2033V - Digital Community-Building for Autistic Individuals Within the Pro-Neurodiversity Movement

Speech-language pathologists, having historically approached the treatment for neurodivergence through a deficits-based medical model of disability, have often overlooked the importance of digital realms when working with the autistic and broader neurodivergent community. This presentation will provide an introduction to existing digital spaces cultivated by self-identified neurodivergent internet users. Resources will be provided to SLPs to equip them to engage in conversations with clients, caretakers, and other professionals informed by neurodivergent internet creator content, as well as create strength-based interventions that anticipate and adequately meet the needs/interests of neurodiverse clients. These resources will highlight the experiences of autistic adolescents and younger adults struggling with identity and seeking communities that resonate with their experiences.