Full Circle Communication Speech Language Pathology Services

“Interoception was the missing piece”, Lynn Pankalla-Mother of neurodivergent child and “an ordinary but very motivated SLP”

Bringing this old post back because it asks such an important question: How do you advocate for less compliance and more regulation--especially when you feel like you are the only one in the room that believes in this imperative shift?

I was recently asked to help with a student---according to the referral he is a 17 year old autistic student who is currently "struggling" at school. He has been suspended multiple times this year for "aggressive and inappropriate behavior". Student has an IEP with Social Skills Goals and a recent FBA w/ updated Behavior Plan/Goals. Zero related services like speech or OT. Zero mention of supports for regulation, sensory, communication, predictability. Zero curiosity for his inner experience!!! When he becomes "aggressive" the plan is to get him to the "quiet room" which is a stark white room with nothing in it ("for safety of the student and staff" they say). If he continues to escalate and do things that “break school rules” he gets suspended. Every question I asked was met with a 'we tried that' or 'that would reinforce his behavior' or 'he needs to learn that this behavior is illegal, inappropriate, etc'. I felt so alone and activated in this meeting, but couldn’t stop thinking about how many million times worse this student might feel coming to school every day.

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Image description: a teen sits on a wall and thinks

October is Dysautonomia Awareness Month!

Dysautonomia, a condition that affects the autonomic nervous system, is common among people with Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS), particularly hypermobile EDS (hEDS), and hypermobility spectrum disorders.

The most common forms include orthostatic hypotension, PoTS, and vasovagal syncope. Symptoms can include:

- Dizziness or fainting
- Rapid heartbeat
- Fatigue and headaches
- Exercise intolerance
- Blurred vision or nausea

Management often includes lifestyle changes, such as increasing fluid intake, dietary adjustments, and learning postural maneuvers. These steps can help improve your quality of life. Learn more from expert Dr. Mark Belham here: https://www.ehlers-danlos.org/information/understanding-pots-webinar/

Read about autonomic dysfunction here: https://www.ehlers-danlos.org/information/autonomic-dysfunction/

As communication specialists, we SLPs are responsible for working together with our clients to express who they are and what they want. Let’s start by listening.

Our research review “The right to be yourself” features the perspectives of autistic people with intellectual disability, facilitated and described by autistic researchers. This neurodiversity-affirming study gives us insight and practical strategies to enable self-determination for these folks—find it at https://www.theinformedslp.com/review/Everyone-else-is-already-taken

The research:
https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613241254432

[Visual description: Cartoon of three individuals. The person on the left says, "Give me options that I like, and respect my choices." The person in the middle says, "Let me communicate my own way. Give me time to process and learn the ways I communicate." The person on the right says, "I need an environment that feels safe, physically and emotionally." Image text reads, "Respecting my autonomy means respecting who I am."]

4 TIPS for RECHARGING Our executive function system is what regulates us. We don’t have an endless supply of it. It’s like a phone battery🔋 . The more we use it, the more the battery gets drained 🪫. I don’t know about you, but when my kids get home from school, they’re spent. They’ve used up nearly all of their executive function battery to self-regulate and learn all day, and then they have to do homework. Ohhh the homework fights. We all have them. It’s so hard because at the end of the day, everyone’s executive function batteries are drained, ours as the adults included. We can’t do homework on an empty executive function battery so we have to help our kids recharge it, even if it’s just a small bit of power. 4 TIPS TO RECHARGE THE EXECUTIVE FUNCTION BATTERY 1️⃣ PROTEIN: Feed your kids a protein-packed snack. Protein is brain food! 2️⃣ MOVEMENT: Facilitate movement activities that meet your kid’s sensory needs. Some examples include crashing into couch pillows, spinning on a swing or burpees. A short trip to the playground is always a great idea for varied sensory experiences. 3️⃣ DOWNTIME: Kids need to allow their brains to rest in what’s called the “diffuse mode network.” Don’t bombard them with questions or things to do. Give them a bit of time to simply turn their brains “off.” Even a few minutes of a putting one’s head down can be enough to recharge the executive function battery. 4️⃣ MINDFULNESS: Mindfulness activities are great ways to support the executive function battery. You can find short mindfulness videos on YouTube or have them trace a mandalynth. Coloring can also be meditative for some people. Nobody can function on an empty battery, our kids included. If you’re finding certain times of day particularly challenging with your child, it’s possible it’s when their executive function battery is low or empty. Try some recharging techniques and see if it helps. What are your favorite recharging tools? Tell us below 👇