Supporting Authentic Communication: How Neurodivergent Affirming Speech Therapy Is Practiced in New York City
You may be wondering, as a parent of a differently-abled child, what neurodivergent affirming speech therapy in NYC actually looks like in practice.
As a person born three months premature and diagnosed with cerebral palsy at the age of 2, I have navigated your path.
I have been an advocate and crusader for the disability community for my entire life. Certainly, way before it was the popular and cool thing to do!
What is Neurodivergent Affirming Care?
You may have questions like, “What are some of the hallmark features of neurodivergent affirming care?”
“What makes neurodivergent affirming care so empowering and validating?”
First, I would like to briefly explain the history behind neurodivergent affirming care.
The neurodivergent movement began in the early 1990s as a grassroots effort that was created and led by the Autism community itself. This self-advocacy movement grew as a response to behavioral interventions that were being heavily relied upon at that time.
Many Autistic people began to speak out about their personal experiences with these treatment protocols. At the same time, the creation of the internet allowed for greater communication and connections globally.
The Autism community began to challenge the status quo. Fighting for holistic and compassionate care that acknowledged both their autonomy and strengths. Strongly rejecting the deficits and weakness-based medical model.
Importantly, neurodivergent affirming care grew from a movement within the disability community itself. We were sick of going to doctors and therapists, only to be told what was wrong with us and what needed to be fixed!
The traditional medical model is based on an outdated deficit model of labeling and treating disorders, weaknesses, and diseases.
Priority is given to coding and labeling for reimbursement purposes, instead of examining the patient through a holistic and strength-based perspective and lens.
The neurodivergent community began to collectively demand holistic care for themselves and their families!
This outdated healthcare system that focuses solely on deficits is not supportive of us. So we began vocalizing and advocating for our own needs.
We began to demand that the medical community fully see us and acknowledge not only our weaknesses, but also our strengths, gifts, and talents. Thus, the neurodivergent affirming movement was born!
What Can I Expect from Neurodivergent Affirming Speech Therapy in NYC?
Here are some key elements to a supportive, neurodivergent affirming speech therapy session:
- Following the child’s lead. What do they gravitate towards?
- Engaging with the child and their interests.
- Accepting all communication attempts.
- Encouraging all modes and forms of communication. This includes gestures, pictures, symbols, vocalizations, and eye gaze.
- Listening to a child’s wants and needs and responding accordingly.
- Forming goals with the family and child together as a united team and front.
- Using the child’s strengths and interests in therapy to achieve goals.
- Using a strength-based model by following the child’s intrinsic motivations and passions, while focusing on their strong abilities to bolster weaker skills.
- Encouraging the child to receive sensory support to initiate self-soothing and regulating behaviors throughout the sessions, which helps maintain engagement and focus.
- Neurodiversity affirming care is a strength-based approach and model. Instead of focusing solely on a child’s weaknesses and deficits, the clinician creates a curated therapy session for your child’s unique learning profile. This is based on their special interests and passions.
The therapist and family focus on the child’s strengths, while utilizing their passions and interests to develop their intrinsic motivation for learning and growth.
Empowering Children Through Self-Advocacy and Communication Skills
A hallmark feature of neurodivergent affirming care is individualized and tailored intervention techniques. These techniques are unique to each child’s learning approach, sensory profile, and specific speech and language goals.
Empowering children who are differently-abled means prioritizing their ability to communicate their autonomy, agency, and choice at all times!
Teaching a child to advocate for themselves is priceless and of utmost importance!
I will often teach a child to express themselves. Using words like “no”, “I don’t like that”, or “please don’t touch me” to express their feelings and needs.
Additionally, I teach children to set and communicate their boundaries. If someone does not listen to them, I invite them to communicate that strongly, and even to ask an adult for help when needed.
Creating a Nurturing, Neurodivergent-Affirming Speech Therapy Space in NYC
As a speech therapist in NYC, when I first created Chatty Child, I had a very special vision and mission in mind. To create a professional, holistic center where children of all ages could come and receive empowering and neurodivergent affirming care.
Now, for over a decade, Chatty Child is that nurturing clinic. Each child is treasured and supported for their own unique gifts and strengths.
I use each child’s special gifts, interests, and passions as motivators to work on those skills that are more challenging and frustrating for them.
In every speech and language therapy session, I work first on self-regulation of the body and mind and then communication skills.
These speech therapy sessions are based on their personal choice of communication mode and style, as well as their special interests and gifts.
We may also work on improving and modifying their learning environments. Particularly in the classroom and in collaboration with the child’s teachers.
Honoring Sensory Needs and Communication in Every Environment
These environmental and learning accommodations could include:
- Using noise-cancelling headphones in loud environments if they are sensitive to sounds.
- Providing an FM listening unit to both the child and teacher if auditory processing is a concern.
- Considering the use of a dimmer light switch in the bedroom and covers for the fluorescent lights in the classroom, if a child is sensitive to light.
- Allowing sensory breaks for a child who craves movement to focus and listen.
- Creating a calming corner to self-regulate if a child becomes overwhelmed. This can include pillows, blankets, fidget toys, and books.
- Using supports to improve focus and attention in the classroom. This may include the use of a wiggle cushion to sit on during desk time.
- Providing seating at the front of the classroom or next to someone who is calming and co-regulating for the child as a body double.
We work closely with each child’s classroom teacher to ensure that their learning environment is fitted with the most appropriate accommodations for them to learn and succeed!
As a neurodivergent affirming person and speech therapist myself, it is extremely important to respect, value, and accept all forms of communication as valid.
Valid forms of communication include: Augmentative and Alternative Communication Systems (AAC), pointing, gestures, sign language, vocalizations, words, and any other means of verbal or non-verbal communication.
Neurodivergent care is rooted in accepting and validating all differences.
What Makes Neurodivergent Affirming Care Both Empowering and Compassionate?
Neurodivergent affirming care moves away from structured social training programs that encourage a child to develop neurotypical social skills. These skills might include making sustained eye contact with the speaker, keeping calm hands or body during learning, or requiring a child to sit in a seated position for long periods of time without sensory breaks.
Neurodivergent affirming practices instead use identity-first language and encourage the child’s community as a whole to reframe behavioral challenges. This creates a sensory-friendly learning environment for the child that prioritizes autonomy, agency, choice, communication, and self-regulation above all else.
Neurodivergent affirming practices teach the child to embrace their differences and use their strengths and gifts to succeed!
What is the Role of Trauma-Informed Care in Speech and Language Therapy?
It is important to note that differently-abled communities may experience other forms of trauma. Life experiences can include a multitude of influencing and co-occurring factors. These factors include age, race, identity, sexuality, employment, access to education, healthcare, social connections, and supportive communities that can foster their overall well-being.
Therefore, your speech therapist needs to be well-versed in trauma-informed care, as a neurodivergent supporting clinician who guides the community.
Celebrating Unique Identity, Strengths, and Self-Regulation
As a neurodivergent individual myself, it is absolutely amazing to see how neurodivergent affirming care has gained popularity, strength, and validity within the therapeutic community.
I am so here for it. Let’s go onwards and upwards!
- Be your unique self!
- Embrace your differences!
- Explore those special interests!
- Celebrate your strengths and gifts!
- Drop me a line! Let me know your favorite ways to self-regulate after a long day at school or work.
I personally love to crawl inside my bed and covers, turn off all the lights, and listen to my favorite electronic music track with my headphones!
If you are ready to experience the difference of holistic and neurodivergent affirming care, Chatty Child is ready to help your child and family grow and blossom!
I invite you to consider exploring help today. Your child does not have to struggle to communicate anymore!
Communication CAN be a joyful time for connection and fun with your child!
Learn More About Chatty Child in NYC
Are you looking for personalized care from a team that has navigated your path?
Our experienced speech therapists can assess your child’s speech and language skills while providing the personalized and tailored support your child needs to grow and thrive!
Chatty Child is a personalized, boutique, neurodivergent affirming speech, language, feeding, and occupational therapy clinic.
We are here to support all your child’s speech, language, learning, feeding, and occupational therapy needs.
I invite you to schedule a tour to discover the support waiting for your child at Chatty Child.
We are here to help and support your child while they grow and learn!
Let’s create excellent communicators, confident voices, calm minds, and limitless possibilities together!
Sincerely,
Heather Lynn Boerner, MA CCC/SLP
Build Authentic Communication With Neurodivergent Affirming Speech Therapy in NYC
At Chatty Child, we support children in communicating in ways that feel natural, meaningful, and true to them. Our approach to neurodivergent affirming speech therapy in NYC focuses on each child’s strengths, interests, and individual communication style.
Whether your child is working on expressive language, social communication, or alternative forms of communication, we provide personalized, play-based support that carries into everyday life at home, school, and beyond.
Here’s how to get started:
- Call 347.491.4451 or contact us online for a free 15-minute phone conversation.
- Complete a comprehensive communication evaluation for your child.
- Begin neurodivergent affirming speech therapy tailored to your child’s needs and goals.
- Support ongoing growth in confidence, connection, and authentic expression.
With guidance from our NYC speech therapists, children build communication skills that feel genuine and sustainable.
Connected Support for Speech, Learning, and Regulation at Chatty Child
At Chatty Child, we take a whole-child approach to helping children build the communication, learning, and social-emotional skills they need to succeed at home, in school, and in their communities. We understand that language development, behavior, relationships, and confidence are all interconnected and develop together over time.
Our services include:
- Speech Therapy – Personalized, play-based support targeting language development, speech clarity, social communication, and functional confidence in daily interactions.
- InterAct – A storytelling and play-focused program that strengthens language skills, imagination, and connection through shared narratives.
- Occupational Therapy – Support for sensory regulation, motor skills, and independence in everyday routines.
- Hum Studios – Mindfulness and compassion-based classes designed to support emotional regulation and accessibility across ages.
- Teletherapy – Convenient virtual speech and occupational therapy services available throughout New York State.
- Functional Nutrition – Nutrition-informed strategies that support focus, regulation, and overall developmental health.
- Consulting – Collaborative support for parents, caregivers, and educators to help children thrive across environments.
- Group Programs – Small-group sessions that build communication, cooperation, and social-emotional growth through guided interaction.
Meet Heather: NYC Speech Therapist for Children
Heather Boerner, MA, CCC-SLP, is a New York–licensed and nationally certified speech-language pathologist with 20+ years of experience in pediatric speech therapy in NYC. Her approach integrates clinical expertise with mindfulness, trauma-informed care, and her lived experience as a neurodivergent clinician.
She is the founder of Chatty Child Speech, Occupational & Physical Therapy, PLLC, offering creative, individualized, and inclusive support for children’s communication development. Heather is also the author of Carrie the Colorful Chameleon, a children’s book about confidence and self-expression.
Heather and her team provide in-person services in Tribeca and virtual therapy across New York State, helping children build communication skills and everyday confidence.
