Your FREE Trainings
Neurodiversity in the New Year Summit
January 10 - 16, 2022

Grab all 3 of our masterclasses on-demand for FREE for ONE WEEK ONLY!
The 2022 Summit is over
4 Essential Steps Towards a Strengths-Based Approach to Autism

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Strengths-Based vs. Traditional Goal Writing for Autistic Students

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Moving Beyond Compliance-Based Strategies for AAC: Why & How To Support Autonomous Communication

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Meet your
Instructors

INSTRUCTOR
Meg Proctor
M.S., OTR/L
Founder of Learn Play Thrive, Occupational Therapist
(she/her)

Meg Proctor
M.S., OTR/L
Founder of Learn Play Thrive, Occupational Therapist
(she/her)

Meg (she/her) 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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INSTRUCTOR
Rachel Dorsey
M.S., CCC-SLP
Speech Language Pathologist
(she/her)

Rachel Dorsey
M.S., CCC-SLP
Speech Language Pathologist
(she/her)

Rachel Dorsey (she/her) 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.
Rachel holds a Master of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and has worked in school, clinic, and community-based settings with children and adolescents of all ages.
Rachel holds a Master of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and has worked in school, clinic, and community-based settings with children and adolescents of all ages.
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 and for the Learn Play Thrive Neurodiversity Summit. She is paid a consulting fee by Learn Play Thrive as the SLP consultant. Rachel is a paid consultant for Responsive Feeding Pro, LLC. 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 and for the Learn Play Thrive Neurodiversity Summit. She is paid a consulting fee by Learn Play Thrive as the SLP consultant. Rachel is a paid consultant for Responsive Feeding Pro, LLC. 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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INSTRUCTOR
Kate McLaughlin
M.S., CCC-SLP
Speech Language Pathologist
(she/her)

Kate McLaughlin
M.S., CCC-SLP
Speech Language Pathologist
(she/her)

Kate McLaughlin (she/her) is a Speech-Language Pathologist specializing in augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) for individuals with complex communication needs. She believes that autonomous communication, inclusion, and self-determination are fundamental human rights. Kate teaches OTs and SLPs the practical strategies they need to support their clients’ autonomous and authentic connection using strengths-based strategies.
Disclosures for Kate Mclaughlin
FINANCIAL: Kate receives commission from Learn Play Thrive, LLC for the sale of Authentic AAC, the SLP Neurodiversity Summit, and the OT Neurodiversity Summit. Kate is the owner of AAC Services of CT, LLC and receives a salary. She is also owner of The AAC Coach, LLC and receives compensation for speaking and coaching services.
NON-FINANCIAL: Kate has friends and colleagues who are autistic.
FINANCIAL: Kate receives commission from Learn Play Thrive, LLC for the sale of Authentic AAC, the SLP Neurodiversity Summit, and the OT Neurodiversity Summit. Kate is the owner of AAC Services of CT, LLC and receives a salary. She is also owner of The AAC Coach, LLC and receives compensation for speaking and coaching services.
NON-FINANCIAL: Kate has friends and colleagues who are autistic.
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GUEST INSTRUCTOR
V Tisi
M.A., CCC-SLP
Speech Language Pathologist
(/vi tisɨ/, they/she)

V Tisi
M.A., CCC-SLP
Speech Language Pathologist
(/vi tisɨ/, they/she)

V. Tisi, M.A., CCC-SLP (/vi tisɨ/, they/she) is an Autistic, Disabled, and Queer Taiwanese-Chinese-Venezuelan American clinician- and educator-activist. They founded The Speechologist, a small private practice that provides education and consultation in 2015 to provide services. While the bulk of their practice has been in the public K-12 sector, they also have taught graduate courses in the areas of Culturally Responsive Practices, Speech Sound Production, and School Communities at San Francisco State University and has been a topic area expert for anti-bias at The Informed SLP. Their area of specialty is intersectional justice for multiply marginalized neurodivergent people and their social-emotional development and wellness pertaining to alexithymic experiences. Their work can be viewed on speechologist.com and on Instagram, Facebook, and Medium under the name Speechologist.
Disclosures for V. Tisi
FINANCIAL: V receives a commission from Learn Play Thrive, LLC for sales of Let’s UNMASC and the Learn Play Thrive Neurodiversity Summit. V owns The Speechologist and receives compensation for their work.. V is employed part-time by San Francisco State University and receives a salary for teaching, including a course on Cultural Responsiveness in Speech, Language, Hearing Sciences that includes topics of anti-racism and anti-ableism. V is contracted with The Informed SLP and receives a fee for their work.
NON-FINANCIAL: V runs Speechologist accounts on various social media outlets, is a co-founder and volunteer for SLPs of Color 501(c)(3), and identifies as an Asian-Latiné Autistic person. V is Autistic and has friends and colleagues who are Autistic.
FINANCIAL: V receives a commission from Learn Play Thrive, LLC for sales of Let’s UNMASC and the Learn Play Thrive Neurodiversity Summit. V owns The Speechologist and receives compensation for their work.. V is employed part-time by San Francisco State University and receives a salary for teaching, including a course on Cultural Responsiveness in Speech, Language, Hearing Sciences that includes topics of anti-racism and anti-ableism. V is contracted with The Informed SLP and receives a fee for their work.
NON-FINANCIAL: V runs Speechologist accounts on various social media outlets, is a co-founder and volunteer for SLPs of Color 501(c)(3), and identifies as an Asian-Latiné Autistic person. V is Autistic and has friends and colleagues who are Autistic.
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GUEST INSTRUCTOR
Lydia X. Z. Brown
J.D., Esq.
Abolitionist Advocate, Organizer, Attorney, Strategist, and Writer
(they/them)

Lydia X. Z. Brown
J.D., Esq.
Abolitionist Advocate, Organizer, Attorney, Strategist, and Writer
(they/them)

Lydia X. Z. Brown (they/them) is the Director of Public Policy at the National Disability Institute, Executive Director of the Autistic People of Color Fund, and a professor at Georgetown University and American University. Lydia serves as Co-President of the Disability Rights Bar Association, member of the National Executive Committee of the National Lawyers Guild, and founding board member of the Alliance for Self-Direction and Disability Rights. They are a Senior Advisor to the Autistic Women & Nonbinary Network and Disability Rights Special Advisor for the American Bar Association’s Section on Civil Rights & Social Justice. Lydia also serves as an advisor for the Transgender Law Center’s Disability Project, the Nonbinary & Intersex Recognition Project, and Disability Rights Maryland’s PAIMI (Protection & Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness) Program. Lydia brings nearly 15 years of experience as a committed advocate, community organizer, and policy expert at the nexus of disability rights and disability justice. They have spoken, facilitated, and consulted internationally and throughout the U.S. on a range of topics related to disability rights and disability justice, especially at the intersections of race, class, gender, and sexuality, and has published in numerous scholarly and community publications. Lydia’s work addresses the deep interconnections between ableism and other forms of systemic discrimination, marginalization, and oppression, and has often focused on interpersonal, state, and corporate violence, deprivation, and exploitation targeting disabled people at the margins of the margins.
Disclosures for Lydia X. Z. Brown, Esq.
FINANCIAL: Lydia receives a salary from the Autistic Women & Nonbinary Network, Georgetown University (including the federally-funded University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities), and American University. Lydia is also the owner/principal of an independent consulting firm, Mycelia Groundwork LLC and receives compensation for their work.
NON-FINANCIAL: Lydia is an unpaid executive director of the Autistic People of Color Fund. They are also currently a candidate in a partisan election for the Maryland House of Delegates, running as a Democrat. Lydia is autistic and has friends and colleagues who are autistic, as well as being a caregiver/support person to other autistic people.
FINANCIAL: Lydia receives a salary from the Autistic Women & Nonbinary Network, Georgetown University (including the federally-funded University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities), and American University. Lydia is also the owner/principal of an independent consulting firm, Mycelia Groundwork LLC and receives compensation for their work.
NON-FINANCIAL: Lydia is an unpaid executive director of the Autistic People of Color Fund. They are also currently a candidate in a partisan election for the Maryland House of Delegates, running as a Democrat. Lydia is autistic and has friends and colleagues who are autistic, as well as being a caregiver/support person to other autistic people.
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GUEST INSTRUCTOR
Caroline Musselwhite
Ed.D., CCC-SLP
Speech Language Pathologist

Caroline Musselwhite
Ed.D., CCC-SLP
Speech Language Pathologist

Caroline Musslewhite (she/her) is a Speech-Language Pathologist with more than 45 years of experience ‘in the trenches.’ She specializes in providing AAC and literacy consulting in schools, homes, and communities. She believes passionately that everyone – YES EVERYONE, including individuals who use AAC – can make progress in their own literacy journey. She believes that literacy and AAC learning can (and should) be effective, efficient, and engaging! Caroline has presented thousands of workshops throughout the world and is on a mission to change how SLPs approach literacy, illuminating the needs of emergent readers.
Caroline is a founding member of the Board of Directors for the International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (ISAAC).
Disclosures for Caroline Musselwhite
FINANCIAL: Caroline receives royalty for the sale of products from Building Wings and the Attainment Company. She is the author of numerous books on Teachers Pay Teachers and receives royalty for their sale.
NON-FINANCIAL: No disclosures.
FINANCIAL: Caroline receives royalty for the sale of products from Building Wings and the Attainment Company. She is the author of numerous books on Teachers Pay Teachers and receives royalty for their sale.
NON-FINANCIAL: No disclosures.
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