About Learn Play Thrive
Our mission is to provide resources and continuing education trainings that promote the use of strengths-based, ethical, neurodiversity-affirming practices for professionals working with autistic people.
Learn Play Thrive
Values
Listening to Autistic Voices
We listen to autistic voices and recognize that autistic adults are the real experts on autism. All courses are either developed by or reviewed by autistic professionals.
Respect for Neurodiversity
We respect the differences of neurodivergent people, while acknowledging their barriers to thriving in our current world. We do not teach or condone practices that promote masking or violate the bodily autonomy of our clients.
Openness to Change
We are committed to continually updating our beliefs and content as we listen, learn, and grow.
Value for Our Community
We aim to provide the highest level of value and support for our customers and our guest instructors.
Meet your
Instructors
INSTRUCTOR
Meg Proctor,
MS, OTR/L
Founder of Learn Play Thrive, Occupational Therapist
Meg Proctor,
MS, OTR/L
Founder of Learn Play Thrive, Occupational Therapist
Meg is an occupational therapist who cares deeply about person-affirming therapy. At Learn Play Thrive, she hopes to springboard as many OTs and SLPs as humanly possible into offering neurodiversity-affirming therapy with ease. Meg has supported thousands of therapists to become confident, effective OTs and SLPs who use strengths-based strategies with their autistic* clients and support their clients’ sense of belonging and identity.
Meg has worked in early intervention, schools, and clinics. She is a former faculty member of the TEACCH® Autism program, and she is the host of the Two Sides of the Spectrum Podcast, where she interviews autistic adults and other professionals striving to change therapy practice.
She is the primary instructor in The Learn Play Thrive Approach to Autism, where she fills up the toolboxes of OTs and SLPs with strengths-based strategies to use in their work. Meg also teaches Module 1 of the LPT Approach to Autism as a stand-alone live course, A Strengths-Based Approach to Autism.
*We use identity-first language as it’s the preference of most autistic adults and helps to reduce stigma.
Meg has worked in early intervention, schools, and clinics. She is a former faculty member of the TEACCH® Autism program, and she is the host of the Two Sides of the Spectrum Podcast, where she interviews autistic adults and other professionals striving to change therapy practice.
She is the primary instructor in The Learn Play Thrive Approach to Autism, where she fills up the toolboxes of OTs and SLPs with strengths-based strategies to use in their work. Meg also teaches Module 1 of the LPT Approach to Autism as a stand-alone live course, A Strengths-Based Approach to Autism.
*We use identity-first language as it’s the preference of most autistic adults and helps to reduce stigma.
Disclosures for Meg Proctor
FINANCIAL: Meg is the owner of Learn Play Thrive and receives a salary.
NON-FINANCIAL: Meg has friends and colleagues who are autistic.
FINANCIAL: Meg is the owner of Learn Play Thrive and receives a salary.
NON-FINANCIAL: Meg has friends and colleagues who are autistic.
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GUEST INSTRUCTOR
Rachel Dorsey,
MS, CCC-SLP
Course Instructor, Speech Language Pathologist
Rachel Dorsey,
MS, CCC-SLP
Course Instructor, Speech Language Pathologist
Rachel Dorsey is an autistic speech language pathologist who excels at teaching non-autistic therapists to better understand and support our neurodivergent clients. Rachel is on a mission to illuminate the many ways that seemingly “effective” strategies can actually wreak havoc on the lives of our autistic clients.
But she doesn’t stop there: Rachel also teaches us what to do instead. Rachel is the course creator and instructor for Goal Writing for Autistic Students: A Neurodiversity-Affirming Approach, where she teaches therapists exactly how to wade through incomplete, deficits-based IEPs and nevertheless write perfectly neurodiversity-affirming goals. Rachel is also a guest instructor in The Learn Play Thrive Approach to Autism.
But she doesn’t stop there: Rachel also teaches us what to do instead. Rachel is the course creator and instructor for Goal Writing for Autistic Students: A Neurodiversity-Affirming Approach, where she teaches therapists exactly how to wade through incomplete, deficits-based IEPs and nevertheless write perfectly neurodiversity-affirming goals. Rachel is also a guest instructor in The Learn Play Thrive Approach to Autism.
Disclosures for Rachel Dorsey
FINANCIAL: Rachel was paid a speaking fee for her contribution to The Learn Play Thrive Approach to Autism. Rachel receives commission from her course, Goal Writing for Autistic Students, from Learn Play Thrive. Rachel is the owner of Rachel Dorsey: Autistic SLP, LLC and receives a salary.
NON-FINANCIAL: Rachel is autistic and has friends and family members who are autistic.
FINANCIAL: Rachel was paid a speaking fee for her contribution to The Learn Play Thrive Approach to Autism. Rachel receives commission from her course, Goal Writing for Autistic Students, from Learn Play Thrive. Rachel is the owner of Rachel Dorsey: Autistic SLP, LLC and receives a salary.
NON-FINANCIAL: Rachel is autistic and has friends and family members who are autistic.
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GUEST INSTRUCTOR
Sarah Selvaggi-Hernandez,
MOT, OTR/L
Course Instructor, Occupational Therapist
Sarah Selvaggi-Hernandez,
MOT, OTR/L
Course Instructor, Occupational Therapist
Sarah Selvaggi-Hernandez brought the language of “positive autistic self-identity” to Learn Play Thrive. We latched on and never looked back.
Sarah is an autistic occupational therapist who studies, practices, and teaches person-affirming approaches to sensory-processing differences.
Sarah is a guest instructor in The Learn Play Thrive Approach to Autism, and is developing a new stand-alone course on sensory processing and self-determination.
Sarah is an autistic occupational therapist who studies, practices, and teaches person-affirming approaches to sensory-processing differences.
Sarah is a guest instructor in The Learn Play Thrive Approach to Autism, and is developing a new stand-alone course on sensory processing and self-determination.
Disclosures for Sarah Selvaggi-Hernandez
FINANCIAL: Sarah was paid a speaking fee for her contribution to this course. Sarah is the author of a book, Melt Like Ice Cream, for which she receives royalties.
NON-FINANCIAL: Sarah is autistic and has friends and family members who are autistic. Sarah is an unpaid board member for NeuroClastic, Inc.
FINANCIAL: Sarah was paid a speaking fee for her contribution to this course. Sarah is the author of a book, Melt Like Ice Cream, for which she receives royalties.
NON-FINANCIAL: Sarah is autistic and has friends and family members who are autistic. Sarah is an unpaid board member for NeuroClastic, Inc.
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