Speech Freedom

09/06/2026

Self-advocacy systems have to be embedded class-wide. Otherwise our neurodivergent kids may not feel able to access them.

Why? Because it would mean standing out.
Drawing attention to the fact that you need help, and no one else seems to.

Many of our kids just prefer to struggle silently.

Class-wide self-advocacy systems are very possible, and they start with the teacher. The teacher introduces it, has visuals around, and then integrates the body checks and language into the daily routine.

The teacher models what it looks like, e.g. 'My brain is feeling a bit tired right now. I think I need to move my body for a minute and get a drink. Anyone else?'

Everyone has needs.
It makes sense to talk about it?

The language becomes familiar.
The process becomes safe.
Self-advocacy is scaffolded and encouraged.
Needing something different is not seen as a problem. It's just a normal thing that you get with groups of humans.

This learning benefits every kid in that space.

Please can we make it happen?

Em 🌈

08/06/2026

07/06/2026

Just preparing my talk about Selective Mutism in Autistic children and young people for The Autism & ADHD Show in London on Saturday 20th June at the Business Design Centre.

My session is called Safety Before Speech which iss something I feel genuinely passionate about.

For years, the first question in Selective Mutism intervention has been: "How do we get this child talking?" I want to suggest a different question: "What does this child need in order to feel safe enough to communicate?"

Because speech doesn't arrive through pressure. It arrives through safety. In this session I'll be sharing:

→ Why starting with speech elicitation may not always be the right first step
→ What Polyvagal Theory tells us about why speech becomes unavailable
→ The SMART STEPS model — a framework for assessing what lies underneath communication
→ Case studies from practice, including autistic young people who said simply: "I just can't"
→ Why sometimes, when we stop chasing speech and start supporting the nervous system, speech arrives anyway

This session is relevant for speech and language therapists, psychologists, SENCOs, teachers, anyone working with or supporting autistic children and young people with Selective Mutism and parents.

All sessions at the show are free to access once you're inside (first come, first served), and CPD certified.

The show runs 19–20 June at the Business Design Centre, London. Tickets at autismadhdshow.co.uk

I'd love to see you there. Come and say hello afterwards. I always learn as much from the conversations after a talk as from the talk itself.

05/06/2026

05/06/2026

Explore the power of Gestalt Language Processing and transform your communication skills with this comprehensive introduction to the dynamic world of linguistic perception and understanding.

04/06/2026

The links are in the comments on the original post. It’ll be brilliant