73. Cognitive Diversity in Autism Intervention: Think Differently

Big announcement — my new book 32 Lessons That Create Lifelong Change in Autism Intervention is now available! Under 100 pages. 32 lessons. 160+ actionable strategies. All evidence-based and field-tested. Order today and leave a review — your support means the world! Today’s episode tackles a critical topic: cognitive diversity in autism intervention. Autism is not one-size-fits-all, and neither is therapy. Yet our field often falls into “box thinking” — canceling viewpoints, clinging to one method, or excluding approaches that could change lives. Inside this episode: ✅ Why both child-first and identity-first language have value ✅ How cancel culture is stifling progress in autism intervention ✅ The case for combining methodologies (ABA, TEACCH, and more) ✅ Why “all of the above” thinking beats “either/or” thinking ✅ The swan principle: keep what nourishes, spit out the dirt 💡 Challenge: Do Something Different (DSD). Broaden your toolbox. Collaborate with those who think differently. And most importantly, put evidence — not ego — first. ✨ Want weekly therapy activities that already embed these principles? Join the SIS Membership and get ready-to-use, literacy-driven, empirically-based activities with parent and group slides included. Perfect for SLPs, teachers, and interventionists. Join here: https://www.kellyvess.com/sis