Neurodiversity-Affirming Motor Speech Intervention for Autistic Individuals with Co-Existing Childhood Apraxia of Speech: A Tutorial

Abstract

Clinicians are shifting their views on autism from a medical model of disability to a neurodiversity-affirming model, which embodies the idea of embracing and supporting all neurotypes from a strengths-based lens. We present the Motor Speech Intervention for Neurodiversity Affirming Practices (MIND-AP) framework for addressing speech motor issues in autistic children. MIND-AP integrates strength-based, neurodiversity affirming practices with motor speech treatment to provide connection-based, intervention for individuals dually diagnosed with autism and motor speech deficits. Currently, there is limited knowledge of how to implement motor speech interventions specifically for an individual with such dual diagnosis. The MIND-AP framework is comprised of 3 levels: 1) Bodily autonomy and sensory regulation; 2) Language and communication; and 3) Motor speech intervention. This tutorial article will introduce the levels and components of MIND-AP and provide evidence-based clinical strategies to support autistic individuals with motor speech deficits in each area of the framework.