“I’m someone who doesn’t give up,” Aubrey-Anna says confidently as she draws a portrait of what makes her, “her”: crafts, singing, her parents, her dog, and Developing Minds Therapy Co-Founder, Jennifer McCaskill. Earlier, Jennifer provided art supplies and the prompt to draw the things she loves, the things she’s good at, and the people she cares about. For the following twenty minutes or so, Aubrey-Anna sketches away with a singular focus and calm contentment that is admirable. They have been working together for three years now, and Aubrey-Anna’s progression from a small classroom of impacted children to a general education class is just one example of the many ways she has come into herself.
Her joyful laughter is contagious. She has developed such a strong sense of self and confidence that she finds delight in her own hijinks; from pranking her parents to receiving an extra large slushie, she charmingly entrances her audience with honest reactions and sweet foresight. The slushie is an illuminating reflection on the progress made with Jennifer. These moments are categorized as “unexpected yays”, wherein a positive unexpected moment is spotlighted to strengthen the individual’s capacity for other types of uncertainty. Most kids with autism struggle with unpredictability, and because Developing Minds’ therapeutic approach is all about the experience, these moments are intentionally created and sought after. By gradually storing an experience bank of times where uncertainty yielded a positive outcome (i.e. receiving an unexpectedly large slushie) the brain can engage with similar instances in a more productive way. The amygdala (the area of our brain storing fight, flight, and freeze survival instincts) is overactive in children with autism. Their brains perceive everyday challenges as serious threats, so creating this bank of positive experiences that can be remembered and analyzed helps prevent them from jumping to survival mode when things go off course. This learning process leads to empowerment not only for the child but for their families as well.
The first stage of this technique focuses on the parent-child relationship. Autism is a different worldly experience, and consistent sensory overwhelm creates a situation where parents aren’t instinctively able to comfort their children. This technique cultivates a mindful understanding of their child’s experience, rebuilding communication and trust.
Jennifer and Developing Minds’ finely tuned approach focuses on developing “mental toughness” by teaching kids to accept and advocate for themselves. People with autism have the same needs as every human being: a need for connection, belonging, and purpose. They also have different needs; they may need to move their bodies more, vocalize sounds, and have things be a certain way. Once they feel safer, more competent, and more connected, many symptoms go away. They “need help finding their place within themselves, within their family, and then out in their community where they can safely be who they are - which is what we all want,” Jennifer explains.
It is vital for every person to feel a sense of belonging. Isolation has a devastating impact, and we can honor these creative, empathic, and caring individuals by creating public places where they can come as they are without judgment. By supporting families impacted by autism in this way, we send the message that everyone really does belong. Developing Minds teaches kids how to embrace who they are and live joyfully outside the norm. Let’s uplift their mission by holding space, fostering friendships, and delighting in our differences.
“Belonging is letting go of these right ways to do things so that we can really, truly create space for people with different needs.”