Jessica Hunter Audhd SLT

Jessica Hunter Audhd SLT 💬Specialist SLT | 🌈Neurodiversity-affirming | ✨Helping children connect in their own way | 📢Tips for parents, carers, & educators

We’ve seen harmful myths before (remember the false MMR–autism scare) and the damage they caused: lower vaccine uptake, ...
24/09/2025

We’ve seen harmful myths before (remember the false MMR–autism scare) and the damage they caused: lower vaccine uptake, preventable disease, and increased stigma.

Donald Trump’s recent comments about Tylenol/acetaminophen in pregnancy and autism are another dangerous example of misinformation.

Evidence does not support a link between paracetamol (acetaminophen) in pregnancy and autism. Global health bodies like WHO and the CDC continue to recommend it as safe for treating pain in pregnancy when needed.

Autism is a natural part of human diversity. Blaming parents or pregnant people is wrong and harmful. Parents’ desire for answers and help—especially with high-support needs—is valid, but false “causes” and “cures” lead to wasted energy, stigma, and harm.

Causation ≠ correlation. Don’t let fear or misinformation roll back decades of progress.

Echolalia isn’t “just copying” — it’s a powerful way many children learn and communicate.For many children, repeating wo...
17/09/2025

Echolalia isn’t “just copying” — it’s a powerful way many children learn and communicate.

For many children, repeating words and phrases is often part of gestalt language development — a natural step towards creating their own flexible speech. When we respond to echolalia with curiosity and connection (instead of trying to stop it), we help children feel heard and supported.

✨ Echolalia isn’t meaningless, it’s meaningful. It's communication.

👇 Do you notice echolalia in your child or the children you work with? How do you respond?

🌈 A parent said to me recently:"I like that you are neurodivergent as well – you come from a place of knowing. You can’t...
13/09/2025

🌈 A parent said to me recently:

"I like that you are neurodivergent as well – you come from a place of knowing. You can’t understand them unless you’ve really been in their shoes. I have a better understanding of my child than the school, but you will understand him in a way I won’t."

💬 That stayed with me.

This is why lived experience matters. Why representation matters.
Why neurodivergent professionals belong in spaces supporting neurodivergent kids.
It’s not about being the same, but about shared wiring. A shared world.

🧠💛 We each hold a different piece of the puzzle. And together, we can make space for children to be understood, supported and celebrated for who they are.

🌟 Spotlight On: Autistic Girls Network 🌟As an autistic teen, I would have jumped at the chance to find the kind of comm...
10/09/2025

🌟 Spotlight On: Autistic Girls Network 🌟

As an autistic teen, I would have jumped at the chance to find the kind of community and groups they provide today. I truly admire the change they’re making for autistic girls — raising awareness, building support, and pushing for fairer assessment.

💛 Go give them a follow, share their work, and help spread the word so more autistic girls and women can feel seen and supported.

I wrote this because of the scary and untrue things some US leaders are saying about autism.This is my experience as an ...
10/09/2025

I wrote this because of the scary and untrue things some US leaders are saying about autism.

This is my experience as an autistic person. I don’t speak for everyone — we’re all different and have our own views, just like anyone else.

For me, being autistic is part of who I am. It shapes how I feel, think, notice, imagine, and connect with the world. Without it, I wouldn’t be me — and I wouldn’t want it any other way.

✨ Autistic people are not less.
✨ Our lives are not tragedies.
✨ Our voices matter.

Please remember that every autistic person’s experience is valid, even if it looks different from mine.

I love the passion in neurodiversity advocacy online — but too often the language used is inaccessible, aggressive, or b...
07/09/2025

I love the passion in neurodiversity advocacy online — but too often the language used is inaccessible, aggressive, or buried in jargon.

When we expect everyone to already know the “right” words, we exclude people who don’t have the same education, resources, or cultural background. That’s not inclusion. That’s ableist. That’s classist. That’s racist. That’s elitist.

Embodying the neurodiversity paradigm means making space for learners without academic privilege, other neurodivergent people, and disabled people — as well as those whose first language isn’t English, and people at every stage of their journey.

💡 Next time you advocate, ask yourself: am I opening the door, or closing it?

🌈 True inclusion means everyone gets a seat at the table.

Did you know that not all children learn language word by word? 🌈Some children are Gestalt Language Processors (GLPs) — ...
03/09/2025

Did you know that not all children learn language word by word? 🌈

Some children are Gestalt Language Processors (GLPs) — meaning they start with whole scripts or phrases (“Let’s go!”, song lyrics, TV lines) and gradually break them down into smaller, flexible parts.

This way of developing language is called Natural Language Acquisition (NLA), a framework described by Speech and Language Therapist Marge Blanc.

👉 Understanding GLP helps us see echolalia as meaningful communication — not just copying. With the right support, children can move from scripts to flexible, self-generated language.

If you’d like to dive deeper into NLA, I recommend exploring Marge Blanc’s work and website: www.communicationdevelopmentcenter.com

💛 Every stage of language development is valid — our role is to celebrate and support the journey.

As a Speech and Language Therapist, I’m not a safeguarding trainer, but I do keep up to date — because changes affect th...
01/09/2025

As a Speech and Language Therapist, I’m not a safeguarding trainer, but I do keep up to date — because changes affect the children and families I work with.

The key link for me is that communication differences can affect how children express worries or ask for help.

That’s why I always:
✨ Encourage families and schools to create communication passports/profiles
✨ Support parents & staff to notice changes in communication
✨ Emphasise that listening looks different for every child

Safeguarding is everyone’s business — and communication is a big part of keeping children safe 💛

I’ve finally finished setting up my Linktree 🎉 Took a while, but I’m really proud of it!Until my website is ready, this ...
27/08/2025

I’ve finally finished setting up my Linktree 🎉 Took a while, but I’m really proud of it!

Until my website is ready, this will be the main place to find me. Through it you can:
✔ Get my contact information
✔ See my ASLTIP directory profile
✔ Head to my socials — where I share information and free resources

👉 Check it out here: https://linktr.ee/audhdslt

✨ Every voice matters. Every way of communicating counts. ✨Neurodiverse means all people — we all think, feel, and conne...
23/08/2025

✨ Every voice matters. Every way of communicating counts. ✨

Neurodiverse means all people — we all think, feel, and connect in different ways. What supports neurodivergent communication often supports everyone 🌈♾️

That’s why we value:
💜 Listening without judgement
💜 Reducing pressure to “perform”
💜 Valuing connection over conformity

Together, we can celebrate authentic communication and bring the neurodiversity paradigm to life 🌟

💬 Every child deserves support that celebrates their strengths and communication style. 🌈I offer Speech & Language Thera...
22/08/2025

💬 Every child deserves support that celebrates their strengths and communication style. 🌈

I offer Speech & Language Therapy that is neurodiversity-affirming, trauma-informed, and always centred on your child’s wellbeing. ✨

If you’d like to know more about sessions, assessments, or therapy blocks, you can reach me here:

📞 07842566720
📧 jehunter@audhdslt.co.uk

I’d love to chat about how I can support your child’s journey 💛

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DA12

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