My Autism:
How Family, Friends, Therapy, and Education Shaped Who I am Today, with Brandon Mager
*The Greenspan Floortime Approach® is the only ‘floortime’ endorsed by Stanley I Greenspan MD Inc.
*ICDL’s DIRFloortime and The Greenspan Floortime Approach® are different approaches with different curricula and different outcomes.
What does it truly mean to live with autism? In this powerful conversation, Brandon Mager shares his authentic story, emphasizing the profound impact of those who surrounded him. From his loving family to his dedicated therapists and educators, Brandon’s journey is a testament to the power of connection and understanding. These videos aim to foster empathy and inspire a more inclusive world for individuals with autism.
Witness Brandon’s remarkable journey of growth, fostered by Dr. Greenspan’s official version of Floortime, Greenspan Floortime. After working with Dr. Greenspan in the mid-1990s, Brandon’s family followed his child-centered, ‘ground up’, developmental approach. As a result, Brandon exceeded diagnostic expectations, and became one of Dr. Greenspan’s “Super Star” kids, Now a public speaker, author, and part of the Ready Rocker team, Brandon shares the pivotal relationships and experiences that propelled him forward.
Short Clips: Click the images below to get a sneak peek as Brandon provides unique insights to these questions.
Connect with Brandon @ www.brandonmager.com
What is the significance of being at the late Dr. Greenspan’s house?
How did Dr. Greenspan Help?
What 3 things do you feel parents of a newly diagnosed child should know?
What was it like growing up on the Autism Spectrum?
How Did Your Family Support, Encourage, and Nudge You to Learn New Things?
What is the ‘right’ way to be pushed?
Autistic adults who have thrived consistently point to the same factors: strong, accepting family relationships; genuine friendships built on shared interests; therapy approaches that honored their individuality rather than demanding conformity; and educational environments that recognized their strengths. Dr. Greenspan’s relationship-based approach aligns closely with what autistic adults report as most helpful in their development.
Family relationships are one of the most powerful predictors of outcomes for autistic individuals. The Greenspan Floortime Approach centers the family as the primary agent of change — training parents and siblings to create thousands of developmental interactions every day through natural play, routines, and connection. This consistent, loving engagement builds the foundation for everything else.
The Greenspan Floortime Approach is specifically designed to build the social-emotional foundation that makes genuine friendships possible. By developing shared attention, engagement, and two-way communication from an early age, children with autism gain the skills and confidence needed to form authentic connections with peers based on mutual interest and emotional reciprocity.
The most effective educational approaches for autistic individuals are those that recognize and build on each child’s strengths while supporting their areas of challenge. Dr. Greenspan advocated for inclusive, relationship-based educational environments where children’s emotional and developmental needs are understood alongside academic goals — rather than prioritizing compliance and standardized performance.