Understanding the Role of Bureaucracy to Effectively Navigate Services (IEPs, IPPs, SSI, etc)

In this episode, I interview Christine L. Ferriter, non-attorney advocate, about the need to understand bureaucracy or how to play in organized systems (IEPs, IPPs) in order to acquire/navigate/coordinate necessary services. Christine has a lovely, friendly, and fun way to conceptualize the bureaucratic systems that most disabled individuals must navigate, offering practical tips/advice for you to feel successful, empowered, and sane!

Interested in reaching out to Christine? Email her at [email protected]

Continue Reading...

How the Montessori Paradigm Informs Empowered Transition Plans

Uncategorized Feb 18, 2022

 In this episode, Dr. Laura Flores Shaw, Associate Professor at the Johns Hopkins School of Education, helps us understand the Montessori Education Paradigm and how it can inform agency-driven and empowered transition plans and programs for neurodiverse and disabled teens and young adults.

 

Dr. Laura Flores Shaw and The Montessori White Papers

 

Continue Reading...

What is Pathological Demand Avoidance? Is the Label Helpful or Harmful?

Uncategorized Feb 16, 2022

In this episode, I ask Dr. Deborah Budding to come on the show and talk about Pathological Demand Avoidance, a label that we have been asked about and hearing about with more frequency. We discuss how we believe this label can be harmful and encourage others to stop viewing others through pathology and rather through compassion and understanding.

 

Continue Reading...

Apraxia, Rethinking Intentionality, and Shifting Current Paradigms to Presuming Competence

In this episode, I have an important conversation with Dr. Dana Johnson, Founder of Interplay Therapy Center and Invictus Academy Tampa Bay, a non-profit school dedicated to appropriately educating students with motor challenges. Dana is trained in childhood and adolescent mental health and is a licensed Occupational Therapist in Florida. She helps us understand what apraxia (also known as dyspraxia) is and how taxing purposeful motor skills are for anyone who has sensory-motor challenges. Dana strongly encourages us to make a paradigm shift and shares how life-changing presuming competence is for all parties involved.


Interplay Therapy Center and Invictus Academy

Continue Reading...

Let's Talk LD, Creating Contexts for Discovery, and Affirming Disability Identity

In this episode, I have an energized conversation with the vibrant KD Harris. KD is the founder and Executive Director of Let's Talk LD, a social impact non-profit corporation that builds coalitions, promotes acceptance, engages collaboration, and helps others value learning, social communication, and attentional differences. We talk about disability identity development, creating contexts for discovery, reimagining failure, promoting acceptance through affirmation, and the squashing effect of shame and isolation. KD is pure joy and a beacon in this space. I can't get enough of her...

 

Continue Reading...

Masking, Burn Out, and the Need to Consider Sensory-Motor Processing

In this episode, I have an important conversation with Dr. Deborah Budding, a gifted and passionate neuropsychologist who specializes in the empowered support of neurodivergent individuals. We discuss what masking is and the toll it takes on everyday functioning. We also explore the critical importance of considering the sensory-motor system when understanding neurodivergent individuals and how we can best support them. I always enjoy my conversation with Deb and this one is no different!  

http://deborahbudding.com/

Continue Reading...

Tips for Workplace Success for Autistic Adults

employment interview Dec 24, 2021

In this episode, David Sharif, Global Autism Advocate and Motivational Speaker, graciously joins me to share his top tips for workplace success. He helps the audience deal with rejections, encourages strengthening work ethics, and emphasizes the power of practice. David brings a much-needed first-person voice to this channel and I'm so happy to offer a platform for it!

 

Continue Reading...

Pre-Employment Tips for Autistic Adults with David Sharif, Global Autism Advocate

In this episode, I welcome back David Sharif, Global Autism Advocate and Motivational Speaker, to share his top tips on pre-employment preparation. David brings his unique first-person perspective as an autistic adult and how he prepared himself for the jobs that he has today.

 

Continue Reading...

The Immense Emotional Power of Storytelling for Neurodivergent Individuals with Tawd Dorenfeld

In this episode, I connect with Tawd Dorenfeld, Founder and Lead Mentor of Tink Tank Animate, about the power of storytelling and the immense emotional value it brings to our neurodiverse community. We explore how the mentors at Tink Tank Animate follow strengths, support weaknesses, and include their artists in a process that empowers through doing and completing projects, which then creates a series of wins for individuals who don’t usually get this experience. Tink Tank provides a truly unique experience for self-expression and sharing voices through an artistic art form.

https://www.tinktankanimate.com/

 

Continue Reading...

Parent-Child Sexuality Communication and Autism

In this episode, I welcome back Dr. Eileen Crehan, Assistant Professor at Tufts University. We discuss the big takeaways from a research article (Holmes and Himle, 2014) that evaluates parent-child communication surrounding sexuality with autistic children and adolescents. Eileen points our attention towards the chart in the article which can be helpful in identifying skills associated with sexuality (hint: it's not all that you think).

You can find the article here: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24854331/

Continue Reading...
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Close

Let's do this!