Lecture: Reframing Therapy for Autistic Individuals

Introduction

• Presenter: Occupational therapist with 34 years of experience.
• Fundamental shift in perspective after interviewing autistic adults.
• Focus on learning from autistic individuals, not just trying to "fix" them.
• Aim: Reframe therapy practices to be more informed and less harmful.

Main Concepts

Traditional Therapy Mistakes

• Historical focus on remediating weaknesses.
• This approach is misinformed and sometimes harmful.
• Challenge: Stop asking autistic individuals to build their lives on their weaknesses.

Reframing Therapy

• Adopt an authentic strength-based paradigm.
• Lead with strengths, not weaknesses.
• Shift the therapeutic lens in partnership with autistic individuals.

Professional Bias

• Bias exists in professionals towards normalization.
• Cultural model vs. medical and social models:
  • Medical: Problem-focused, making individuals "indistinguishable" from peers.
  • Social: Focus on barriers in the environment.
  • Cultural: Centers expertise on self-advocates, recognizing intersectionality.

Strength-Based Approach

• Importance of a strength-based approach in teaching, research, and practice.
• Partner with autistic advocates in all areas.
• Shift from deficit-based to strength-based language and perspectives.

Sensory Experiences

• Example: Auditory hypersensitivity and misunderstanding by therapists.
• Misjudgment based on assumptions instead of understanding individual experiences.

Interest-Based Interventions

• Recognize preferred interests, not restricted interests.
• Reframe obsessions as special interests.
• Use interests to foster strengths rather than viewing them as maladaptive.

Bias in Research and Practice

• Non-autistic professionals may have biases that affect their work.
• Reframe interventions to recognize and utilize strengths.

Example Studies

• Autistic to non-autistic communication barriers.
• Benefit of interest-based over social skills groups.

Practical Implementation

• Replace deficit lens with competence and engagement.
• Adopt a collaborative approach with autistic individuals.

Evaluation and Goals

• Strength-based evaluation and goal setting.
• Goals should not be for normalization but for inclusion and belonging.

Interventions vs. Supports

• Shift from intervention-focused to support-focused therapy.
• Recognize non-autistic bias and strive to understand autistic perspective.

Conclusion

• Importance of shifting therapy practices to be more inclusive and strength-based.
• Gratitude expressed for being part of the event and encouragement to stay connected.