Making A Change

I knew I wanted to be a Speech-Language Pathologist at the age of 16.

From the moment I made the decision, I was drawn to work with the Autistic Community. I volunteered at summer camps for Autistic youth, minored in Autism Studies and started a campus organization to spread awareness and a better understanding of what Autism is. In graduate school, I requested placements guaranteeing hands on experience with AAC devices and supporting Autistic students while helping with Autistic adults on the weekends. After that and 7 years working at a pediatric private practice, I thought I had a clear understanding of Autism… but I was wrong.

In 2020 I read a book written by a young Autistic non-speaking boy, and it started a journey of unlearning and relearning. I thought I knew so much, but I quickly realized that much of what I thought I knew was wrong. I felt guilt and shame realizing I had subconsciously been promoting masking with previous clients.
My eyes and mind were opened, and I was humbled as I listened to Autistic voices.

Most research that I had read until this was normed on young, white boys. The research was written by and interpreted by Neurotypical minds. I was taught stereotypes, overgeneralizations, to use functioning labels, to teach neurotypical social skills, and to suppress stims and echolalia. So after listening to and talking to Autistic adults, I felt moved to make changes. Most of the changes started immediately within the walls of my therapy room: changing goals, focusing on connection and shared joy, embracing special interests, and letting the child lead the session. Then it turned into a need to take in and share as much information as possible.

After listening to personal accounts of poor mental health and researching mental health statistics within the Autistic Community, I knew I needed to do as much as I could to support these children I was seeing. So I’m here now to dedicate my professional career to supporting and embracing this community.

I’m here now to educate, empower, support, and advocate.
I’m here to amplify Autistic voices.
I’m here to teach children and adults that people experience the world differently and all minds are created equal.
I’m here to explain that the Autistic Community has their own social norms.
I’m making a necessary change and creating Inclusion Therapy Services.

#PediatricSpeechTherapy #SpeechTherapyMascoutah #SpeechTherapyOFallon #SpeechTherapyShiloh #AutismSupport #GestaltLanguageProcessing