Therapy Center of Buda
Connect with us
  • Home
  • Services
    • Services
    • Autism/ PDA Testing
  • Our Team
  • Family Corner Blog
  • Contact
  • Pay Your Bill
  • Jobs
  • Employee Portal

Embracing neurodiversity.

3/11/2019

 
Picture
Diversity.  We all know the obvious forms of diversity; race, nationality, gender, socioeconomic status, general background, etc. But, lately I find myself discussing a lesser known type of diversity; neurodiversity.  Neurodiversity is the concept that neurological differences (e.g., Dyspraxia, Dyslexia, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Dyscalculia, Autistic Spectrum Disorders, etc.) are respected as any other human variation.  Therapy Center of Buda has always embraced diversity and we celebrate the diversity of our families.  We don’t believe in “cures” and we don’t want neurodivergent people to look neutrotypical.  In fact, suppressing the communicative efforts, including stims and non-spoken forms of communication have long been proven to be counterproductive to overall communicative and daily living success.  Rather, listening to each individual and their wants, desires, requests, and rejections is a way to honor their communication styles.   

Not long ago I had a conversation with an Autistic adult. I say “Autistic adult” because she requested I use this term versus the politically correct version of “person with Autism” as it is her preferred way to identify (in fact, it is how most Autistic adults like to be identified).  This woman was a breath of fresh air and helped me to see that my therapeutic ways of being accepting and open to exploring different communication methods with my kiddos was justified and the most appropriate therapy I could provide to my families.  She told me a story of how she was non-speaking at 2.  Her parents enrolled her in a type of therapy that was focused on getting her to comply and submit to verbal communication.  She insisted she was communicative, but not necessarily using spoken word.  She preferred non-speaking communication and was a rather shy child.  Her non-speaking communications (e.g., signs, gestures, stims, pushing/pulling) were not honored, rather only spoken communication was treated as communication.  This led to aggressive behaviors and a labeling as a “behavioral kid.” 
Another point she made was that her therapists seemed to be preoccupied with her “stims,” mainly her verbal tics and hand flapping.  She expressed a sadness that suppressing these stims were the focus of her treatment for so long as “they didn’t hurt anyone they made my body feel good… they just made the therapists feel uncomfortable.”   This broke my heart as a parent and clinician.  To me, stims are communicative.  They are ways for me to tell that I am exciting or dysregulating one of my kiddos. 
My goal for my clients is always for them to feel accepted, loved, supported, celebrated, and free to communicate their thoughts and needs in the manner that works best for them.  That is what fuels me as a speech-language pathologist.  Helping my kiddos find their respective (figurative) voices. 
I am a speech-language pathologist.  I am a Certified Autism Specialist.  I am a clinic owner and director.  I embrace neurodiversity. 
Picture

Comments are closed.
    A smiling woman with light skin, shoulder-length dark brown hair, and large dark-framed glasses. She is wearing a maroon top with a black cardigan and a delicate necklace. The background is white, and the image is cropped in a circular frame. Picture of Amy Grant

    Author

    Amy Grant is a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist and Clinic Director of Therapy Center of Buda. Special Focus: Autism/ ADHD

    Learn More About Amy
    View my profile on LinkedIn
    Family Corner Blog
    Learn parenting tips, access credible resources on disabilities and find out how to bring therapy techniques home with you to make parenting a little bit easier.  Legal Disclaimer

    Categories

    All
    ADHD
    ADLs
    Advocacy
    After School Therapy
    Apraxia
    Articulation
    AuDHD
    Autism
    Communication
    Developmental Milestones
    Developmental Toys
    Down Syndrome
    Dysgraphia
    Dyslexia
    Echolalia
    Events
    Family Support
    Feeding And Swallowing
    General
    Handwriting
    Language Delays
    Learning Disabilities
    Narrative Langauge
    Neurodiversity Affirming
    Occupational Therapy
    Parenting Tips
    Perseveration
    Potty Training
    Pragmatic Language
    School
    Sensory Integration
    Speech Language Therapy
    Speech-Language Therapy
    Stuttering
    Tongue Tie
    Written Language
    W Sitting
    W-Sitting

    Subscribe

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    June 2025
    July 2024
    March 2023
    September 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    October 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    September 2017
    August 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    January 2017
    October 2016
    August 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    March 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014

Therapy Center of Buda

Contact 
Therapy Services
Our Team
Logo of the Therapy Center of Buda featuring a neurodiversity infinity symbol in a rainbow watercolor style. The words

WHAT OUR PARENTS SAY 

I am so happy with the care my daughter gets here. Everyone is helpful and patient. Amy took extra time 
with me and my wife to explain exactly what was happening with my daughter and explain how therapy was going to help. I love that she involves us in the sessions and we have seen major improvements. I would recommend this clinic to anyone!
-Paul S.
I can't say enough about how much my son has progressed and continues to progress in their care. The love and compassion, professional atmosphere, and top notch therapists make this place the best in central Texas. We are forever grateful to Amy Grant, Miss Angeli, Suzie and Brandi.


- Amy P.
Photos from stevendepolo, stevendepolo, stevendepolo, stevendepolo