Dr. Kristie Patten Ph.D., OT/L, FAOTA, recipient of the highest academic achievement award of the American Occupational Therapy Association- the Eleanor Clarke Slagle Lectureship for this year- 2022, is our esteemed guest in this episode. 

Dr. Patten is an exemplary OT whose research is focused on using a strengths-based paradigm as well as the perspectives of autistic individuals to understand and impact interventions in public schools for children on the autism spectrum in inclusive settings. Dr. Patten is the Principal Investigator of NYU Steinhardt's ASD Nest Program, an inclusive program for children and adolescents with autism in the New York City Department of Education. She is currently Co-PI of an NSF grant entitled "IDEAS: Inventing, Designing, and Engineering on the Autism Spectrum" that leverages STEM interests of middle school students with autism to develop social competence and potential career pathways. Dr. Patten teaches professional and post-professional courses in the area of pediatric intervention, school-based practice and inclusion, and strength-based approaches for individuals with Autism. Dr. Patten has published and presented nationally and internationally on topics related to examining the efficacy of public school interventions and examining autism from a strength-based or abilities-based model. 

Articles Referred to:

Shifting Focus From Impairment to Inclusion: Expanding Occupational Therapy for Neurodivergent Students to Address School Environments 

"A different environment for success:” a mixed-methods exploration of social participation outcomes among adolescents on the autism spectrum in an inclusive, interest-based school club 

Book- Neurotribes: The Legacy of Autism and the Future of Neurodiversity by Steve Silberman 

Check out the website for episode transcripts- www.inclusiveoccupations.com