Autism Support Philosophy

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We Support the Autistic Community

Our philosophy is focused on providing comprehensive autism support to empower the autistic child and their family, while pursuing the following goals:

1) BUILDING COMMUNICATION!

We are dedicated to enhancing communication tools, incorporating everything from facial expressions and gestures to Gestalt and analytic language processing, whether through spoken language or AAC. By honoring both Gestalt Language Processing and Analytic Language Processing, we aim to empower families to understand their child's unique communication preferences better.

2) HONORING PLAY AND SENSORY PREFERENCES

We recognize that children come to us with diverse abilities to regulate themselves and different play preferences. Our goal is to empower parents with effective strategies that improve overall regulation, allowing us to share enjoyable spaces together with their child. We want your child to truly love their sessions and eagerly ask to come and play with us!

3) ADVOCATING FOR THEIR NEEDS

With over 22 years of experience supporting children, we understand that advocacy can feel like climbing a mountain. We are here to help you establish the necessary supports to increase your child’s success.

Assessments

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Our Mission

At Speak Your Mind, we take the time to best understand your child's play interests, sensory preferences, and views on what's hard and what's easy. The purpose of our assessments is to evaluate the child's strengths, understand their communication level, and work alongside the family to identify personal goals that foster communication growth. Our autism support services ensure that an assessment doesn't need to look like a test; we do not always rely on standardized tests. Sometimes, play serves as a more powerful communication tool to reveal your child's strengths and areas that require support.

We continue to learn how to practice with neurodiversity-affirming speech, language, and social communication strategies. Our approach honors both Gestalt and Analytic Language Processing, providing a comprehensive framework for effective support.