In this episode, I had the absolute pleasure of welcoming Dr. Kathleen Dyer, Dr. Anna Linnehan, and Dr. Mary Jane Weiss for a powerful conversation around their article Fostering Belonging in Autistic Individuals. This was actually the first time I’ve had three guests on the podcast at once, and it felt like the perfect conversation to mark that milestone.

We spent time unpacking the difference between inclusion and true belonging and why simply being “in the room” does not always mean someone feels connected or accepted. As behavior analysts and speech-language pathologists, we’ve made incredible progress with access, inclusion, and participation, but this conversation challenged us to take a deeper look at the quality of those experiences.

We talked about what happens when autistic individuals are included but don’t feel they belong, the emotional toll of masking and camouflaging, and the very real systemic barriers that still exist for autistic adults. I also loved hearing how this work grew from their experiences in higher education and from listening closely to autistic individuals and families who shared that they often had to create their own communities.

What really stood out to me was how much this conversation aligns with compassionate, individualized care. Belonging looks different for everyone, and if we’re not asking about it, observing it, and building it into our assessments and interventions, we’re missing something essential. This episode felt like an invitation for our field to stretch, reflect, and evolve, and I’m so grateful to these three leaders for helping start that dialogue.

#autism #speechtherapy

What’s Inside:

The difference between inclusion and true belonging, and why access alone is not enough
How masking and camouflaging impact mental health and long-term well-being
Barriers autistic adults face in education, employment, and community participation
Practical ways clinicians can keep belonging at the center of assessment and intervention

Mentioned In This Episode:

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