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“Stop hiding what they love” sounds almost too simple, but it can change everything. I’m joined by Sue Goluback and Staci Neustadt from Making Sense of Autism for a conversation that challenges the old autism playbook and replaces it with something more human: neuroaffirming, strength-based autism support that starts with the individual, not a standardized score. Sue shares what it was like to grow up knowing she was different, only to receive an autism diagnosis at 50, and how that journey shaped her work in occupational therapy, assistive technology, and autistic advocacy.
We dig into why so many traditional autism assessments compare autistic people to neurotypical development, and why that “apples to oranges” approach can lead to goals that don’t match what the child actually needs or wants. Staci, a speech-language pathologist, explains how shifting the lens from compliance to connection helps parents and professionals understand behavior as communication. We talk sensory processing, nervous system regulation, executive functioning, and why kids cannot access functional communication when they’re overwhelmed or dysregulated.
You’ll also hear one of my favorite examples: a child who loved clocks, and how honoring that special interest opened the door to real learning instead of shame and shutdown. We cover how their tools and trainings support schools, therapists, and families, plus why autistic adults deserve resources that help them finally understand themselves. If you care about practical strategies, better IEP conversations, and autism supports that respect identity, this one is for you.
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