25. Can They Just Be Kids? The Datafication of Autistic Childhood
Let Them Lead: The Child-Led Autism Podcast
Release Date: 11/04/2025
37. The Slippery Slope Fallacy & How It Shows Up When Supporting Autistic Students
Let Them Lead: The Child-Led Autism Podcast
Grab your ticket to Coaching Week: Unlearning Control HERE! In this episode, Nicole Casey explores the slippery slope fallacy, particularly in the context of child-led therapy and autism support. She discusses how the fear of losing control can lead to compliance-based approaches that hinder genuine connection and learning. By challenging these misconceptions, Nicole advocates for a more relationship-centered approach that honors children's autonomy while maintaining necessary boundaries. Through personal anecdotes and professional insights, she emphasizes the importance of...
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36. Is Push-In Therapy Best Practice for Autistic Kids?
Let Them Lead: The Child-Led Autism Podcast
In this episode, Nicole Casey delves into the ongoing debate between pull-out and push-in therapy for autistic students in school settings. Drawing from her extensive experience, she discusses the effectiveness of both models, emphasizing the importance of individualized approaches and collaboration with teachers. Nicole shares personal anecdotes that highlight the impact of classroom environments on therapy outcomes and advocates for systemic changes to better support educators and students alike. The conversation encourages professionals to speak up and engage in meaningful...
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35. The Use of Control in Autistic Support
Let Them Lead: The Child-Led Autism Podcast
Join the waitlist for my upcoming coaching week: In this episode, Nicole Casey discusses the harmful effects of control in supporting autistic children, particularly through the lens of instructional control. She emphasizes the importance of building genuine relationships rather than relying on manipulative tactics that prioritize compliance over connection. Through personal anecdotes and critical analysis of common practices, Nicole advocates for a shift towards a child-led approach that fosters trust and autonomy. Takeaways: The episode addresses the harmful effects of...
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34. Better Goal Writing Begins With Our Mindset (It's Not Woo!)
Let Them Lead: The Child-Led Autism Podcast
Grab the FREE Quickstart to Rubric-Goal Writing resource In this conversation, Nicole Casey discusses her journey with goal writing, particularly for autistic students. She shares her struggles with traditional goal writing methods and introduces rubric-based goals as a more effective alternative. The discussion emphasizes the importance of mindset shifts in approaching goal writing, the need to question established norms, and the significance of aligning goals with personal and professional values. Nicole encourages educators and therapists to embrace new methods that better serve...
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33. The First 3 Communication Functions I Support With Autistic Students
Let Them Lead: The Child-Led Autism Podcast
In this episode, Nicole Casey discusses the challenges faced by speech-language pathologists (SLPs) when supporting autistic students, particularly the difficulty of starting communication support without knowing the child well. She emphasizes the importance of a structured approach to identify key communication functions, such as asking for help, protesting, and directing actions. Nicole advocates for a child-led approach that empowers students to communicate authentically and autonomously, moving beyond traditional methods that may hinder their development. The conversation highlights the...
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32. Helping the Helpers: What Teams Really Need to Support Autistic Kids Well
Let Them Lead: The Child-Led Autism Podcast
In this episode, Nicole Casey emphasizes the critical importance of collaboration among professionals supporting autistic students. She discusses the need for empathy, trust, and understanding within teams, particularly focusing on the roles of paraprofessionals and support staff. Nicole shares practical strategies for building relationships, advocating for change, and fostering a supportive environment that prioritizes the well-being of both students and staff. The conversation highlights the systemic challenges faced by educators and the necessity of a team-centered approach to effectively...
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31. Eye contact, Quiet Hands, and Calm Body – The Trifecta of Harm
Let Them Lead: The Child-Led Autism Podcast
In this conversation, Nicole Casey challenges traditional notions of attention and connection in learning, particularly for autistic students. She emphasizes the importance of accommodating diverse sensory needs and creating an engaging learning environment that allows students to feel regulated and at ease, thus enhancing their ability to learn and engage. Takeaways We need to rethink how we understand connection and attention. Attention doesn't mean sitting still; it can look different. Accommodating a child's sensory system is crucial for learning. Creating an engaging environment helps...
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30. Building Yes Spaces So Autistic Kids Can Truly Lead
Let Them Lead: The Child-Led Autism Podcast
In this episode of Let Them Lead, Nicole Casey discusses the concept of "yes spaces" in therapy and educational settings, emphasizing their importance for both autistic students and educators. She explains how creating environments where children can explore safely without constant redirection fosters authentic communication and co-regulation. Nicole shares practical tips for setting up yes spaces, highlighting the balance between freedom and safety, and the benefits for both students and educators. Takeaways: Creating yes spaces allows children to explore safely. Yes spaces reduce the need...
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29. It Wasn’t the Child: How a Broken System Led to My Concussion
Let Them Lead: The Child-Led Autism Podcast
In this episode, Nicole Casey discusses the challenges and emotional impact of working with autistic children, focusing on incidents where educators face physical injuries. She shares personal experiences, emphasizing the need for systemic change and proactive support to prevent such situations. Nicole advocates for understanding over blame and highlights the importance of co-regulation and emotional safety. Takeaways We need to talk about the hard things to move forward. Injuries at work are not the child's fault. Systemic issues contribute to workplace injuries. Co-regulation is key to...
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27. It's Not Chaos: How to Explain Child-Led Therapy to Skeptical Parents and Teams
Let Them Lead: The Child-Led Autism Podcast
In this episode, Nicole Casey discusses how to handle situations where one's approach in therapy is questioned or judged. She emphasizes the importance of understanding the root of such questions, often stemming from fear, and advocates for a collaborative and curiosity-driven response rather than defensiveness. The conversation also touches on setting boundaries with colleagues and the challenges of implementing child-led therapy, highlighting the need for clear communication and shared goals. Takeaways When feeling questioned, it's important to pause and reflect. Defensiveness can hinder...
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In this episode, Nicole Casey discusses the unique challenges faced by autistic children in relation to their childhood experiences. She emphasizes the importance of understanding the balance between therapy and allowing children to simply be kids. The conversation highlights the need for unstructured time, the impact of excessive therapy, and the significance of quality over quantity in therapeutic approaches. Nicole encourages parents and professionals to prioritize the well-being and happiness of autistic children, advocating for a more holistic view of childhood that includes joy and relaxation alongside skill development.
Takeaways:
- Autistic children experience childhood differently than neurotypical children.
- Progress in therapy is not always linear and can fluctuate based on a child's emotional state.
- Parents should sometimes reframe their perspective on their child's behavior to see it as part of being human.
- Excessive therapy can lead to burnout and detract from a child's ability to simply enjoy childhood.
- Quality of therapy is more important than the quantity of hours spent in therapy.
- Children need unstructured time to play and explore without therapeutic demands.
- Rest and downtime are essential for both children and families.
- Parents should trust their instincts about what is best for their child.
- Therapists should be mindful of the impact of their recommendations on a child's childhood.
- Childhood should be a time for joy, exploration, and connection, not just therapy.
Chapters
00:00 Understanding Childhood for Autistic Kids
07:18 The Impact of Therapy on Childhood
14:30 Quality Over Quantity in Therapy
22:30 Balancing Structure and Freedom
30:35 The Importance of Rest and Unstructured Time
autism, childhood, therapy, gestalt language processing, parenting, neurodiversity, child development, mental health, unstructured play, balance