Autism a journey not a verdict Prizant Finch

EPISODE 79
Autism is a Journey, NOT a Verdict:
A Conversation with Barry and Dave

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Show Notes

A parent’s perspective and reaction to receiving an autism diagnosis is often shaped by how autism is presented to them, their previous experiences and preconceptions about autism, or a combination of the two. The same may be true for an autistic person receiving a diagnosis for the first time. Too often, a major source of stress and misunderstanding is when autism is presented as a verdict. That is, the diagnosis in and of itself will determine the quality of life for a child, person, or family, too often in terms of a struggle, or a dire prognosis that may include a listing of the stressors that would be experienced. However, an alternative perspective is viewing the experience of autism as a journey, which opens up the possibility of potential for growth for the child, older person, and family. In this episode of Uniquely Human: The Podcast, Barry and Dave discuss these radically different approaches to understanding the experience of autism.

Featuring

BARRY PRIZANT

BARRY PRIZANT, Ph.D., CCC-SLP

Dr. Barry Prizant is a speech-language pathologist with more than 50 years experience as a researcher and international consultant for autistic and neurodivergent individuals and their families. He is an Adjunct Professor of Communicative Disorders at the University of Rhode Island and Director, Childhood Communication Services (a private practice).  Previously, he served as Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry in the Brown University School of Medicine, and held a tenured professor appointment at Emerson College. Publications include 5 books, most notably Uniquely Human: A Different Way of Seeing Autism (2015; 2022) and The SCERTS Model manuals, an educational approach implemented in more than a dozen countries. He has published 150 scholarly chapters and articles and serves on numerous professional advisory boards for journals and professional organizations. Barry has presented more than 1000 seminars and keynote addresses internationally, including two invited presentations at the United Nations for World Autism Awareness Day. His career contributions have been recognized with honors from Brown and Princeton Universities, the Autism Society of America and the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

Visit Barry’s website here

Uniquely Human, the book (Updated and Expanded edition!)

Dave David Finch square

DAVE FINCH

Dave Finch is the author of the New York Times bestselling memoir, The Journal of Best Practices: A Memoir of Marriage, Asperger Syndrome, and One Man’s Quest to Be a Better Husband. As a writer and creative consultant, his work has appeared on ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, NPR, SiriusXM, The New York Times, Rolling Stone, The Howard Stern Show, and the award-winning Netflix series, Atypical. Based in Denver, Dave’s company, Elevated Studio, produces this podcast and other recognized series.

Visit Dave’s website here

…and Continue the Discussion

Do you have a book or podcast club? If so, you may use this discussion guide to facilitate a conversation about this episode.

1) Discuss the different perspectives of viewing autism as a verdict versus a journey. What are the benefits or shortcomings of each approach that you have experienced personally, in your family or that you are aware of from the experience of others you know well?

2) Barry and Dave note that concern for the future for the autistic person and family is understandable and even inevitable likely a diagnosis, but that significant fear often is infused along with the diagnosis when information is given to families or autistic individuals. In your experience, what are the sources of fear? What steps might be helpful to reduce or mitigate the fear?

3) Describe what you feel would be a “best practices“ approach to sharing a diagnosis, emphasizing that the experience of autism, is a journey, and not a verdict.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Music

Matt Savage, courtesy of Savage Records

Matt Savage is an autistic jazz musician, composer, and bandleader. Matt has collaborated with jazz greats like Chick Corea, the Ellington All Stars, Chaka Khan, Wynton Marsalis, Bobby Watson, Clark Terry, Jimmy Heath, Jason Moran, Arturo O’Farrill, John Pizzarelli, Joshua Redman, Terri Lyne Carrington, Jon Faddis, Jerry Bergonzi. Donny McCaslin, and more. He has recorded more than a dozen records and graciously contributes the music for Uniquely Human.

Production and Sound Design

ELEVATEDSTUDIO

Uniquely Human: The Podcast is produced, engineered, and edited by Elevated Studio in Denver, Colorado. Owned and operated by co-host Dave Finch, Elevated Studio produces digital media assets and content strategies for the electronics, entertainment, and lifestyle industries.