It’s not the 1920’s anymore.

Autism and Neurodivergent treatment and therapy

is changing. We’ve learned more about Neurodiversity, 

Autism, and ADHD in the last 3 years than we had 

in the previous 30 years combined. Due to this

 new information, our understanding of Neurodiversity 

has evolved to become more neurodivergent affirming.

Our therapies should be changing to reflect that as well. 

So why are most therapies still operating the same 

way, using the same old outdated approach?  

Traditional Autism and Neurodivergent treatment focused on changing the behaviors that are typical to those who are neurodivergent, with little disregard to why the behaviors were occurring. The methodologies of their application of behavioral science teach the individual with autism to mask, or cover up, their behaviors and to disregard their self-regulation and self-preservation cues. This is to get the client to replace those innate self-signals with more acceptable, or neurotypical behaviors – even if those behaviors do not fill the physiological or sensory need of the neurodivergent brain. The science, as applied in traditional treatment, does not use child development milestones, does not validate ND clients’ very real struggles, teach the client self-regulation techniques, explain or identify the emotions the child is feeling, help the client to understand their behaviors themselves, honor the child’s nervous system responses telling them they are uncomfortable and unsafe, nor give the client the tools they will need to advocate for themselves throughout the rest of their lives. In this method, there is more focus on parents’ wishes for their child to be as neurotypical presenting as possible than on what is best for the client. There is little to no client advocacy. Parent training is teaching the parents the behavior modifications for their child and not helping the parents to learn to modify themselves and their child’s world. Instead of helping the family learn to support, accept, validate, advocate for, and understand their neurodivergent child, they train the child to better fit into the family’s neurotypical way of life, with no better comprehension of themselves or how they fit in the world around them. Studies of adults who have undergone this traditional therapy have reported high instances of feeling invalidated, unheard, and unloved unless they complied. Real Autistic voices are often spoken over in the space of treatment, with parents’ touting the successes for their child from their vantage point. Arguing with people that their experiences and warnings of trauma are invalid because their 4yr old is happy in therapy right now. These parents are often seeking short term rewards with absolute disregard to the long-term repercussions that will affect their child for the rest of their lives. For the autistic adults trying to inform parents and therapists, this is rude and invalidating, causing further trauma to the people sharing their lives experiences. Traditional techniques are not compatible, or effective, for many people. They can cause the opposite of what they are trying to achieve. This is why utilizing multiple modalities and techniques and applying them through a lived and learned lens of experience while connecting with the child on a deep trust level with a naturalistic child lead approach works better than a one size fits all. A lot of therapies are like those personalized books you can buy for your child. The story is the same, they only change key words to make it personalized to your child, maybe add a picture here or there, change of hair color or add a special interest. But it’s still the same story for every kid. I want to write each child their own story, made entirely for them, off of their needs and lives and dreams, up until now, and then give them the ability to continue to write their story for themselves, however they choose. That is a very different thing. Exceptional Milwaukee is a very different approach.

I am an adult with Autism and ADHD, I also have Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, and Dyscalculia. When I was a child, 40 years ago, I went through some of the same traditional Autism and Neurodivergent treatments that are still in use today. That is part of how I understand the trauma that those therapies can cause. I was also a Special Education Student in a self-contained classroom from elementary school through high school, even though, if given the opportunity, with corrective accommodations, I tested as academically gifted. I am also a parent to amazing kiddos who are also exceptional. They are neurodivergent. I have been that parent trying to figure out the strange, scary, and confusing world that comes with an ASD, or other, diagnosis. I have also been the parent that had to fight and advocate for a diagnosis for my child. They didn’t present typically, so no wanted to listen to me. I have also been an educator in the world of Special Education for 15 years. I worked with homeschool co-ops to implement a Special Education Program as well as homeschooling my own Exceptional Students when public school was not a viable option to get them the education they deserved. I worked as a lead room paraeducator where I helped to lesson plan, lead small groups, head classroom management, deescalate dangerous behaviors, sat in and participated in IEP meetings, risked my job advocating for students, did direct instruction and 1:1 teaching, and so so much more. I have worked as a respite care provider for children with multiple exceptionalities and I have worked in ABA as a behavioral therapist in both school and center settings. And, yes, while traditional autism therapies have drastically improved, it is still very harsh and difficult for neurodivergent people to endure. They are still a long way from good. More ethical is not the same as ethical.

With so much experience within the autism treatment and education communities, both as a child and as an adult, I am lucky enough to be given a unique lens to look at the world around me. I was tired of seeing so many genuinely caring people try their best to help Neurodivergent children struggle in their passion. Over the years and decades, I saw that the same gaps that existed in my treatment and education growing up were still gaps in the system today. I want to change that. I want to help put an end to the struggle of getting kids the help they need, I want to end the heartbreak as adults try again and again to get meaningful lasting help for their child, and I want to end the cycle of dysfunctional broken neurodivergent children being the resulting victims of a very broken system that is supposed to protect them.

My approach is the gentle parenting of Autism Therapies. I do not want to teach your child not to be themselves, not to trust themselves, not to take up all of the wonderful space that they deserve, that their voice is never good enough… no matter how they use it. I want to teach your child to embrace their diversity while also validating the very real, very difficult, very significant challenges that come with having a differently wired brain. I want to help your child understand their brain, why it does the things it does, how it works, so that they can better understand themselves. I want your child to learn about their emotions and why they react the way they do, to be able to see the causes and redirect themselves before that feeling becomes too big. I want your child to understand the academic concepts being presented to them. I want them to have the knowledge and power to achieve the great and amazing kids I know that they can achieve. I want them to learn in ways that leave them feeling smart and empowered, no more frustrations and tears and laments of I’m Stupid. I want your child to feel heard, that their words, no matter how they communicate, are important and listened to, that their communication is worthy of anything they have to say. And that their words do not matter more, or less, even if they don’t use their mouths. I want to teach your child to calm themselves down, to ask for accommodations, to know their rights, to be able to ask for help, to go out into the community and make friendships and understand how they fit in the greater world in general. I want your child to know that they are a benefit, not a burden… even if the world is making you feel otherwise, and that they can live big, amazing, beautiful, fulfilling, wonderful lives… and still love and trust themselves at the end of it.

I know there is a better way. I believe in teaching our kids how to be autistic within a functional societal structure and in teaching society in how to embrace neurodivergent individuals for who they are, not who they can be changed into. I can help your child learn how to advocate for themselves, learn the world in a way that makes sense to them, understand themselves in a positive way, learn emotional regulation and coping mechanisms, and to learn the skills necessary to be able to get the support they need for themselves, for the rest of their lives. From educational therapy and peer support to community engagement and digital safety, I will help guide your child to understand the world in a way that only someone who has the shared lived experience can. I have extensive training in teaching and connecting with exceptional children as well, making me an invaluable resource to have on your child’s team. I have spent years developing a very novel and tailored approach to help neurodivergent kids the ways they need it most. I can connect and reach kids on their level; in the way that their brains work. I can be the representation to your child that they too can succeed. I’m just like them.