We believe that learning, understanding, and connection are essential to supporting neurodivergent children.

This collection of books, podcasts, research articles, and other trusted resources is designed for families, educators, practitioners, and caregivers who want to deepen their understanding of neurodiversity-affirming care and practice.

The resources shared here reflect many of the values that guide our work at Bridges: presuming competence, honoring all forms of communication, supporting regulation, following a child’s lead, building meaningful relationships, and recognizing each child’s individual strengths and needs.

Whether you’re just beginning to explore neurodiversity-affirming practices or looking to continue your learning, we hope you find something here that informs, encourages, or shifts the way you see and support the children in your life.

Research Studies

Gruson-Wood JF. I’m a Juggling Robot: An Ethnography of the Organization and Culture of Autism-Based Applied Behaviour Therapies in Ontario, Canada. Published online August 24, 2018. Accessed March 12, 2022

Sandoval-Norton AH, Shkedy G. How much compliance is too much compliance: Is long-term ABA therapy abuse? Rushby JA, ed. Cogent Psychol. 2019;6(1):1641258. doi:10.1080/23311908.2019.1641258

Faye Fahrenheit. An Open Letter to the NYT: Acknowledge the Controversy Surrounding ABA. NeuroClastic. Published January 12, 2020. Accessed March 12, 2022. https://neuroclastic.com/an-open-letter-to-the-nyt-acknowledge-the-controversy-surrounding-aba/

The Great Big ABA Opposition Resource List. Stop ABA, Support Autistics. Published August 11, 2019. Accessed March 12, 2022. https://stopabasupportautistics.home.blog/2019/08/11/the-great-big-aba-opposition-resource-list/

Finn Gardiner. First-Hand-Perspectives-on-Behavioral-Interventions-for-Autistic-People-and-People-with-other-Developmental-Disabilities.pdf. Published online 2017. Accessed April 15, 2022. https://autisticadvocacy.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/First-Hand-Perspectives-on-Behavioral-Interventions-for-Autistic-People-and-People-with-other-Developmental-Disabilities.pdf

Cassidy S, Bradley L, Shaw R, Baron-Cohen S. Risk markers for suicidality in autistic adults. Mol Autism. 2018;9(1):42. doi:10.1186/s13229-018-0226-4

Kupferstein H. Evidence of increased PTSD symptoms in autistics exposed to applied behavior analysis. Adv Autism. 2018;4(1):19-29. doi:10.1108/AIA-08-2017-0016

The Department of Defense. The Department of Defense Comprehensive Autism Care Demonstration Annual Report. The Department of Defense; 2020:35. Accessed April 15, 2022.

Bottema-Beutel K, Crowley S. Pervasive Undisclosed Conflicts of Interest in Applied Behavior Analysis Autism Literature. Front Psychol. 2021;12. Accessed April 15, 2022. https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.676303

Solomon R, Van Egeren LA, Mahoney G, Quon Huber MS, Zimmerman P. PLAY Project Home Consultation Intervention Program for Young Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Randomized Controlled Trial. J Dev Behav Pediatr. 2014;35(8):475-485. doi:10.1097/DBP.0000000000000096

Divya KY, Begum F, John SE, Francis F. DIR/Floor Time in Engaging Autism: A Systematic Review. Iran J Nurs Midwifery Res. 2023 Apr 14;28(2):132-138. doi: 10.4103/ijnmr.ijnmr_272_21. PMID: 37332371; PMCID: PMC10275467.