In today's episode, we're diving deep into neuro-affirming care, and trust us, it’s way more than just a buzzword! We'll break it all down for you and talk about the ethical practice of honoring neurodiverse individuals and the massive strides that fields like ABA and SLP have made over the years.

Throughout this episode, we'll be pulling from our own experiences as clinicians to shine a light on how our understanding of neurodiversity has evolved—and why it matters. We’ll be chatting about the importance of recognizing each individual’s unique communication style and the need for a shift from compliance-focused practices to fostering real connections. So whether you’re a parent, a pro, or just curious, tune in as we explore how to celebrate and support neurodiversity in all its wonderful forms!

Timestamps:

(01:21) - Welcome

(03:11) - Introduction to Neuro Affirming Care

(12:49) - The Shift from Medical to Social Models of Disability

(20:41) - The History and Ethics of ABA

(32:25) - Controversy and Ethical Concerns in ABA

(47:22) - Understanding Neuro-Affirming Practices

(50:35) - Shifting the Narrative in Assessment Practices

(01:01:28) - Shifting Perspectives in SLP

Articles Mentioned In This Episode:

• Breaux, C. A. (2024). Assent practices in applied behavior analysis: the correlation between self-reported changes in practices and continuing education related to assent (Doctoral dissertation, University of Missouri--Columbia).
• Ghaemmaghami, M., Ruppel, K., Cammilleri, A. P., Fiani, T., & Hanley, G. P. (2024). Toward Compassion in the Assessment and Treatment of Severe Problem Behavior. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 1-14.
• Gorycki, K. A., Ruppel, P. R., & Zane, T. (2020). Is long-term ABA therapy abusive: A response to Sandoval-Norton and Shkedy. Cogent Psychology, 7(1), 1823615.
• Kirby, M. S., Spencer, T. D., & Spiker, S. T. (2022). Humble behaviorism redux. Behavior and Social Issues, 31(1), 133-158.
• Lamoureux, G.; Tessier, A.; Finlay, S.; Verduyckt, I. Critical Perspectives in Speech-Language Therapy: Towards Inclusive and Empowering Language Practices. Disabilities 2024, 4, 1006–1018.
• Leadbitter, K., Buckle, K. L., Ellis, C., & Dekker, M. (2021). Autistic self-advocacy and the neurodiversity movement: Implications for autism early intervention research and practice. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 635690.
• Kapp, S. K., Steward, R., Crane, L., Elliott, D., Elphick, C., Pellicano, E., & Russell, G. (2019). ‘People should be allowed to do what they like’: Autistic adults’ views and experiences of stimming. Autism, 23(7), 1782–1792. https://doi.org/10.1177/1362361319829628
• Mathur, S. K., Renz, E., & Tarbox, J. (2024). Affirming Neurodiversity within Applied Behavior Analysis. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 1-15.
• Sandoval-Norton, A. H., Shkedy, G., & Shkedy, D. (2019). How much compliance is too much compliance: Is long-term ABA therapy abuse?. Cogent Psychology, 6(1), 1641258.
• Veneziano, J., & Shea, S. (2023). They have a Voice; are we Listening?. Behavior analysis in practice, 16(1), 127-144.

Neuro-Affirming IG Pages We Love:

• ABA Visualized
• ABAspeechbyrose
• ThepsychobabbleBCBAs

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