Bridges Learning System

✨ Start 2026 with intention. ✨

The new year is the perfect time to shift from managing behavior to building understanding.

SANDE Bridge—Socializing Acceptance of NeuroDiversity in Early Childhood—was created to support the real social-emotional needs of young children in ways that are respectful, developmentally grounded, and affirming.

Right now, you can begin building bridges of understanding in your clinic or classroom—and later, watch children grow with confidence and connection.

💛 30% off (This is the biggest discount we'll offer all year.)

🗓️ Start the year by laying a strong foundation.
🌈 Meet children where they are.
🔗 Begin building bridges of understanding.

Use code SANDE26 to save 30%.
learn more at bridgeslearningsystem.com/sande-bridge/

SANDE Bridge - Bridges Learning System SANDE Bridge Socializing Acceptance of Neurodiversity in Early Childhood Join Now Sign In Introducing SANDE Bridge SANDE (Socializing Acceptance of Neurodiversity in Early Childhood) Bridge is social-emotional curriculum for early childhood educators to use with children ages 3-6. Subscribe to our C...

Well said Meg! Who hasn't felt this?! I'm proud to be a part of a community of people always stiving to improve themselves in an effort to better support their students!

When I was a clinic-based OT, I created a lot of cleverly designed games to teach my Autistic adolescent clients to do things like engage in back-and-forth conversations, make eye contact, and ask other people questions about themselves.

In those moments, I thought I was supporting their goals of increasing social connection. I had no idea that I was teaching them to "connect" by masking their authentic selves. And that masking was exhausting, inauthentic, and also harmful to my Autistic clients' well-being.

After that, I spent years *knowing* that teaching masking was harmful, but not having any idea what I should be teaching in its place.

It's hard to hear that the things we've been doing as OTs, SLPs, and mental health providers can be harmful for our Autistic clients. And it can be especially hard to figure out what to do instead.

I've finally found my go-to person to help me learn what we can do INSTEAD of teaching neurotypical "social skills." The content in the slides of this post is from Katrina Martin (Bridges Learning System). Katrina's teaching is absolutely brilliant, and she is full of accessible, practical, deeply nuanced ideas. It's so exciting and reassuring to have a toolbox full of strategies that are truly affirming.

Want to learn EXACTLY HOW to do all of this? Visit Learnplaythrive.com/authentic to sign up for our upcoming FREE live Q&A on affirming social-emotional learning. There's a recorded replay if you don't make it live!