In 1966, conversational speech for autistic children was taught through imitation and reinforcement. There was no focus yet on natural conversation, emotions, or back-and-forth interaction. Speech therapy then meant drills, repetition, and adult-led responses. Today, approaches have evolved to support meaningful communication, social intent, and child-led interaction. Understanding the past helps us appreciate how much autism support has grown — and how much more compassionate it has become. 💙