Jessica Ellis-Alvarez, M.S., CCc-Slp, TSSLD

02/23/2024

Making the case for child-led play and therapy, IYKYK

08/24/2023

Updated terminology! Let’s change it up!

It’s time to change our outdated terminology!

*These are my own opinions, as an autistic therapist who uses neuroaffirming terminology in report writing. These may not reflect all autistic individual’s opinions.

Unfortunately I’ve turned off comments to protect myself and my own needs as an autistic person who experiences RSD.

04/12/2023

Amazing opportunity to take this course

Reframing Autism is pleased to introduce Autism Essentials - our free, self-paced online course that provides a neuro-affirming understanding of Autism.

Check it out here: https://reframing-autism-s-school.teachable.com/p/autism-essentials

This course is designed for a wide variety of lived experiences as well as different levels of pre-existing knowledge about Autism - from those that are totally new to the topic to those that have formal education in Autism.

Whether you are Autistic, formally diagnosed, self-identified or think you might be Autistic, a family member or loved one of an Autistic person, a researcher, teacher, other professional, or ally, we hope you learn something new or deepen and extend your existing knowledge of Autism and the Autistic community.

The course focuses on five main areas:
• Language
• What Is Autism?
• Brain Differences
• Communication and Socialising
• Thinking and Processing

All learners access the same base information in the course, but each topic has multiple worksheets available for different levels of knowledge about Autism. You can choose to complete the level that best fits your knowledge to customise your learning in a way that works for you.

Image description: The Reframing Autism logo is on a dusty rose background with the text: Reframing Autism is excited to present our free online self-paced course Autism Essentials, followed by https://reframing-autism-s-school.teachable.com/p/autism-essentials

03/16/2023

This right here, this is our job. To learn their brain and give accommodations. Provide communication strategies. Access to robust communication systems as early learners.

Speech pathologists.
Psychologists.
Educators.
Parents.
Doctors.
Therapists.

Isn’t it brilliant to know that it is not, in fact, our job to make our kids seem less Autistic? I’m thrilled.

It’s actually our job to help them be happy with their Autistic selves. To learn about their brain. To explore their sensory processing differences and work out accommodations. To give them opportunities for authentic joy and unmasked communication. To help them discover their strengths. To learn who they are and celebrate them. To love and love and love some more, and to meet them with empathy, curiosity, kindness, and radical acceptance.

That is our job.

Em ☺️🌈🌻
AuDHD SLP