence and arousal within a DIR®-informed approach to support connection in his work with children, and how he uses video review as a reflective tool to support parents in recognizing and responding to their child’s unique cues in order to facilitate developmental growth.

Link to the show notes with links to key discussion points and other ways to view or hear the episode here: ⁠https://affectautism.com/2026/04/03/video-review/

Consider joining our DIR® Parent Network or becoming an Affect Autism member for bonus content and support from a like-minded community of Floortimers here: ⁠⁠https://affectautism.com/support/

Brookes Barrack⁠ is a Speech-Language Pathologist and ⁠DIRFloortime® Expert Training Leader⁠ who has a clinic just outside of Kansas City, Kansas with Occupational Therapist ⁠Emily Tritz⁠ called ⁠Kansas City Developmental Therapies⁠ where they offer ⁠DIR® services⁠. This summer they became an official ⁠accredited DIR® Organization⁠. She originally trained in Floortime at "the Bunker" with Drs. Greenspan and Wieder in Washington, D.C. and in ⁠the PLAY Project⁠ with Dr. Rick Solomon at his home. This episode we are discussing Gestural development : The D, the I, and the R.

Link to the show notes with links to key discussion points and other ways to view or hear the episode here: ⁠https://affectautism.com/2024/09/27/gestures/⁠

Consider joining our DIR® Parent Network or becoming an Affect Autism member for bonus content and support from a like-minded community of Floortimers here: ⁠⁠⁠https://affectautism.com/support/

Çiğdem Ergül and Elif Akat are the pioneers of DIRFloortime® in Turkey. Both dedicated DIR® clinicians and Expert Training Leaders, they started at different times at ICDL’s DIR® Institute "back in the day" with Drs. Stanley Greenspan and Serena Wieder. They are deeply committed to preserving the integrity of the DIR® model and upholding the high quality of training and practice that shaped their professional journeys and enables them to serve families in their care. This episode, they share their stories.

Link to the show notes with links to key discussion points and other ways to view or hear the episode here: ⁠https://affectautism.com/2026/03/20/turkey/

Consider joining our DIR® Parent Network or becoming an Affect Autism member for bonus content and support from a like-minded community of Floortimers here: ⁠⁠https://affectautism.com/support/