How We Can Do Better For Autistic Kids
We’re really missing the mark for our Autistic kids.
It’s time to stop saying we don’t know any better…
We KNOW that not accepting people for who they are is emotionally damaging.
We KNOW that telling people it’s not ok to be themselves is emotionally damaging.
We KNOW that making kids feel like they aren’t good enough is emotionally damaging.
We know better. It’s time we do better.
We need to make sure we are prioritizing Autistic mental health.
Because depression & suicide rates are high in the Autistic population.
I’ve talked to a lot of Autistic adults who have told me that they masked their Autistic traits for so long that they actually lost their true identity.
There is a great quote by Brene Brown that states “Fitting in is about assessing a situation and becoming who you need to be to be accepted. Belonging, on the other hand, doesn’t require us to change who we are; it requires us to be who we are.”
Fitting in is the opposite of belonging. When your goal is to “fit in” you change who you truly are.
We should be encouraging our kids to find a community where they belong.
And that starts by us, their teachers, parents, providers, etc, embracing them for who they are.
So here are the top ways you can support the emotional wellbeing of your Autistic kids:
- Make sure your goals are neurodiversity affirming. The goal should not be to change the child but to provide the supports they need to be successful.
- Talk about the differences in neurotypical vs neurodivergent communication and social styles.
- Help kids to understand and advocate for their needs.
- Surround them with peers who accept them and make them feel included
- Put emotional wellbeing first before any other part of therapy
It’s time we move from knowing better to actually doing better.
If you are an SLP and you’re ready to learn more about the exact steps you should take in your sessions to support the emotional wellbeing of your clients starting TOMORROW, then make sure you check the Neurodiversity Affirming Therapy Academy.
The ND Affirming Therapy Academy is your one stop shop for all things ND affirming.
When you join the ND Affirming Therapy Academy you will get a library full of resources, live calls with our Autistic mentor, and all the CEUs you need for a year, in everything ND affirming!
>> Click here to learn more about becoming a member of the Neurodiversity Affirming Therapy Academy
And if you want to hear more about my thoughts on supporting Autistic mental health, check out this episode of my live show that I recorded with partner Chris: How We Can Do Better For Autistic Kids, Making the Shift Ep. 76
