I began working with individuals with Neurodiversities (e.g., Autism Spectrum Disorders, Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder, etc.) early in my career as a speech-language pathologist almost twenty-nine years ago. At that time, we knew very little about many of the different Neurodiversities, and about the needs of those individuals who had neurodivergent brains (e.g., Autism Spectrum Disorders, Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder, etc.)
As I've had a chance to work with many individuals with Neurodiversities over the years, in a variety of environments (including: clinics, day training and habilitation centers, day treatment, over 15 years in schools, and in private practice), I’ve learned a great deal both about myself as a practitioner, and about the needs of these individuals. First and foremost, I have learned that each individual is just that, an individual. Each person has their own distinctive hopes, dreams, gifts, talents, and needs.
I have dedicated my career to learning, and sharing with others, information about working with individuals with Neurodiversities. I have challenged myself, and others, to see the unique opportunity that we have to work with each of these remarkable people that it has been our honor to serve. I have worked with families and teams to re-define how we see individuals with Neurodiversities, and to address those ableist** beliefs, language, and views, that we may have that interfere with individuals' abilities to meet their fullest potentials.
**Ableism is a form of discrimination or prejudice against individuals with physical, mental, or developmental disabilities that is characterized by the belief that these individuals need to be fixed or cannot function as full members of society (Castañeda & Peters, 2000).
Originally, I wrote this page about my history of services with individuals with ASD. I've realized both during my own reflections, and in discussions with individuals with Neurodiversities and families, that this page really describes my overall history with individuals with a broader range of Neurodiversities (including those with Autism, ADHD, Dyslexia, etc.).
As I've had a chance to work with many individuals with Neurodiversities over the years, in a variety of environments (including: clinics, day training and habilitation centers, day treatment, over 15 years in schools, and in private practice), I’ve learned a great deal both about myself as a practitioner, and about the needs of these individuals. First and foremost, I have learned that each individual is just that, an individual. Each person has their own distinctive hopes, dreams, gifts, talents, and needs.
I have dedicated my career to learning, and sharing with others, information about working with individuals with Neurodiversities. I have challenged myself, and others, to see the unique opportunity that we have to work with each of these remarkable people that it has been our honor to serve. I have worked with families and teams to re-define how we see individuals with Neurodiversities, and to address those ableist** beliefs, language, and views, that we may have that interfere with individuals' abilities to meet their fullest potentials.
**Ableism is a form of discrimination or prejudice against individuals with physical, mental, or developmental disabilities that is characterized by the belief that these individuals need to be fixed or cannot function as full members of society (Castañeda & Peters, 2000).
Originally, I wrote this page about my history of services with individuals with ASD. I've realized both during my own reflections, and in discussions with individuals with Neurodiversities and families, that this page really describes my overall history with individuals with a broader range of Neurodiversities (including those with Autism, ADHD, Dyslexia, etc.).