We chose play from Affect Autism

Daria Brown
  • 4.9 (29)
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Developmental happens through relationships across a lifetime. Join Daria Brown as she dives into implementing a Floortime approach with neurodivergent individuals.

  1. 1d ago

    Rethinking Autism Therapy mini-series Episode 3 of 4 on the Autistic Culture Podcast Network

    Rethinking Autism Therapy is a four-part mini-series for parents, caregivers, professionals, and Autistic individuals who want to learn about DIRFloortime®, a strength-based, developmental, relationship-driven approach to growth and connection.How does DIRFloortime® meet autistic needs in a neurodiversity-affirming way?In this third episode of the Rethinking Autism Therapy mini-series, Daria Brown is joined by autistic self-advocate, researcher, and ICDL Board President Dr. Emile Gouws to explore how the DIR® model aligns with autistic lived experience and why relationships, respect, and understanding are essential for meaningful development. Drawing on his own experiences growing up as a nonspeaking autistic child, Emile shares the challenges of being viewed through a medical-model lens, the trauma of compliance-based interventions, and the profound impact of finally being seen, understood, and supported through a relationship-based approach. Together, Daria and Emile discuss how DIRFloortime® differs from approaches focused on normalization by emphasizing individual differences, emotional development, authentic communication, and connection. They discuss how autistic development may look different from neurotypical development, why practitioners must be mindful of ableist assumptions, and how play, co-regulation, and meaningful relationships create the conditions for growth. They also explore the role of neurodiversity, self-advocacy, sensory differences, and the Double Empathy Problem in shaping a more affirming understanding of autism. Learn more:Dr. Emile Gouws https://emilegouws.org/The International Council on Development and Learning (ICDL) Board of Directors https://www.icdl.com/about/boardDaria Brown: https://affectautism.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/affectautismX: https://x.com/affectautismFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/affectautismDaria is the author of "We Chose Play: Raising an Autistic Child to Thrive and Feel Understood"🎧 Rethinking Autism Therapy is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms.🌈 Celebrate autistic voices with early access, ad-free listening, and our full archive at AutisticCulturePlus.com🌐 Visit https://autisticculturepodcastnetwork.com/📲 Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/autisticculturepodcast

  2. 6d ago

    REPLAY: A Developmental Perspective on Sharing

    This episode, returning guest Occupational Therapist Stephanie Peters, DIRFloortime® Expert Training Leader and Clinical Director with Kinder Growth, discusses the developmental considerations around sharing. Link to the show notes with links to key discussion points and other ways to view or hear the episode here: https://affectautism.com/2024/03/01/sharing/ Consider joining our DIR® Parent Network or becoming an Affect Autism member for bonus content and support from a like-minded community of Floortimers here: ⁠⁠https://affectautism.com/support/

  3. Aug 19 ·  Bonus

    Rethinking Autism Therapy mini-series Episode 2 of 4 on the Autistic Culture Podcast Network

    Rethinking Autism Therapy is a four-part mini-series for parents, caregivers, professionals, and Autistic individuals who want to learn about DIRFloortime®, a strength-based, developmental, relationship-driven approach to growth and connection. What does DIRFloortime® actually feel like from the perspective of an autistic person?In this second episode of Rethinking Autism Therapy, Daria Brown is joined by autistic musician Cheyenne Erikson to explore what it was like growing up with situational mutism, anxiety, and an undiagnosed autistic neurotype, and how a relationship-based, developmental approach helped her feel understood and supported. Cheyenne shares her personal journey from an early diagnosis of situational mutism to discovering her autistic identity as a young adult. Together, she and Daria discuss how DIRFloortime’s emphasis on relationships, individual differences, play, and emotional connection contrasts with more directive or compliance-based approaches. Through stories from childhood, teaching, parenting, and clinical practice, they illustrate how following a child’s lead, presuming competence, and supporting regulation can foster authentic communication and growth. The conversation highlights the importance of understanding the world through a neurodivergent lens, recognizing the many ways children communicate, and creating safe opportunities for exploration, play, and emotional expression. Listeners will gain insight into how DIRFloortime® supports not only autistic children, but meaningful relationships across the lifespan. Learn more: Cheyenne Erikson’s website: https://www.cheyennepaige.com Cheyenne’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cheyennepaigemusic/ Situational Mutism: https://reframingautism.org.au/all-about-situational-mutism-a-guide-for-allies/ Cheyenne’s SLP mother’s Situational Mutism cards: https://www.bjoremspeech.com/products/dir%C2%AE-sm-a-developmental-approach-to-selective-mutism-intervention Daria Brown: https://affectautism.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/affectautism X: https://x.com/affectautism Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/affectautism Daria is the author of "We Chose Play: Raising an Autistic Child to Thrive and Feel Understood" 🎧 Rethinking Autism Therapy is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms. 🌈 Celebrate autistic voices with early access, ad-free listening, and our full archive at AutisticCulturePlus.com 🌐 Visit www.autisticculturepodcastnetwork.com 📲 Follow on Instagram: @autisticculturepodcast

  4. Aug 14

    REPLAY: A Developmental Approach to Setting Limits

    Setting limits with development in mind with children who have developmental differences, including autism, means being firm with compassion, warmth, empathy and respect. Being attuned to our children's emotional experience is the key to seeing their behaviour as communication, which will help us be a helpful, empathic guide rather than a dictator around disruptive behaviour. Link to the show notes with links to key discussion points and other ways to view or hear the episode here: ⁠https://affectautism.com/2016/03/29/setting-limits/⁠ Consider joining our DIR® Parent Network or becoming an Affect Autism member for bonus content and support from a like-minded community of Floortimers here: ⁠⁠⁠https://affectautism.com/support/⁠

  5. Aug 12

    Rethinking Autism Therapy mini-series Episode 1 on the Autistic Culture Podcast Network

    Rethinking Autism Therapy is a four-part mini-series for parents, caregivers, professionals, and Autistic individuals who want to learn about DIRFloortime®, a strength-based, developmental, relationship-driven approach to growth and connection. What is DIRFloortime® and why do so many families and practitioners find it transformative? In this first episode of Rethinking Autism Therapy, Daria Brown is joined by DIRFloortime® Expert Training Leader, licensed professional counsellor, and ADHD adult parent Mike Fields to explore the foundations of the DIR® model and the practice of Floortime. Together, they unpack the developmental, individual-differences, relationship-based principles that make DIRFloortime® unique, while challenging traditional compliance-based approaches to autism support. RSS Feed player - https://shows.acast.com/autistic-culture/episodes/rethinking-autism-therapy-what-is-dirfloortime-with-l-mike-fApple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rethinking-autism-therapy-what-is-dirfloortime-with/id1653171456?i=1000781361699Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/episode/5sYDu11EOoKksFxEzdb8iC?si=d95d8e617b49471b Produced for the Autistic Culture Podcast Network. Daria Brown: affectautism.com Instagram: @affectautism X: @affectautism Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/affectautism Daria is the author of "We Chose Play: Raising an Autistic Child to Thrive and Feel Understood" 🎧 Rethinking Autism Therapy is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms. 🌈 Celebrate autistic voices with early access, ad-free listening, and our full archive at AutisticCulturePlus.com 🌐 Visit www.autisticculturepodcastnetwork.com 📲 Follow on Instagram: @autisticculturepodcast

  6. Aug 7

    Hope, Play, and Possibility Through DIRFloortime®

    David Raphael is a social worker and was the co-founder of the former Floortime Foundation, a national organization advancing relationship-based interventions. He is here to discuss his first book, A Miracle of the Heart: A Father and Son’s Autism Journey, co-written with his son Jacob and published on July 1 of this year. He has published essays on his family’s experience of autism in the peer-reviewed Zero to Three journal, and has delivered keynote presentations at national gatherings of autism professionals, educators, and parents, and has met with multiple parent groups on autism advocacy, DIRFloortime®, and finding meaning through caregiving.  Link to the show notes with links to key discussion points and other ways to view or hear the episode here: https://affectautism.com/2026/08/07/miracle-of-the-heart/ Consider joining our DIR® Parent Network or becoming an Affect Autism member for bonus content and support from a like-minded community of Floortimers here: ⁠⁠https://affectautism.com/support/

  7. Jul 31

    REPLAY: Fostering Independence

    DIR-Expert Jackie Bartell returns this episode to discuss how to provide expectations for children with developmental differences in order to foster independence and developmental progress using a ⁠Developmental, Individual differences, Relationship-based (DIR®)⁠ approach. I present a few challenges we are currently facing at home and Jackie coaches me on how to implement some straight-forward practices to provide some relief for our family. Link to the show notes with links to key discussion points and other ways to view or hear the episode here: ⁠⁠https://affectautism.com/2019/08/19/fostering-independence/⁠ Consider joining our DIR® Parent Network or becoming an Affect Autism member for bonus content and support from a like-minded community of Floortimers here: ⁠⁠⁠https://affectautism.com/support/⁠

  8. Jul 30

    AUTISTIC Viewpoints Episode 13 with autistic guitarist Zayne Harshaw

    AUTISTIC Viewpoints⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ is a podcast hosted by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Turrell Burgess⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Daria Brown⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. On Episode 13, Turrell and Daria welcome extraordinary autistic guitarist Zayne Harshaw, leader of the band, Blue Spectrum, to discuss his autism journey, teaching himself guitar, discovering his musical gifts, and how music transformed his life from feeling like an outsider to finding confidence, community, and purpose. Along the way, they explore favorite guitarists, perfect pitch, improvisation, and the power of following one's passion. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://affectautism.com/autistic-viewpoints/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Timestamps: 0:05 Introduction 0:32 Welcoming special guest Zayne Harshaw 1:01 Meeting Zayne at the ICDL DIR® Conference 2:30 Zayne's musical background and accomplishments 4:17 Turrell's admiration for Zayne's guitar playing 4:42 Growing up autistic and discovering differences 6:06 From trumpet to teaching himself guitar 7:03 Guitar Hero and learning to play by ear 8:38 Feeling like an outcast in school 9:15 Using his guitar as a comfort object 9:41 The high school talent show that changed everything 10:53 Forming Blue Spectrum and writing "Outcast Blues" 13:13 Why the band is called Blue Spectrum 14:13 Favorite bands and Nirvana discussion 14:58 Guitar heroes and musical influences 16:42 Promo for Turrell's podcast "Under the Lights" on the Autistic Culture Podcast Network 17:28 Learning guitar 19:02 Realizing music could become a career 21:28 Discovering perfect pitch 24:35 Favorite songs and artists to play 25:40 Canadian fun fact 25:48 What Zayne loves and still finds challenging about being autistic 26:56 DIRFloortime® connection: music, improvisation, and development 28:42 ICDL music and Floortime courses announcement 30:18 Feeding off the audience's energy during live performances 31:08 Learning by watching great guitarists perform 32:17 Blues musicians, concerts, and dream collaborations 33:37 Performing for large audiences 35:18 The latest "hot ticket" Canadian Quebecois duo Angine de Poitrine 36:43 Finding belonging through music and community 38:22 Turrell reflects on autistic gifts and inspiring others 39:17 Where to hear Blue Spectrum and closing remarks Resources: Blue Spectrum Band website https://bluespectrumband.com/Blue Spectrum Band Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/BlueSpectrumband/Blue Spectrum Band Instagram https://www.instagram.com/bluespectrumband/ Yngwie Malmsteen https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yngwie_MalmsteenUnder the Lights on the Autistic Culture Podcast Network hosted by Turrell Burgess https://shows.acast.com/under-the-lights-podcastBohemian Rhapsody by Queen https://youtu.be/fJ9rUzIMcZQ?si=LjJ8qhEfFEbHCmWuWayne's World movie https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne%27s_World_(film)Course for practitioners: DIR 433 - Using Music in Floortime: Promoting Development through Music https://www.icdl.com/courses/433 The Rebecca Center for Music Therapy https://www.therebeccacenter.org/Course for parents: DIR 110 - Using Music in Floortime: Promoting Development through Music https://www.icdl.com/courses/dir-110-using-music-in-floortime-for-parentsICDL's Courses: https://www.icdl.com/coursesThe Meters - Cissy Strut ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXI5Nuz6OHg⁠⁠Zayne's favorites: Stevie Ray Vaughan, Eric Clapton, Carlos Santana, Jimi Hendrix, Joe Bonamassa, and Kenny Wayne Shepherd Zayne has met Eric Gales, Christone "Kingfish" Ingram The movie Sinners https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinners_(2025_film)Quebecois Canadian band Angine de Poitrine https://anginedepoitrine.com/Primus (band) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primus_(band) * Angine de Poitrine photo credit: https://www.cbc.ca/music/angine-de-poitrine-quebec-band-kexp-9.7120120 * Thank you to Hungarian recording artist ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Post Analog Disorder⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for the intro/outro music permission: ⁠⁠https://postanalogdisorder.bandcamp.com/album/still-i-rise

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Developmental happens through relationships across a lifetime. Join Daria Brown as she dives into implementing a Floortime approach with neurodivergent individuals.

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