Affect Autism Blog Posts and Podcast
Home of the "We chose play" podcastEverything you need to know to implement and practice DIRFloortime®
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Bicycle Lessons 4 All
PHOTO CREDIT: Yan KrukovThis episode's guest is Tammy Bishop in Florida who has been an occupational therapist since 1999. She operates a service called Bicycle Lessons 4 All where she teaches autistic kids and individuals of all abilities to ride a bicycle. We met...
Pre-Social Abilities Are Pre-Communication
PHOTO CREDIT: Jason LeungMary Beth Stark joins us this episode from Atlanta where she has been a speech and language pathologist for over 40 years at Floortime Atlanta and is a DIRFloortime® Expert Training Leader. Our topic is about pre-social abilities as...
Neurodiversity-Affirming Support in DIR®-Informed Music Therapy
PHOTO CREDIT: cottonbro studioThis Episode's GuestDane Wagner is a music therapist at Celebrate the Children, a DIRFloortime® school in New Jersey, who has been working with the autistic population for 12 years. He started his Floortime journey as an intern at the...
Olas de Conexión: Surfeando el Enfoque Floortime
CRÉDITO DE LA FOTO: Disfrutar El Mar*NUEVO Reuniones de apoyo para padres en español, quincenales los viernes a la 1:00 PM, hora del Este, facilitado por la madre Mary Santiago (Spanish parent support meetings, bi-weekly on Fridays at 1:00 PM Eastern time facilitated...
Waves of Connection: Surfing the Floortime Approach
CRÉDITO DE LA FOTO: Disfrutar El MarOn this Episode...Simone Tiemann is a Floortime-trained sensory integration occupational therapist on the north coast of Spain in Santander who sees clients with developmental challenges and differences in her clinic and runs an...
Let’s Talk About Autism Inclusion this April
On this Episode...The International Council on Development and Learning (ICDL) Board President, autistic self-advocate, Dr. Emile Gouws and I discuss April's month of autism awareness, acceptance, and appreciation, and the need to move towards action and inclusion....
Perspectivas de los Padres: Reuniones de Apoyo para Padres Floortime
CRÉDITO DE LA FOTO: Emma Bauso*NUEVO Reuniones de apoyo para padres en español, quincenales los viernes a la 1:00 PM, hora del Este, facilitado por la madre Mary Santiago (Spanish parent support meetings, bi-weekly on Fridays at 1:00 PM Eastern time facilitated by...
DIR® Dialogues: Floortime Around the World
PHOTO CREDIT: Mikhail NilovDIR® DialoguesThis marks the second edition of DIR® Dialogues from Affect Autism! This new podcast features Practitioner Panels–this one featuring five international DIRFloortime® Expert Training Leaders discussing Floortime around the...
Joyfully Together: Collaboration in the DIRFloortime® Approach
PHOTO CREDIT: Baby Steps TherapyThis Episode's GuestsMary Beth Crawford is a licensed physical therapist and DIRFloortime® Expert and Training Leader who founded Baby Steps Therapy in 2008, a DIR® clinic offering physical therapy, speech therapy and occupational...
Following the Child’s Emotional Intent
PHOTO CREDIT: RDNE Stock projectThis Episode's GuestGerman Psychologist Sibylle Janert is a DIRFloortime® Expert and Training Leader who teaches DIR® courses in the UK in English and in German in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. She also offers Floortime coaching to...
Parent Perspectives: Finding and Holding on to Floortime
PHOTO CREDIT: Vika GlitterOn this Episode...On this edition of Parent Perspectives, I am interviewing three Buffalo area families about their struggles finding, accessing, and keeping DIRFloortime® services and how it has changed their view of their neurodivergent...
DIR® Dialogues: Parent Practitioners
PHOTO CREDIT: Kampus ProductionA New Podcast!This marks the first edition of DIR® Dialogues from Affect Autism! This new podcast will include Practitioner Panels–the first one featuring parent practitioners! DIR® Dialogues will be an addition to the usual podcasts. I...
DIR® and the Science of Hope
PHOTO CREDIT: Pixabay On this Episode...My returning guest is Licensed Professional Counselor, Mike Fields, who is an Expert Developmental, Individual differences, Relationship-based (DIR®) Training Leader at several clinics including a Across All Ages, a new...
Intensives at the DIR® Institute
PHOTO CREDIT: ICDL, Inc.On this Episode...On this episode, my guests are Educator Becky Gottlieb, who is the Floortime Intensives Program Coordinator at ICDL's DIR® Institute in New Jersey, and Occupational Therapist, Gretchen Kamke, who is ICDL's Accreditation...
Floortime Supports Parental Self-Efficacy
PHOTO CREDIT: Affect AutismOn this Episode...My returning guest is Dr. Colette Ryan, an Infant Mental Health Specialist who is a DIRFloortime® Expert Training Leader and who is part of a group starting up a new Floortime school in Toyko, Japan, called the...
Diagnosing Autism in Girls and Women
This Episode's TopicThere's been a lot of talk about how autistic girls are not recognized and diagnosed and on social media around many women being diagnosed as autistic after their children are diagnosed. Dr. Robert Naseef has been diagnosing children and adults...
Co-Regulation through Affective Signalling
PHOTO CREDIT: Monstera ProductionOn this Episode...I am absolutely thrilled to have returning guest, Educator Kasheena Holder back, who is a DIRFloortime® Expert Training Leader with the International Council on Development and Learning and owner and director of...
Gestural Development: The D, the I, and the R
PHOTO CREDIT: Ketut SubiyantoOn this Episode...Brookes Barrack is a Speech-Language Pathologist and DIRFloortime® Expert Training Leader who has a clinic just outside of Kansas City, Kansas with Occupational Therapist Emily Tritz called Kansas City Developmental...
In-Home Floortime Coaching Supports Families
PHOTO CREDIT: Gustavo FringThis Episode's GuestKerri Ciskowski is a DIRFloortime® Expert and Occupational Therapist in central New Jersey who does in-home support through her service Therapy Keeper for families who are typically raising autistic kids. She is a happily...
Bringing DIR® Into the Classroom to Accommodate Communication for All
PHOTO CREDIT: Tima MiroshnichenkoOn this Episode...ToniAnn Loftus is DIRFloortime® Expert and Speech-Language Pathologist. She trained at the Rebecca School and now owns and operates Seaport Speech and Feeding, a clinic in Manhattan. This episode we are discussing...
Trauma through a DIR® Lens
PHOTO CREDIT: NEOSiAM 2024+This Episode's TopicThe topic of this episode is trauma through a DIR® lens. Maude Le Roux recently did a course on this topic through the International Council on Development and Learning and here she covers how to work with trauma clients...
Developing Through FEDC 4 into FEDC 5
PHOTO CREDIT: cottonbro studioThis Episode's TopicThe topic of this episode is to give an overview and review of the fourth Functional Emotional Developmental Capacity (FEDC 4) of the Developmental, Individual differences, and Relationship (DIR®) model from last...
FEDC 4: Complex Communication and Shared Problem Solving
PHOTO CREDIT: Mikhail NilovThis Episode's TopicThe topic of this episode is Functional Emotional Developmental Capacity (FEDC) 4 of the Developmental, Individual differences, and Relationship (DIR®) model based on the presentation our guests in March at the New York...
Nurturing Intentionality as a Bridge to FEDC 4
PHOTO CREDIT: Anna ShvetsThis Episode's TopicThis episode we are discussing intentionality in Functional Emotional Developmental Capacity (FEDC) 3, which is Intentionality and Two-Way Communication in the Developmental, Individual differences, and Relationship (DIR®)...
A DIR® Lens on Sleeping
PHOTO CREDIT: Ketut SubiyantoOn this Episode...This episode's topic is one that is a top request by parents: sleep. I covered it a bit with Dr. Joshua Feder in a previous podcast. Although neither this episode's guest nor I are sleep experts, we want to come at the...
Giant Steps Interdisciplinary Autism Centre
PHOTO CREDIT: Giant Steps Autism CentreOn this Episode...I’m speaking with Marla Cable, the Assistant Director of the Resource and Training Centre at Giant Steps Interdisciplinary Autism Centre in Montreal, Quebec, which houses the developmental approach,...
Reflective Practice in DIR®
PHOTO CREDIT: Christina MorilloOn this Episode...Andrew Klein is a DIRFloortime® Expert Training Leader and a pediatric Occupational Therapist at Emerge Pediatric Therapy in Durham, North Carolina where he has a specialized role in facilitating reflective supervision...
DIR® and Medically Complex Children: Trauma-Informed Care
PHOTO CREDIT: Nicola BartsOn this Episode...This episode features DIRFloortime® Expert Training Leader Erin Forward, a Speech-Language Pathologist and certified lactation counselor at Cincinnati Children's Hospital. She is a part of their interdisciplinary feeding...
Advocating for rightful inclusion in school
Photo above: The Kredich boys performing at school.On this Episode...This episode features Floortime parent advocate Kim Kredich who has served as a volunteer advocate for hundreds of students with disabilities in East Tennessee, working with families to help their...
Affect and Regulation in Middle Eastern Culture
On this Episode...This episode features DIRFloortime® Expert Training Leader Nagwa Khedr, who is an early intervention specialist in Cairo, Egypt. She's been practicing DIRFloortime® since 2014 and was involved recently in opening a DIRFloortime® Center there called...
If I Need Help
On this Episode...For this podcast, I step outside of the DIRFloortime® world to showcase If I Need Help, a non profit that reunites those who might become lost, disoriented, or need assistance in a critical moment with their families, loved ones, and caregivers using...
Presuming Competence
PHOTO CREDIT: Kat Wilcox On this Episode...This episode features returning guests, Special Educator Jackie Bartell and Speech Language Pathologist Bridget Palmer who are both DIRFloortime® Expert Training Leaders and teach courses at ICDL. Amy McMunn is the mother of...
A Developmental Perspective on Sharing
PHOTO CREDIT: Vika Glitter On this Episode...This episode, returning guest, Occupational Therapist, Stephanie Peters, DIRFloortime® Expert Training Leader and Clinical Director with Kinder Growth discusses the developmental considerations around sharing.You can also...
Gestalt Language Processing and DIR®
PHOTO CREDIT: Tara WinsteadOn this Episode...This episode, Speech Therapist, Sabrina O'Keefe, DIRFloortime® Expert Training Leader, discusses Gestalt Language Processing within a Developmental, Individual differences, Relationship-based (DIR®) framework, which...
Parent Perspectives: Navigating Our Different Support Roles
PHOTO CREDIT: James GanaParent PerspectivesOn this edition of Parent Perspectives from Affect Autism, we have a discussion with a mother and grandmother of an autistic son and autistic grandson about navigating her support roles. Parent Perspectives is an addition to...
Parent Perspectives: Parent Self-Regulation
PHOTO CREDIT: Ketut SubiyantoParent PerspectivesOn this edition of Parent Perspectives from Affect Autism, we have a parent discussion with an autistic parent of two autistic daughters about parent self-regulation with some great examples. Parent Perspectives is an...
Revisiting the R: Hidden Regulators in the Development of Relationships
PHOTO CREDIT: Royal Opera HouseOn this Episode...This episode, I bring you the live recording we did at the International Council on Development and Learning (ICDL) 2023 International DIRFloortime® Conference where I interviewed Dr. Ira Glovinsky who is a Clinical...
Parent Perspectives: Parents Listening to Autistic Self-Advocates
A New Podcast!This week is another edition of Parent Perspectives from Affect Autism! I thought it would be helpful for parents and practitioners to hear some of the things we discuss at ICDL's parent support meeting. Parent Perspectives is an addition to the usual...
Regulating through Trauma
This Episode's GuestDevelopmental, Individual differences, Relationship-based (DIR) Expert Training Leader and Clinical Social Worker in Psychotherapy Private Practice, Galina Itskovich, is the Director at the Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Study Center (PPSC) Refugee...
Autistic Masking or Impression Management?
This Episode's TopicIn this episode, we discuss Dr. Amy Pearson and Kieran Rose's newly published book entitled, Autistic Masking: Understanding Identity Management and the Role of Stigma. We discuss what autistic masking is, compare the topic of "impression...
Parent Perspectives: Retrospective Perspective
Parent PerspectivesOn this edition of Parent Perspectives from Affect Autism, we have another parent panel! Parent Perspectives is an addition to the usual podcasts.This edition of Parent Perspectives features three mothers of autistic daughters, including one who is...
Visual Spatial Planning and Assessment (ViSPA)
This Episode's GuestsDevelopmental, Individual differences, Relationship-based (DIR®) Expert Training Leader and Occupational Therapist Toni Tortora is the Clinical Director at the Rebecca School and joins us from Manhattan. Occupational Therapist Colleen Gabbert is...
Visualization leads to Imagination
PHOTO CREDIT: Jessica Rockowitz on UnsplashThis Episode's GuestOccupational Therapist Maude Le Roux is a DIRFloortime® Expert Training Leader and has a DIR® clinic, A Total Approach, in Glen Mills, PA, just outside Philadelphia and they are opening a satellite...
Parent Perspectives: Relationships, Play, and Growth
Parent PerspectivesOn this edition of Parent Perspectives from Affect Autism, we have another parent panel! Parent Perspectives is an addition to the usual podcasts.You can also subscribe on your preferred podcast app by searching, "We chose play from Affect...
Parent Perspectives: Navigating our Health and Education Systems
A New Podcast!On this edition of Parent Perspectives from Affect Autism, we have our first parent panel! Parent Perspectives is an addition to the usual DIR®-related podcasts with other guests. I hope you enjoy them!You can also subscribe on your preferred podcast app...
Harnessing the Power of Narratives to Impact Development
This Episode's Topic This episode, we’re discussing personal narratives and harnessing their power to impact the Functional Emotional Developmental Capacities (FEDCs) including expanding emotional language, the concept of hindsight (e.g., should I have reacted that...
(Non)Compliance Does Not Equal (Dys)Regulation
This Episode's TopicCompliance is often mistaken for readiness to learn, but compliance does not equal regulation, and regulation is necessary for learning. On the flip side, dysregulation is often seen as noncompliance. In this podcast, we discuss the connection...
A New Community-Created Resource: SLP MAPs
On this Episode...This episode's guest is Amanda Binns, a clinician scientist who has her PhD and is also a Speech and Language Pathologist. She's currently the co-lead at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital of a student-led environment designed to support...
Parent Perspectives: How Do We Handle Fears and Anxiety?
A New Podcast!This marks the first edition of Parent Perspectives from Affect Autism! I thought it would be helpful for parents and practitioners to hear some of the things we discuss at ICDL's parent support meeting, which happens Mondays at 1pm Eastern time. This...
Adapted Spiral Praxis and Movement for the Bodymind Process
On this Episode...This episode I am thrilled to interview Yuji Oka of the Spiral Movement Center in Toronto where my son went for their MOVEMENT program weekly for many years up until the Pandemic. Yuji is the founder and a practitioner of Adapted Spiral Praxis which...
All About Praxis: Part 2 of 2
PHOTO CREDIT: Mika Baumeister on UnsplashOn this Episode...Occupational Therapist, Joann Fleckenstein, and Licensed Professional Counselor, Mike Fields, both of Individual and Team Therapy Services in Atlanta and Expert Developmental, Individual differences,...
All About Praxis: Part 1 of 2
PHOTO CREDIT: Mika Baumeister on UnsplashOn this Episode...Occupational Therapist, Joann Fleckenstein, and Licensed Professional Counselor, Mike Fields, both of Individual and Team Therapy Services in Atlanta and Expert Developmental, Individual differences,...
A Floortime Approach to Fears and Phobias
On this Episode...Dr. Karen Levine is a Developmental Psychologist and a Developmental, Individual differences, Relationship-based (DIR®) model Expert based in Maine. She has a private practice specializing in treating young children, both neurodivergent and...
Floortime Coaching for Different Parenting Styles
PHOTO CREDIT: Annie SprattOn this Episode...This episode I welcome Gabriela Michaca who is a licensed school neuropsychologist and also just received her master's degree in Occupational Therapy and is a Developmental, Individual differences, Relationship-based (DIR®)...