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Neurotwist: A Speech Pathologist's Journey Through Neurodiversity

Neurotwist: A Speech Pathologist's Journey Through Neurodiversity
Author: Emily Starling
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© Emily Starling
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Welcome to the 'Neurotwist' podcast, your guide to neurodiversity in speech therapy and beyond. Explore best practices, the neurodiversity paradigm shift, and personal autism stories. Our host, an SLP and autistic person, offers unique insights for families, professionals, and the curious. Tune in for an enlightening journey!
32 Episodes
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On this episode, Tor from Playtime with Tor joins to share her love of Gestalt Language Processing! She tells us about how she learned about GLP, gaining confidence with implementing these strategies, and of course, the incredible success of her YouTube channel "Playtime wit Tor", where she creates videos demonstrating language modeling strategies for GLPs. I hope you enjoy the episode!
Playtime with Tor on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@playtimewithtorWebsite: https://www.mybeachteacherspeechtherapy.com/category/all-products
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On today's episode, Erin A, the parent behind the Instagram account @spinsandstomps joins to discuss all of the ways her parenting has changed as a result of discovering her child's neurodivergent identity. She shares about how she incorporates lower demands into her home routines, Gestalt processing, and how AAC has benefitted her family. I hope you enjoy our conversation!
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https://www.spinsandstomps.com
Spins and Stomps Shop
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On today's episode, I am joined by Daj Mitchell, an SLP with a background in ABA who has embraced the value of collaboration in across therapy fields. After briefly exploring an additional BCBA certification, she dove into neurodiversity-affirming practices, but discusses the importance of keeping the door open with this influential service in the autism space. This wide-ranging conversation aims to explore the nuances of ABA and its positioning in relation to the neurodiversity movement. I hope that you enjoy it!
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Daj's links
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On today's episode, BCBA Jenny Sun Lai joins the podcast to talk about the professional journey she has taken as an ABA provider implementing neuro-affirming practices. She takes us through the history of ABA and how herself and other providers have evolved their practices, specificaly highlighting Dr Ross Green's Collaborative and Proactive Solutions model. I hope you enjoy this conversation!
Jenny would like to highlight these Instagram accounts of BIPOC autistic creators:
@autie.analyst
@kaishawna_music
@fidgets.and.fries
@colorofautism
@nigh.functioning.autism
@angry_autist
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Private practice SLP Kaitlin Mulcahey joins this episode to talk about how her neurodivergent mind impacts her clinical perspectives and how she approaches potentially complex conversations with her families. We cover a range of topics including how to help families embrace neurodiversity, discussing AAC and implementation, and continuously advocating for the needs of our clients.
Hope you enjoyed the episode!
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On today's episode, I am joined by Dyan Robson who runs the website and Instagram page "And Next Comes L", where she has made it her mission to spread to word about hyperlexia. In our conversation we go over the basics of what hyperlexia is, talk about her family's experience with embracing and supporting hyperlexia, and some ideas for how to support hyperlexic learners in your life. We also talk briefly about whether I may be hyperlexic myself!
Hope you enjoyed the episode!
Dyan's free Hyperlexia Handbook: https://www.andnextcomesl.com/p/hyperlexia-handbook.html
Website: https://www.andnextcomesL.com
Blog post on hyperlexia in adults: https://www.andnextcomesl.com/2024/01/hyperlexia-in-adults.html
Book: Drawing a Blank: Improving Comprehension for Readers on the Autism Spectrum by Emily Iland
What is Hyperlexia? PDF: http://judyanddavid.com/cha/whatishyperlexia.pdf
Hyperlexia: Therapy that Works Manual: https://chatwithus.org/conditions/hyperlexia/
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On today's episode, I am joined by the wonderful Maria De Leon, M.S., CCC-SLP to talk about all things cultural sensitivity and AAC. Maria shares tips for what we should consider when creating and editing systems for multilingual families, how our own culture can impact us as clinicians, and what monolingual, white SLPs can do to make sure AAC implementation is meeting the needs of every family we serve.
Hope you enjoyed the episode!
Check out https://www.bilingueaac.com/
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On today's episode, I am joined by The Neuroaffirming Parent, who runs and account on Instagram dedicated to advocacy in the name of neurodiversity acceptance and inclusion. Our discussion today is focused on education, and her journey as a parent advocating for the needs of her children as well as the philosophies that guide her homeschooling journey.
Hope you enjoy today's episode!
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On today's episode of Neurotwist, I am joined by my mother, an experienced educator and elementary school principal. She has a wealth of experience working with students from a variety of backgrounds, especially in "Title 1" category schools in Texas. She shares about her experiences and perspectives on the educational system and how it serves neurodivergent students, and we also reflect on my upbringing and how my eventual autism diagnosis impacted her perspectives.
Hope you enjoyed the episode!
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It's about time for winter break, which means it's time to check in on those IEPs! Destiny Huff, MS, LPC, CPCS, educational advocate, joins us on this episode to share what she sees parents concerned with at this point in the school year regarding their child's IEP, including ensuring that accommodations are being used, whether or not the IEP is appropriate for the student, and how to remedy any areas that are not working for their child.
Please visit Destiny's website to learn more about her services!
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Register for the 1-hour Neurodiversity-Affirming Practices in Early Intervention Webinar
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In this episode, I am joined by children's book author and educator Chandele Morris to discuss the state of neurodiversity and inclusion in the public education system. We discuss her experiences as a teacher and parent of a child with an IEP, how she write stories to represent real experiences of neurodivergent kids, and ways that parents can advocate for their child within the school system. I hope you enjoy our discussion!
Check out Chandele's books on Amazon!
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Register for the 1-hour Neurodiversity-Affirming Practices in Early Intervention Webinar
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In this episode, Erin Forward, MSP, CCC-SLP, CLC from the First Bite podcast joins the show to share what she's learned about incorporating neurodiversity and trauma-informed practices into feeding therapy. We discuss the importance of using an affirming lens in feeding therapy, keeping the very real concerns of caregivers in mind while honoring the bodily autonomy of our patients, and why systematic approaches to feeding therapy may not be best practice. This episode is full of wisdom that I know you'll enjoy!
Erin's resources: ICDL Floortime and the work of OT Kim Barthel
Listen to the podcast First Bite which Erin co-hosts!
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In today's episode, I am joined by "Sensory SLP" Jessie Ginsburg to talk about the importance of sensory regulation for learning and language development, and how home-based therapists can incorporate these strategies into their sessions. She gives her insight into how to get family buy-in for sensory strategies, an overview of arousal levels and what they mean for engagement, and why sensory is not just about tolerance for certain tasks or environments. I hope you enjoy this episode!
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Check out her website for more information on sensory resources, free trainings and the Inside Out Sensory Certificate Course.
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On today's episode of Neurotwist, Early Childhood Intervention SLP Rachel Anton joins the show for a discussion about all things neurodiversity in the early intervention setting. Fresh off her CF year, Rachel shares about what she has learned to make incorporating affirming care into caregiver coaching more successful, and we commiserate about the unique challenges that therapists can face in this setting. I hope you enjoy this conversation and that it gives you plenty to reflect on!
I have a new Instagram handle! Find it here
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On this episode of Neurotwist, we hear from Angie Evenich, M.S., CF-SLP, who is a clinician with cerebral palsy. She shares about her experiences as a graduate student and clinician, giving insight into navigating the accommodations process as a student, the barriers to entry in the grad school application process, and what clinical educators can do to improve their mentorship of disabled students. I know that you'll find much wisdom in what she shares!
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In this episode, we are joined by "The Musical SLP", Corinne Zmoos, MS, CCC-SLP, CMT to discuss the many ways that music and musicality impact and are effective with gestalt language processors. Join us as we explore music theory's effects on the brain, the importance of "whole body" learning experiences, and where you can start with incorporating music into your therapy, even if you can't hold a tune!
Corinne's course "The Melody Method" is launching on October 1st, 2023! Link to register
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This is the FINAL episode of the Prep for an Affirming School Year series! On today's episode, Anima Mishra, MS, CCC-SLP, CAS, ADHD-CRSP joins to open up the conversation about how culture intersects with neurodiversity. We discuss the nuances in how disability and neurodiversity are viewed throughout the world, how the education system in different areas play a part, and how where and when you're born impacts diagnosis and intervention. This episode just scratches the surface of this discussion, so I hope that it gives you bits to think about as you enter the school year.
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Cover art by Ed Magdaleno
This is episode 7 of the Prep for an Affirming School Year series and parents, this one is for you! Julie Carter, Education Rights Lawyer joins us to break down what IDEA is, the rights that a child and family has under this law, and how it can provide opportunity for neurodiversity-affirming services and supports. This episode is jam-packed with information that you do not want to miss!
Disclaimer: This episode is not legal advice, and is meant to be general information about the law as it relates to special education. If you need legal counsel, please seek out an attorney in your area.
Resources:
https://juliecarterlaw.com/special-education-rights-resources/
https://www.wrightslaw.com/
https://www.ndrn.org/
https://www.copaa.org/
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Welcome to Episode 6 of the Prep for an Affirming School Year series! Today we hear from Emma Weiner, MS, OTR/L about how neurodiversity-affirming supports can be implemented into the adult transition period of a student's school experience. Through her unique role at a residency school for neurodivergent high schoolers and young adults, she has learned how to make learning experiences meaningful for a student's "real life" and how building connections truly leads to the real work of therapy. I hope you enjoy the conversation as much as I did!
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On this 5th episode of the Prep for an Affirming School Year series, Katelyn Kelps, M.S., CCC-SLP from The Communication Classroom joins us to talk about neurodiversity-affirming practices at the high school level. You'll hear about how she ensures that the student is at the center of their IEP and services, shifts her colleagues perspective of what "real life" means, and uses authentic connection to make meaningful progress.
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