Pat describes the devastaing impact the medicalized view of autism had on her family and how coming to see autism as a "movement difference" opened up new possibilities for her family.
Pat describes how following her son's fascination with industrial storage tanks eventually led to her son having a full-time job in phlebotomy.
Pat discusses how an autistic child's uniqueness can be fascinating and encourages parents to explore their child's world rather than trying to force their child to emulate normalcy.
Pat Amos talks about the invaluable insights she has learned from autistic adults as well as her eldest autistic son.
Pat Amos challenges the commonly held presumption that a "behavior" is something a person does. Instead, Pat points out that the thing we call "a behaviour" is actually an arbitrary moment in an ongoing series of fluid responses between a person, their environment, and their interactions with others.
Pat shares some important common-sense insights about why traditional behavioral programs are often ineffective or only provide short term results. She offers some specific ideas on how support staff and family members can provide more collaborative behvaioural support by working within the context of a trusting relationship.
Despite being diagnosed as having a severe intellectual impairment and being completely unemployable, Pat's son Dan discovered his passion for science in high school and went on to have a career as a phlebotomist.
