#150 - Neurodivergent Affirming Approaches to Self Injurious Behavior

What does it look like to support self injurious behavior in a way that is affirming to the individuals neurotype? Are the approaches being suggested in the neurodivergent affirming therapeutic practices movement just wishful thinking or are they game changers for the many looking for help in this area? We conclude with a conversation about what self determination truly looks like when considering independent living outcomes and goals. We highly suggest listening to this episode with a copy of the document created by OT's for Neurodiversity. You can download it for free here. Without the download this conversation will lack the same level of depth and understanding because we refer to the document often without specific descriptions.  About the Guests:  Greg Boheler, MSOT and Jacklyn Googins, MSOT Greg is an autistic MOST graduate from UNC Chapel Hill, co-founder of B3 Coffee, and co-founder of OTs for Neurodiversity. Greg leverages his diverse skill set, his divergent way of thinking, and an OT background in his work as a consultant, disability advocate, and a ‘narrative shifter’.  A skeptic by nature, Greg believes in the importance of questioning the way things have always been done and challenging ableist assumptions embedded within the OT profession. Learn more about Greg here. Jacklyn (she/her) graduated from UNC Chapel Hill’s Master’s of Occupational Therapy program in August 2021. Jacklyn is the co-founder of OTs for neurodiversity, a paradigm-shift in social media advocacy platform and the co-founder of B3 Coffee, a nonprofit that provides social and vocational opportunities for people of all abilities. She plans to carve a non-traditional path as an OT interested in inclusive workplace practices, neurodiversity in higher education, and post-secondary transition planning. She identifies as neurodivergent and is dedicated to advancing social justice through her involvement in community-level initiatives. Links to Mentioned Content: We highly recommend listening to this episode while referring to this document Podcast Episodes #49 & #50 with Erin Sheldon: Person Centered Planning and AAC Podcast Episode #39 on Restraint & Seclusion Podcast Episode #145 with Jordyn Zimmerman: Thoughts From A NonSpeaking Autistic on Literacy & Communication Film about Jordyn Zimmerman - This is Not About Me This episode is part of a 12 episode series in Season 5 rethinking the what, when, where, why, and how of the therapies we choose.