Let Them Lead: The Child-Led Autism Podcast

Latest Episodes:

19. Best Goals for Autistic Kids, According to Autistic Adults Sep 23, 2025

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In this conversation, Nicole Casey discusses the importance of centering autistic voices in therapy goals for autistic children. She highlights a 2024 study that reveals the most accepted therapy goals as identified by autistic adults, emphasizing the need for a neuroaffirming approach that prioritizes safety, autonomy, and communication. The conversation covers five key areas of focus: decreasing self-injurious behavior, honoring refusal, supporting self-help skills, emphasizing multimodal communication, and addressing aggression as a stress response. Casey also calls for the abandonment of harmful practices in therapy and encourages listeners to advocate for neuroaffirming practices.

Autistic voices should guide therapy goals.
The 2024 study provides valuable insights for therapy.
Centering lived experiences is crucial in therapy.
Therapy goals should prioritize safety and autonomy.
Self-injurious behavior requires understanding and support.
Teaching refusal is a protective communication skill.
Self-help skills should align with the child's interests.
Multimodal communication must be honored, not just allowed.
Aggression is often a stress response, not defiance.
Harmful practices in therapy must be identified and eliminated.

Learn more at childled.org!

18. Multimodal Communication for Autistic Kids is NOT a Hierarchy Sep 16, 2025

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Download the free "Multimodal Communication is NOT a Hierarchy" Visual here !

In this conversation, Nicole Casey explores the concept of multimodal communication, particularly in the context of supporting autistic children. She emphasizes that communication is not limited to speech but includes various modalities such as gestures, facial expressions, and actions. Nicole critiques the traditional hierarchy that places speech at the top, advocating for a more inclusive view that recognizes all forms of communication as valid. Through personal anecdotes, she reflects on the importance of how caregivers and professionals respond to different communication methods, urging a shift in mindset to foster a supportive environment for autistic individuals.

Takeaways:

Communication is multimodal and includes various forms.
All modalities of communication are valid and should be respected.
Speech should not be viewed as the ultimate goal of communication.
Celebrating speech can unintentionally diminish other forms of communication.
Reactions to communication can impact a child's willingness to engage.
Creating a safe environment encourages authentic communication.
We need to model and acknowledge all forms of communication.
Redefining success in communication is essential for growth.
Children can sense pressure from adults regarding communication expectations.
Reflecting on our responses can lead to more inclusive practices.

To learn more about a child-led, neuroaffirming approach, visit www.childled.org and follow @thechildledslp on instagram!

[UPDATE] JOIN ME AT THE CHILD-LED AUTISM SUMMIT!! Jul 30, 2025

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To grab your free ticket, visit:

www.childledautismsummit.com

I hope to see you all there!

17. Ditching "Withholding Objects" from Autistic Kids for Good Jul 15, 2025

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Save your spot for The Child-Led Autism Summit here!

In this conversation, Nicole Casey discusses the problematic strategy of withholding objects to encourage communication in autistic children. She emphasizes the emotional and relational damage this approach can cause, advocating for a more child-led, affirming method that fosters genuine communication and connection. Through personal anecdotes and practical examples, she highlights the importance of observing children's natural communication styles and creating a supportive environment that empowers them to express themselves freely.

Takeaways

Withholding objects is a deeply ingrained but harmful strategy.
Building relationships with students is crucial for progress.
Withholding creates power imbalances and frustration.
Communication should be empowering, not transactional.
Natural opportunities for communication should be prioritized.
Observation is key to understanding a child's communication style.
Joining in a child's play fosters trust and connection.
Communication thrives in a safe and supportive environment.
We need to move beyond teaching requests to broader communication skills.
Empowering children to communicate is essential for their autonomy.

keywords: autism, communication, withholding objects, child-led strategies, relationship building, speech therapy, neurodiversity, education, trust, empowerment

16. Creating a Safe and Sensory-Friendly Environment for Autistic Students Jul 08, 2025

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Summary:

In this episode, Nicole Casey discusses the critical importance of creating safe and sensory-friendly environments for autistic students. She emphasizes that the physical setup of therapy and classroom spaces can significantly impact children's engagement and comfort. Nicole shares practical strategies for enhancing sensory safety, including adjusting lighting, reducing visual clutter, and providing sensory tools. She also highlights the need for predictable routines while allowing for flexibility to accommodate individual needs. Overall, the conversation focuses on fostering an environment where autistic children feel safe, supported, and able to thrive. In this conversation, Nicole Casey discusses the importance of emotional consistency and predictability in creating safe environments for children. She emphasizes the need for calming spaces, respect for personal space, and reducing overwhelming demands in educational settings. Casey also highlights the significance of attuning to students' cues, incorporating movement into learning, fostering emotional safety, and using children's interests to enhance engagement. The discussion aims to provide practical strategies for caregivers and educators to support children's emotional and developmental needs.

Takeaways:

The environment plays a crucial role in supporting autistic students.
Creating a safe and comfortable environment is essential for engagement.
Visual clutter can be overstimulating for many children.
Adjusting lighting can significantly impact sensory comfort.
Providing sensory tools is vital for individual needs.
Predictable routines help reduce anxiety in children.
Flexibility within routines allows for better adaptation to changes.
Safety should always be the top priority in educational settings.
Children should have access to sensory tools without stigma.
Understanding individual sensory preferences is key to effective support. We want to be consistent for our kids.
Emotional stability requires discipline and self-reflection.
Creating felt safety involves regulating our own responses.
A calming area should be a regulation station, not a punishment zone.
Respecting personal space is crucial for children's comfort.
Movement is integral to learning and regulation.
Fostering emotional safety starts with our language and actions.
Using children's interests should enhance engagement, not manipulate them.
Attuning to students' cues can prevent feelings of being unseen.
Creating a safe environment is essential for building trust and skills.

Keywords:

autism, sensory environment, classroom setup, therapy space, safety, engagement, predictability, sensory tools, teaching strategies, child development, emotional consistency, calming spaces, personal space, overwhelming demands, attuning to cues, movement in learning, emotional safety, children's interests

15. How to Be Neurodiversity Affirming in a Compliance-Based System Jul 01, 2025

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Download The Child-Led Answer Guide here!

Summary

In this episode, Nicole Casey discusses the challenges of implementing child-led approaches in systems that prioritize compliance and data collection. She emphasizes the importance of community support, building confidence in one's therapeutic approach, and making small shifts to create a more neuroaffirming environment for students. The conversation highlights the need for professionals to connect with like-minded colleagues and advocate for change, even in challenging work environments. In this conversation, Nicole Casey discusses the importance of empowering educators to adopt alternative approaches in their interactions with students, particularly those with communication challenges. She emphasizes the significance of reframing goals to prioritize connection, integrating sensory support, and navigating resistance within educational systems. Nicole also highlights the necessity of protecting one's energy while advocating for change, reminding listeners that every small shift contributes to a larger impact.

Takeaways:

Child-led approaches can be challenging in compliance-driven systems.
Small shifts can lead to significant changes in practice.
Community support is crucial for professionals feeling isolated.
Confidence in one's approach is essential to advocate for change.
Finding like-minded colleagues can enhance professional growth.
It's important to prioritize co-regulation in therapy sessions.
Data collection should not overshadow relationship building with students.
Advocacy can start with small, subtle changes in practice.
Toxic work environments can hinder professional development.
Empowerment comes from connecting with others who share similar values. Empowering educators to try alternative approaches can lead to significant changes.
Reframing goals to prioritize connection enhances the therapeutic process.
Integrating sensory support is crucial for student engagement and comfort.
Navigating resistance in educational systems requires patience and strategic communication.
Protecting your energy is essential for sustainable advocacy.
Small shifts in practice can lead to meaningful changes in student experiences.
Modeling empathetic approaches can inspire others to adopt new strategies.
Understanding the culture of a school can help in advocating for change.
Every moment of connection over control adds up to a larger impact.
You are not alone in your advocacy efforts; there is a community of support.

Keywords:

child-led therapy, neuroaffirming, systemic challenges, community support, confidence in therapy, small shifts, empowerment, education, autism support, professional development, education, advocacy, sensory support, child-led approach, communication, professional development, empowerment, reframing goals, resistance, burnout

14. Avoiding Power Struggles With Autistic Students Jun 24, 2025

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Join the waitlist for the free Child-Led Autism Summit!

https://thechildledslp.myflodesk.com/summitwaitlist

Summary

In this conversation, Nicole Casey explores the detrimental effects of compliance-based therapy on communication and relationships, particularly with autistic students. She shares personal experiences and emphasizes the importance of understanding power struggles, advocating for a shift towards child-led and neuroaffirming approaches that prioritize connection and co-regulation over control. The discussion highlights the need for educators and caregivers to preserve relationships and create safe environments for authentic communication.

Takeaways

Power struggles often arise from compliance-based approaches.
Compliance-based therapy can lead to negative interactions and dysregulation.
It's essential to view noncompliance as a potential internal struggle rather than defiance.
Preserving relationships is more important than winning power struggles.
Regulation should be prioritized before any demands are made on children.
Humor and silliness can diffuse tense situations with children.
Children deserve to express their emotions and frustrations.
Advocating for change in compliance-based systems is crucial for better outcomes.
Practicing standing up for values in low-stakes situations can build confidence.
Connection and co-regulation are key to fostering meaningful communication.

Keywords

power struggles, compliance-based therapy, authentic communication, autistic students, co-regulation, child-led approach, neuroaffirming strategies, relationship preservation, education, therapy

13. Supporting Autistic Kids Through Challenging Behaviors: Reframing, Understanding, and Responding with Connection Jun 17, 2025

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www.childled.org

In this episode, Nicole Casey explores how to support autistic children during challenging moments by reframing behaviors as stress responses rather than defiance. She emphasizes the importance of understanding the underlying causes of these behaviors, which are often linked to the child's nervous system and anxiety levels. The conversation covers practical strategies for preventing dysregulation, recognizing early signs of stress, and the importance of co-regulation. Nicole also discusses the need for adults to adjust their expectations and environments to better support autistic children, ultimately advocating for a shift from control to connection in educational settings.

Takeaways

Understanding behaviors as stress responses is crucial.
Changing our perspective can significantly impact support.
Recognizing early signs of dysregulation is key.
The four F's of nervous system responses are fight, flight, freeze, and fawn.
Preventing unnecessary stressors helps maintain regulation.
Co-regulation is essential during challenging moments.
Post-dysregulation, reconnecting with the child is important.
Adjusting expectations can prevent meltdowns.
Children do their best with the skills they have.
Shifting from control to connection changes lives.

12. Describing & Defining What We Actually Do In Child-Led Therapy Jun 10, 2025

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Download the Free Framing Guide Here

In this episode, Nicole Casey discusses the challenges of articulating the value of child-led therapy sessions. She emphasizes the importance of reframing how therapists describe their work to parents and educators, focusing on the relational and developmental outcomes rather than traditional metrics of success. Through a structured 'framing framework', she provides a method for therapists to confidently explain their sessions, ensuring that the significance of their work is recognized and understood.

Child-led approaches can feel challenging due to external judgments.
Articulating the value of therapy sessions is crucial for understanding.
Therapists often minimize their work due to traditional expectations.
The real work in therapy is often relational and developmental.
Parents may not understand the nuances of child-led therapy.
A structured framework can help therapists explain their sessions.
Therapists should highlight the skills practiced during sessions.
Regulation and trust are foundational for effective therapy.
Therapists need to recognize and document progress beyond compliance.
Collaboration with parents and educators enhances therapy outcomes.

This podcast is reviewed by our team member, Meghann Beaton, who is an autistic adult. Meghann provides feedback and recommended edits priort to releasing our episodes to help ensure our content remains aligned with neuroaffirming principles and lived experience. We are deeply grateful for her insights, which continue to shape this space into one that centers safety, connection, and authentic communication.

11. Is 80% Accuracy the Best Way to Measure Autistic Students' Progress? Jun 03, 2025

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Join The Child-Led Collective as a Founding Member for only $20/mo:

Learn More & Join the Community Here!

In this conversation, Nicole Casey discusses the complexities and challenges of writing effective therapy goals, particularly focusing on the common practice of measuring progress with 80% accuracy. She reflects on her personal struggles with goal writing and emphasizes the need for more meaningful and individualized goals that align with a child-led approach. The discussion encourages therapists to rethink traditional measurement methods and consider how they can better support their students' unique needs. In this conversation, Nicole Casey discusses the complexities of setting effective communication goals for children, particularly those with autism. She emphasizes the importance of meaningful, individualized goals that reflect authentic communication rather than rigid metrics. Nicole introduces the concept of using an Aligned Rubric to track progress in a more nuanced way, focusing on frequency and context rather than strict accuracy. She also announces the launch of the Child-Led Collective, a membership aimed at supporting professionals in child-led therapy practices.

80% accuracy is often misapplied in goal writing.
Goals should be meaningful and individualized.
Therapists often feel pressured to conform to traditional metrics.
Child-led approaches require flexibility in goal measurement.
Overthinking can hinder effective goal writing.
Goals should reflect authentic communication, not just compliance.
The history of 80% accuracy is rooted in tradition, not necessity.
Vague goals can lead to less progress for students.
Therapists need creative liberty to measure progress effectively.
It's important to challenge the status quo in goal writing. It's important to lead by example in team discussions.
Goals should reflect authentic communication, not just metrics.
Communication success should not be solely based on word count.
Goals need to be individualized for each child's needs.
Research supports the need for meaningful, flexible goals.
Using rubrics can help track progress in a child-led way.
Rubrics allow for customization and creativity in goal setting.
The Child-Led Collective will provide resources for professionals.
You can measure growth in ways that honor student development.

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