Jan 30 2025 25 mins
This podcast episode dives deep into the importance of collaboration across therapy disciplines, particularly between speech-language pathology and applied behavior analysis (ABA). Rachel Terrell, an experienced speech-language pathologist, shares her journey toward embracing neurodiversity-affirming practices, emphasizing the need for child-led play and collaboration to better support neurodivergent individuals. Rachel discusses the challenges and successes of working within compliance-based frameworks while advocating for more inclusive, empowering approaches to therapy. Listeners will gain valuable insights into how to effectively communicate and collaborate with other professionals, as well as the critical role families play in this process. With actionable strategies and real-life examples, this episode aims to inspire therapists to break down barriers and foster unity in the healthcare landscape.
Links referenced in this episode:
Takeaways:
- Collaboration across disciplines in therapy is essential for supporting neurodivergent clients effectively.
- Neurodiversity affirming practices focus on empowering clients to embrace their authentic selves.
- Building relationships with BCBAs and RBTs requires open communication and shared goals for clients.
- Parents play a crucial role in advocating for their child's needs during therapy.
- Modeling language and child-led play at home enhances communication and social skills.
- Effective co-treatment sessions foster connections between therapists and clients, leading to better outcomes.