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A returning, frequent guest, Occupational Therapist Maude Le Roux joins us this episode to discuss the impact of vestibular processing on the ⁠ functional emotional developmental capacities (FEDCs)⁠  in the  ⁠Developmental, Individual differences, Relationship-based (DIR®) model⁠ , or  ⁠DIRFloortime®⁠ .  Link to the show notes with links to key discussion points and other ways to view or hear the...

October is Selective Mutism Awareness Month! In this episode, speech-language pathologists Dr. Joleen Fernald , a DIR-Expert, and Lauren Kline of Bjorem Speech explain Selective Mutism and Situational Mutism and discuss Dr. Jo’s DIR-SM card deck , a developmental approach to selective mutism. Link to the show notes with links to key discussion points and other ways to view or hear the episode here...

Developmental and Clinical Psychologist Dr. Kathy Platzman from Floortime Atlanta is here to cover a few topics: the transdisciplinary approach, parent guilt, and navigating social circles for parents with neurodivergent children--a question from an Affect Autism member. Link to the show notes with links to key discussion points and other ways to view or hear the episode here: https://affectautism...

In this episode we are discussing the use of alternative and augmentative communication (AAC) with five DIRFloortime® speech-language therapists. Link to the show notes with links to key discussion points and other ways to view or hear the episode here: https://affectautism.com/2026/09/25/dialogues-8/ Consider joining our DIR® Parent Network or becoming an Affect Autism member for bonus content an...

This episode, Licensed Mental Health Counselor and DIRFloortime® Expert Training Leader, Gene Christian in Spokane, Washington ⁠is back with us⁠ to reiterate the importance of the preverbal affective gestural system to development. Gene says that this preverbal affective signalling, or non verbal communication, was the most important aspect of the ⁠Developmental, Individual differences, Relationsh...

This episode I’m pleased to welcome DIRFloortime® Expert Training Leader, Helen Groth, as my guest to discuss the dynamic process of transitions in autism. Helen gave a fabulous presentation on transitions at the that I took so much away from and I am so excited to welcome her this week to share her presentation material with us! Link to the show notes with links to key discussion points and other...

Dr. Ira Glovinsky  is a clinical psychologist in Ann Arbor, Michigan who has primarily worked with children with severe mood This episode, we discuss some important holes in clinical practice, how to notice them, and what we can do about them. with two returning guests to the podcast.  Dr. Ira Glovinsky  is a clinical psychologist in Ann Arbor, Michigan who has primarily worked with children with...

Rethinking Autism Therapy is a four-part mini-series for parents, caregivers, professionals, and Autistic individuals who want to learn about DIRFloortime®, a strength-based, developmental, relationship-driven approach to growth and connection. Can DIRFloortime® help autistic adults, too? In this final episode of the Rethinking Autism Therapy mini-series, Daria Brown is joined by clinical developm...

AUTISTIC Viewpoints⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ is a podcast hosted by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Turrell Burgess⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Daria Brown⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. On Episode 14, Turrell and Daria interview Jacob Raphael on the occasion of the release of "Miracle of the Heart" co-written with his father. Jacob shares his experience growing up autistic, his struggles with his identity, plans for his future writing projects, and more. Learn more at ⁠⁠...

An autism approach can only be as good as its implementation. To implement a developmental approach with integrity, such as DIRFloortime®, the basic concepts of focus on development over behaviour, accepting all behaviour as communication, attuning yourself to the child, and learning through play-based interactions within the context of a safe, warm, and nurturing relationship are practiced throug...

Rethinking Autism Therapy is a four-part mini-series for parents, caregivers, professionals, and Autistic individuals who want to learn about DIRFloortime®, a strength-based, developmental, relationship-driven approach to growth and connection. How does DIRFloortime® meet autistic needs in a neurodiversity-affirming way? In this third episode of the Rethinking Autism Therapy mini-series, Daria Bro...

This episode, returning guest  Occupational Therapist Stephanie Peters , DIRFloortime® Expert Training Leader and Clinical Director with  Kinder Growth , discusses the developmental considerations around sharing. Link to the show notes with links to key discussion points and other ways to view or hear the episode here: https://affectautism.com/2024/03/01/sharing/ Consider joining our DIR® Parent N...

Rethinking Autism Therapy is a four-part mini-series for parents, caregivers, professionals, and Autistic individuals who want to learn about DIRFloortime®, a strength-based, developmental, relationship-driven approach to growth and connection. What does DIRFloortime® actually feel like from the perspective of an autistic person? In this second episode of Rethinking Autism Therapy, Daria Brown is...

Setting limits with development in mind with children who have developmental differences, including autism, means being firm with compassion, warmth, empathy and respect. Being attuned to our children's emotional experience is the key to seeing their behaviour as communication, which will help us be a helpful, empathic guide rather than a dictator around disruptive behaviour. Link to the show...

Rethinking Autism Therapy is a four-part mini-series for parents, caregivers, professionals, and Autistic individuals who want to learn about DIRFloortime®, a strength-based, developmental, relationship-driven approach to growth and connection. What is DIRFloortime® and why do so many families and practitioners find it transformative? In this first episode of Rethinking Autism Therapy, Daria Brown...

David Raphael is a social worker and was the co-founder of the former  Floortime Foundation , a national organization advancing relationship-based interventions. He is here to discuss his first book,  A Miracle of the Heart: A Father and Son’s Autism Journey , co-written with his son Jacob and published on July 1 of this year. He has published essays on his family’s experience of autism in the pee...

DIR-Expert Jackie Bartell returns this episode to discuss how to provide expectations for children with developmental differences in order to foster independence and developmental progress using a ⁠Developmental, Individual differences, Relationship-based (DIR®)⁠ approach. I present a few challenges we are currently facing at home and Jackie coaches me on how to implement some straight-forward pra...

AUTISTIC Viewpoints⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ is a podcast hosted by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Turrell Burgess⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Daria Brown⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. On Episode 13, Turrell and Daria welcome extraordinary autistic guitarist Zayne Harshaw, leader of the band, Blue Spectrum , to discuss his autism journey, teaching himself guitar, discovering his musical gifts, and how music transformed his life from feeling like an outsider to finding confidence,...

This episode features three psychologists from  Rebecca School  in New York City who discuss how psychological assessments can better reflect the true abilities of neurodivergent children when viewed through a DIRFloortime® lens. They explain that traditional testing often measures a child’s ability to tolerate unfamiliar environments, demands, and sensory challenges rather than accurately capturi...

Occupational therapist and Developmental, Individual differences, Relationship-based (DIR®) Floortime Trainer ⁠Keith Landherr of Little Buddies Pediatric Therapy⁠ in the Vancouver suburbs joins us this episode to discuss what sensory integration is and why emotional attunement and respecting the child's sensory experience is essential to it with helpful tips for parents. Link to the show notes wit...

This episode we're discussing supporting regulation through the body first versus leaning on cognitive strategies to support children with pediatric occupational therapist and Advanced DIRFloortime® provider Stephanie Gagnon . Link to the show notes with links to key discussion points and other ways to view or hear the episode here: ⁠ https://affectautism.com/2026/07/10/body Consider joining o...

The topic of this episode is trauma through a ⁠DIR®⁠ lens. ⁠Maude Le Roux⁠ recently did ⁠a course on this topic through the International Council on Development and Learning (ICDL)⁠ and here she covers how to work with trauma clients through the ⁠Functional Emotional Developmental Capacities⁠ (FEDCs). This complements the previous trauma-related podcast episodes I’ve done with ⁠Galina Itskovich⁠ ,...

Kieran and  ⁠Michelle Rose⁠  return to the podcast to discuss their new community at The Autistic A dvoca te and Kieran's latest book,  ⁠ Autism – A Collection of Essays ⁠ .  They reflect on nearly a decade of advocacy, how the autism landscape has evolved, and why meaningful change depends on compassion, connection, and a willingness to keep learning. Link to the show notes with links to key...

Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Alex Klein, joins us this episode from Oakland, California where he is both in private practice and works at the  Kaiser Oakland Medical Center  assessing and providing therapy to both children and adults with neurodevelopmental differences. He trained with  Dr. Stanley Greenspan ,  Jake Greenspan and Tim Bleecker , and also with  Dr. Gil Tippy  and  Tina McCourt at...

⁠AUTISTIC Viewpoints⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ is a podcast hosted by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Turrell Burgess⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Daria Brown⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. On Episode 12, "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough," Turrell and Daria cover Michael Jackson: the new movie, the songs, the fandom, his intersection with DIRFloortime (what?!) and a few more surprises! Enjoy our special episode on the occasions of AUTISTIC Pride (June 18) and JUNETEE...