The Child Led SLP

10/07/2025

Have you ever been told to "stay positive" when you raised a legitimate safety concern at work?

That's toxic positivity, and it's rampant in schools and therapy settings. It's not about authentic happiness—it's about silencing staff so systems don't have to change.

When I repeatedly asked my supervisor to fix a broken door that left kids exposed to strangers, I was told to "not worry so much." Meanwhile, teachers were propping open doors with sticks because the lock didn't work.

Toxic positivity protects the system, not the people in it. It puts staff, students, and families at risk while maintaining a shiny reputation.

We deserve workplaces where safety concerns are heard, not dismissed with forced smiles.

What's your experience with toxic positivity in your workplace? Share in the comments below.

Want to dive deeper into this topic and more? Listen to Let Them Lead: The Child-Led Autism Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all other major platforms.

Education Podcast · Updated Weekly · Hosted by Nicole Casey, speech-language pathologist and founder of The Child-Led SLP, Let Them Lead is the go-to podcast for professionals and caregivers who want to support autistic kids with respect…

09/30/2025

Think you're being child-led with your autistic students? You might be missing a crucial piece.

Here's the truth: You can't truly be child-led without being trauma-informed. These two approaches go hand in hand because letting kids lead means honoring ALL parts of them - even the challenging ones.

Trauma-informed care isn't about becoming a trauma therapist. It's about showing up safely every day so we don't cause more harm. It's about questioning those rigid rules that don't serve our kids, being transparent instead of using toxic positivity, and creating spaces where children feel safe enough to actually lead us.

Remember: We can't control everything that happens to kids outside our sessions, but we can absolutely make sure we're not another source of harm.

What's one rule in your practice that you've questioned lately? Share in the comments - let's support each other in doing better for our kids.

Want to learn more? Check out this week's episode of Let Them Lead: The Child-Led Autism Podcast (available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all other major platforms)

Education Podcast · Updated Weekly · Hosted by Nicole Casey, speech-language pathologist and founder of The Child-Led SLP, Let Them Lead is the go-to podcast for professionals and caregivers who want to support autistic kids with respect…

09/28/2025

And if I got the invite it’d be rejected, clearly.

One of my 2025 goals was to speak up in the moment more, and as hard as it is- I’m getting there. How about you??

09/28/2025

What would you add?

09/23/2025

Are you ready to feel a little uncomfortable?

Sometimes growth means questioning the therapy goals we've always written for autistic kids.

A powerful 2024 study by Chazin et al. asked autistic adults about the WORST therapy goals they experienced as children. Their answers might surprise you.

Goals that suppressed stimming, forced eye contact, or made kids "look more neurotypical" didn't teach authentic communication - they taught masking and compliance. One participant said: "I just learned to fake it... it didn't mean I was connecting more."

The good news? Once we know better, we can do better. We can write goals that support regulation, honor authentic communication, and empower self-advocacy instead of forcing conformity.

What would change if we shifted from compliance to connection in our approach?

Share your thoughts below - have you seen these types of goals? What questions does this raise for you?

Listen to this week's episode of Let Them Lead: The Child-Led Autism Podcast for a deeper dive into this topic and so many more!

Find it here on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/let-them-lead-the-child-led-autism-podcast/id1765331935

Also available on Spotify and all other major podcasting platforms.

Education Podcast · Updated Weekly · Hosted by Nicole Casey, speech-language pathologist and founder of The Child-Led SLP, Let Them Lead is the go-to podcast for professionals and caregivers who want to support autistic kids with respect…

09/19/2025

Let’s be friends? 🤷🏻‍♀️

09/16/2025

Think communication equals speech? Think again.

As professionals working with autistic children, we often celebrate speech louder than other forms of communication — but here's what I learned when I watched myself do exactly that.

I recently caught myself on video making a huge fuss when one of my students used a verbal word, after he'd been communicating beautifully with gestures, his device, and expressions all session long. My over-the-top reaction sent the wrong message: that speech was somehow "better" than his other ways of connecting with me.

The truth is that communication is like a pie chart, not a pyramid. All modalities - pointing, gesturing, using devices, facial expressions, AND speech - are equally valid ways our kids connect with us.

When we treat them all with the same respect, something magical happens: kids feel safer, more accepted, and communication actually grows.

What communication victories have you celebrated with your students lately - in ALL their forms?

Want to learn more about supporting multimodal communication? Check out this week's episode of Let Them Lead: The Child-Led Autism Podcast, streaming on Apple podcasts, Spotify, and all other major platforms.

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/let-them-lead-the-child-led-autism-podcast/id1765331935

09/15/2025

Comment Q&A for my free Child-Led Answer Guide where I dive into the top 10 most commonly asked questions about a child-led approach! Use it to learn more or as handouts to share with your team!⁠
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06/01/2025

I can’t wait for you to see what we’ve been working on! Also, shirts come in several different options (OT, SLPA, etc.)

Comment MERCH 2025 for the link to shop this limited time collection with the amazing

If you’re seeing this on Facebook, here’s the link: https://camandrow.com/collections/cam-row-x-the-child-led-slp

05/31/2025

Want to be a founding member of my monthly membership, The Child-Led Collective?

We have a few more spots open and would LOVE to have you inside!

Learn more about the membership and all of the value it will bring here:

Checkout page for The Child Led Collective-FOUNDING MEMBER.

05/09/2025

God forbid

05/05/2025

https://www.childled.org/blog/aac-programming-first-buttons

You don’t need to start from scratch. Learn the 5 categories I always add first to AAC systems — and how to model them in real moments that matter.