Autism Map Maker
Deaf Autism Resource Center &
MicroBridge School for Signing Students on the Autism Spectrum
What We Do (The Methodology)
Currently, we act as a specialized resource and educational support system for children who—like Tig—are often underestimated or misunderstood by traditional models. We don't just teach; we build new maps for learning.
We Locate the Gaps: Standardized education often tries to force a child onto an existing map. We do the opposite. We look for the foundational gaps—whether in language, sensory processing, or trauma—that are stalling progress.
Language First: Drawing on my background at the Oklahoma School for the Deaf and my fluency in ASL, we prioritize communication access. Whether a child is Deaf, Hard of Hearing, or non-speaking Autistic, we believe language access is the key that unlocks behavior and academics.
Trauma-Informed Academics: My background as a Crisis Prevention Trainer and Conscious Discipline Mentor means we approach learning through a lens of safety and regulation. We know that a child cannot learn if their nervous system is in defense mode.
Shattering "Caps": We do not believe in arbitrary limits. If a child is stuck on number identification, we don't just drill numbers; we find a different way to teach math. We presume competence.
We are charting a new course for these children. We are proving that with the right map, there is always a way through.
Our Vision: The Future Center
Right now, we are proving that this model works. But our goal is to expand this impact by securing a dedicated building for the Autism Map Maker School and Resource Center.
Once we have our physical home, we plan to:
Create a Sanctuary for Learning: Establish a sensory-designed environment that minimizes the triggers found in typical schools (fluorescent lights, chaotic hallways) so students can focus on connection and curriculum.
Launch a Full-Day Program: Move from resource support to a full educational program for students who are slipping through the cracks of the public school system—specifically those at the intersection of Autism and language deprivation.
Centralize Therapy and Education: Bring the "Map Maker" philosophy under one roof, where academic goals and behavioral health (regulation, feeding, social skills) are integrated, not siloed.
Parent & Community Training: Use the space to train parents and educators, sharing the tools and "maps" that we have successfully used to help our students thrive.
Our Services
These workshops expand the core mission of Autism Map Maker: building your team’s capacity to support the unique neurobiology of the DeafAutistic student. We move away from the deficit models of "broken ears" or "bad behavior" and toward an architectural understanding of the student’s specialized Operating System.
Every workshop is an empathy-led "build" that integrates Deaf Education and ASL with Autistic Neurology, rooted in the principles of Conscious Discipline and Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI). Every attendee receives a printed Survival Guide to ensure comprehension and immediate implementation.
-
A high-level, "big picture" framework to help teams see the student’s neurobiological reality without overwhelming non-specialists with clinical data.
This workshop provides a high-fidelity map of the Autistic Operating System (OS). We focus The Foundational Toolkit is a high-level architectural overview designed for school teams, paraprofessionals, and families. This four-hour, empathy-led "build" moves away from deficit-based labels and toward a functional understanding of the Deaf Autistic Operating System (OS). Participants will learn to identify neurological needs and provide high-fidelity communication support through ASL or SimCom, ensuring every student has the map they need to navigate their environment.
-
The DeafAutism Deep Dive is an empathy-led, clinical "build" designed for specialized interdisciplinary teams (Deaf Ed teachers, SLPs, Psychologists, and Audiologists) who manage complex student profiles. This seven-hour session moves beyond basic awareness to untangle the "Knots" created when Language Deprivation Syndrome (LDS) ripples through core Autistic Neurology, ADHD, and Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD). Rooted in Conscious Discipline and CPI principles, we focus on building a high-fidelity linguistic environment that honors the student's unique Operating System (OS).
This workshop is for teams who need actionable tools to bridge the gap between a student's neurobiological "Hardware" and their communicative "Software." We explore the mechanics of language acquisition—specifically the fidelity of the patterns a student is exposed to—and how to overcome the sensory and motor barriers that traditionally block learning. Every attendee receives a printed Survival Guide to use as a clinical field manual for the day.
-
This is our most focused and high-impact offering, designed to be a clinical "build" where philosophy meets the classroom floor. Because this session is highly individualized—requiring us to untangle the "Knots" of the specific, complex students your team supports daily—attendance is strictly limited to 30 participants. This small-group format ensures that every teacher, paraprofessional, and administrator leaves with a mastered, actionable "Classroom Playbook" tailored to their specific environment.
This is a "Train-the-Trainer" model that integrates Deaf Education and ASL with Autistic Neurology, rooted in the empathy-led principles of Conscious Discipline and CPI (Crisis Prevention Intervention). We move beyond theory to conduct a hands-on analysis of your team’s most difficult challenges. Every attendee receives a printed Survival Guide to use as a clinical blueprint for the day and a permanent reference for the classroom.