Social inference– the subtle dance of reading cues, predicting reactions, and adjusting behavior– doesn’t come with a universal manual. For neurodivergent individuals, it’s often a puzzle where the pieces keep changing shape. As a former teacher, personal nurse, and now an ABA grad student with a family full of wonderfully quirky ASD minds, I’ve seen how traditional social skills training can feel rigid, even alienating. What if we could design learning models that adapt to the individual’s emotional landscape instead of forcing conformity?
That’s the heart of my obsession: affectively aligned reinforcement. Imagine an AI-assisted tool that doesn’t teach social inference but empathizes with the learner’s unique perspective– adjusting feedback based on emotional cues, reducing anxiety, and making social practice feel like play, not performance. For practitioners, this could mean more nuanced interventions. For families, less frustration. For neurodivergent learners, a path to social confidence that honors their neurotype.
This blog is my open notebook as I explore how affective alignment might bridge the gap between “teaching social skils” and fostering authentic connection. Spoiler: It’s messy, hopeful, and deeply personal. Let’s figure it out together!
(Thoughts? I’d love to hear what resonates– or what makes you skeptical!)
Affectively-Align & Culturally Aware ABA Notebook 