#90 - Autism And Play Culture With Dr. Pamela Wolfberg

Welcome to today’s episode! I’m excited to introduce you to my mentor, Dr. Pamela Wolfberg, a pioneer in the field of autism and play. We dive into what defines true play for all children and why it’s so important to ensure that our autistic kids have the opportunity to play in ways that bring them joy. Dr. Wolfberg shares her insights on creating inclusive play environments that honor each child’s individuality and help them connect with others through authentic play experiences. This is an episode you won’t want to miss!

You will learn about:

1. The definition of what true play is!

2. Monotropism and autistic play

3. Research on autistic play

4. Integrated Play Groups

5. Examples from Integrated Play Groups

Dr. Pamela Wolfberg’s Bio:

Pamela Wolfberg, Ph.D., is a professor emerita who pioneered autism studies at San Francisco State University, while serving on the faculty in special education with the joint doctoral program at the University of California, Berkeley. Her life's work has been dedicated to supporting autistic individuals at the intersection of neurodiversity, peer socialization, play culture, and the arts. Drawing from her experiences as a scholar, educator, play therapist, and ally to the autistic community, she developed the Integrated Play Groups model and founded the Autism Collective for Peer Socialization, Play and Imagination. She leads an international agenda focused on research, training, and global outreach to promote social inclusion, play, and creative expression as essential human rights. She has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals, books, and chapters, with many works translated into multiple languages. Her contributions have earned her numerous prestigious awards for scholarship and community service. In her free time, she and her partner of many years enjoy traveling and walking in nature with their dog, Yoko. She also loves collecting and making art, exploring various mediums such as drawing, painting, weaving, and crafting with textiles, wood, ceramics, and found objects.

Dr. Pamela Wolfberg’s Website: http://www.wolfberg.com/

Integrated Play Groups Field Manual (updated version coming in 2025): https://amzn.to/3XOzH2P

Learners On The Autism Spectrum: https://amzn.to/4dteTUm

Reimagining Autistic Children’s Independent and Social Play with Peers Journal Article (2023): https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/07351690.2023.2185067

Play & Imagination In Children With Autism: https://www.tcpress.com/play-and-imagination-in-children-with-autism-2nd-edition-9780807749418

Uniquely Human Podcast (Barry Prizant)’s episode with Dr. Pamela Wolfberg: .css-j9qmi7{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;font-weight:700;margin-bottom:1rem;margin-top:2.8rem;width:100%;-webkit-box-pack:start;-ms-flex-pack:start;-webkit-justify-content:start;justify-content:start;padding-left:5rem;}@media only screen and (max-width: 599px){.css-j9qmi7{padding-left:0;-webkit-box-pack:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;-webkit-justify-content:center;justify-content:center;}}.css-j9qmi7 svg{fill:#27292D;}.css-j9qmi7 .eagfbvw0{-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;color:#27292D;}