Episode #264: Fostering Belonging In Autistic Individuals with Kathleen Dyer, Anna Linnehan & Mary Jane Weiss

In this episode, I had the absolute pleasure of welcoming Dr. Kathleen Dyer, Dr. Anna Linnehan, and Dr. Mary Jane Weiss for a powerful conversation around their article Fostering Belonging in Autistic Individuals. This was actually the first time I’ve had three guests on the podcast at once, and it felt like the perfect conversation to mark that milestone.

We spent time unpacking the difference between inclusion and true belonging and why simply being “in the room” does not always mean someone feels connected or accepted. As behavior analysts and speech-language pathologists, we’ve made incredible progress with access, inclusion, and participation, but this conversation challenged us to take a deeper look at the quality of those experiences.

We talked about what happens when autistic individuals are included but don’t feel they belong, the emotional toll of masking and camouflaging, and the very real systemic barriers that still exist for autistic adults. I also loved hearing how this work grew from their experiences in higher education and from listening closely to autistic individuals and families who shared that they often had to create their own communities.

What really stood out to me was how much this conversation aligns with compassionate, individualized care. Belonging looks different for everyone, and if we’re not asking about it, observing it, and building it into our assessments and interventions, we’re missing something essential. This episode felt like an invitation for our field to stretch, reflect, and evolve, and I’m so grateful to these three leaders for helping start that dialogue.

#autism #speechtherapy

Today’s Guests:

Kathleen Dyer, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, BCBA-D, LABA
Dr. Kathleen Dyer is an Associate Professor and has served on the faculty of the Institute of Applied Behavioral Studies at Endicott College for the past 11 years. Previous to this position, she was instrumental in the establishment of the River Street Autism Program in 2000, where she served as Clinical Director. She is a Doctoral-level Board Certified Behavior Analyst, Speech Pathologist, and Certified School Administrator. Her research and training techniques have been disseminated widely through national and international presentations, as well as through books, encyclopedias, and articles in peer-reviewed scientific journals. Her research findings in treating core deficits in autism are documented as evidence-based practices by the National Professional Development Center on Autism Spectrum Disorders and the National Standards Project. She served as a contributor to The Encyclopedia of Autism Spectrum Disorders and serves as an Advisor of the Cambridge Center for Behavioral Studies. Her research interests include improving communication, learning, and belonging in individuals with ASD.

Anna Linnehan, Ph.D., BCBA-D, LABA (MA)
Dr. Anna M. Linnehan is an Assistant Professor of Behavioral Science for the Institute for Applied Behavior Analysis and a professor at Endicott College. She earned her master’s and doctoral degrees in Applied Behavior Analysis from Endicott College. Her research integrates Goldiamond-Layng Theory with instructional design to teach emotional concepts and support individuals in identifying and problem-solving emotional behavior. She is a TEDx speaker, co-author of Decisions and Judgments in Ambiguous Situations, and an editor and contributing author of Perspectives on Neurodiversity and Belonging: Reflections for Behavior Analysts. Anna is passionate about assent-based procedures, constructional approaches, and the dissemination of nonlinear contingency analysis.

Mary Jane Weiss, Ph.D., BCBA-D, LABA
Dr. Mary Jane Weiss is the Dean of the Institute of Applied Behavioral Science and Director of the Ph.D. Program in ABA at Endicott College. She has extensive experience in research, training, and clinical leadership, including 16 years at Rutgers University’s Douglass Developmental Disabilities Center. Her work focuses on humane and ethical ABA practice, compassionate care, cultural responsiveness, collaboration, and effective clinician training. She is a Fellow of the Association for Behavior Analysis International and serves on multiple scientific and editorial boards. In 2024, she received BABAT’s Beth Sulzer Azaroff Award for Excellence in Teaching, and in 2025, she received ABAI’s Outstanding Mentor Award.