The topic of this episode is Functional Emotional Developmental Capacity (FEDC) 4 of the Developmental, Individual differences, and Relationship (DIR®) model, based on the presentation our guests in March at the New York City DIR® conference called, "The Spectrum of FEDC 4".

Link to the full blog post with links to key discussion points here: https://affectautism.com/2024/07/19/fedc4/

Caregivers: Consider joining our DIR® Parent Network for support from a like-minded community of Floortimers here: https://www.icdl.com/parents

This episode we are discussing intentionality in Functional Emotional Developmental Capacity (FEDC) 3, which is called "Intentionality and Two-Way Communication" in the Developmental, Individual differences, and Relationship (DIR®) model, and moving from FEDC 3 into FEDC 4, "Complex Communication and Shared Problem Solving."

Link to the full blog post with links to key discussion points here: https://affectautism.com/2024/07/05/fedc3/

Caregivers: Consider joining our DIR® Parent Network for support from a like-minded community of Floortimers here: https://www.icdl.com/parents

This week our topic is one that is a top request by parents: sleep. Although neither this episode's guest nor I are sleep experts, we want to come at the topic from a Floortime lens and present some helpful information. My guest is Colette Ryan, an Infant Mental Health Specialist, who is finishing up her PhD with Fielding University on the topic of parent self-efficacy–which we will podcast about in a few months. She is a DIRFloortime® Expert Training Leader with The International Council on Development and Learning and has just accepted a new position starting a new Floortime Reggio Emilia school with a group in Tokyo, Japan.

Link to the full blog post with links to key discussion points here: https://affectautism.com/2024/06/21/sleep/

Caregivers: Consider joining our DIR® Parent Network for support from a like-minded community of Floortimers here: https://www.icdl.com/parents

I’m speaking with Marla Cable, the Assistant Director of the Resource and Training Centre at Giant Steps Autism Centre in Montreal, Quebec, which houses the developmental approach, individualized private school in the public interest with both English and French instruction, serving students aged 4 to 21 with an autism diagnosis. We heard about the school just over a year ago, but they have now moved into their new facility and Marla is here to tell us about the new Autism Centre.

Link to the full blog post with links to key discussion points here: https://affectautism.com/2024/06/07/giant-steps-centre/

Caregivers: Consider joining our DIR® Parent Network for support from a like-minded community of Floortimers here: https://www.icdl.com/parents

Andrew Klein is a DIRFloortime® Expert Training Leader and a pediatric Occupational Therapist at Emerge Pediatric Therapy in Durham, North Carolina where he has a specialized role in facilitating reflective supervision with his colleagues. He is also a certified trauma professional through PESI. He started his career at the Rebecca School in Manhattan where his Floortime journey began and he is the father or two active young girls. The topic for this episode is Reflective Practice in DIR®.

Link to the full blog post with links to key discussion points here: https://affectautism.com/2024/05/24/reflective-practice/

Caregivers: Consider joining our DIR® Parent Network for support from a like-minded community of Floortimers here: https://www.icdl.com/parents

Our topic this week is DIRFloortime® in medically complex children with guests DIR® Speech-Language Pathologists Erin Forward and Taylor Anderson.

Link to the full blog post with links to key discussion points here: ⁠https://affectautism.com/2024/05/10/trauma-informed-care/⁠

Caregivers: Consider joining our DIR® Parent Network for support from a like-minded community of Floortimers here: ⁠https://www.icdl.com/parents⁠

This episode’s podcast features Floortime parent advocate Kim Kredich who has served as a volunteer advocate for hundreds of students with disabilities in East Tennessee, working with families to help their children gain rightful, supported inclusion in the general education environment in public schools through the IEP process. She has worked closely with attorneys in Tennessee to promote systemic change and awareness of the rights of people with disabilities.

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/2024/04/26/inclusion/

Caregivers: Consider joining our DIR® Parent Network for support from a like-minded community of Floortimers here: https://www.icdl.com/parents

This episode features DIRFloortime® Expert Training Leader Nagwa Khedr, who is an early intervention specialist in Cairo, Egypt. She's been practicing DIRFloortime® since 2014 and was involved recently in opening a DIRFloortime® Center there called Etwasel, which means 'Connect' in English. We met in person last year at the in-person DIR® International Conference in New York City and have been planning to do a podcast ever since. Our topic is affect and regulation in the Middle Eastern culture as part of the I in the DIR® Model, Individual differences.

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/2024/04/12/middle-east/

Caregivers: Consider joining our DIR® Parent Network for support from a like-minded community of Floortimers here: https://www.icdl.com/parents

This podcast showcases  If I Need Help, a non profit that reunites those who might become lost, disoriented, or need assistance in a critical moment with their families, loved ones, and caregivers using modern technologies in practical, accessible, and affordable ways--so providing assistance for our loved ones with communication differences. I have purchased their products since 2016 and I welcome Bruce Wilson today to tell us more about If I Need Help.

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/2024/03/29/if-i-need-help/

Caregivers: Consider joining our DIR® Parent Network for support from a like-minded community of Floortimers here: https://www.icdl.com/parents

This episode features returning guests, Special Educator Jackie Bartell and Speech Language PathologistBridget Palmer who are both DIRFloortime® Expert Training Leaders and teach courses at ICDL. Amy McMunn is the mother of two young adult autistic sons and a Spelled Communication Practitioner. Today’s topic is presuming competence, one of the pillars of the DIR® Model and DIRFloortime®.

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/2024/03/15/presuming-competence/

Caregivers: Consider joining our DIR® Parent Network for support from a like-minded community of Floortimers here: https://www.icdl.com/parents