Relevant financial relationships
Dr. Prizant receives royalties for his books, Uniquely Human: A Different Way of Seeing Autism (Simon & Schuster) and The SCERTS Model Manuals (Brookes Publishers)

Relevant nonfinancial relationship(s)
Adjunct Professor, University of Rhode Island (receives no compensation)
Editorial Advisory Board: Five professional journals
Advisory Board: The Miracle Project; Spectrum Theatre Ensemble, others

Barry M. Prizant, PhD, CCC-SLP is recognized as among the world’s leading scholars on autism and neurodiversity, and as an innovator of respectful, person- and family-centered approaches in supporting neurodivergent individuals. He currently is the Director of Childhood Communication Services, a private practice, and an Adjunct Professor of Communicative Disorders at the University of Rhode Island. Barry has fifty years of experience as a clinician, an international consultant and researcher. He has served as an Associate Professor of Psychiatry in the Brown University Medical School and has held tenured professor appointments at Emerson College, Boston and Southern Illinois University. Barry has published five books, more than 150 articles and chapters, and is a co-author of The SCERTS Model: A Comprehensive Educational Approach, now being implemented in more than a dozen countries. He has been a two-time featured presenter (2013, 2017) at the United Nations World Autism Awareness Day in New York City and has given close to 1000 presentations in major universities and medical schools across the US and in more than 25 countries. Barry’s recent book, Uniquely Human: A Different Way of Seeing Autism (Simon & Schuster, 2022 expanded edition) has been the best-selling book on autism since 2015, with the audiobook version that he narrated. It is now published in 26 languages and was ranked by Book Authority as #1 of the “100 best books on autism of all time”. Barry also co-produces and hosts a podcast, Uniquely Human: The Podcast (www.uniquelyhuman.com) with his friend, Dave Finch, an autistic audio engineer and New York Times best-selling author.

How can educators and therapists best support individuals with neurodevelopmental conditions and their families? Our growing understanding of neurodiversity can provide guidance and direction. All human beings have uneven developmental profiles due to neurodevelopmental differences. However, for people with autism and other neurodevelopmental differences, strengths and challenges may be more pronounced, especially in areas related to social communication and emotional regulation.

Using meaningful examples, this presentation will discuss and give examples of productive and supportive ways to identify and capitalize on strengths, enhance social communication competence and confidence, support emotional regulation, build trust and empower individuals with autism and related neurodevelopmental conditions. This approach is in stark contrast to “deficit-checklist” approaches designed to “fix” individuals.

Participants will be able to:
• Define neurodiversity
• Describe a strength-based approach to education and support
• Apply their deeper understanding of the “WHY” of “behaviors” that may appear different, and in some cases, considered to be “challenging”
• Apply implications for support in the context of the family and in educational and community settings
• Identify and apply the essential components of a neurodiversity perspective, including the importance of supporting a person’s “enthusiasms” and self-awareness, in addition to building self-esteem and positive relationships.

Time-Ordered Agenda
5 minutes Introduction to the Topic and Speaker
10 minutes Historical foundations
10 minutes. Definitions of neurodiversity and boundaries
15 minutes Passions and Enthusiasms
15 minutes Guidelines for putting neurodiversity into action
10 minutes Benefits of a neurodiversity, abilities-based approach
10 minutes Future considerations
15 minutes Moderated Q&A