Playing to Strengths

Meet Sarah Wayland, an accomplished researcher-turned autism advocate whose life was forever changed when she realized that her children were interacting with the world in ways uncharted by textbooks. Inspired by their journey, Sarah founded Guiding Exceptional Parents, utilizing her expertise to assist others navigate the often confusing landscape of autism. A certified Relationship Development Intervention consultant, she dedicates her time to fostering connections between parents and their children. With the publication of her enlightening book Is this Autism?, she continues to contribute to the understanding of autism and further the conversation.

Sarah Wayland's journey to understanding autism was unconventional, yet profound. With a background in researching language acquisition, she noticed something unique about her own children. They were learning language in ways that contradicted the theories she was familiar with, sparking her curiosity. As it turned out, her children were autistic, and they were processing the world in their own unique ways. This was a wake-up call for Sarah. This realization presented a fascinating puzzle for her to solve, leading her to support other parents navigating similar paths. Always passionate about helping others, she used her knowledge to become a certified relationship development intervention consultant. Sarah's remarkable journey underscores the importance of looking past standard theories to understand and appreciate individual differences and strengths.,The story of Sarah Wayland is a testament to the power of empathy and understanding. Her children's autism diagnosis lit a beacon that guided her to a new, enlightening path. She utilized her background in linguistics research to better understand her children's unique way of learning language, a stark contrast from conventional theories. This turned into a mission: to support other parents on their journey with their autistic children. She chose to become a certified relationship development intervention consultant, focusing on enabling parents to reconnect with their children and understand them better. Sarah's story highlights that every individual has unique strengths and that embracing these differences can lead to remarkable growth and connection.

Instead of focusing on remediating all the things that are not going well, let's put autistic students in jobs that play to their strengths.