Embracing Neurodiversity at Magic Words Therapy
At Magic Words Therapy, we believe that every individual deserves to be supported for who they are, not for who the world expects them to be. That is why all of our therapists take a neurodiversity-affirming approach to Speech and Language Therapy. This means that instead of focusing on ‘fixing’ differences, we celebrate them, helping children, teens and adults communicate in ways that honour their unique strengths, preferences, and needs.
Why does neurodiversity-affirming therapy matter?
The world we live in is largely built around neurotypical expectations - whether in classrooms, workplaces, or social spaces. For neurodivergent individuals, this often creates an environment where they are being constantly asked (be it explicitly or implicitly) to suppress their natural self in order to ‘fit in’.
Traditional therapy approaches sometimes reinforce these pressures by prioritising eye contact or other neurotypical communication styles. While these goals may appear helpful, they often send the message to the neurodivergent individual that their authentic self will not be accepted or valued. Over time, this can lead to masking. Masking is a survival strategy where neurodivergent people hide their true needs, emotions, and communication styles to try to be like their neurotypical peers.
Masking might help someone get through the day, but it comes at a very heavy cost. Research shows that long-term masking can contribute to:
- Heightened anxiety and stress
- Loss of identity and self-esteem
- Exhaustion and burnout
- Increased vulnerability to trauma
At Magic Words Therapy, we are passionate in our belief that children thrive when they are valued for who they are, not for how well they can mimic neurotypical ‘norms’.
How does a neurodiversity-affirming approach work?
Our approach to speech and language therapy focuses on support, not correction. We aim to empower the neurodiverse individuals that we work with to communicate in whatever way is most authentic, meaningful and effective for them, whether that’s through spoken words, augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), gestures, or other methods.
Here's how we put that into practice:
Therapy goals are client-led
We collaborate with our clients and their families to set goals that prioritise the neurodiverse individual’s needs, interests, and autonomy rather than adhering to rigid developmental checklists.
We focus on adapting the environment, not the person
We adapt environments to better meet the individual’s needs rather than teaching them to conform to neurotypical norms. This might mean adjusting communication supports in the environment, providing visual schedules, or creating sensory-friendly spaces where individuals can regulate and thrive.
We advocate for Total Communication Environments
We believe communication is multimodal. A Total Communication environment values and supports all forms of expression - spoken words, AAC, sign, gestures, written communication, and even behaviours that carry meaning. By surrounding individuals with multiple pathways to communication, we ensure that they always have a reliable way to be heard.
We prioritise supporting self-advocacy
We focus on developing vital self-advocacy skills, such as requesting help, expressing needs, and sharing opinions. These skills build autonomy, self-esteem, and confidence, allowing individuals to embrace and celebrate their neurodiverse identity rather than feel pressured to hide it.
We take a strengths-based approach
We believe in differences, not deficits. We focus our therapy on what the individual does well and enjoys, rather than measuring them against neurotypical standards.
We promote generalisation of skills
Communication isn’t about succeeding in a therapy room, it’s about connection in everyday life. We prioritise the generalisation of skills across environments, helping individuals apply what they’ve learned to their everyday contexts. This ensures that their progress is meaningful and lasting!
We support real communication, not ‘social skills’ training
Instead of teaching neurotypical ‘social skills’ that often encourage masking, we support the development of pragmatic language skills (e.g. how to repair breakdowns in communication, clarify meaning, or negotiate shared understanding). These are functional, empowering skills that support authentic connection.
We support emotional understanding and perspective-taking
We sometimes also work on building an individual’s emotional awareness and perspective-taking skills. This is not about forcing them to mimic neurotypical emotional responses, but about helping them to understand their own emotions, recognise others’ perspectives, and navigate relationships in ways that feel safe and authentic.
Our Mission
To advocate for a world that welcomes everyone.
We believe that when individuals are supported in ways that respect their neurodivergence, they don’t have to choose between connection and authenticity. They can grow into confident communicators who know that their voices matter.
At Magic Words Therapy, we are committed to helping families and communities move beyond outdated models of conformity. By affirming neurodiversity, we not only support our client’s communication, but also nurture their wellbeing, identity, and sense of belonging.
We believe that every individual deserves to be heard, and every way of communicating deserves to be valued.
