Strengths-Based Autism Resources for Toddlers & Preschoolers

Laura Mize, M.S., CCC-SLP is a pediatric speech-language pathologist with 30+ years of experience specializing in young children ages birth to five with communication delays and disorders. She founded teachmetotalk.com in 2008 and has been an approved ASHA CE Provider since 2013.

Macy Mize Usher, M.S., CCC-SLP
Certified SLP for 5+ years — plus a lifetime of early intervention (she grew up watching Laura work!)

3 years at the University of Kentucky's Multidisciplinary Autism Assessment Clinic
11M+ views on her child-language YouTube channel, Hey Macy!
Mom to Henry (age 4) and baby Sam

A strengths-based approach to autism focuses on identifying what a child is already doing well — their interests, abilities, and ways of communicating — and building therapy and support plans from those strengths rather than focusing on deficits or trying to normalize autistic behavior.

Laura offers a strengths-based CEU course for SLPs, a separate course for parents, printable Autistic Strengths Survey checklist, the NEW Autism Workbook, and an ASHA CEU autism podcast series.

It's a comprehensive video course for speech-language pathologists and early interventionists covering how to support autistic toddlers and preschoolers using a neuroaffirming, strengths-first framework. It includes ASHA CEU credit upon completion.

The Autistic Strengths Survey is a printable checklist for toddlers and preschoolers that helps parents and therapists identify what a child is already doing well across communication, play, and social connection — so support plans can be built on strengths, not deficits.

It is a physical printed workbook, shipped directly to you.

No. Each episode stands on its own, so you can start with any topic that's most relevant to the child or situation you're working with.