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PODCAST

Let Them Lead: The Child-Led Autism Podcast

Hosted by Nicole Casey, speech-language pathologist and founder of The Child-Led SLP, Let Them Lead is the go-to podcast for professionals and caregivers who want to support autistic kids with respect, trust, and connection. Each week, we explore child-led, neuroaffirming approaches to communication, play, and therapy—centered around the belief that autistic kids deserve communication partners who honor and support them holistically. Whether you"re navigating gestalt language processing, AAC,

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All Episodes

01:00:24

44. What Does Connection Over Compliance Even Mean?...

Let Them Lead: The Child-Led Autism Podcast ·

2026/04/07

To learn more about The Child-Led Collective, visit www.jointhechildledcollective.com This episode is a little different from our usual format... and honestly, I think you're going to love it. I'm pulling back the curtain and giving you a real, unfiltered sneak peek into the Child-Led Collective, my monthly membership community for speech therapists, autistic support professionals, and educators. What you're about to hear is an actual private podcast episode I recorded just for members. It felt so

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01:00:32

43. Do You Just "Get It"? The 7 Traits Dr. Prizant...

Let Them Lead: The Child-Led Autism Podcast ·

2026/03/31

Have you ever read a book that completely validated everything you already believed... before you even had the words to say it? That's exactly what happened to me with Uniquely Human by Dr. Barry Prizant. And in this episode, I'm breaking down the part that changed how I think about this work. In this solo episode, I'm sharing one of my favorite sections from Dr. Barry Prizant's Uniquely Human: the traits and instincts of people who just "get it" when supporting autistic individuals. If you've ever

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39:35

42. Child-Led Groups ARE Possible with The CIRCLE...

Let Them Lead: The Child-Led Autism Podcast ·

2026/03/24

Let me be honest with you: when I first started thinking about child-led support in group settings, I kind of panicked a little. Groups feel like the place where everything you believe about following the child's lead can start to fall apart. Too many kids, too many needs, not enough time. I get it. And I also think we've been selling ourselves short. This episode is all about making child-led support actually work when you're not working one-on-one. Whether you're in a school, a clinic group, or

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01:16:47

41. Building Foundations: Why Meeting Children's...

Let Them Lead: The Child-Led Autism Podcast ·

2026/03/18

Join me inside The Child-Led Collective! This episode explores the critical importance of meeting children's fundamental needs before teaching higher-level skills, using Maslow's hierarchy as a guiding framework. Nicole Casey shares practical insights on supporting autistic students by prioritizing safety, regulation, and connection to foster meaningful learning and growth. Keywords Maslow's hierarchy, autistic support, children's needs, education, therapy, regulation, safety, connection,

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54:54

40. Why Therapy Skills Aren't Generalizing... And...

Let Them Lead: The Child-Led Autism Podcast ·

2026/03/08

Register for the live Rubric Reset Workshop, happening TOMORROW March 12 from 6-8 PM EST. Registration earns 2 PDH as well as lifetime access to the replay! Have you ever worked on a skill for weeks or months, only to realize the child is only using it in your therapy room? In this episode, I'm digging into one of the most frustrating parts of supporting autistic kids: when progress seems to show up in sessions, but not in real life. For years, many of us were taught that autistic children simply

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37:56

39. Building Trust In IEP Meetings: How to Talk To...

Let Them Lead: The Child-Led Autism Podcast ·

2026/03/03

Register for the live Rubric Reset Workshop, happening March 12 from 6-8 PM EST. Registration earns 2 PDH as well as lifetime access to the replay! In this episode, Nicole Casey discusses strategies for effectively communicating in IEP meetings. She emphasizes the importance of warmth, authenticity, and preparation in building trust with families. By sharing anecdotes and engaging in meaningful conversations, professionals can create a supportive environment that fosters collaboration and

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38:21

38. How a Bulletin Board Got People to Model AAC

Let Them Lead: The Child-Led Autism Podcast ·

2026/02/24

Learn more about The Child-Led Collective here! In this conversation, Nicole Casey discusses effective advocacy strategies in compliance-based settings, particularly focusing on child-led therapy and AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication). She shares her experiences and insights on how to navigate challenging environments, emphasizing the importance of indirect advocacy methods, such as the 'bulletin board strategy.' This approach allows for the dissemination of valuable information

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50:38

37. The Slippery Slope Fallacy & How It Shows Up When...

Let Them Lead: The Child-Led Autism Podcast ·

2026/01/27

Grab your ticket to Coaching Week: Unlearning Control HERE! In this episode, Nicole Casey explores the slippery slope fallacy, particularly in the context of child-led therapy and autism support. She discusses how the fear of losing control can lead to compliance-based approaches that hinder genuine connection and learning. By challenging these misconceptions, Nicole advocates for a more relationship-centered approach that honors children's autonomy while maintaining necessary boundaries

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38:04

36. Is Push-In Therapy Best Practice for Autistic Kids?

Let Them Lead: The Child-Led Autism Podcast ·

2026/01/20

Grab the free Rubric Quickstart here! In this episode, Nicole Casey delves into the ongoing debate between pull-out and push-in therapy for autistic students in school settings. Drawing from her extensive experience, she discusses the effectiveness of both models, emphasizing the importance of individualized approaches and collaboration with teachers. Nicole shares personal anecdotes that highlight the impact of classroom environments on therapy outcomes and advocates for systemic changes to

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40:43

35. The Use of Control in Autistic Support

Let Them Lead: The Child-Led Autism Podcast ·

2026/01/13

Join the waitlist for my upcoming coaching week: Unlearning Control! In this episode, Nicole Casey discusses the harmful effects of control in supporting autistic children, particularly through the lens of instructional control. She emphasizes the importance of building genuine relationships rather than relying on manipulative tactics that prioritize compliance over connection. Through personal anecdotes and critical analysis of common practices, Nicole advocates for a shift towards a child-led

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39:10

34. Better Goal Writing Begins With Our Mindset (It's...

Let Them Lead: The Child-Led Autism Podcast ·

2026/01/06

Grab the FREE Quickstart to Rubric-Goal Writing resource here! In this conversation, Nicole Casey discusses her journey with goal writing, particularly for autistic students. She shares her struggles with traditional goal writing methods and introduces rubric-based goals as a more effective alternative. The discussion emphasizes the importance of mindset shifts in approaching goal writing, the need to question established norms, and the significance of aligning goals with personal and professional

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59:17

33. The First 3 Communication Functions I Support...

Let Them Lead: The Child-Led Autism Podcast ·

2025/12/30

In this episode, Nicole Casey discusses the challenges faced by speech-language pathologists (SLPs) when supporting autistic students, particularly the difficulty of starting communication support without knowing the child well. She emphasizes the importance of a structured approach to identify key communication functions, such as asking for help, protesting, and directing actions. Nicole advocates for a child-led approach that empowers students to communicate authentically and autonomously, moving

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41:25

32. Helping the Helpers: What Teams Really Need to...

Let Them Lead: The Child-Led Autism Podcast ·

2025/12/23

In this episode, Nicole Casey emphasizes the critical importance of collaboration among professionals supporting autistic students. She discusses the need for empathy, trust, and understanding within teams, particularly focusing on the roles of paraprofessionals and support staff. Nicole shares practical strategies for building relationships, advocating for change, and fostering a supportive environment that prioritizes the well-being of both students and staff. The conversation highlights the

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39:13

31. Eye contact, Quiet Hands, and Calm Body – The...

Let Them Lead: The Child-Led Autism Podcast ·

2025/12/16

In this conversation, Nicole Casey challenges traditional notions of attention and connection in learning, particularly for autistic students. She emphasizes the importance of accommodating diverse sensory needs and creating an engaging learning environment that allows students to feel regulated and at ease, thus enhancing their ability to learn and engage. Takeaways We need to rethink how we understand connection and attention. Attention doesn't mean sitting still; it can look different

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33:49

30. Building Yes Spaces So Autistic Kids Can Truly Lead

Let Them Lead: The Child-Led Autism Podcast ·

2025/12/09

In this episode of Let Them Lead, Nicole Casey discusses the concept of "yes spaces" in therapy and educational settings, emphasizing their importance for both autistic students and educators. She explains how creating environments where children can explore safely without constant redirection fosters authentic communication and co-regulation. Nicole shares practical tips for setting up yes spaces, highlighting the balance between freedom and safety, and the benefits for both students and educators

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48:38

29. It Wasn't the Child: How a Broken System Led to...

Let Them Lead: The Child-Led Autism Podcast ·

2025/12/02

In this episode, Nicole Casey discusses the challenges and emotional impact of working with autistic children, focusing on incidents where educators face physical injuries. She shares personal experiences, emphasizing the need for systemic change and proactive support to prevent such situations. Nicole advocates for understanding over blame and highlights the importance of co-regulation and emotional safety. Takeaways We need to talk about the hard things to move forward. Injuries at work are not

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34:13

27. It's Not Chaos: How to Explain Child-Led Therapy...

Let Them Lead: The Child-Led Autism Podcast ·

2025/11/18

In this episode, Nicole Casey discusses how to handle situations where one's approach in therapy is questioned or judged. She emphasizes the importance of understanding the root of such questions, often stemming from fear, and advocates for a collaborative and curiosity-driven response rather than defensiveness. The conversation also touches on setting boundaries with colleagues and the challenges of implementing child-led therapy, highlighting the need for clear communication and shared goals

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30:11

26. The Ripple Effect of Better Goals: How to Write...

Let Them Lead: The Child-Led Autism Podcast ·

2025/11/11

Join our free Rubric workshop- happening TOMORROW at 7 PM EST! In this episode, Nicole Casey discusses the challenges of writing meaningful goals in therapy, particularly for autistic students. She emphasizes the importance of aligning goals with therapeutic approaches and using dynamic assessments and rubric-based documentation to capture authentic progress. Nicole provides strategies for confidently defending these methods in conversations with administrators and highlights the need for a shift

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36:41

25. Can They Just Be Kids? The Datafication of...

Let Them Lead: The Child-Led Autism Podcast ·

2025/11/04

Join the FREE Rubric Reset Workshop, live on November 12: Grab your free ticket here >> REGISTER NOW In this episode, Nicole Casey discusses the unique challenges faced by autistic children in relation to their childhood experiences. She emphasizes the importance of understanding the balance between therapy and allowing children to simply be kids. The conversation highlights the need for unstructured time, the impact of excessive therapy, and the significance of quality over quantity in

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34:01

24. The Real Reason Goal Writing Sucks (and What to...

Let Them Lead: The Child-Led Autism Podcast ·

2025/10/28

Join the FREE Rubric Reset Workshop, live on November 12: Grab your free ticket here >> REGISTER NOW In this episode, Nicole Casey discusses the challenges of writing effective goals for autistic students, emphasizing the limitations of traditional goal writing systems. She introduces rubrics as a solution to create individualized, meaningful, and measurable goals that reflect the child's needs. The conversation highlights the importance of moving away from compliance-based goals and focusing

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