First Bite #179 – April 06, 2022

Embracing Neurodiversity-Affirming Practices with Meg Proctor from “Two-Sides of the Spectrum” Podcast

(.1 ASHA and AOTA CEUs) For more info, click here.

Course Description

In this episode, Michelle and Erin are joined by Meg Proctor, MS OTR/L, who is an occupational therapist and the founder of Learn Play Thrive, LLC, and host of “Two Sides of the Spectrum”, a twice-monthly podcast that is dedicated to exploring research, amplifying autistic voices, and changing the way we think about autism in life and in professional therapy practice. In this episode, Meg shares her passion as to what neurodiversity-affirming practice means and why it should matter to the pediatric speech-language pathologist. She guides us through a crucial conversation of what practice shifts we need to make when working with autistic kids, what barriers clinicians can face when implementing strengths-based neurodiversity-affirming practices, and most critically how we can overcome these barriers to make therapy functional and joyful while embracing and respecting each child we work with. Y’all this is the tip of the iceberg for the changes we need to embrace…but, with Meg’s insight about how we can be guided by autistic voices around us, we are starting the journey together!

Objective

By the end of this PodCourse, participants will be able to identify and describe:

  • Neurodiversity-affirming practice.
  • 2 key area of practice that need to change when working with an autistic kid.
  • 2 barriers clinicians face using strengths-based, neurodiversity-affirming practices and how to overcome them.

Co-Presenter

Meg Proctor, MS OTR/L

Meg Proctor, MS OTR/L is an occupational therapist and the founder of Learn Play Thrive, LLC. Meg teaches and trains other therapists how to use an in-depth understanding of autism learning styles and strengths to become more confident and effective in their work. Meg previously worked in early intervention, schools, clinics, and as a clinical faculty member for UNC Chapel Hill’s TEACCH ® Autism Program. At Learn Play Thrive, she now collaborates with autistic adults to create neurodiversity-affirming continuing education trainings that are practical, strengths-based, and transformative.