About the Course
Renowned author, researcher, and clinician Dr. Barry Prizant will explore a paradigm-shifting perspective on autism rooted in the ideas of empathy, respect, and human connection. Drawing from his groundbreaking book Uniquely Human, Dr. Prizant challenges the deficit-based lens historically used to view autism and instead emphasizes understanding behaviors as meaningful responses to the environment. Attendees will gain insight into strengths-based, relationship-centered approaches that affirm neurodiversity and improve quality of life for autistic individuals and their families across the lifespan. This keynote will inspire educators, clinicians, and caregivers to shift from “fixing” to truly connecting.
Objectives
Participants will describe the key principles of Dr. Prizant’s Uniquely Human approach, including the importance of interpreting behavior through a humanistic and neurodiversity-affirming lens.
Participants will identify at least two practical strategies for supporting autistic individuals that are grounded in empathy, relationship-building, and respect for individual differences.
Participants will explain how traditional behavior-focused approaches may unintentionally overlook the communicative intent of autistic behaviors, and differentiate those from approaches that prioritize emotional regulation and connection.
Barry Prizant, PhD, CCC-SLP
Barry M. Prizant, PhD, CCC-SLP is among the world’s leading authorities on autism, and is recognized as an innovator of respectful, person- and family-centered approaches for individuals with autism and neurodevelopmental conditions. With fifty years of experience as a scholar, researcher, and international consultant, he is a visiting scholar at Brown University, a certified speech-language pathologist and Director of Childhood Communication Services, a private practice. Barry is coauthor of The SCERTS Model: A Comprehensive Educational Approach, now being implemented in more than a dozen countries. He has published four books, more than 130 articles and chapters and has received many awards, including the Honors of the American-Speech-Language-Hearing Association (their highest recognition), the Princeton University Eden Foundation career award for improving quality of life for persons on the autism spectrum, and the “Divine Neurotypical Award” of GRASP, the world’s largest autistic self-advocacy organization. He has been a two-time featured presenter (2013, 2017) at the United Nations on World Autism Awareness Day. His recent best-selling book, Uniquely Human: A Different Way of Seeing Autism is now published in 22 languages, was selected as the featured book on autism by the United Nations in 2017, and was ranked by Book Authority as #1 of the “100 best books on autism of all time”. With a wealth of inspiring stories and practical advice from thousands of children and older people on the autism spectrum and their families, Uniquely Human conveys a deep respect for the qualities in people on the autism spectrum. It offers a compassionate and insightful perspective that has been called “life-changing as well as uplifting”. Barry also co-hosts a podcast, Uniquely Human: The Podcast, with his friend, Dave Finch, an autistic audio engineer and best selling author.
Speaker Disclosure: Dr. Prizant received a speaking fee for this course and royalties for the sale of his book Uniquely Human.