Ableism: What therapists, teachers, and caregivers need to know

Ableism is the discrimination against disabled people. As we learn more and more about autistic people, those with ADHD, among other populations…this word continues to come up in conversation. Many of the interventions we’ve traditionally done to support children who need different educational and medical interventions are now under scrutiny for having ableist qualities. This has left a lot of clinicians, educators, and caregivers in a tricky situation as they support kids’ social, emotional, and cognitive development. That’s why in this episode, I have a discussion on the top of ableism, including what it is and what it isn’t. I also share tips for parents and clinicians so they can help kids without being ableist. In this episode, I mention the Time Tracking Journal, a tool to help parents and educators support kids in engaging in positive self-talk and self-reflection during day-to-day tasks. It’s intended to help kids be more independent with tasks that require sequencing and planning; but it can also help kids reflect on social situations as well. You can get more information about the Time Tracking Journal here: https://drkarendudekbrannan.com/timejournal The De Facto Leaders podcast was formerly the “Are they 18 yet?®” podcast. As of November 2022, the name of the show has changed, and we’ve shifted from a focus on parenting to a focus on supporting clinicians and educators to design effective services for kids (but parents are still welcome to listen). Episodes published before November 24, 2022 will still contain some of our old branding.