Why do we need a paradigm shift?

Most, if not all, tertiary education programs for health professionals across all disciplines teach a perspective on autism that is grounded in the pathology paradigm.

Consider the DSM criteria for autism - the criteria by which autism is defined. It is essentially a list of deficits and deviations from so-called 'normal'. This definition immediately pathologises autistic people.

What does that mean?

Put simply, it means much of the theory and research that informs these programs is based on the fundamental assumption that autistic people are broken, and need to be fixed.

What does that mean for me, as a health professional? 

To be clear - accredited tertiary education programs are the cornerstone of evidence-based practice, and an invaluable component in the training of health professionals. 

However, because much of the content within these programs is based on the fundamental assumption that autism is a problem, elements of your education and training may have prepared you to work in ways that some autistic people find dehumanising, and that are potentially harmful. 

We know the majority of health professionals are diligent and empathetic individuals who enter their profession driven by a desire to help others. Knowing that some aspects of your professional practice may harm your autistic clients shows there is more to learn from the autistic community. 

What can I do? 

You can embrace guidance from the autistic community, and make a personal shift from the pathology paradigm to the neurodiversity paradigm.

The neurodiversity paradigm, and approaches that affirm the autistic identity and way of being (such as The Safe House Framework), offer a respectful afternative to traditional, pathologising approaches to working with autistic people. 

What's involved in making a personal shift from pathology paradigm to neurodiversity paradigm? 

The personal shift from pathology paradigm to neurodiversity paradigm is a process. 

The process involves elements of deep introspection, reflection, unlearning, and re-learning. It encompasses both personal development and professional development. 

Ultimately, the shift involves making relatively small, but highly significant changes to the way you approach your work with autistic people. 

The paradigm shift iceberg

What will I learn in the Mastery Series? 

The series includes all three levels of The Safe House Framework® for Health Professionals. 

In short, it includes everything you need to make the shift from pathology paradigm to neurodiversity paradigm, and to build an affirming professional practice from the ground up. 

The Safe House Framework® fits around your clinical skill set, gently guiding, shaping, and nourishing the way you work with autistic clients.

It's the whole iceberg.

I already take an affirming approach in my work. Will the Mastery Series benefit me? 

Yes! 

It's wonderful that you have already taken steps to adopt a respectful and inclusive professional practice! 

As an affirming practitioner, you no doubt appreciate the value of life-long learning. The Mastery Series will be a valuable addition to your professional development plan, and will provide you with a holistic framework for organising your current and future thinking.

But it's more than that. As a collective, humans are only just beginning to acknowledge neurodiversity, and we still have such a long way to go. Some folks are further along the path than others. However, the reality is that there is a high likelihood that we all still hold some unconscious ableist beliefs and implicit biases. This is where our internal work lies.

Beyond professional development, the Mastery Series will guide and support you to do the internal work required for a true paradigm shift, helping you achieve deep and lasting change.  

"There are no shortcuts to any place worth going."

--Beverly Sills