The NeuroAffirm Podcast

Fast track your session progress with my Top Tips for Parent Coaching Webinar ! If you want to learn how to: Get coaching buy-in from families Implement a simple 5 step parent coaching session structure Adjust your coaching based on the parent's unique personality Generate follow through from families Then click below to grab my Top Tips for Parent Coaching webinar: https://www.sensoryslp.com/offe...

Join me on Substack here! https://substack.com/@sensoryslp If building therapy around relationship, safety, and connection resonates with you, and you want to go deeper… Join me on Substack as a paid subscriber to get access to my Ready Set Connect Book Club Kit, which includes: 🎧 Ready Set Connect Audiobook - narrated by me so you can listen on the go. 📘 Ready Set Connect Guidebook - a pra...

Check out Jessie's full Sensory Based Routines Training on her Substack: https://sensoryslp.substack.com/p/engaging-the-most-difficult-to-engage?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&triedRedirect=true Many SLPs are taught that routines are a cornerstone of language development, especially for younger autistic children. But routines designed for neurotypical children often fall short because au...

One of the biggest myths in our field is that   “sensory” and “speech” live in different lanes.   In reality,   how a child processes sensory input directly impacts how they attend, regulate, move, and communicate. On this episode, we'll talk about   what sensory-informed speech therapy really looks   like in real-world settings,   how to support regulation without st...

In this episode, we're sitting down with Marge Blanc to trace the full history of Gestalt Language Processing and Natural Language Acquisition – from the earliest research, through Marge Blanc’s landmark 2005 case study, to the years of research that shaped the NLA framework used today. On this episode, you'll learn: Where Gestalt Language Processing research began – and what the original findings...

Ready to join us in the NeuroAffirm Academy & get access to our BRAND NEW NeuroAffirm Library? Click here to learn more: http://neuroaffirmacademy.com/   On this show, I'm sharing my three go-to activities that balance regulation, engagement, and skill-building – plus tips for adapting them so they stay fresh, flexible, and effective for every child. On this episode, you'll learn: How to...

Join us in the NeuroAffirm Academy to get a full training on my exact step-by-step process for training teams! http://neuroaffirmacademy.com/ Team collaboration can feel impossible – especially on teams supporting autistic kids. People often resist change, not because they’re difficult, but because they don’t feel safe, understood, or aligned. In this show, we break down why collaboration falls ap...

This episode is about resetting your priorities for the new year in a way that’s sustainable, values-driven, and actually realistic, especially for therapists who give a lot of themselves to their work. Instead of chasing goals, productivity hacks, or “new year, new you” pressure, we’ll focus on how to clarify what truly matters, identify what’s draining your time and energy, and intentionally cho...

Recently, there has been a surge of conversations and debates surrounding gestalt language processing (GLP) and the Natural Language Acquisition (NLA) Framework. Between ASHA presentations, published responses, social media discourse, and growing criticism of NLA, many clinicians are left wondering: “Is GLP valid?”, “Does the research support it?”, and “Am I doing something wrong if I don’t fully...

Trauma-informed care isn’t just about avoiding harm – it’s about intentionally creating therapy experiences where autistic kids feel safe, respected, and in control. Because trauma isn’t always a “big event.” It’s often subtle, ongoing, and woven into traditional compliance-based approaches. On this episode, you'll learn: What the core principles of trauma-informed therapy are and how to apply the...

Trauma doesn’t always look like abuse - it can be subtle, ongoing, and systemic. And for autistic kids, many “traditional” or compliance-based therapy approaches can actually retraumatize the very children we’re trying to support. In this episode, we'll break down how familiar methods like suppressing stims, forcing eye contact, withholding AAC, or correcting natural autistic communication can tri...

On this episode of the NeuroAffirm Show, we'll dive into strategies to strengthen foundational skills that make attention, focus, and daily planning easier, explore practical ways to support kids in staying on track, and share tips for building routines that actually stick.  Joined by Tera Sumpter, an SLP who specializes in executive functioning, this episode will give you actionable insights...

In this episode, we'll dive into strategies to prevent and address parental burnout, explore self-care practices that actually work, and share ways to build a supportive network for families. Hosted by Celina Wright & Casey Mouton, both clinicians and parents of disabled children, this episode will give you actionable insights you can use right away. On this episode, you'll learn: How to recog...

In this quick tip show, Chris, aka Speech Dude, will dive into how SLPs can use ChatGPT to save time, generate creative therapy ideas, and support neurodiversity-affirming practices. Whether you’re curious about AI or looking for practical ways to integrate it into your sessions, this episode is packed with insights and demos you can start using immediately. Want to learn more about using AI in yo...

Want to learn more about supporting language development in autistic trainings? Catch trainings with Melanie & Jessie inside the NeuroAffirm Therapy Academy: http://neuroaffirmacademy.com/ Today we're talking about how to decode the meaning behind repeated phrases and understand what autistic kids are really trying to say. “What if the words we’ve been trying to quiet are actually the ones we...

Get all of these activities in our NeuroAffirm Academy! https://neuroaffirmacademy.com/ Learn how to design sensory-friendly Halloween sessions that build regulation and language. Are you overwhelmed trying to plan fun, themed sensory activities? This week on our live show, we’re diving into sensory-friendly Halloween sessions that actually work. Join us to learn how to plan ready-to-use, neuroaff...

To get our "When to Refer" packet, plus tons of trainings, monthly live calls, and an incredible community, join us in the NeuroAffirm Academy: https://neuroaffirmacademy.com/ Did you know that only 15% of autistic preschoolers receive early intervention before age 2? That number should shock us all. Because the truth is, early intervention changes everything. Every $1 invested in early interventi...

Want a Strengths Assessment you can use with your clients - the kind of tool that helps families and teachers focus on possibilities instead of limits? Join the NeuroAffirm Academy to get the brand new Strengths Assessment we just released! https://www.neuroaffirmacademy.com/ We're so excited to welcome Autistic Adult Kyle Manske to the show! When Kyle was three, schools and doctors told his mom h...

Do you feel stuck with writing neurodiversity affirming goals that actually work in practice? Then tune in for this special goal writing masterclass! On this episode, we're diving into: ✔️ How to align goals with a child’s authentic communication style. ✔️ Why traditional goals often backfire and how to reframe them. ✔️ A powerful framework for writing goals rooted in access and advocacy. ✔️ Real-...

Are you ready to transform your speech sessions with your autistic clients? On the final day of the Sensory Mini Course for SLPs we're focusing on preventing dysregulation before it starts—in a way that is neurodiversity-affirming and strengths-based. In this episode, we'll explore: ✔️ Proactive strategies that honor a child’s sensory and emotional needs. ✔️ Practical tools to create a suppor...

Are you ready to transform your speech sessions with your autistic clients? Day 2 of the Sensory Mini Course for SLPs is all on sensory strategies for your speech sessions.  In this episode, we’re diving into: ✔️ How to use sensory strategies effectively in speech sessions (without turning you into an OT). ✔️ The 2 types of kids who benefit from sensory strategies —those who need se...

Are you ready to transform your speech sessions with your autistic clients? This special bonus episode kicks off our Sensory Mini Course for SLPs — and it’s all about a topic we get asked about constantly: how to support “challenging” behavior through a neuroaffirming lens. In this episode, we’ll break down: ✔️ Why kids struggle with regulation using the iceberg analogy—because behavior is just th...

Why "Just Use Your Words" Doesn't Work... and What to Do Instead! Tell me if this sounds familiar... You’re working with a neurodivergent student, and then suddenly, they shut down. Their words? Gone. They can’t communicate, and you’re left thinking, “What happened?!” Maybe you prompted them to just tell you using their words... but nothing happened. Sound familiar? Here’s the reality - dysregulat...

There’s a debate that keeps popping up in autism conversations, often whispered like a secret... "But what about autistic people who suffer? Shouldn’t they have the option to remove their autistic traits?” It’s a question rooted in misunderstanding. And it’s time to set the record straight. On this episode, we're diving into: ✔️ Why the autism “cure” narrative is harmful and how it negatively impa...

Autism vs. ADHD: What’s the Difference? Is it ADHD? Is it autism? Or both?! So many parents, educators, and even professionals struggle to tell them apart. And no wonder - there’s a LOT of overlap! But understanding the key differences is essential for supporting our neurodivergent kids in the best way possible. On this episode, we're diving into: ✔️ The core traits of ADHD & autism (and why t...