Hello! My name is Emily Price (she/her)
I'm an Autistic and ADHD Speech and Language Therapist (SLT) based in Greater Manchester, UK, and Co-Founder of Divergent Perspectives; a training provider delivering workshops to professionals in how to support Autistic children, young people, and adults. I was also a trainer for NHS England's National Autism Trainer Programme which has supported mental health professionals in their journey towards Neurodivergent-Affirming care for Autistic children and adults.
I advocate and campaign for radical changes in therapy practices through public speaking, training, and education. I use my lived experience of being Autistic/ADHD to inform my work which I believe makes me uniquely positioned to make a difference.
I don't provide support that is based on the social impairment theory of Autism, which is rooted in flawed theories and outdated research. As a Neurodivergent-Affirming SLT, I don't provide Social Skills Training or interventions that are designed to teach Autistic children to perform a set of socially expected behaviours built upon neuronormative norms (attention, play, and communication). I focus on helping the Autistic person to advocate for themselves through their chosen method(s) of communication. I use a trauma-informed approach which takes into context the historic marginalisation and exclusion of Autistic people. I consider the accumulation of sensory, interpersonal, and school-based trauma.
MY GOALS
To empower Autistic children / adults through:
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Lived experience of being Autistic
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Expertise of Speech, Language and Communication
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Advocating for reasonable adjustments / accommodations
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The Neurodiversity Paradigm
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Respecting Autistic styles of communication
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Accessible information
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Activism