Wellbeing as a Protective Factor: Reducing Stigma and Centering Joy

• By: Katie Curran, MAPP Proof Positive
• July 9th, 2025
• happiness, inclusion, joy, neurodiversity, psychology, stigma, strength-based approach, Summer 2025 Issue, wellbeing
• 931    0

There’s a deeply ingrained belief in our society, rarely said aloud but often reinforced, that autistic people can’t be happy. It shows up in lowered expectations, social exclusion, and systems that treat disability as a barrier to flourishing. This message is at the core of stigma, and it’s...

Research-Based Recommendations for Building Self-Advocacy Competence

• By: Carly Werner, MEd, MS Dianne Zager, PhD Boca School for Autism
• January 2nd, 2023
• advocacy, advocacy skills, IEPs, self-advocacy, self-determination, self-regulation, strength-based approach, student involvement, transition planning, Winter 2023 Issue
• 4976    0

Self-advocacy, an essential ingredient in our quest for satisfaction and fulfillment in life, is a learned skill that involves self-awareness, social and communication strategies, and behavioral competencies. Self-advocating involves communicating a person’s needs so that another person is able...

Designing Environments to Reduce Challenging Behaviors

• By: Heidi Hillman, PhD, BCBA-D, LMHC Eastern Washington University
• September 23rd, 2021
• actually autistic, challenging behaviors, children, communication, environment, Fall 2021 Issue, parenting, sensory challenges, strength-based approach
• 3293    0

Challenging behaviors - defined as abnormal behaviors that deviate from one’s culture in frequency, intensity, or duration - are common among autistics, and have the potential to cause hardships for the autistic and others (Jang, Healy, & Mannion, 2011; Matson & Minshawi, 2007; Myers...