Today, Dr. Stephanie and Carolyn discuss self-concept, self-identity, and self-esteem as key ingredients to building social communication skills. Carolyn's curriculum starts from a neurodiverse-affirming lens that is strengths-based and effective.Carolyn Long is an SLP and the creator of the Social Optics curriculum.https://mysocialoptics.com/Bio:Carolyn Long, MCD, CCC-SLP, has worked in school districts, private practice, and healthcare for 23 years. She is passionate about using nonverbal and verbal communication to create and navigate social relationships.She developed Social Optics, a neurodiverse-affirming social communication curriculum, in 2015 and the software in 2022. She believes in the inclusion of student voices in the development of interventions that lead to better outcomes based on engagement, research, and data. She lives in Montana with her husband and 2amazing teenage daughters. She enjoys fly fishing, horseback riding, and watching others plow snow.