ALL ABOUT NONSPEAKERS: REFLECTIONS ON AUTISM SPECTRUM NEWS ISSUE WITH AMY LAURENT AND JEN LEPAPE
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What is the focus of the Autism Spectrum News issue discussed in this episode?
The primary purpose of Uniquely Human the Podcast is to educate and inform. The views expressed during all episodes are solely those of the individuals involved and do not constitute educational or medical advice. Listeners should consult with professionals familiar with each individual or family for specific guidance.
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Hi, I'm Dr. Barry Prazant, clinical scholar, researcher, and consultant on autism and neurodiversity, and a Brooklyn boy raised in the big city. And I'm Dave.
I'm none of those things, and I grew up on a farm in Illinois. But being on the spectrum myself, I have plenty of personal insight to lend.
And this is Uniquely Human The Podcast, a show that illuminates and celebrates autism and neurodiversity.
Today on Uniquely Human the Podcast, we have a very, very special discussion. And that is about an issue of autism spectrum news that just came out. And you will have the link on the page associated with this episode. And it focuses on non-speaking individuals and so many aspects of their life. And we have two very special guests. Uh we have Jen Binder LePap with us. Hi Jen! Delighted to be here. Thanks for having me. And hi Amy.
Amy Lowrance.
Hey Dave.
Hello, and by the way, Amy joins us as a a very part of an exclusive community as a three-peat. Yes.
A three P, my goodness. So you get to hear her melodic tones and words of wisdom again. So we're very excited
about that. It's a it's a service, it's value added that we bring to our listening community.
And now a little bit more about our guests today. Jen works in strategy consulting with a focus on technology, media and telecom. She is the mother of two adult children, one of whom is a non speaking autistic who communicates via spelling and typing. She was a co-plaintiff in LaPap vs. Lower Marion School District in Pennsylvania, a case that centered on the ADA's effective communication clause. She is also a member of Voices for Choice, a group working to expand housing options for disabled adults. And Amy Amy is a PhD in developmental psychology and an occupational therapist, but I think that's your true nature, OT, right?
Is
the co is the co-director of Autism Level Up, a neurotypical neurodivergent partnership. Dedicated to the provision of education, accessible resources, and practical strategies focused on increasing active engagement for autistic individuals and members of their communities. She is a co-author of The CERTS model. I think I've heard of that somewhere. And frequently lectures internationally. She is passionate about neurodiversity and helping others to honor and understand the implications of different ways of being in relation to navigating the physical and social world. and Amy strives to practice what she preaches, and uses her love of play and movement to meet her own regulatory needs. Okay, so uh
The issue of autism spectrum news is such a rich issue, and that's what we really want to focus on today. Um and you might wonder why Jen and why Amy and why me. Uh we have become kind of compatriots uh in the last two years, I would say, um, regarding uh a legal action that Jen maybe wants to talk about a little bit more as we move ahead and actually was the focus of um one of the articles in this issue. But I think one thing we would like to do is to make sure that we're clear on some issues that uh have created misunderstandings regarding non speakers and ways to support non speakers. So I'm gonna toss out a few items and then I'm going to have Amy and Jen respond to those items in terms of trying to get a clearer understanding and put some of the misunderstandings to rest.
So one of the big issues that's discussed is a term many people are familiar with now and that is presuming competence. So uh Jen or Amy, you wanna take the lead on that and and help us understand it more clearly.
Sure. Um, I I'd be happy to because I do I agree with you, Barry. I think this is widely misunderstood.
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Chapters
8 chapters
1
What is the focus of the Autism Spectrum News issue discussed in this episode?
0:00–6:50
2
Why were Jen LePap and Amy Laurent chosen as guests for this conversation?
6:50–13:15
3
How do the hosts define and explain the concept of “presuming competence” for non‑speakers?
13:15–19:07
4
What role do neuromotor and praxis issues play in supporting non‑speaking autistic individuals?
19:07–25:04
5
How do concerns about communication authenticity and influence affect non‑speaker support?
25:04–31:33
6
What practical strategies and accommodations are highlighted for helping non‑speakers communicate?
31:33–38:12
7
How does recent research and new technologies expand our understanding of non‑speakers?
38:12–44:09
8
What are the key takeaways and future directions suggested by the guests and hosts?
44:09–47:33
Speakers
1 identifiedMore from Uniquely Human: The Podcast
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