Collaborative Minds Consulting

08/21/2026

Why Words Matter.

We use so many terms in special education, speech and language, and neurodiversity spaces.

But are we always using them to mean the same thing?

That’s why I created First Things First: Words Matter.

This series is about getting back to basics and breaking down the words we use every day so families and professionals can better understand one another and, most importantly, better understand the individuals we’re supporting.

We’ve officially made it through our first 10 words. 🎉

And we’re just getting started.

If you’ve been following along, I’d love to know:

💬 What word or term have you heard but never really understood?

Drop it below. It might be coming up next.

And don’t forget to save the 10 Word Roundup for future reference.

08/19/2026

Are you following our “Words Matter” series?

08/19/2026

10 words down...and we’re just getting started. 🧠

When I started First Things First: Words Matter, the goal wasn’t simply to define commonly used terms.

It was to build understanding.

Because we hear words like regulation, neurodivergent, receptive language, and pragmatics all the time. But when parents, educators, and professionals aren’t using those words with the same understanding, it can change the conversations we have and the support we provide.

So here’s our first Words Matter Roundup: 10 foundational terms we’ve explored together so far.

Some describe how brains differ.

Some help us understand regulation.

Some help us better understand language, communication, and connection.

And each gives us another piece of the bigger picture.

❤️ Like this post and save it for future reference when one of these terms comes up in a meeting, evaluation, conversation, or report.

💬 Which of these 10 terms has been the most helpful to learn more about?

08/18/2026

Connection doesn’t have one look.

Social communication is the way we use communication to connect and interact with other people.

It includes spoken and non-speaking communication and can involve sharing ideas, initiating interactions, responding to others, understanding different perspectives, interpreting social information, navigating relationships, and communicating across different situations.

But social communication is not about checking off a list of expected social behaviors.

Eye contact does not equal listening.
A quiet person may still want connection.
Someone who doesn’t initiate conversation may still deeply value relationships.
And a person who communicates differently may still be communicating very clearly.

Communication also extends beyond words.

Behavior can communicate something, even when it isn’t intentional. Avoiding a space, moving away, becoming quiet, covering ears, seeking movement, or becoming dysregulated may give us important information about what a person is experiencing.

Instead of immediately asking, “How do we stop this behavior?” we can get curious:

“What might this behavior be communicating?”

That shift is especially important because someone may not always have access to the language they need to tell us I’m overwhelmed, I need a break, I don’t understand, this hurts, or this environment is too much.
When we evaluate or support social communication, we need to look beyond whether someone appears socially “typical.”

Instead, we can ask: Is this person able to connect, communicate, understand others, advocate for themselves, and be understood in ways that are meaningful and authentic to them?

The goal isn’t to teach someone how to look more socially typical. The goal is to support communication, understanding, self advocacy, and authentic connection.

Different ways of connecting are still connection.

💬 What should I break down next? Let me know in the comments!

08/17/2026

08/16/2026

Are you not sure who to listen to or what advice to follow when it comes to supporting your autistic child?

Maybe you’ve tried different strategies, heard conflicting recommendations, or found that what works for one child just doesn’t work for yours.

That can leave families feeling stuck, overwhelmed, and unsure of what to do next.

At Collaborative Minds, I help families slow things down, look at the whole child, and better understand what may be happening beneath communication, behavior, regulation, routines, and relationships.

Through virtual family coaching, we focus on the 3 Key C’s:

Connection
Building trust, safety, and understanding.

Communication
Recognizing all the ways your child communicates, including spoken language, AAC, gestures, echolalia, movement, and behavior.

Consistency
Creating a shared approach so the important adults in your child’s life can respond in ways that feel predictable, supportive, and consistent.

The goal is not to follow more advice. It is to find an approach that makes sense for your child, your family, and your everyday life.

Ready for more support?
Send me a DM with the word COACHING or email [email protected] to learn more about virtual coaching options.

08/16/2026

A radio show that highlights what Long Island has to offer people of all abilities and disabilities. Mondays at 4:30pm on WRHU 88.7fm, episodes also air on YouTube and Spotify.

08/14/2026

Great conversation about back to school and support for autistic students with on Instagram 🫶🏼♾️

08/14/2026

Have you ever assumed someone didn’t understand because they didn’t respond?

Receptive language is our ability to understand and make meaning from the language we receive.

It includes understanding words and sentences, questions, concepts, directions, conversations, and the meaning behind what someone is communicating.

But understanding isn’t always easy to see from the outside.

A child may need additional processing time. They may be overwhelmed by sensory input, dysregulated, distracted, unsure how to respond, or have difficulty expressing what they know.

That’s why following directions should not be our only measure of receptive language.

And just as expressive language isn’t limited to speaking, receptive language isn’t limited to understanding spoken words. People can receive and understand language through speech, AAC, signs, gestures, written language, visuals, and other forms of communication.

What someone shows us in a particular moment may not tell us everything they understand.

What we see on the outside doesn’t always reflect what someone understands on the inside.

💬 What should I break down next? Let me know in the comments!

08/12/2026

Communication is not limited to speech.

Expressive language is how we share what we are thinking, feeling, wanting, needing, or experiencing with other people.

Some people use spoken language. Others use non-speaking forms of language such as AAC, gestures, signs, writing, facial expressions, or a combination of communication methods.

Expressive language also includes organizing thoughts, asking questions, telling a story, explaining an idea, advocating for yourself, and finding a way to communicate when spoken words are not accessible.

A person can understand far more than they are able to express, which is why we should never assume intelligence or comprehension based only on how someone communicates. Always Presume Competence 🫶🏼♾️

Understanding begins with the language we use.

💬 What term should I break down next? Let me know in the comments!