#128 - Barry Prizant, PhD. On Compassion Over Compliance: Why It’s Time to Rethink ‘What Works’

In this episode, I had the absolute honor of speaking with Dr. Barry Prizant—renowned speech-language pathologist and author of the best-selling book Uniquely Human. We talked about how the field of autism education is shifting away from compliance-based approaches and moving toward more compassionate, relationship-centered models. 

Dr. Prizant shared powerful insights about emotional regulation, storytelling, and the importance of truly listening to the lived experiences of autistic individuals. We also explored topics like non-speaking communication, the SCERTs model, and how collaboration among educators and families can create lasting change. This conversation left me feeling inspired and hopeful about the future of autism education, and I just know you will feel the same!

Bio

Barry M. Prizant, PhD, CCC-SLP is recognized as among the world’s leading scholars on autism and as an innovator of respectful, person- and family-centered approaches. He is Director of Childhood Communication Services, Adjunct Professor of Communicative Disorders at the University of Rhode Island, and has fifty years of experience as an international consultant and researcher. Barry has published five books, 150 articles/chapters, and is co-author of The SCERTS Model, now being implemented internationally. He was a two-time featured presenter at the UN World Autism Awareness Day, with more than 1000 presentations internationally. Barry’s book Uniquely Human: A Different Way of Seeing Autism (2022) is the best-selling book on autism since 2015, published in 26 languages and ranked by Book Authority as #1 of the “100 best books on autism of all time”. Barry co-hosts a podcast, Uniquely Human: The Podcast, with his friend, Dave Finch, an autistic audio engineer.

Dr. Barry Prizant’s Links:

Website: https://barryprizant.com/

Uniquely Human Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/uniquely-human-the-podcast/id1532460901

Uniquely Human Book: https://amzn.to/4e5VWZN

The Scerts Model Books: https://amzn.to/4kFpbF5

DRBI (Developmental Relationship-Based Intervention) Interview: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/uniquely-human-the-podcast/id1532460901?i=1000711834231

Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN): https://autisticadvocacy.org/

Amy Laurent Ted Talk “Compliance Is Not The Goal”: https://www.ted.com/talks/amy_laurent_compliance_is_not_the_goal_letting_go_of_control_and_rethinking_support_for_autistic_individuals?utm_campaign=tedspread&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=tedcomshare

Thinking Person’s Guide To Autism: https://thinkingautismguide.com/

David Finch Website: https://davidjfinch.com/

Ros Blackburn & Sigourney Weaver Interview: https://uniquelyhuman.com/2021/04/23/logically-illogical-an-interview-with-ros-blackburn-with-special-guest-sigourney-weaver/

Takeaways

• Dr. Barry Prizant has a rich background in speech language pathology and autism advocacy.

• His book 'Uniquely Human' emphasizes storytelling and compassionate approaches to autism.

• Connecting with families and understanding their experiences is crucial for professionals.

• Reflective practice is essential for educators to improve their connections with students.

• Changing the narrative around autism is vital for acceptance and understanding.

• Evidence-based pract