The Power of Presuming Competence with Non-speaking AAC User Ido Kedar

09/09/20 • 27 min

Ido Kedar is an autistic-self advocate and the author of a two books. He is a non-speaking autistic person who uses a voice-output typing device to communicate. Listen to my interview with Ido as we discuss:

His experience with OT, speech, and ABA before he had a way to communicate when no one was presuming his competence

How learning to communicate changed everything, and why learning to spell and type isn’t a simple as it sounds

Why Ido doesn’t like labels like “high functioning” and “low functioning”

What sensory and executive functioning supports Ido found helpful in his journey, and what outdated strategies he wishes therapists would leave behind

Ido’s advice to therapists who write goals to suppress stimming

Ido’s concrete challenge to our listeners who want to better understand the perspective of our non-speaking clients

View show notes and transcript at learnplaythrive.com/podcast

His experience with OT, speech, and ABA before he had a way to communicate when no one was presuming his competence

How learning to communicate changed everything, and why learning to spell and type isn’t a simple as it sounds

Why Ido doesn’t like labels like “high functioning” and “low functioning”

What sensory and executive functioning supports Ido found helpful in his journey, and what outdated strategies he wishes therapists would leave behind

Ido’s advice to therapists who write goals to suppress stimming

Ido’s concrete challenge to our listeners who want to better understand the perspective of our non-speaking clients

View show notes and transcript at learnplaythrive.com/podcast

Previous Episode

Fostering Emotional Well-Being in Our Sessions for Our Clients and Ourselves with Deirdre Azzopardi

Deirdre Azzopardi is an occupational therapist with over 25 years of experience who has invested years into continuing education related to social and emotional learning for kids with disabilities. Join into the conversation as we explore:

How we are missing out on a huge opportunity for our autistic clients by overlooking exercise in favor of non-aerobic “sensory processing” activities.

Why the stress and boredom that school-based therapists often bring to our sessions may be negatively impacting our outcomes, and what to do about it. (Spoiler: the answer is super fun).

How and why to teach simple mindfulness activities in our sessions and in our whole-class instruction.

How to love your job more and better connect with your autistic students starting tomorrow. Listening on the way to work? You can even start today.

View show notes and transcript at learnplaythrive.com/podcast

Next Episode

Transforming the Parent Experience with Jen Schonger

Jen Schonger is the Program Manager at the New Jersey Autism Center of Excellence and the mom to two daughters, one of whom is autistic. She is so insightful and is an incredible advocate for parents and for autistic children. Listen to this episode as we:

Explore the surprising blindspots many OTs have when working with parents

Learn about the concrete things that helped Jen develop a positive, empowering understanding of autism, and how we can help other parents to do the same

Discover the shifts that therapists can make to transform the parent experience starting from the very first session and continuing through their work together

Get Jen's savvy advice about working with parents who want something different than the neurodiversity approach

Dive into Jen’s suggestions for school-based OTs about the most important thing they can be doing to support autistic students

View show notes and transcript at learnplaythrive.com/podcast