#APAC2025: Presenting at Asia-Pacific Autism Conference on the Key to Mitigating Autism Meltdowns.

Today, at the Asia-Pacific Autism Conference 2025 in Perth, Australia, I paid homage to Sebastien — my profoundly autistic son — the inspiring Epicenter, and our caregiving team, who has become Sebastien's supportive Ecosystem (EpiEco). What we have succeeded with Sebastien — building an authentic relationship with him and mitigating his meltdowns — could not have been possible without this collective effort.

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Even more significantly, I sought to be Sebastien's voice in highlighting the need for us to respect his profound neurodivergence. This includes recognizing that his nonverbal communication is his native language — how he expresses his emotions with his body, rather than his words. And to him, expressing himself this way is integral to his nature. Only by leveling our communication playing field can we begin to forge authentic connections with profoundly autistic individuals and help them to feel less alone. By being their allies to help them cope with living in a world that is not built for them, we can alleviate their meltdowns. I hope that I have done him justice.

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Learn more about how to form meaningful relationships with profoundly autistic individuals with our e-book — EpiEco: A Breakthrough Approach on Profound Autism.