The NeuroAffirm Podcast

The NeuroAffirm Podcast

Hosted by: Speech Dude & Sensory SLP

We're Jessie & Chris, an SLP couple from California with 5 boys and a passion for finding better ways to support Autistic kids. Join us weekly to learn neurodiversity affirming ways to strengthen social-emotional...

Episodes

Ep. 71: When Kids Aren’t Picking Up On AAC

Season #1

When you’ve introduced AAC…but you feel like there’s no progress…what should you do? Sometimes just getting a device in a child’s hand feels like a major win. But what do you do when you’ve been trying and trying with...
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Ep. 70: Avoid these Goals for Autistic Kids

Season #1

Let’s face it. A lot of goals that are still being written for Autistic kids….well, they suck. This may come across as harsh but some of these goals truly do more harm than good. I genuinely believe that. So why are...
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Ep. 69: Navigating Autism & ADHD Assessments Ft. Neuropsychologist Dr. Wilson

Season #1

This week on Making the Shift, we are sitting down with Dr. Karen Wilson, a renowned clinical neuropsychologist and the founder of ChildNEXUS to discuss the importance of differential diagnosis in neurodivergent...
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Ep. 68: Best Ways to Support Nonspeaking Autistic Children

Season #1

In this week's episode of Making the Shift, we’re breaking down the absolute most powerful ways you can support nonspeaking Autistic children. On this episode, we're discussing: why kids may not be speaking, when to...
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Ep. 67: Autistic Representation on the Big Screen ft. Ezra Associate Producer Alex Plank

Season #1

A few weeks ago we were invited to attend the screening of the movie Ezra. And I’m still pinching myself. I reached out to the associate producer of the movie, Alex Plank, and he agreed to be interviewed on our live...
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Ep. 66: What If Speech Therapy Doesn't Feel Right? Ft. Parent & Advocate Sandy Hughes

Season #1

What if it doesn’t feel right? In this episode, you get to meet Sandy Hughes, parent of an Autistic son who found Jessie on Instagram and then started therapy in her clinic. Join Sandy as she shares her powerful...
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Ep. 65: Neurodiversity Affirming Therapy in Our Clinic

Season #1

On this episode of Making the Shift, I'm sitting down with my clinic's Speech & Language Program Director Emily Byers Chaney and we are talking about how we've been implementing ND affirming practices over the...
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Ep. 64: How to Help Autistic Kids Communicate

Season #1

This week on Making the Shift, we're celebrating the release of Jessie's brand new already BEST SELLING book, Ready Set Connect. We're diving into WHY a book like this is so important, and the very hard lessons that...
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Ep. 63: Does My Child Have PDA?

Season #1

In this powerful episode with Child Psychologist Dr. Tay, we dive into characteristics of a child with a PDA profile...many you likely haven't heard of! PDA is known as Pathological Demand Avoidance, but we like to...
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Ep. 62: Sensory Tips for In Home Therapists

Season #1

This week on the Making the Shift we are diving into using sensory strategies for in-home therapists. And we have a special guest! I am so excited to sit down with Melanie Weber to talk about using sensory strategies...
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Ep. 61: Enhancing Your Sensory Approach in a Clinic Setting

Season #1

This week on Making the Shift we have a special guest! I am so excited to sit down with Celina Wright to talk about implementing a sensory-based approach in a clinic setting. Celina is my right hand woman and has...
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Ep. 60: How Do I Bring Up Autism to Families

Season #1

How confident do you feel bringing up autism to families? Early in my career as an SLP this was really hard for me. But I know now that it is a disservice to the child and their family to wait to have that...
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