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Ditching Rewards and Honoring Intrinsic Motivation with Emily Byers Chaney, The ND Affirming SLP

Let Them Lead: The Child-Led Autism Podcast

Release Date: 03/11/2025

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

Let Them Lead: The Child-Led Autism Podcast

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

10. Child-Led Therapy is NOT Passive: How to Plan for Our Sessions

Let Them Lead: The Child-Led Autism Podcast

Join The Child-Led Collective as a Founding Member for only $20/mo: In this conversation, Nicole Casey explores the intricacies of child-led therapy, emphasizing the importance of planning, active engagement, and the adult's role in creating a supportive environment. She clarifies misconceptions about child-led approaches being passive and highlights the need for intentionality and presence in therapy sessions. The discussion also covers practical strategies for preparing for sessions, including self-regulation and setting intentions, ultimately underscoring the significance of...

[EXCLUSIVE] Shape the Future of Child-Led Therapy as a Founding Member!

Let Them Lead: The Child-Led Autism Podcast

In this episode, Nicole Casey introduces the Child-Led Collective, a new membership aimed at providing support and resources for child-led professionals. She invites YOU to join as a founding member, for a limited time only, at the lowest price it will ever be ($20/month, no long term contract required). She emphasizes the importance of community, practical tools, and strategies to help members navigate the challenges of the upcoming school year with confidence and clarity. The membership offers unique features such as a custom GPT for personalized support, live Q&A sessions, and a...

9. Relationship Based Boundaries in a Child-Led Approach

Let Them Lead: The Child-Led Autism Podcast

In this episode, Nicole Casey discusses the importance of establishing boundaries within child-led therapy. She explains how locking the toy closet in her clinic serves as a safety measure rather than a restriction, emphasizing that structure and safety can enhance a child's autonomy. The conversation explores the balance between child-led practices and necessary boundaries, highlighting that boundaries are essential for creating a safe and predictable environment for children. Nicole encourages listeners to reflect on their own practices and consider how boundaries can support both the...

8. Building Emotional Safety Through Co-Regulation

Let Them Lead: The Child-Led Autism Podcast

In this episode, Nicole Casey explores the concept of co-regulation, emphasizing its importance in supporting autistic children and fostering effective communication. She reflects on her personal experiences with dysregulation and how co-regulation has played a crucial role in her parenting and professional life. The discussion highlights the need for emotional safety and connection in the learning process, and how understanding co-regulation can transform interactions with children. Through a case study, Nicole illustrates practical strategies for implementing co-regulation in...

7. When The Doubt Creeps In: Reframing "Imposter Syndrome"

Let Them Lead: The Child-Led Autism Podcast

In this conversation, Nicole Casey delves into the complexities of imposter syndrome, sharing her personal experiences and insights on self-doubt, particularly in the context of therapy and professional growth. She emphasizes the importance of recognizing one's strengths, overcoming the comparison trap, and embracing authenticity. Through her journey, she highlights that everyone has their unique path and that self-acceptance is crucial for personal and professional fulfillment. Takeaways Imposter syndrome is a common feeling of self-doubt. Social media can amplify feelings of inadequacy....

6. Gatekeeping AAC: Can Programming a Child's Device Be More Collaborative?

Let Them Lead: The Child-Led Autism Podcast

To learn more about Nicole and download the freebies, visit In this episode, Nicole Casey discusses her unpopular opinion regarding AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) and emphasizes the importance of personalization, motor planning, and empowering teams to engage with AAC devices. She challenges the notion that AAC programming should be left solely to specialists and advocates for a more inclusive approach that encourages collaboration among all team members. Nicole shares her experiences with a new student and highlights the significance of having a...

5. Rethinking Joint Attention: Supporting Autistic Kids Without Forcing Neurotypical Engagement

Let Them Lead: The Child-Led Autism Podcast

Enjoying the podcast? Leave a kind review to help others find this show :) To learn more about Nicole or download freebies, read blog, and dive into our courses and workbooks, visit This conversation delves into the concept of joint attention, particularly in the context of autistic children. Nicole Casey discusses how traditional views on joint attention often overlook the diverse ways in which autistic children engage and communicate. She emphasizes the importance of understanding joint attention as a shared experience rather than a set of behaviors to be taught. The discussion...

4. Is Movement the Key to Communication for Autistic Kids?

Let Them Lead: The Child-Led Autism Podcast

Get 15% off The Informed SLP Subscription from now through 4/30 with code CHILDLED Download the FREE Movement Guide ! To learn more or to connect with Nicole, visit: In this episode, Nicole Casey explores the intersection of neuroscience and autism, particularly focusing on the concept of embodied learning. She emphasizes the importance of movement in the learning process for autistic students, arguing that traditional methods of requiring stillness can hinder their ability to engage and communicate. Nicole shares personal experiences and...

3. Feeling Judged for Your Child-Led Approach? Here's How to Navigate Criticism With Confidence and Compassion!

Let Them Lead: The Child-Led Autism Podcast

In this episode, Nicole Casey shares her experiences of being questioned and criticized in her child-led approach to therapy for autistic students. She discusses the challenges she faced early in her career, the importance of flexibility in therapy, and how to stand up for your methods. Nicole emphasizes the value of a child-led approach, the need for confidence in your methods, and how to respond to pushback with compassion. She encourages listeners to trust themselves and their approaches, even when faced with criticism. Takeaways When trying something new, expect to be questioned....

More Episodes

Register for the FREE Play Conference here:
https://nicolec24--otholly.thrivecart.com/2025/

In this episode of the Great Language Partner podcast, Nicole and Katja welcome Emily Byers Chaney, a speech-language pathologist, to discuss the importance of a neurodiversity-affirming approach in therapy. They explore the concepts of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, the significance of understanding Gestalt language processing, and the impact of reward systems on autistic learners. The conversation emphasizes the need for therapists and parents to focus on the child's interests, autonomy, and the creation of engaging learning environments to foster genuine motivation and connection.

To Connect with Emily:

Visit her website: https://www.ndaffirmingslp.com/

Follow on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ndaffirming.slp/

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