PECS is often an AAC system that's recommended for Autistic kids. But is it neurodiversity affirming? On this episode of Making the Shift, we talk about what PECS is, how it works, and what we need to consider when determining if it's a good option for AAC. If you are a therapist in need of training on how to implement AAC in your sessions, we have a special emphasis on using AAC in our last free training of the year! Join us for the Sensory SLP Workshop coming up at the end of the month, where we'll be talking all about how to use sensory strategies in your speech sessions, plus how to use AAAC in your sensory-based sessions! Click below to save your seat: https://www.sensoryslp.com/workshop

So often, kids are shut down when talking about their special interests. But what if we embraced them instead? Here's a heartwarming story about a 7 year old I worked with and how I embraced his passion, which led to more communication and conversation than I had ever seen from him.

Today I'm sharing one of the most powerful and hardest things you will ever hear - an excerpt from the famous article written by Autistic advocate Jim Sinclair in 1993. This changed my life and I hope it will bring you a new perspective too.

Using AAC in a sensory-based sessions can feel tough if you're not an octopus...but I will tell you there are ways to make it easy and successful! Today I'm sharing 3 ways you can use AAC in your sessions, even if you have kids who you need to be super hands-on with! To learn more about implementing AAC in your sensory-based sessions, make sure to join us for our LAST free training of the year...a half day Sensory SLP Workshop - with a special emphasis on AAC for AAC Awareness Month! Click below to save your seat: https://www.sensoryslp.com/workshop

Hot topic here...does an autism diagnosis automatically mean a child needs therapy? Here's my (maybe unique) opinion on the matter P.S. If you are a parent struggling to find neurodiversity affirming care, make sure to check out our brand new NeuroAffirm Directory - we've got incredible providers of all types from all over the world...it's growing every day! P.P.S. If you're a provider and you're not yet on the NeuroAffirm Directory...we are waiting for you! Families are searching for providers like you every day...so go make your free profile! www.neuroaffirm.com

A few weeks ago I posted about how I started my private practice right after my CF, and so many of you said HOW? TELL ME YOUR WAYS! And that's exactly what we're doing on this episode. I've invited my good friend Jena Castro Casbon, known for her Start Your Private Practice Program (for beginners) and Grow Your Private Practice Program (for establish practices looking to grow), and of course her well known podcast Private Practice Success Stories. Jena ALSO started her private practice at 26. And on this episode, we're talking all about how YOU can get started too. I have worked closely with Jena over the years as she is such a valuable resource and I highly recommend Jena's Start Your Private Practice Program so you don't have to learn the hard way. To learn more about Jena's program & see the special bonuses she's offering for our audience ONLY, click below: https://www.startyourprivatepractice.com/jessieginsburg

I had an interesting experience at a recent preschool screening, where had I just followed "the standard screening procedure", I would have missed referring this child for a developmental evaluation. Today I'm walking you through 2 simple ways you can change your screening procedures so that we don't let Autistic kids fall through the cracks. If you want access to the Strengths-Based Autism Characteristics Checklist we use in our screenings, join us in the NeuroAffirm Therapy Academy where you will get access to that plus many other valuable resources and trainings to support you in your journey to better support Autistic kids. Click below to learn more about the academy (and founding member pricing): https://www.sensoryslp.com/neuroaffirm-therapy-academy

How do you help Autistic toddlers when they're having a tough time...for example when you tell them "no"...which results in hitting and scratching?! I saw this question pop up in a large online group & wanted to provide some guidance about how we can help in the moment, as well as what proactive strategies we can use to help our kids maintain a more balanced state of regulation throughout the day.

I have been doing preschool screenings for over 10 years, and in this episode I am sharing with you my exact step-by-step process. Screenings can be overwhelming and intimidating because it is a lot more work than just showing up at a school...in fact most of the work comes before and after. But I have refined my screening process over the year and made it so easy and smooth, so I'm excited to share that with you today. On this episode I mention that we include an Autism Characteristics Checklist (strengths-based). If you are in the NeuroAffirm Therapy Academy, you've already got access to this. If not, you can still join us at founding member pricing and get access to this resource, and many others, including the brand new training on starting a neuroaffirming private practice. Click below to learn more about the academy: https://www.sensoryslp.com/neuroaffirm-therapy-academy

Busting one of my favorite myths today! Great news - AAC does not hinder speech and language development...it actually promotes it! This is a great short mini episode to share with anyone who wants to learn more.

If a child has sensory differences, EVERY person working with that child should be supporting the child's sensory regulation! But how? Each professional has different goals, which means that we might support sensory regulation in our kids for different reasons. And today, we're going to talk about those reasons. We're covering how sensory can be supported by: OTs, PTs, SLPs, feeding therapists, teachers, and of course - parents! Remember...there's a seat for everyone at the sensory table. To learn more about sensory and how to implement strategies in your speech sessions, make sure to join us for our LAST free training of the year! Click here to save your seat: https://www.sensoryslp.com/workshop

Today we're talking about why we should move away from functioning labels and what to say instead. I'm also sharing a powerful concept I learned that changed everything for me.

Recently I posted about how we talked to a family about autism in our clinic and they decided to leave. I got 90% support and 10% ripped to shreds. Today I'm giving you the arguments from each side and telling you about why these conversations NEED to happen online & why they matter.

Quick tips coming at you for this first ever mini episode! On this episode we are talking about why kids plateau in their language development & how we can help. If you haven't yet checked out my best selling book, Ready Set Connect, you can grab it at: www.readysetconnectbook.com

I’ve got something BIG to share with you—something that’s about to revolutionize the neurodiversity affirming world! And it’s finally time to share it with you. This is going to be an absolute game changer for any neuroaffirming provider who wants to connect with other providers and find your ideal clients. Introducing...NeuroAffirm. The world’s first searchable directory of vetted ND affirming professionals. Start your 90 day free trial of a premium account by clicking below: https://www.neuroaffirm.com

I get asked a lot if I use social stories in my sessions and if social stories are neurodiversity affirming. And the answer to that is... It depends. Social stories were created by Carol Gray in the 90s and they are a social learning tool developed to help autistic individuals better understand social situations, expectations, and behaviors. But while they were created to be used positively and to support kids, unfortunately there are a lot of social stories floating around out there that are harmful. So what makes a "good", neurodiversity affirming social story, and which ones should we throw in the trash? That's what we're talking all about in this episode!

One of the biggest questions therapists and teachers have is how to accommodate sensory needs in group settings. Obviously we need to do that. But trying to consider the preferences of every child in the classroom can feel daunting and sometimes near impossible. And I get it. But what if I told you there is actually an easy solution. If we actually take a proactive approach to planning our daily routines, we can (oftentimes) prevent dysregulation from ever occurring. Want to learn how to do this?? On this episode of Making the Shift, I'm going to be talking all about supporting sensory needs in the classroom. If you're an SLP and want to learn more about supporting your clients' sensory needs, click here to take Jessie's free sensory training for SLPs: https://www.sensoryslp.com/store

My clinic, Pediatric Therapy Playhouse, is turning 11 years old!! I seriously can't believe it. One of the biggest lessons I've learned in my 11 years as a clinic owner has been how to make a clinic space that works best for me and my business. I recently moved into a new clinic after being in our previous space for over 5 years. And you may be shocked to hear this, but I actually moved in a smaller space! I have found what works for me, my therapists, and our clients. And I'm here to tell you that bigger isn't always better. So on this episode of Making the Shift, I'm going to be talking about how I designed my new clinic space and why. If you want to see what our space looks like, check out this episode of our live show: https://www.youtube.com/live/-PUZGo-srq8?si=u8weTpfBdgJmSmdB And to learn more about our clinic visit www.pediatrictherapyplayhouse.com

What does "functional play" really mean? Should we be teaching a child how to play? Is there a right and wrong way to play? These are all questions that come up when talking about Autistic play. I've always said "play = what is fun for the child." But should we be helping kids expand their play skills? What if a child only wants to play alone? We're going to answer these questions and more on this episode of Making the Shift! To learn more about how you can support Autistic kids in neuroaffirming ways, make sure to check out our brand new NeuroAffirm Therapy Academy: https://www.sensoryslp.com/neuroaffirm-therapy-academy

Recently, a parent of a 9-year old Autistic boy shared with me that her son threatened to take his life multiple times. He was so sad that at 9 years old, he did not want to live anymore. And that got me thinking… How is it that we’ve missed the mark that badly when it comes to supporting Autistic children? How is it, that even though there are loads of options for therapy for neurodivergent kids, that there are still so many kids feeling overwhelmed, hurt, and unsupported…and so many families who feel lost, confused, and also unsupported? Why is it that emotional wellbeing, the MOST important thing, the ONE thing that should take priority above everything else, is so often completely dismissed? We NEED to be prioritizing our autistic kids' mental health. And the good news is that it’s not hard. It’s not time consuming. It’s not impossible. So on this week's episode of Making the Shift, we’re talking about WHY emotional wellbeing needs to take priority, and HOW we can support our kids’ emotional wellbeing on a daily basis. To order Jessie's best selling book, Ready Set Connect, click here: https://www.sensoryslp.com/ready-set-connect-book To join Jessie & Chris in the NeuroAffirm Therapy Academy, click here: https://www.sensoryslp.com/neuroaffirm-therapy-academy

We need to talk about behavioral therapy... You may not know this but when I was in grad school, I was hired as a 1:1 behavioral support therapist for a little girl in a private school. ABA is a very common intervention that's recommended for Autistic kids. Some from the field say they're shifting to neurodiversity affirming practices. With extreme views on this controversial subject...and when we feel like everything we say is wrong...where can we go from here? What are the solutions? How can we support our Autistic kids moving forward? That's what we're talking about on this week's episode. Plus, a special announcement! In order to support our mission of spreading ND affirming practices around the world, we're extending Founding Member pricing for our brand new ND Affirming Therapy Academy. Join now for just $97 for the entire year to receive access to our vault of trainings, monthly calls with our Autistic mentor Chloe Estelle, and access to an incredible group of like-minded professionals: https://www.sensoryslp.com/ndaffirming-therapy-academy

Are you actually neurodiversity affirming? The term "neurodiversity affirming" has become such a buzzword. Therapists are advertising themselves as "ND Affirming Therapists". And maybe that is you. But are you actually ND Affirming? It’s easy to say that you follow a certain belief system, but to actually walk the walk and utilize that approach is completely different. So on this episode of Making the Shift, we're giving you a little pop quiz. Can you pass the test?? Calling all ND Affirming SLPs! Have you heard about the ND Affirming Therapy Academy?? The ND Affirming Therapy Academy is your one-stop-shop for everything you need to know to be the most effective, impactful neurodiversity-affirming therapist. From online trainings, resources, handouts, and more! To learn more about the Neurodiversity Affirming Therapy Academy, and take advantage of Founding Member pricing while it lasts, click here: https://www.sensoryslp.com/ndaffirming-therapy-academy 

Chris's ND Affirming Activity Book is out NOW! Click below to grab it: https://www.speechdude.com/book The problem with traditional social skills training is that it focuses on teaching autistic individuals to mimic neurotypical behaviors and suppress their autistic traits. And this comes at a significant cost to the autistic individual's self-esteem. By encouraging masking, or hiding one's true self to fit in, these programs can lead to exhaustion, burnout, and a loss of identity. The emphasis on fitting into a conventional mold can increase anxiety, stress, and feelings of inadequacy, as it suggests that an autistic person's natural way of interacting is wrong or insufficient. And I don’t think any of us want that for our students. So on this episode of Making the Shift, we’re going to be diving into the problem with social skills training and we’ll be giving you our best tips on what we should be doing instead.

If you work with kids, you know how hard transitions can be. For some kids, hearing a statement like “In five more minutes, we’re going to line up and go back to class” might not be a big deal. But those of us who work with Autistic children understand that some kids can experience more difficulties transitioning than others. I get asked at least once a week how to handle transitions. So this week on Making the Shift, we're discussing why transitions are so hard, the best (and worst) way to use visuals when transitioning between activities, how to replace the countdown and teach kids to transition themselves, and more... Check out Jessie's ASHA article here: https://leader.pubs.asha.org/do/10.1044/replacing-the-countdown-for-young-kids-with-autism/full/

When you’ve introduced AAC…but you feel like there’s no progress…what should you do? Sometimes just getting a device in a child’s hand feels like a major win. But what do you do when you’ve been trying and trying with little success? AAC can be so overwhelming as it is, and when we aren’t seeing progress, it can feel defeating. Is it worth continuing? Or time for something else? This week on Making the Shift we’re talking all about what to do when kids aren’t picking up on AAC. Are you an SLP and want learn more about how to support a child's regulation? Check out Jessie's brand new free training: https://www.sensoryslp.com/sensory-based-sessions-training And download the eggs in basket analogy for AAC application here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-1wtqBpQwSRaZluLjFbfYvjQ5XITfDge/view

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.

How confident do you feel bringing up autism to families? Early in my career as an SLP this was really hard for me. But I know now that it is a disservice to the child and their family to wait to have that conversation. So on this week's episode of the Making the Shift we're diving into how to bring up autism to families.

This week on the Making the Shift we have a super special guest! Bettina is an AuDHD SLP, mom to an Autistic child, and the owner of Milk and Honey where she does therapy and consulting. We are so excited to sit down with Bettina to talk about what it's like being an AuDHDer and her sensory journey!

This week on the Making the Shift we’re going to be talking about our top tips for sensory avoiders. Listen in to learn more about what a sensory avoider looks like, how to support sensory avoiders in a variety of settings, and what NOT to do!

When I started viewing behavior as just the tip of the iceberg and started looking more at what lies beneath the surface, everything changed for me. So put on your scuba gear and get ready to dive deep into the icy waters of managing behavior. We're discussing: The research behind the behavior iceberg created by Mona Delahooke, what you should do instead of trying to “manage behaviors”, effective strategies to better understand the behaviors we are seeing in our sessions and at home, and more.

On this episode of Making the Shift, we are diving into a much requested topic: Supporting Sensory Needs in the School. Tune in as we discuss: the first thing we can do to support sensory needs in the classroom, how to add sensory accommodations into the student’s IEP and therapy goals, the best methods for collaborating with teachers and parents, our top tips for using sensory strategies in groups, small spaces, and when pushing into the classroom, and more.

Does one person in the house always seem to listen to the radio or TV at a volume that is just too loud?? Does another person in the house love when all the lights are dimmed? Maybe you feel like you are always chasing around a child who seems to have a never ending source of energy or trying to create a calming environment for a child who is easily overstimulated.. When you have a family with different sensory needs, it can be tough to find the perfect balance to keep everyone regulated. But the good news is, it's possible! This week on Making the Shift we're talking about strategies you can use to survive and thrive under one roof.

Raise your hand if you have ever had a child walk into your therapy session holding their favorite toy and you thought, "You know what, I'm just going to take this toy away so it's not distracting?". Now raise your hand if you immediately regretted that decision... Been there! This week on Making the Shift we're talking about 5 reasons you should NOT withhold a child's preferred items and what you should do instead.

This week on Making the Shift, we are sitting down with Autistic Advocate Sonny Jane Wise to discuss defying neuronormativity. Sonny Jane Wise, aka the Lived Experience Educator, is on a mission to build a neurodiversity affirming future and challenge neuronormativity so neurodivergent individuals are no longer labelled as disordered. Sonny Jane Wise is a multiply neurodivergent or more specifically, an Autistic Bipolar ADHDer. Sonny is an internationally recognized public speaker, advocate, author and content creator as well as the founder of the Drop In Care Space. Sonny was diagnosed as a child and grew up only hearing a deficit narrative about their neurodivergence. Since then, they have gone on to build an audience of over 100, 000 people online. They have written The Neurodivergent Friendly Workbook of DBT Skills and We’re All Neurodiverse due to be published November this year. They have worked with organizations around Australia to help change the narrative around neurodivergence. Make sure you follow @livedexperienceeducator on Instagram! DBT Workbook: https://livedexperienceeducator.com/store

We believe that creating an allyship plan is essential in today's society to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion. It is important to recognize that allyship is not just a one-time action, but a continuous effort that requires an intentional plan. Which is why on this week's episode of Making the Shift, we are sitting down with Dr. Jennifer Hutton to discuss why creating an allyship plan is critical and how we can get moving on implementing that plan. Make sure you check out her Allyship Membership on https://www.buildingallyship.com/ and follow her on Instagram @dr.jpop

Today we are welcoming Katja Piscitelli aka Bohospeechie to the show. Katja is an Inside Out Sensory Trained Clinician who now has a private practice where she specializes in working with gestalt language processors. Find her on social @bohospeechie

Last week on Making the Shift we talked about 4 ways to know if your gestalt processor is dysregulated. And lack of engagement can often be a sign of dysregulation. On this week's episode of Making the Shift we're discussing why it's crucial to address sensory needs in your sessions with gestalt processors. We decided to bring back Melanie Weber, Sensory and NLA Trained SLP to talk about the one client that she struggled to engage with and how she was able to use sensory strategies to: a) realize he was a gestalt processor and b) increase his progress in sessions. To learn more about the Sensory Certificate Course visit www.sensoryslp.com

Have you ever wondered how regulation impacts the way we process language? By understanding how dysregulation can impact our ability to perceive and make sense of the world around us, we can better support our kids in increasing their self-generated language. Join us for this week's episode of Making the Shift with SLP Melanie Weber, as we explore the complex relationship between regulation and gestalt processing, and learn how to identify signs of dysregulation in your gestalt processors. Find Melanie on Instagram @melanieweberslp And if you liked this episode, check out our upcoming training: The Sensory Solution for SLPs. We're covering identifying dysregulation and proactive strategies to keep your clients engaged all day long! Click here to registerL https://sensoryslp.mykajabi.com/sensory-solution-for-slps

As SLPs, we know that the language we use matters. On this week's episode of Making the Shift, we’re talking about why it's important to presume competence. We're diving into what it means to presume competence, signs to look out for in order to tell if a therapist is presuming competence, and our top 5 tips to make the shift to presuming competence in your everyday interactions. Learn how to write ND affirming IEPs at www.speechdude.com

Happy Autism Acceptance Month! On this week's episode of Making the Shift, we’re talking about the difference between autism awareness and autism acceptance. We'll also go into why awareness alone is not enough and 3 ways we can shift towards autism acceptance. For Speech Dude's ND Affirming IEP Courses, visit www.speechdude.com

This week we’re going to be talking about our top tips for sensory seekers. This term is becoming more widely known (yay!) but it’s important to make sure we are all on the same page when we are talking about sensory seekers. On this week's episode of Making the Shift, we’re going to be discussing what a sensory seeker looks like, how to support sensory seekers in a variety of settings, and what not to do! If you're a parent or professional and want to learn more about supporting sensory needs to build communication, check out Jessie's Sensory-Communication Programs at www.sensoryslp.com

Let's talk about sensory strategies. This is the #1 question I get daily. What strategies should I be using?? Another common question I get is: How do I know if those strategies are working?? The thing about using sensory strategies is that we have to first know what the child needs, not what they want. This week on Making the Shift, we are talking about how to find the right combination of sensory supports.

Happy Neurodiversity Celebration Week! Neurodiversity Celebration Week is a worldwide initiative that challenges stereotypes and misconceptions about neurological differences. Being neurodiversity affirming means that we view neurological differences as differences and not deficits. Some common differences seen in neurodiverse individuals include differences in communication, interaction, emotional regulation and sensory needs. Our goal as neurodiversity affirming therapists, teachers, parents, etc is to embrace and validate those differences and to find the right supports and accommodations to help neurodivergent individuals feel supported. And this is where sensory comes in. Sensory impacts us every day, all day long. We are sensory beings and the world is a sensory place. We are constantly being influenced by our sensory experiences. And the way another person experiences the world is totally valid. When a child is sensitive to sounds, they are often perceiving that sound at a much greater level of intensity. And if a child is under-responsive to movement, they might need more than just a 30 second movement break to regulate their sensory system. When we see big reactions to sensory input, we can change our thinking from “they are just overreacting” to “they perceived that input at a greater intensity”. Understanding and validating sensory differences is an important step to embracing neurodiversity. If you are an SLP interested in learning more about how to use sensory strategies in your speech session, click this link below to learn more about the Inside Out Sensory Certificate Course for SLPs: https://sensoryslp.mykajabi.com/sensory-certificate-course If you are a parent of an autistic child or child with sensory needs, click this link to learn about the Inside Out Sensory Communication Program for Parents: https://sensoryslp.mykajabi.com/sensory-communication-parent-program

If you have been around here long enough then you know how passionate Jessie is about SLPs using sensory strategies in their sessions. When we talk about SLPs using sensory strategies, we usually get a few common responses: "Is that in your scope of practice??" "That's what OTs do..." "Why should SLPs learn about sensory?" So today on Making the Shift, we're diving into Sensory and the Scope of the SLP. For information on Jessie's sensory trainings for SLPs & parents, visit www.sensoryslp.com

We hear about dysregulation all the time...but what exactly does it look like? Today we're diving into 3 areas to consider when looking at a child's dysregulation.

Let's talk about Trauma Informed Care. Trauma-informed care shifts the focus from “What’s wrong with you?” to “What happened to you?” A trauma-informed approach to care acknowledges that health care organizations and care teams need to have a complete picture of a client/child's life situation — past and present — in order to provide effective health care services. But what does that look like for SLPs? What type of providers do parents need to look for? We sat down with The Trauma Informed SLP, Kim Neely, to learn more. Kim is a practicing clinician with several years of experience working with clients (pre-K through geriatric) with known trauma exposure responses. Kim is currently a Certified Trauma Support Specialist (CTSS) through Trauma Institute International. She has also completed trainings on trauma-informed organizational procedures, promoting motivation for traumatized clients, and mental health first aid through the Arizona Trauma Institute.

This week we're doing a backwards spin on Valentine's Day - let's talk about challenging social constructs when it comes to gender identity. This episode we are joined by Lyric Rivera is a trans-nonbinary, pansexual, polyamorous Autistic person who runs the internationally recognized Neurodivergent Rebel blog & Youtube Channel. Lyric is also the Owner of NeuroDivergent Consulting, and author of the best-selling business ethics book, Workplace NeuroDiversity Rising, praised in Forbes as “an excellent ‘how to manual’ based on lived experience and professional competence.” Rivera is also known as the pioneer of the #AskingAutistics hashtag. Check out Lyric's site here: https://neurodivergentrebel.com/ Check out Lyric's Youtube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@NeurodivergentRebel 

Let's talk about language development. For years we've operated under the assumption that there is one way to develop language. But new research is showing there is actually another way to develop language. It's called Gestalt Language Development. This week on Making the Shift we are excited to have Alex Zachos from Meaningful Speech join us to talk about gestalt language processing. Alex is an SLP, a business owner, a wife, and a mom who is committed to learning and growing as a speech-language pathologist and sharing her knowledge and experience about gestalt language processing. She is the founder of Meaningful Speech LLC whose mission is to educate speech-language professionals, parents, and those working in related fields about gestalt language development and delayed echolalia. Check out Alex's courses for parents & professionals here: https://www.meaningfulspeech.com/a/2147498926/RKN5MGTr Use code JESSIE for 20% off eligible courses.

"Autism is a disease that needs to be cured"... incorrect. "Autism only occurs in boys"... untrue. There are so many common misconceptions about autism out there. And despite all the research to debunk these myths, they still persist. So this week on Making the Shift, Chris and I are going to sit down and bust 5 common autism myths.

This week on Making the Shift we are honored to have Cari Ebert join us to talk about parenting an Autistic child. Cari Ebert, M.S., CCC-SLP is a Pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist in private practice in the Kansas City, Missouri area. She has found her niche working exclusively with young children ages birth to five and their families. She's also a parent of an autistic child. This allows her to see things not only as a professional but also as a parent. On this episode, we're discussing... ✔ Cari and her experience as an SLP and parent of an autistic child... ✔ Her best parenting advice for parents of autistic children... ✔ What you should do and NOT do with your autistic child... Follow Cari on Instagram @cari.ebert.seminars and find her courses and products at https://www.cariebertseminars.com/

Autistic Adults have long spoken out against the harm caused by functioning labels like “severe autism” or “low-functioning” autism. Imagine if we described neurotypical individuals this way. Are you mildly or severely neurotypical? Autism is a neurotype. Using terms like mildly or severely autistic does not give us any information on that child's needs or the support we can provide. This week on Making the Shift, Chris and I are going to talk about the reasons we should step away from functioning labels and what we SHOULD say instead. On this episode, we're discussing... ✔ The problem with functioning labels... ✔ What the Autistic community is saying about labels like mild or severe autism... ✔ What we should be using instead of labels... Reminder - our Making the Shift Virtual Seminar is this Friday, January 20th! Seats are limited for the live, interactive experience. Click the link below to get your ticket & save your seat: https://asdinsideout.mykajabi.com/making-the-shift

This week on Making the Shift we have a super special guest…. (drumroll please).... Dr. Winnie Dunn!! Dr. Winnie Dunn is a Distinguished Professor of the Department of Occupational Therapy Education at the University of Missouri and the author of the Sensory Profile. She is an internationally known expert for her studies about sensory processing in everyday life. On this episode, we're discussing... ✔ How Dr. Winnie Dunn got her start and her work on sensation patterns... ✔ How sensation patterns are backed by neuroscience and psychology... ✔ How to live your best sensory life... Check out her book, Living Sensationally: https://www.amazon.com/Living-Sensationally-Winnie-Dunn/dp/1843109158/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=living+sensationally+winnie+dunn&qid=1673398085&sprefix=living+sensa%2Caps%2C305&sr=8-1

On this episode, we'll explore... ✔ The importance of working together as a team to help children meet their goals... ✔ Why we should focus on team collaboration... ✔ Our 5 tips for boosting team collaboration... ✔ And more... For tickets to our upcoming Making the Shift Virtual Seminar, click here: https://asdinsideout.mykajabi.com/making-the-shift

PDA stands for Pathological Demand Avoidance OR more affirming term Persistent Drive for Autonomy. On this episode, we'll cover... ✔ What is Persistent Drive for Autonomy? ✔ Tips for identifying PDA ✔ Our best strategies for working with kids with PDA ✔ And more... The term persistent drive for autonomy was coined by Harry Thompson who is a PDA autistic adult, educator, and author of the PDA Paradox.

In this episode, we'll cover: ✔ How self-regulation develops ✔ Simple ways to talk to kids about their regulation ✔ The most effective visual tools you can use ✔ Must-know tips before having this conversation with kids Grab the Energy Meter here: https://www.autismlevelup.com/#tools

On this episode, we'll cover... ✔ What exactly is stimming? ✔ Why stimming happens ✔ The benefits of stimming ✔ And words of advice from Autistic friends and colleagues...

In this episode, we'll talk about: ✔ How regulation, engagement, and communication interrelate ✔ Why we should be focusing on regulation ✔ Our favorite tips to support regulation ✔ And more... Jessie's Sensory Certificate Course for SLPs is OPEN for enrollment. If you are an SLP or SLPA and want to get specialized sensory training, visit www.sensoryslp.com to enroll.

The number ONE question Chris and I are asked weekly is... "How do I write neurodiversity affirming goals for my autistic students?" Watch the show to discover our favorite ND affirming goals for therapy. In this episode, we'll talk about: ✔ How to write neurodiversity affirming goals ✔ What to do when we inherit goals that are not ND affirming ✔ Suggestions for ND affirming goals for different age groups ✔ And more... To learn more about Chris's ND Affirming IEP Course with a list of goals, visit www.speechdude.com

We know that standardized tests aren't truly a reflection of students' skills and abilities. Standardized tests are so stressful to administer, overwhelming to interpret, and after all that blood, sweat, and yes sometimes, tears, we put into the report - we’re not actually left with information that is relevant and valuable in developing our goals. But what can we do? How do we accurately report our students' skills and abilities if our assessments aren't providing that information? This is something we get asked about a lot. Which is why in this episode, we are diving into how to make evaluations more neurodiversity affirming. On this episode, we'll cover... ✔ The problem with current assessments ✔ What to do when standardized tests are required ✔ Who should be involved in the assessment process ✔ Alternate methods for evaluating Autistic students ✔ And more... To learn more about Speech Dude's DASEL (Dynamic Assessment of Social Emotional Learning), visit www.speechdude.com

When you are making the shift to neurodiversity affirming practices, you can feel like a tiny fish swimming upstream against the sharks... You might be thinking, There's gotta be a better way! And luckily, there is... In this episode, Jessie is sharing her top 10 ND affirming ways to support Autistic kids. Want to know exactly where to start and prioritize your time when it comes to ND affirming practices? In this episode, we'll talk about: ✔ The ND paradigm as a gateway to your kids' greatest progress ✔ Honoring sensory needs ✔ Building emotional wellbeing through validation ✔ Building higher level language skills ✔ And so much more... To grab Autism Support Resources for Teams, click the link below or visit sensoryslp.com: https://asdinsideout.mykajabi.com/autism-support-tools-for-teams

No autistic child should feel like there is something wrong with them. Autism isn’t bad or wrong - it’s a difference in how the brain thinks, communicates, and learns. We need to help kids understand different brains. However, doing so in a positive and inclusive manner can sometimes be very challenging. That is why on this week’s episode of Making the Shift, we are inviting Andi Putt (also known as Mrs. Speechie P) to join us as we discuss how to talk to kids about autism. Visit www.mrsspeechiep.com to check out Andi's Autism Handbook for Kids!

Today Jessie is answering your biggest sensory questions! Today we're talking about 1) what to do when colleagues don't support using sensory strategies/an ND affirming approach, 2) how to help sensory seekers, 3) supporting emotional regulation, and 4) Jessie's favorite sensory equipment!

"Hair on fire" days are nothing new. It can be really hard to consistently bring enough energy, the right energy, or the ability to maintain your own energy into every session when life is being — life. But what if there are some ways you can consistently boost your energy and be more effective for your kids? In this episode, we're going to give you some of our go-to strategies and routines that help us "keep our cup" full for our kids and boost our effectiveness as therapists.

Knowing how to reframe with strengths-based language can help your speech kids build positive self-identity and bring joy to parents & families. In this episode, you'll discover: - Why reframing with strengths-based language is so important for your kids and families - "What" commonly used harmful words and phrases often go unnoticed - "How" you can reframe your language to be more positive and neurodiversity affirming - Specific examples of how to use these (eg, "say this" instead of "that") Want to dive deeper into how to integrate strengths-based language into your IEPs? Check out Chris's webinar on how to create Neurodiversity affirming IEPs: https://www.speechdude.com/neurodiversity-affirming-free-webinar-evergreen-1 Parents - Be sure to check out Jessie's upcoming free Sensory Masterclass for Parents on 10/17. Click here to register: https://asdinsideout.mykajabi.com/sensory-communication-masterclass-october-2022

Total communication is such an important part of being neurodiversity affirming. Yet, there are so many myths floating around about how to introduce AAC. In this episode, we'll talk about: - The importance of AAC and total communication - 5 AAC mistakes you can avoid - Best practices for introducing AAC - Bonus: AAC stories you won't believe!

“It’s a world of laughter, it’s a world of tears”...Theme parks can be either a sensory wonderland or sensory overload for kids. On this episode of Making the Shift we’ll talk about: ✔ The 4 sensory patterns (briefly, just in case you don’t know…) ✔ Which sensory patterns each of our family members have (we have one of EACH type in this colorful family!) ✔ Takeaways from how each of us reacted to and experienced the craziness of Disneyland… ✔ The disasters… ✔ The learning experiences… ✔ The good, the bad, and the ugly… ✔ How we coped… ✔ How we communicated and compromised… ✔ And tons of examples of sensory patterns “in the wild”... ✔ Plus...a special announcement!

Let's pull back the curtain on ADHD, relationships, and communication styles & techniques... Here’s what we’ll talk about: ✔ Chris’s story growing up as an ADHD kid (the bumps, the bruises and the victories)... ✔ The ADHD life hacks that have helped him survive and thrive… ✔ What it’s like for me (a neurotypical woman) to be in a relationship with an ADHDer… ✔ How we’ve learned to communicate more effectively with each other…

How to teach self-regulation in a healthy way is a hot topic. We know it’s the key to increased engagement, which leads to more progress and better outcomes...But what if what we believe about how children develop self-regulation is actually wrong?? In this episode, we'll explore: ✔ The real differences between co-regulation & self-regulation ✔ How kids actually learn to self-regulate ✔ What are fair expectations to place on children of different ages and developmental periods… ✔ When and how to teach self-regulation ✔ And MORE Ft. SLP Danielle Kent, leader of Teaching & Raising Problem Solvers, and mom of two kids with "amazing brains".

Sensory strategies are a lifelong sidekick for autistic kids (and their families). Sensory approaches must also shift with your kids’ ages and development. In this episode, you’ll see: ✔ How your sensory focus changes with age and effective use of sensory strategies to help us lead kids of all ages into long-term happiness and independence… ✔ What developmental signs you can use to assess if you’re focusing on the right strategies… ✔ The foundational progress that you must achieve before moving from each stage to the next with your kids… ✔ Some high-powered ways to support your kids’ regulation REGARDLESS of their age… Are you an SLP or SLPA and want to learn sensory strategies?? Come to our upcoming Free Sensory Patterns Masterclass! Click below to save your seat: https://asdinsideout.mykajabi.com/sensory-masterclass-aug-2022

We’ve all had autistic clients/students that are highly interested in a single subject (or even an object or type of object). From a neurotypical perspective, these special interests might be hard to understand, and they may even seem to get in the way of therapy. But once you understand them, they actually present a unique opportunity for you as a therapist. Autistic SLP, Sam Rowntree, is joining us to give you insight into special interests from an autistic perspective, as well as to teach you how to use these interests to increase engagement with autistic kids and build a deeper relationship. Connect with Sam on Instagram @the_aussiespeechie

Autistic brains process information differently. Find out why we need to recognize Autistic brains as a different neurotype rather than classifying them as “deficient” or as something that we are trying to fix. ✔ Discover the research that recognizes Autistics as their own neurotype... ✔ Why classifying Autistics as deficient in many cases is actually harmful and has ZERO positive impact on their lives… ✔ Find out about the Double Empathy Problem and how it may be affecting the way you see Autistic individuals… ✔ How reframing the way you see autism can change everything about the way you see your kids… ✔ And why making this shift is the best thing you’ll ever do for the Autistic people in your life…

Historically, we’ve observed autistic kids by gathering data about things like eye-contact, stimming, or if they exhibit certain social skills. But new research has shown us this needs to change…. Come find out exactly why it’s time to ditch data that promotes masking. And discover how you can replace those observations with better data that guides neurodiversity affirming therapy, builds on strengths, and promotes positive self identity & engagement.

How Parents & SLPs Can Align To Exponentially Increase The Results Of Speech Therapy... When parents start bringing their child to speech therapy, they often wonder if 30-minutes per week is really going to help their child. The truth? Therapy is most effective when parents are fully involved in therapy at home! So how can parents & therapists align to make sure children receive optimal therapy during the other 23.5 hours of the day? This free episode of Making the Shift will explain the importance of parent involvement and help both therapists and parents align to make speech exponentially more effective for our beloved children, helping them get results faster from speech. Helping our tiny communicators to express themselves can take a ton of effort. But parent involvement is the key to ensuring they get the maximum value out of therapy... This episode is going to be all about: ✔ Why it’s so important that parents get involved in a child’s speech therapy… ✔ Illuminating the path to parent and SLP alignment… ✔ Defining the highly effective role that empowered parents can play in their child’s therapy… ✔ Examples of what kinds of support parents can offer to reinforce therapy at home… ✔ How to open up this conversation with your speech therapist (if you’re a parent)... ✔ How to open up this conversation with your client’s parents (if you’re a therapist)...

How To Identify The 4 Sensory Patterns That Massively Improve Regulation And Engagement Fulfill your clients’ sensory needs by understanding which one of the 4 sensory patterns they exhibit. This eye-opening episode can change EVERYTHING in your sessions. Based on the world-renowned research of Dr. Winnie Dunn and the ASHA article we co-authored... This week’s free live show is all about: ✔ Understanding the 4 different sensory patterns that ALL your clients fall into (actually, that all humans fall into! But more on that in the episode...) ✔ How these sensory patterns cause clients to react or not react to sensory inputs (prepare to see your clients behavior in an entirely new light!) ✔ How you can classify clients so you can better fulfill their sensory needs (I'll be giving some real life examples to make this crystal clear...) ✔ Giving you some concrete and practical strategies to use with each type of client (these WILL help improve regulation and engagement in your clients starting TOMORROW!)

Targeting behaviors isn't effective! We need to target the root cause instead... In this week’s episode, you'll find out: ✔ Some of the most common errors in thinking that prevent us from successfully aiding our kids in behavior modifications. ✔ Why behavior goals don't work for children (and what you can do about it)... ✔ How to differentiate between "surface level" behavior goals and deeper, more targeted goals that have a real impact... ✔ Some easy thinking strategies you can implement to start creating better goals for clients/students... ✔ And more!

Want to help your autistic kids climb out of "rote language land" and up to the top of "novel and creative communication peak"? Then come join us for the next episode of Making the Shift where we'll explore the exact steps you can take to elevate your kids' ability to use higher level language — starting in your very next session! You can finally help your autistic kids reach higher level language by helping them climb these simple steps! In this week’s live, you'll find out: ✔ Why helping a child develop memorized "rote" language isn't enough (and why it's important to strive for more)... ✔ The commonly overlooked but extremely important prerequisites to basic and higher level communication (without knowing these, it can be impossible to help kids develop higher level language)... ✔ About the "holes" in autistic children's communication ability (and how you can begin to help fill them)... ✔ The role of intrinsic motivation in enabling novel and creative communication (and strategies for building internal motivation in your kids)... ✔ PLUS, concrete and practical strategies for improving regulation, engagement and higher level language development in sessions (so you can start seeing transformed sessions as early as tomorrow)...

Rewards-based systems are ineffective and can actually harm your relationships with clients. Get the research that unlocks the doors to building intrinsic motivation — the right way. In this week’s live, you're going to hear about: ✔ The most fascinating (yet completely ignored) research on how rewards actually decrease a child's motivation ✔ Why using reward systems damages your relationships with your clients ✔ What you should be focusing on instead

Today Autistic Coach Chloe Estelle is here in the room with us, and she’s getting ready to give you some brand NEW perspective from an Autistic adult’s point of view. She’ll be sharing one of the MOST important things you can do to help with the emotional wellbeing of your autistic kids! This is so rarely spoken of, but it’s crucial for us to recognize… so pile inside, refresh your perspective, and show her your love and support! Find Chloe on IG @chloeestellinyellow & learn more about the organization she co-founded,  OurTism, and how they support Autistic individuals & their families at ourtism.com.

Join us for this SPECIAL GUEST episode of Making the Shift featuring Autistic SLP Jamie Boyle. Jamie has flown all the way from the East coast where she lives and is joining us live, in-person for this special guest episode. And we’re so excited to have her! She’ll be filling us in on what it’s like to experience the world through her eyes, how she advocates for herself in different circumstances, and the importance of encouraging other autistics to self-advocate when they need to. If you have autistic people in your life, you've got to catch this episode!

Ever start a session thinking, “Alright, we’re going to make progress today!” only to end up asking yourself, “Why does this [negative result] keep happening?” Then jump in with me and Chris as we talk about some ways you can guide your approach with intentional questions that result in better outcomes and boosted morale for you and families. In this week’s live, we’re going to dive into: ✔ The flawed perception we therapists commonly have regarding outcomes in our sessions. ✔ How OUR own thinking patterns can get in the way of progress during sessions. ✔ Some creative ways to change the internal questions we ask ourselves so we can better support our kids. ✔ Grounded examples of “what to ask” and “what not to ask” in your own sessions with families.

How To Increase Regulation & Learning By Being Proactive Instead Of Reactive To Sensory Needs. You know what it’s like to feel out of control, unable to help a child return to a regulated state once they’re already dysregulated. But what if you could “read the signs” that exist BEFORE a child ever gets to that point by understanding their sensory needs and proactively making adjustments for them? That’s what we’re talking about in this week’s show! 

Discover The Single Most Important Thing You Can Do To Educate Teams With An ND Affirming Approach... It’s easy to feel defeated when you’re trying to change the world for your autistic kids & clients without ever feeling like you’re doing enough. You might feel like there’s too much resistance to change, like you don’t have enough time, or like your voice doesn’t matter. But there’s something you can do that will empower you to have the MOST impact. And we’re going to share it in this show!

If you’ve ever wondered how to help your autistic kids and clients to make friends — or even wondered if they want friends at all — then you won’t want to miss this episode! We are going to be revealing data from a survey of autistic adults that may shake things up a little bit in the SLP world… >> Plan on having some of the most common myths about autism and friendships DEBUNKED with well-researched data you won’t want to miss. We’ll be talking about… 1. Research that PROVES autistic kids aren’t “antisocial” and actually do want friends… 2. Why having these friendships are an INTEGRAL part of their happiness… 3. How autistic friendships may look quite a bit different than neurotypical friendships… 4. Why using social skills interventions doesn’t generalize… 5. And what strategies you can start using right now to help your autistic kids make friends!

Have you ever wondered how to help parents accept their autistic child for who they are? We get no training in having this conversation - so it can be really tough. Situations like these can leave you feeling lost, and wishing you could just give them all the answers. But when you try, it turns out to be a lot harder than you’d think. Even though you know the parent wants what’s best for their child, there’s still a process they have to go through to ultimately open their arms and hearts to the unique child they’re blessed with. So, what can you do to help? That’s what we’re going to talk about in this episode of Making the Shift. As an SLP, you’re such a huge part of the child’s life that the long, tough road of accepting what it means to have an autistic child often falls into your lap. Not only is it your job to counsel families on what autism means for communication, but you’re also in a position to do SO MUCH MORE than that… So tonight, we will be sharing the three hardest-fought lessons we’ve learned so far in 2022 when helping families to become more neurodiversity affirming. Because there’s nothing more gratifying than helping your autistic kids and their families reach happiness and fulfillment!

If you’re an SLP who’s ever struggled to help your autistic kids—you won’t want to miss this… Speech Dude & Jessie Ginsburg are getting vulnerable together for their first LIVE show premier! Get an inside look at the deepest struggles they’ve faced when serving autistic kids and communicating with their parents—and discover some of the most important lessons they’ve learned so you can avoid making the same mistakes. If you’ve ever struggled to help your autistic kids or wondered how to communicate more effectively with their parents, you won’t want to miss: ✔ The easiest way you can start improving your therapy sessions with autistic kids right now (hint: it doesn’t cost anything, and you already have access to it). ✔ A simple mindset shift that can transform every speech session you ever have, especially if you work with younger autistic children. ✔ An important “missing piece” in the therapy we typically deliver to autistic high schoolers. And how you can start filling it. ✔ Some of our favorite simple & easy ways to communicate these concepts with parents and professionals. Plus… in the first 5 minutes you’ll get in on a big announcement that will change our lives forever.