As we’ve learned about neurodiversity, many SLPs are trying to understand more about the “why” of autistic behaviors and characteristics. Two articles this month looked into one diagnostic feature of autism, “restricted and repetitive behaviors,” from two perspectives. 

Jaffrey & Ashwin interviewed teachers of autistic children to get their perspectives on repetitive activities in the classroom. In general, teachers described many of these behaviors as positive, serving as:

• Clues to students’ internal states…