Strengths Based Approach

Strengths Based Approach

By Jessica Jordan, MS, OTR/L

After spending nearly two full days in the 2022 Autism Symposium hosted by PESI, there was so many meaningful discussions I listened too but I think the biggest take home message for me was the importance of a strength based approach in treatment.

Not only was this underlying theme repeated but most importantly it came from autistic voices. I think so often as therapists we come into a medical career in order to “help” others. Maybe helping someone after a stroke in order to bathe again, increasing the daily movement and mobility in a community group home, or even working with children to assist them in developing prehension patterns. At times, I want to provide OT for everyone because I think it is such a wonderful & beautiful therapy that probably everyone could benefit from. But what I have to remind myself after hearing from autistic voices themselves is, …”if you’ve met one person with autism, you’ve met one person with autism.“ We all have strengths, but they are not all going to look the same, nor do we need to work on all the things we cannot do or shall I say our “weaknesses”. 

I mean I think it sounds easy to say, make a career out of your strengths and not weaknesses, but truly why wouldn’t we? We as human beings all have unique differences in us making us who we are. I think when people are choosing a career for themselves they are considering what they enjoy and what they are good at. Why would this be any different for an autistic individual? 

I think this approach should begin even as early as in preschool or elementary education. Using a strength based approach to teach,  really focusing and highlighting on students strengths and interests rather than their “deficits” or differences will empower students and assist them with the rest of their development along the way.