this week’s episode was inspired directly by a diagnostic feedback session inside dr. tay’s clinical practice. one parent asked a question that so many others wonder:

“should i be teaching social skills to my autistic child… and if so, how?”

in this episode, dr. tay breaks down why traditional social skills approaches often miss the mark, how they can unintentionally promote masking, and what a neurodiversity-affirming approach looks like instead.

you’ll learn:

why “social skills” often = neurotypical norms
what actually helps autistic kids build authentic connection
practical ways to support social growth at home, without scripts or forcing
how to understand what your child needs based on their motivation, interests, and neurotype

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 introduction and episode inspiration

00:21 diagnostic feedback and recommendations

01:57 therapeutic approaches and parent coaching

04:34 addressing social skills in autistic children

05:52 neurodiversity affirming approaches

08:00 practical strategies and role-playing

12:04 real-life situations and empathy building

16:16 parental involvement and social skills groups

23:03 conclusion and next steps

RESOURCES

⚡️need more support navigating this? Join EVOLVE the membership — a neurodiversity-affirming space to ask YOUR questions.

⚡️ learn more about Dr. Tay’s Whole Family Approach + current services, including her small group therapy model, at drtaylorday.com

⚡️ keep learning

Instagram → @the.dr.tay

TikTok → @the.dr.tay