Paige Berland joins Tracie, Amy, and Lisa for a conversation about autism, advocacy, and what it means to create communities where children and families feel understood and supported.
As a licensed professional clinical counselor and board-certified behavior analyst, Paige works with autistic children with significant support needs and their families. She shares how she found her way into this work, why celebrating progress matters, and why an autism diagnosis doesn’t change who a child is.
The conversation also explores the role all of us play in creating greater inclusion. Paige encourages parents to advocate for their children and reminds us that understanding often begins with something simple: choosing curiosity over judgment.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- An autism diagnosis does not change who a child is.
- Progress may look different for every child, which makes recognizing and celebrating individual milestones important.
- Parents and caregivers can be powerful advocates for their children.
- Supporting families means supporting caregivers, too.
- Inclusion isn’t only the responsibility of parents, schools, or service providers. It takes a community.
- Curiosity and compassion can change the way we respond to people whose experiences are different from our own.
FAVORITE QUOTES:
“These kids are amazing. All we’re trying to do is help them succeed.”
“An autism diagnosis is not a bad thing. It does not change who you are.”
“Be curious rather than judgmental.”
MORE ABOUT PAIGE BERLAND:
Paige has worked in the field of ABA since 2007, and has spent time working as a behavior specialist in both the in-home and center-based settings. Paige has worked as an individual therapist, lead therapist, program supervisor, and clinical supervisor. In 2011, Paige became a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) and in 2014 became a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA).
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