Miscommunication between autistic and non-autistic individuals can lead to painful misunderstandings and strained relationships. In this episode, we talk to Jaime A. Heidel, author of 'What Did I Do Wrong? An Accessible Guide to Preventing Traumatic Misunderstandings Between You and Your Autistic Loved One.' Emily and Jaime discuss the common communication barriers between autistic and non-autistic people, the importance of listening to autistic voices, and the need for effective communication to prevent trauma. They talk about the need for specificity in communication, and the impact of trauma and the importance of validating neurodivergent experiences.

Takeaways

• Miscommunication between autistic and non-autistic individuals can lead to painful misunderstandings and strained relationships.

• Listening to autistic voices and consuming their content can help improve understanding and foster better connections.

• Believing autistic individuals and being specific in communication can greatly improve communication and prevent trauma.

• The impact of trauma on neurodivergent individuals is real, and it's important to validate their experiences.

Register here for our free annual fall event we've created specifically for educators who are passionate about creating neurodiversity-affirming learning environments for students. The event will be held on Monday, September 23, and you can sign up to join Emily and a live panel of experts, who will be discussing ways to best support students of all neurotypes.

Jaime A. Heidel, The Articulate Autistic, is a late-diagnosed autistic/ADHD woman who uses her social media platforms to explain the autistic experience in terms that their neurotypical loved ones can understand and relate to.

BACKGROUND READING

The Articulate Autistic

What Did I Do Wrong?

Jaime on Instagram

A Field Guide to Earthlings

On episode 238, Emily Kircher-Morris talks with Lindsay Kapek and Katie Tabari about the challenges neurodivergent students face in learning math. The conversation explores strategies for creating inclusive math classrooms that foster confidence and support for all students, regardless of their neurodivergence, and they talk about the importance of understanding individual learning styles. They also discuss using low floor, high ceiling tasks and three-act tasks to engage students and promote problem-solving skills. If you're a teacher, or if you have kids in school, this is an episode you can't miss.

Takeaways

• Neurodivergent students face barriers in math education, but their unique traits can be leveraged as assets.

• Creating a supportive and inclusive math classroom starts with building a connection with students.

• Implementing strategies like low floor, high ceiling tasks and three-act tasks can engage students and promote problem-solving skills.

• Language and mindset play a crucial role in fostering confidence and growth in math.

• Understanding students' learning styles and providing individualized support is essential for their success.

Register here for our free annual fall event we've created specifically for educators who are passionate about creating neurodiversity-affirming learning environments for students. The event will be held on Monday, September 23, and you can sign up to join Emily and a live panel of experts, who will be discussing ways to best support students of all neurotypes.

Lindsay Kapek and Katie Tabari are experienced K-8 math educators with a passion for making math accessible to all students. They are accomplished leaders in education, leading school-wide professional development efforts, consulting with schools and school leaders regarding the implementation of skill-based instruction, and speaking nationwide at conferences including NWAIS as well as NCTM.

Katie has extensive experience working with K-5 students, nearly all of whom were neurodivergent learners. She is also a mom to three kids, one of whom is neurodivergent. She is passionate about ensuring every student feels seen, heard, and included in the math classroom.

Lindsay has extensive experience working with K-8 students who have been diagnosed with ADHD. Lindsay herself has ADHD and is a huge advocate for celebrating the incredible gifts that students with ADHD bring to the math classroom.

BACKGROUND READING

Prep Set Grow

Tools referenced during the interview

Facebook

Instagram

Blog

Pinterest

As part of our two-part series, we are speaking with Dr. Jack Naglieri, an emeritus professor at George Mason University and senior research scientist at the Devereux Center for Resilient Children. Dr. Naglieri is renowned for his work in intelligence testing and the development of the Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test.

In this episode, part one of the interview, he and Emily talk about his insights on the evolution and misconceptions surrounding intelligence assessment. They delve into the history of intelligence testing, highlighting the limitations and biases inherent in traditional methods. He describes the experiences that led him to question the validity of verbal-based intelligence tests, and ultimately inspired his development of nonverbal assessment tools. Dr. Naglieri describes how and why his tests aim to measure thinking rather than knowing, and how it provides a more equitable approach to assessing intelligence.

They discuss the PASS theory of intelligence, and how it forms the foundation of the Cognitive Assessment System (CAS), a tool designed to measure these processes and offer a nuanced profile of an individual's cognitive strengths and weaknesses.

They cover much more as well, it's an enlightening conversation about how we measure intelligence. Look for part two of the chat in episode 230. Feel free to download a free copy of PASS Theory of Intelligence and the CAS2.

Our courses in the Neurodiversity University are 50% off right now, for a limited time. Click here, and use the promo code SUMMER24.

Dr. Jack A. Naglieri, Ph.D., is Emeritus Professor at George Mason University and Senior Research Scientist at the Devereux Center for Resilient Children. His main interest is the development of psychological and educational tests and the implications these approaches have for accurate and equitable assessment.

He has published about 25 books, 50 tests and rating scales, and approximately 300 research papers. Jack is the author of tests used for identification of gifted students, including the Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test. He partnered with Dina Brulles and Kim Lansdowne to coauthor the Naglieri Tests of General Ability Verbal, Quantitative and Nonverbal, and the book, Understanding and Using the Naglieri General Ability Tests: A Call to Equity in Gifted Education (Brulles, Lansdowne & Naglieri, 2022).

Dr. Naglieri has received many awards for his extensive research program that includes scholarly research, books, and psychological tests with an emphasis on uniting sound theory with equitable scientific practice.

BACKGROUND READING

PASS Theory of Intelligence and the CAS2

Jack's website

The Naglieri General Ability Tests

On episode 139, as part of Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month, we address depression and suicide among neurodivergent people. We talk about intervention techniques that can help parents, teachers, or anyone who interacts with neurodivergent people to understand and support them through trauma, depression, and suicidal ideation. We are joined by Kelsie Bacon, a licensed clinical counselor and play therapist who works with young neurodivergent people to help them feel connected and supported.

Also, if you're an educator, we have a great continuing education course called Strategies for Supporting Twice-Exceptional Students. Here's the link to pre-order the course for independent study at a 20% discount! If you're an administrator and want to utilize it district-wide, click this link and we'll get in touch and answer your questions. All of the details are at www.Neurodiversity.University.

ABOUT THE GUEST - Kelsie Bacon, LCSW-S, RPT, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker serving the Albuquerque, NM area. She graduated from UNM with a B.A. in Psychology and Family Studies and received her master's degree from New Mexico Highlands University in Clinical Social Work. She's currently earning her certification as a Registered Play Therapist.

She provides school-based and agency-based therapeutic interventions for children, adolescents and teens. ​She utilizes DIRFloortime techniques with many clients, and finds it particularly rewarding to work with teenagers to help them feel understood and supported.

Many people don't realize they're neurodivergent until adulthood, after dealing with sensory sensitivities their entire lives. Robert Jason Grant joins us to talk about the various types of sensitivities, how to identify them, and how to cope with and accept them. We also dispel some popular myths, and talk about one of the lesser-known senses, interoception.

Also, if you're an educator, we have a great continuing education course called Strategies for Supporting Twice-Exceptional Students. Here's the link to pre-order the course for independent study at a 20% discount! If you're an administrator and want to utilize it district-wide, click this link and we'll get in touch and answer your questions. All of the details are at www.Neurodiversity.University.

ABOUT THE GUEST - Dr. Robert Jason Grant is a licensed Professional Counselor, National Certified Counselor, Registered Play Therapist Supervisor, and Advanced Certified Autism Specialist. He owns and operates the Robert Jason Grant Ed.D AutPlay Therapy Clinic.

Dr. Grant is an international speaker and keynote presenter having presented for the American Counseling Association, Association for Play Therapy, American Mental Health Counselors Association, and The World Autism Congress. He is a multi-published author of several articles, book chapters, and books.

We take questions from people in the Neurodiversity Podcast Advocacy and Support Group on Facebook, and Emily answers them. This is our second AMA, and you're invited to take part in future ones. Look us up on any of our social media channels for details and to find out how to participate.

Here's the link to pre-order Strategies for Supporting Twice-Exceptional Students for independent study. Anyone can take the course, and if you register now you'll receive 20% off the tuition.

You can support the podcast at www.patreon.com/neurodiversity. The Neurodiversity Podcast is on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and you're invited to join our Facebook Group. For more information go to www.NeurodiversityPodcast.com

Thank you for caring about neurodivergent people.

As parents and educators prepare for the start of the new school year, middle schools everywhere are welcoming a new crop of excited, nervous, and sometimes unprepared kids. On episode 136 we talk about the middle school transition, and the changes parents can expect to see as their kids adapt to their new surroundings. Guest Phyllis Fagell is the author of Middle School Matters, and she joins us with ideas and advice. (This conversation is also featured in episode 38.)

Here's the link to pre-order Strategies for Supporting Twice-Exceptional Students for independent study. Anyone can take the course, and if you register now you'll receive 20% off the tuition.

ABOUT THE GUEST

Phyllis Fagell is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, Certified Professional School Counselor and journalist. She has worked in both public and private schools with students in grades K-12, focusing on middle school for the last several years. She currently works full time as the school counselor for Sheridan School in Washington, D.C. Sheridan School has been named a 2017 National School of Character. Phyllis also provides therapy to children, teens and adults in private practice at the Chrysalis Group, Inc.

As a journalist, Phyllis writes regular columns for The Washington Post on counseling, parenting and education. She writes a weekly advice column for PDK, Intl. for educators, and she blogs for a number of highly-respected national education associations and counseling publications, including AMLE (Association of Middle Level Educators) and Character.org. Her articles often are syndicated by Bloomberg, and they also are reprinted by newspapers throughout the world.

BACKGROUND READING

Phyllis's website

Facebook

Twitter

LinkedIn

Middle School Matters book

You can support the podcast at www.patreon.com/neurodiversity. The Neurodiversity Podcast is on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and you're invited to join our Facebook Group. For more information go to www.NeurodiversityPodcast.com

Thank you for caring about neurodivergent people.

Acting differently, speaking differently, or following different social rules, doesn't make someone less human or deserving of respect. On episode 135, Dr. Barry Prizant joins Emily Kircher-Morris to talk about his work moving the world of neurodiversity forward, and how we can continue advancing society toward equality and respect for everyone, regardless of their wiring.

Also, here's a link to our continuing education and professional development course for school district gifted/twice-exceptional programs. It's a 15-hour, 6-module course called "Strategies for Supporting Twice-Exceptional Students," by Emily Kircher-Morris. Learn more and get it for your district at Neurodiversity University.

Join our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/neurodiversitypodcast

ABOUT THE GUEST - Barry M. Prizant, PhD, CCC-SLP is among the world's leading authorities on autism and neurodevelopmental conditions, and is recognized as an innovator of respectful, person- and family-centered approaches for autistic and neurodivergent individuals and their families. With fifty years of experience as a clinical scholar, researcher, and international consultant, he is a Visiting Scholar at Brown University, a certified speech-language pathologist, and director of Childhood Communication Services at his private practice.

Barry is coauthor of The SCERTS Model: A Comprehensive Educational Approach, now being implemented in more than a dozen countries. He has published four books, more than 140 articles and chapters and has received many awards, including the Honors of the American-Speech-Language-Hearing Association (their highest recognition), the Princeton University Eden Foundation career award for improving quality of life for persons on the autism spectrum, and the Divine Neurotypical Award of GRASP, the world's largest autistic self-advocacy organization. He has been a two-time featured presenter at the United Nations on World Autism Awareness Day.

His recent best-selling book, Uniquely Human: A Different Way of Seeing Autism is now published in 22 languages, and he co-hosts and co-produces Uniquely Human: The Podcast.

With neurodiversity comes a host of extra effects, sensitivities, and challenges. Parenting a neurodivergent child can require a willingness to reconsider your perspective and sometimes even change your environment, in order to help ease stress and anxiety. Jen Malia, author of TOO STICKY!, is here to lend her perspective as both a parent of neurodivergent kids, and as a neurodivergent person with her own sensitivities and challenges.

Also, here's a link to our continuing education and professional development course for school district gifted/twice-exceptional programs. It's a 15-hour, 6-module course called "Strategies for Supporting Twice-Exceptional Students," by Emily Kircher-Morris. Learn more and get it for your district at Neurodiversity University.

Join our Facebook group! https://www.facebook.com/groups/neurodiversitypodcast 

You can support the podcast and receive subscriber-only benefits at www.patreon.com/neurodiversity

ABOUT THE GUEST - Jen Malia is the author of TOO STICKY! Sensory Issues with Autism, a children's picture book based on her own and her younger daughter's experiences living with autism and sensory differences. She is Associate Professor of English and Creative Writing at Norfolk State University. As a freelance journalist, she has written about autism and neurodiversity for the New York Times, the Washington Post, New York Magazine, Glamour, Woman's Day, Self, and others. She has also appeared on NPR's With Good Reason and was featured in Parent's Parenting Against All Odds video series.

She has a Ph.D. in English from the University of Southern California and is currently pursuing an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults at the Vermont College of Fine Arts.

Helping neurodivergent kids with executive function issues is tricky. You have to use the correct strategy for their personality, and they need to 'buy in' to getting the help. We talk with executive function coach Seth Perler about different approaches to solving neurodiversity's executive function problem on episode 133. If you want to join us for TEFOS 2022, click here to sign up!

Also, here's a link to our continuing education and professional development course for school district gifted/twice-exceptional programs. It's a 15-hour, 6-module course called "Strategies for Supporting Twice-Exceptional Students," by Emily Kircher-Morris. Learn more and get it for your district at Neurodiversity University.

ABOUT THE GUEST - Seth Perler calls himself a renegade teacher turned executive function coach & 2e coach. He helps struggling students navigate their educational landscapes, and helps them "disrupt" and improve their educational experience. Seth specializes in executive function issues and twice-exceptional learners.

You can support the podcast at www.patreon.com/neurodiversity. The Neurodiversity Podcast is on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and you're invited to join our Facebook Group. For more information go to www.NeurodiversityPodcast.com

Thank you for caring about neurodivergent people.

Giftedness is complicated. By itself, it can be difficult to find curriculum, activities, or hobbies that will consistently engage gifted kids. How do you find the "Goldilocks Zone?" Jim Delisle and Emily Kircher-Morris talked about it, and we're bringing you that conversation again because it's as pertinent now as ever. Beneath the Surface of Giftedness, on episode 132.

Also, here's a link to our continuing education and professional development course for school district gifted/twice-exceptional programs. It's a 15-hour, 6-module course called "Strategies for Supporting Twice-Exceptional Students," by Emily Kircher-Morris. Learn more and get it for your district at Neurodiversity University.

ABOUT THE GUEST - James Delisle, PhD, was a professor of education at Kent State University (Ohio) for 25 years and was selected by faculty and students there as a "Distinguished Professor", the University's most prestigious teaching award.

Jim has worked on behalf of gifted children and teens for nearly four decades. The author of hundreds of articles and 17 books that have been published in multiple languages, he continues to consult with schools worldwide in an effort to increase awareness of the needs of gifted children and adults. For the past several years, Jim has worked part time with highly gifted 9th and 10th graders at the Scholars' Academy in Conway, South Carolina.

You can support the podcast at www.patreon.com/neurodiversity. The Neurodiversity Podcast is on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and you're invited to join our Facebook Group. For more information go to www.NeurodiversityPodcast.com

Thank you for caring about neurodivergent people.

A word many experts use to describe dyslexic people is "misunderstood." Teachers often don't catch the signs, parents often don't know the best ways to advocate for their kids at school, and amidst all of that confusion, the child can feel completely misunderstood. Emily Kircher-Morris talks with Jill Stowell, author of Take the Stone Out of the Shoe, about tearing down barriers and building communication.

Also, here's a link to our continuing education and professional development course for school district gifted/twice-exceptional programs. It's a 15-hour, 6-module course called "Strategies for Supporting Twice-Exceptional Students," by Emily Kircher-Morris. Learn more and get it for your district at Neurodiversity University.

ABOUT THE GUEST -Jill Stowell, M.S. is the founder and executive director of Stowell Learning Centers where she and her team have helped thousands of children and adults eliminate their struggles associated with dyslexia, learning differences, auditory processing, or attention challenges. She is also the host of the LD Expert podcast.

Jill is a two-time best-selling author and speaker who is passionate about helping parents and educators understand their struggling students and the possibilities for real change.

You can support the podcast at www.patreon.com/neurodiversity. The Neurodiversity Podcast is on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and you're invited to join our Facebook Group. For more information go to www.NeurodiversityPodcast.com

Thank you for caring about neurodivergent people.

The reality of working within a system in flux. The meaning or usefulness of the term "gifted." The utility (or futility) of labels. The confusion of overlapping diagnoses. Our conversation with Brandon Tessers runs in many directions, and covers many topics, sometimes straying into controversial areas. Nothing's off the table in episode 130 of The Neurodiversity Podcast.

Also, here's a link to our continuing education and professional development course for school district gifted/twice-exceptional programs. It's a 15-hour, 6-module course called "Strategies for Supporting Twice-Exceptional Students," by Emily Kircher-Morris. Learn more and get it for your district at Neurodiversity University.

ABOUT THE GUEST - Brandon Tessers is a licensed clinical professional counselor (LCPC), a trained professional actor, an amateur singer/songwriter, a former schoolteacher and tutor, and a husband and father.

Brandon has been helping children and adults with their executive functioning for over a decade, and has been doing so as a licensed therapist for the last five years.  His work focuses on people who exist outside the norm in one way or another and is particularly focused on helping people who consider themselves neurodivergent and/or creative.

He's also a playwright and the DM for his longtime D&D group. He's a national presenter and has conducted professional development for therapists and teachers.

You can support the podcast at www.patreon.com/neurodiversity. The Neurodiversity Podcast is on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and you're invited to join our Facebook Group. For more information go to www.NeurodiversityPodcast.com

Thank you for caring about neurodivergent people.

On this episode, we talk about tech ideas that help neurodivergent people. Parker Klein and Joe Steilberg, the co-founders of the notes and organization app Twos, join Emily Kircher-Morris to discuss the benefits of writing things down and how technology can help people stay organized. They share their personal experiences with ADHD, and how their app is helping neurodivergent people take control of their lives. They also talk about the integration of incentives and gamification in their app to motivate users to stay organized. The conversation explores the social component of Twos, and the importance of clarity and peace of mind that comes from staying organized.

Takeaways

• Writing things down can improve organization and help with memory

• Technology can provide tools and features to make writing things down more efficient and enjoyable

• Incentives and gamification can motivate users to stay organized and form good habits

• Sharing thoughts and goals with others can provide a sense of community and support

• Listing out tasks and goals can bring clarity and peace of mind

Our courses in the Neurodiversity University are 50% off right now, for a limited time. Click here, and use the promo code SUMMER24.

Join the Neurodiversity Podcast Advocacy & Support Group, or follow our page on Facebook!

Parker Klein and Joe Steilberg are the co-founders of Twos - an app developed to help people stay organized with to-do lists, reminders, events and more. Parker used to work at Google and left his job to pursue Twos full-time. Joe is a natural-born salesman with ADHD. They are both on a mission to help people write things down and stay organized.

BACKGROUND READING

Get the Twos app

Twos on Twitter/X

Parker on Twitter/X

Joe on Twitter/X

Twos on YouTube

Twos on Instagram

Parker on Instagram

Joe on Instagram

Quirky kids often become the most accomplished adults, especially when they are allowed to grow and mature in a welcoming, neurodiversity-affirming environment. Dr. Dan Peters joins Emily Kircher-Morris to talk about the progress we've made toward that goal, and some of the pitfalls teachers, parents, and mental health professionals encounter as they guide kids into the future. Other topics include underachievement, PDA, dyslexia, and what we can learn from the bright, complex kids in our lives.

Also, educators and school administrators who are looking for continuing education or professional development material for gifted/twice-exceptional programs should consider our new offering, a 15-hour, 6-module course called "Strategies for Supporting Twice-Exceptional Students," by Emily Kircher-Morris. Learn more and sign up at the Neurodiversity University.

ABOUT THE GUEST - Dr. Dan Peters is a psychologist, author, co-founder and Executive Director of the Summit Center. Dr. Peters has devoted his career to the assessment and treatment of children, adolescents, and families, specializing in overcoming worry and fear, learning differences such as dyslexia, and issues related to giftedness and twice-exceptionality.

 Dr. Dan is also co-founder of Parent Footprint, an interactive parenting education community and website. He is host of the Parent Footprint Podcast with Dr. Dan, and is a contributor to The Huffington Post and Psychology Today.

Dan is a co-author of Bright, Complex Kids: Supporting Their Social and Emotional Development. He is co-author of Raising Creative Kids, and many articles on topics related to parenting, family, giftedness, twice-exceptionality, dyslexia, and anxiety.

If you suspect someone in your life has PDA (Pathological/Persistent Demand Avoidance), this is a conversation you need to hear. Sandra McConnell is a trainer, speaker, and blogger on the subject of PDA, and also the mother of a PDA child. She shares important insights into the struggles involved, and her unique and thought-provoking advice about how to approach life with a PDA-er.

ABOUT THE GUEST - Sandra McConnell is a blogger, speaker, and trainer on Autistic Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA). She conducts webinars, workshops and conferences all across the country to train and inform people about PDA.

She has two graduate certificates in Learning Differences & Neurodiversity specializing in Executive Functioning and Autism (Landmark College, 2021); a certification in PDA through the UK-based, OCN-accredited organization Neurodivergent Education Support and Training (NEST, 2020); a master's degree in Forensic Psychophysiology (Argosy University, 2006); and a bachelor's degree in Psychology and Criminology (UNM, 2000). 

Sandra is the mother of three children, the oldest of whom is a 5th grader and both gifted and PDA. She lives with her family in Maryland, USA.

We took questions from people in the Neurodiversity Podcast Advocacy and Support Group on Facebook, and Emily answers them. This is our first AMA, and you're invited to take part in future ones. Look us up on any of our social media channels for details and to find out how to participate.

You can support the podcast at www.patreon.com/neurodiversity. The Neurodiversity Podcast is on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and you're invited to join our Facebook Group. For more information go to www.NeurodiversityPodcast.com

Thank you for caring about neurodivergent people.

What happens when scaffolding, such as a 504 plan or IEP, goes away at college? Some schools have transition programs, but many or most do not. We're talking with Dr. Dawn Matera, co-founder of an institution called Westport College Prep, about how to get neurodivergent kids ready for the changes ahead.

Also, educators and school administrators who are looking for continuing education or professional development material for gifted/twice-exceptional programs should consider our new offering, a 15-hour, 6-module course called "Strategies for Supporting Twice-Exceptional Students," by Emily Kircher-Morris. Learn more and sign up at the Neurodiversity University.

ABOUT OUR GUEST - Dawn Matera is a Dr. of Education with over 25 years of experience. She holds a BS in Psychology, a MS in Special Education, and Doctorate in Educational Leadership. Upon completing a teacher training program and obtaining her Connecticut State Teaching Certification, she taught complex learners at specialty schools, including Eagle Hill and Winston Preparatory, for more than a decade.

In 2008, Dr. Matera founded her first education company, A Way to Learn, which provides tutoring, executive function coaching, and test prep to students. Additionally, in 2013, she co-founded The Westport Day School, a Connecticut state-approved special education school for internalizing students in sixth through twelfth grades.

You can support the podcast at www.patreon.com/neurodiversity. The Neurodiversity Podcast is on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and you're invited to join our Facebook Group. For more information go to www.NeurodiversityPodcast.com

Thank you for caring about neurodivergent people.

Educators are constantly learning how to better teach neurodivergent learners, but often we overlook the opportunity to help the students be better learners. How does educational therapy work? Is it dependent on the learner having a diagnosis? What is the process for working with families? We talk with Rachel Kapp and Stephanie Pitts, educational therapists and hosts of the Learn Smarter podcast, about helping learners learn, on episode 125.

And if you're an educator, we have a course that will help you understand and support those neurodivergent learners. It's called Strategies for Supporting Twice-Exceptional Students. It's available now to school districts, who are licensing it for their educators, and using it to fulfill CE/PD requirements. Here's a link to more information.

Join our Facebook group to participate in our June AMA!

ABOUT OUR GUESTS - Rachel Kapp grew up in Los Angeles, California. She attended UC Berkeley, and studied abroad in Rome, Italy. She discovered educational therapy after teaching preschool for 7 years in Los Angeles, and then went on to open her practice, Kapped Therapy of Los Angeles.

Stephanie Pitts is also a Los Angeles native, and was a student in both public and private schools. She attended USC, and later went on to teach elementary school. She served as an executive functioning mentor for a family of 9, after which she opened her educational therapy practice, My Ed Therapist.

Together, they host the Learn Smarter Podcast.

You can support the podcast at www.patreon.com/neurodiversity. The Neurodiversity Podcast is on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and you're invited to join our Facebook Group. For more information go to www.NeurodiversityPodcast.com

Thank you for caring about neurodivergent people.

We talk a lot about the unique way neurodivergent kids see the world. Often, parents have a completely different view, and sometimes tend to try to rewire the kids to match theirs. Julie Skolnick guides and mentors parents, and has some advice on how they can adjust their approach, understand their kids better, and reap the rewards of a happier environment.

We also talk about our new online PD/CE course for educators, "Strategies for Supporting Twice-Exceptional Students," which is now available at www.neurodiversity.university.

ABOUT THE GUEST - Julie Skolnick, M.A., J.D., founder of With Understanding Comes Calm, LLC, guides parents of gifted and distractible children, mentors 2e adults, trains educators and advises professionals on how to bring out the best and raise self-confidence in their 2e students and clients.

 Julie serves as Secretary to the Maryland Superintendent's Gifted and Talented Advisory Council, is an advisor for the Masters of Education Program for the Bridges Graduate School of Cognitive Diversity, is the Maryland liaison for Supporting the Emotional Needs of the Gifted (SENG), is a Committee member for the National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) and serves as an advisor to "The G Word" feature documentary, currently in production.

 Julie produces Let's Talk 2e! virtual conferences, hosts the Let's Talk 2e! Parent Empowerment Series, maintains the free listing service 2eResources.com, and publishes Gifted & Distractible, a free monthly newsletter. She's the mother of three twice exceptional children.

Play therapy is an often misunderstood counseling technique. On episode 123 we clear up some of the misunderstandings, with help from Katie Bassiri, a neurodiversity-affirming play therapist.

We also talk about our new online course for educators, "Strategies for Supporting Twice-Exceptional Students," which is now available at www.neurodiversity.university.

ABOUT THE GUEST - Katie Bassiri, LPCC RPT-S, co-authored the book "Congratulations, You're Autistic!" with her husband, Alex Bassiri. Katie and Alex met while living in a 24-hour quiet college dormitory in Flagstaff, Arizona, where they once got into trouble for playing a board game too rambunctiously. They've been coloring outside of the lines together ever since.

Katie is a registered Play Therapist-Supervisor and Alex likes coming up with words that rhyme. Their autistic family lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico where they own and operate a play therapy agency that supports neurodiverse families. Their new book is now available on Amazon.

You can support the podcast at www.patreon.com/neurodiversity. The Neurodiversity Podcast is on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and you're invited to join our Facebook Group. For more information go to www.NeurodiversityPodcast.com

Thank you for caring about neurodivergent people.

A three-year-old with an autism diagnosis is looking at a completely different future than someone who has masked their neurodivergence for years. We talk with Haley Moss, an attorney, author, and consultant, who helps companies create a neurodiversity-friendly atmosphere. She was diagnosed at age 3, and now has strong opinions about what it takes to move the world in the right direction, but she also has the power and determination to do it.

A reminder, we've just officially launched our new course for educators: Strategies for Supporting Twice-Exceptional Students! It's a six-module, fifteen-hour continuing education course delivered by Emily Kircher-Morris, designed to help identify, understand, and educate our growing population of twice-exceptional students. Get more information via the Neurodiversity Alliance website.

ABOUT THE GUEST - Haley Moss is a lawyer, neurodiversity expert, and the author of four books that guide neurodivergent individuals through professional and personal challenges. She is a consultant to top corporations and nonprofits that seek her guidance in creating a diverse workplace, and a sought-after commentator on disability rights issues.

The first openly autistic lawyer in Florida, Haley is the recipient of the 2021 American Bar Association (ABA) Making a Difference by Breaking Barriers Award. Her books include "Great Minds Think Differently: Neurodiversity for Lawyers and Other Professionals'' (ABA Book Publishing; June 2021) and "The Young Autistic Adult's Independence Handbook" (Jessica Kingsley Publishers; November 2021). Her articles have appeared in outlets including the Washington Post, Teen Vogue, and Fast Company.

You can support the podcast and receive subscriber-only benefits at www.patreon.com/neurodiversity. The Neurodiversity Podcast is available on Facebook and Instagram, as well as on Twitter @neurodiversepod. For more information go to www.NeurodiversityPodcast.com.

Thank you for caring about neurodivergent people.

What is Pathological Demand Avoidance and how does it manifest among the neurodivergent? What can we do to educate parents, teachers, and counselors about how to approach it? Understanding demand avoidance can completely transform the way you look at a child. During World Autism Acceptance Month, we feature a conversation with Harry J. Thompson from 2019, on episode 121.

ABOUT THE GUEST - Harry J. Thompson was born in Edgware and grew up in Barnet in north London. He is currently based in London, UK. An avid reader & researcher, Harry speaks publicly and is heavily involved in projects & research on all topics around neurodiversity and autism; namely, Pathological Demand Avoidance, a behavior profile within the Autism Spectrum.

Harry began to write the first draft of his book in 2015. After connecting with many autistic & PDA families, he pivoted his direction and completed his book in about 6 weeks, a memoir entitled The PDA Paradox: The Highs and Lows of My Life on a Little-Known Part of the Autism Spectrum, published in February 2019. He launched his YouTube channel in 2017.

Harry has been elected to a Fellowship of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA), in recognition of his work in the field of PDA, and also in recognition of the publication of his book.

You can support the podcast and receive subscriber-only benefits at www.patreon.com/neurodiversity. The Neurodiversity Podcast is available on Facebook and Instagram, as well as on Twitter @neurodiversepod. For more information go to www.NeurodiversityPodcast.com.

Thank you for caring about neurodivergent people.

World Autism Acceptance Month continues as Emily Kircher-Morris has a conversation with Washington DC policy and politics journalist Eric Garcia. Eric is autistic, and the author of We're Not Broken: Changing the Autism Conversation. They talk about the shifts in how society views and supports autistic individuals, and what still needs to be done.

Also don't forget the Bright and Quirky Summit 2022 is going on now. To register, follow this special link.

ABOUT THE GUEST - Eric Garcia is the senior Washington correspondent for The Independent, and the author of We're Not Broken: Changing the Autism Conversation. He is also a columnist for MSNBC. Previously, he was an assistant editor at the Washington Post's Outlook section, an associate editor at The Hill, and a correspondent for National Journal, MarketWatch and Roll Call. He has also written for the Daily Beast, the New Republic, and Salon.com. Garcia is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He lives in Washington, D.C.

You can support the podcast and receive subscriber-only benefits at www.patreon.com/neurodiversity. The Neurodiversity Podcast is available on Facebook and Instagram, as well as on Twitter @neurodiversepod. For more information go to www.NeurodiversityPodcast.com.

Thank you for caring about neurodivergent people.

You often hear people reference their own OCD, but there's far more to it than just the desire to be orderly or neat. Today, Emily Kircher-Morris explores the topic of obsessive compulsive thinking patterns, their impact on individuals, and the importance of discussing mental health with children. Jessica Whipple, author of 'I Think I Think a Lot,' shares her personal experiences with OCD and the coping strategies she has developed. The conversation also highlights the significance of representation in children's literature and the role of books in teaching coping skills. If you're curious about OCD, this episode will help.

Takeaways

• Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is characterized by obsessive thinking and compulsive behaviors, which can manifest in various ways such as contamination fears, taboo thoughts, and perfectionism.

• Children's literature plays a crucial role in representing diverse experiences, teaching coping skills, and reducing stigma around mental health and neurodivergence.

• Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) can be an effective treatment for OCD, helping individuals manage their thoughts and behaviors.

• It is important to have open conversations with children about mental health, providing them with the tools to understand and cope with their emotions and experiences.

Sign up for the Educator Hub now, the window for registration closes Sunday night, June 2, at 11:59pm pacific time. We'd love for you to join us!

Jessica Whipple is an acclaimed published author who writes for adults and children. Her book, I Think I Think a Lot, was inspired by her own OCD and was published by Free Spirit Publishing, and illustrated by Josée Bisaillon. Her poetry for adults, which often includes themes of mental health and parenting, has been published both online and in print. Her poem Broken Strings was nominated for a 2023 Pushcart Prize. To read some of her work, click on her link (below) or find her children's picture books anywhere books are sold.

BACKGROUND READING

Jessica's website

Instagram

Twitter/X

As part of our special coverage for World Autism Acceptance Month, we talk with Steve Silberman, author of Neurotribes, about autism, the neurodiversity movement, and where it's going. We talk about the writing of Neurotribes, and discuss some other books you might want to check out. This is an encore presentation of an earlier interview from 2021.

Also don't forget the Bright and Quirky Summit 2022 is going on now. To register, follow this special link.

ABOUT THE GUEST - Steve Silberman is an award-winning science writer whose articles have appeared in Wired, the New York Times, the New Yorker, the Financial Times, the Boston Globe, the MIT Technology Review, Nature, Salon, and many other publications. He is the author of NeuroTribes: The Legacy of Autism and the Future of Neurodiversity (Avery 2015). The book became a widely-praised bestseller in the United States and the UK, and won the 2015 Samuel Johnson prize for non-fiction, a California Book Award, and a Books for a Better Life award. It was chosen as one of the Best Books of 2015 by The New York Times, The Economist, The Financial Times, The Boston Globe, The Independent, and many other publications.

Steve gave the keynote speech at the United Nations for World Autism Awareness Day. He has given talks on the history of autism at Yale, Harvard, MIT, Oxford, the National Academy of Sciences, Queen Mary University, Apple, Microsoft, Google, and many other major institutions. His TED talk, "The Forgotten History of Autism," has been viewed more than a million times and translated into 25 languages. Silberman's Twitter account (@stevesilberman) has made Time Magazine's list of the best Twitter feeds.

You can support the podcast and receive subscriber-only benefits at www.patreon.com/neurodiversity. The Neurodiversity Podcast is available on Facebook and Instagram, as well as on Twitter @neurodiversepod. For more information go to www.NeurodiversityPodcast.com.

Thank you for caring about neurodivergent people.

The landscape is slowly changing for neurodivergent kids, but progress is slow and we're facing headwinds. Getting a diagnosis is still integral to receiving educational services and insurance benefits, but there are downsides that can work to impede progress. Debbie Steinberg Kuntz joins us on episode 118 to talk about those subjects, and the free Bright & Quirky Summit April 4-8.

The summit brings together some of the world's top neurodiversity experts, including our host, Emily Kircher-Morris. Panel members will host presentations and discussions designed to help parents, educators, counselors, and neurodivergent people understand and overcome challenges facing the neurodiversity community. It's free for all April 4-8, so use our special link to get registered today.

ABOUT THE GUEST - Debbie Steinberg Kuntz, LMFT is a licensed marriage and family therapist and founder of Bright & Quirky, an organization helping bright kids thrive, even with learning, social, emotional, and/or behavioral challenges. She specializes in 'twice exceptional (2e)' kids and families, primarily with ADHD, autism, anxiety, and/or learning differences, who have been the focus of her private practice for over a decade.

Debbie received her BA from Middlebury College and MA in Child, Couple, and Family Counseling from Antioch University. She enjoys hiking the mountains near Seattle with her husband and two teen boys.

Whether you're a therapist, parent, or even teacher, it pays to embrace the gaming geeks around you by learning more about their world. Through efforts like relating to game characters, understanding the games they enjoy, and spending time in their world with them, you can learn new ways to help support them in the real world. Anthony Bean is the author of several books about the therapeutic implications of video games, and he joins host Emily Kircher-Morris to talk about letting your geek flag fly.

ABOUT THE GUEST - Dr. Anthony Bean is a licensed clinical psychologist, video game researcher, and executive director at the Telos Project, a nonprofit mental health clinic in Fort Worth, Texas. Dr. Bean holds a doctorate in philosophy from Pacifica Graduate Institute, with an emphasis in depth psychology, and teaches at Framingham State University in the psychology department. He specializes in the therapeutic implications of video games and gaming, working with children and adolescents, and the use of video game character identification as a therapeutic technique. He passes on his knowledge of Geek Therapy at Geek Therapeutics; an APA/NBCC/ACE/APT accredited company training professionals on how to use Geek Therapy in practice.

He has authored multiple academic articles, book chapters, and the books Working with Video Gamers and Games in Therapy: A Clinician's Guide; The Psychology of Zelda: Linking Our World to the Legend of Zelda Series; The Psychology of Final Fantasy: Surpassing the Limit Break, and Integrating Geek Culture into Therapeutic Practice: A Clinician's Guide to Geek Therapy.

What is top down behavior, and how does it differ from bottom up behavior? Why is emotional regulation more difficult for neurodivergent people? How impactful or traumatic can a misdiagnosis or missed diagnosis be? Dr. Mona Delahooke, author of the new book Brain-Body Parenting (release date March 15), joins us to discuss these questions and more on episode 116.

ABOUT THE GUEST - Mona Delahooke, PhD, is a licensed clinical psychologist with more than thirty years of experience caring for children and their families. She is a senior faculty member of the Profectum Foundation and a member of the American Psychological Association. She is the author of Beyond Behaviors: Using Brain Science and Compassion to Understand and Solve Children's Behavioral Challenges, and the upcoming book, Brain-body Parenting. Dr Delahooke is a frequent speaker, trainer, and consultant to parents, organizations, schools, and public agencies. She lives and works in the Los Angeles area.

The data tells us rewarding kids for good behavior and punishing them for bad doesn't work. In fact, it harms relationships. In the education setting and at home, Alfie Kohn says we need to rethink the way we talk to kids, and how we help them learn behavioral skills, because rewards and punishment are ineffective. Emily Kircher-Morris has a conversation with Alfie Kohn, author of Unconditional Parenting: Moving from Rewards and Punishment to Love and Reason, on episode 115.

ABOUT THE GUEST - Alfie Kohn is the author of 14 books on education, parenting, and human behavior, including Punished by Rewards (1993), The Schools Our Children Deserve (1999), Unconditional Parenting (2005), and The Myth of the Spoiled Child (2014).  He has appeared twice on Oprah, as well as on The Today Show and many other TV and radio programs. Kohn works with educators and parents across the country and speaks regularly at national conferences. He lives (actually) in the Boston area and (virtually) at www.alfiekohn.org.

Alfie Kohn's books https://www.alfiekohn.org/books/

Twitter https://twitter.com/alfiekohn

You can support the podcast and receive subscriber-only benefits at www.patreon.com/neurodiversity. The Neurodiversity Podcast is available on Facebook and Instagram, and on Twitter @NeurodiversePod. For more information go to www.NeurodiversityPodcast.com

A new book by Emily Kircher-Morris, "Raising Twice-Exceptional Children: A Handbook for Parents of Neurodivergent Gifted Kids," is now officially released! Emily and producer Dave Morris talk about the book, preview the contents, and discuss why parents will find it helpful.

Just because a child is gifted doesn't mean they don't have other types of neurodivergence, like ADHD, autism, dyslexia, and more. Conversely, even children with one of these diagnoses can be cognitively gifted. Raising Twice-Exceptional Children provides you with a roadmap to understand the complex makeup of your "gifted-plus," or twice-exceptional, child or teen.

The book helps you understand your child's diagnosis, meet their social-emotional needs, build self-regulation skills and goal setting, and teach self-advocacy. It also shows you effective ways to collaborate with teachers and school staff, and it offers advice on finding strength-based strategies that support development at home.

For too long, these kids have fallen through the cracks. This book provides key information on how to best support neurodivergent children by leveraging their strengths while supporting their struggles.

ABOUT THE GUEST - Alex J. Packer, Ph.D., is an educator and psychologist. A recognized expert on adolescent development, parenting, and substance abuse prevention, Alex served for 14 years as President and CEO of FCD Educational Services, the leading nonprofit provider of onsite K-12 drug education and substance abuse prevention services for schools throughout the United States and in over 60 countries abroad.

Alex is the author of 11 books for parents, counselors, teachers, and teenagers, including Slaying Digital Dragons: Tips and Tools for Protecting Your Body, Brain, Psyche, and Thumbs from the Digital Dark Side, and How Rude!: The Teen Guide to Good Manners, Proper Behavior, and Not Grossing People Out. Alex graduated from Phillips Exeter Academy. He received undergraduate and Master's degrees from Harvard University and the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and a Ph.D. in Educational and Developmental Psychology from Boston College. He served as headmaster of Parkmont School in Washington, D.C., and was the Director of Education for the Capital Children's Museum.

You can support the podcast and receive subscriber-only benefits at www.patreon.com/neurodiversity. The Neurodiversity Podcast is available on Facebook and Instagram, and on Twitter @NeurodiversePod. For more information go to www.NeurodiversityPodcast.com

Emily Kircher-Morris talks with Jonathan Mooney, who authored a book called Normal Sucks, and who learned to read at the age of 12. They talk about the gap between normal and neurodivergence, and how advocates can help bridge it effectively and permanently. Who can advocate? How does the life experience of neurodivergent people affect how they parent their own kids? How does the deficit-model approach differ from strengths-based? What is the effect of lack of support on mental health?

ABOUT THE GUEST - Jonathan Mooney is a neurodiverse author and advocate who did not learn to read until he was 12 years old. He went on to graduate from Brown University and is the co-founder of Eye To Eye, a non-profit advocacy organization for people with learning and attention differences. He is also the author of three books, most recently Normal Sucks.

His work has been featured in the New York Times, LA Times, on ABC News, and National Public Radio, to name a few. Mr. Mooney speaks across the nation about neurological and physical diversity, inspiring those who live with differences, and advocating for change.

You can support the podcast and receive subscriber-only benefits at www.patreon.com/neurodiversity. The Neurodiversity Podcast is available on Facebook and Instagram, and on Twitter @NeurodiversePod. For more information go to www.NeurodiversityPodcast.com

The language around autism and neurodiversity in general is changing. As part of the review of 2021's biggest conversations we present a chat with Kristy Forbes, founder of Australia-based inTune Pathways, about PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance), the difference between PDA and other types of demand avoidance, and the changing language of autism, especially the terminology society uses to describe neurodivergent people. You can learn more about Kristy and PDA on the episode 85 page at www.NeurodiversityPodcast.com.

Parents often struggle with helping their children manage anxiety. Dr. Eli Lebowitz of Yale University talked with Emily Kircher-Morris about his research and work with children and their parents on managing anxiety and OCD. He's also developed a program to teach parents how to help their children with anxiety, and to help therapists learn new therapy techniques. This was one of the biggest conversations of 2021, and for details go to the episode 88 page at www.NeurodiversityPodcast.com.

There's a new term circulating in the neurodiversity community, AuDHD. Today, Emily Kircher-Morris is talking with Mattia Maurée, a neurodivergent individual with both ADHD and autism. They talk about how the two diagnoses blend together, one side desiring routine and sameness, while the other seeks novelty and change. They also discuss the challenges of receiving accurate diagnoses, the impact of stigma on neurodivergent individuals, how career pathways are affected, Mattia's personal experiences of being misunderstood and judged, and the importance of community. The conversation covers many other subjects as well, and it's all part of episode 226.

Takeaways

• ADHD and autism can coexist in individuals, with one part of them desiring routine and sameness while the other seeks novelty and change.

• Receiving accurate diagnoses for neurodivergent individuals can be challenging, as the symptoms of different conditions can overlap and mask each other.

• Stigma and misunderstandings surrounding neurodivergent individuals are pervasive and can lead to discrimination and mistreatment.

• Being twice exceptional, with both ADHD and autism, can result in unique challenges and experiences, including being misunderstood and judged by others.

• When Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) is a factor, it can lead to difficulties in regulating the nervous system, and can have a significant impact on daily life.

• Finding a career that aligns with one's interests and strengths is crucial for neurodivergent individuals.

• Community support and understanding are essential for neurodivergent individuals to thrive and feel deeply understood.

Click here to go to our Facebook post, where you can nominate a colleague (or yourself) for a free membership to the Neurodiversity University Educator Hub!

Mattia Maurée is an AuDHD coach and host of the AuDHD Flourishing Podcast. Creative outlets in music and the arts became Mattia's refuge through a childhood full of unpredictability. Confronting trauma sparked an interest in the topic, and it led to their Autism diagnosis in their 30's, as well as finding somatic neurodivergent-friendly methods of working through depression and anxiety. They now share their experiences to give hope to queer, trans, and neurodivergent youth and young adults through coaching, and embrace the philosophy of "feel better first."

BACKGROUND READING

AuDHD Flourishing website

AuDHD Flourishing podcast

TikTok

How can we knock down the walls that surround many neurodivergent kids? Should teachers play a role in their students' social and emotional well-being, or is school only about academic rigor? What are some teaching techniques that will get kids talking and participating? Emily Kircher-Morris and Jim Delisle have a conversation about ways to release the potential often locked inside neurodivergent kids, and it was one of the biggest conversations of 2021. For more information about Jim Delisle's work, visit the episode 89 page at www.NeurodiversityPodcast.com.

One of the more misunderstood diagnoses in the world of neurodiversity is ODD, or Oppositional Defiant Disorder. We talk with Amelia Bowler, a behavior consultant and author of the book "The Parent's Guide to Oppositional Defiant Disorder," about the diagnosis, and how to be better at decoding the message that kids are trying to send through their defiance. This conversation is from another of the most-downloaded episodes of 2021. For more information about Amelia and her book, go to the episode 92 page at www.NeurodiversityPodcast.com.

Most of us have at least some rejection sensitivity, but with neurodivergent people it's often magnified. Emily Kircher-Morris talks with Brendan Mahan, an ADHD and executive function consultant, about how to reduce or overcome rejection sensitivity. This is an episode everyone can benefit from, and don't forget to check out Brendan's podcast, ADHD Essentials.

This conversation is one of the most popular of 2021. For guest info and more, visit the episode 83 page at www.NeurodiversityPodcast.com.

"By the time you're 18, you'll be dead or in jail." When those words come from your teacher or coach, it takes a long time to unlearn that belief. This is the story of a troubled twice-exceptional teen who had no idea about his diagnosis until after he fought his way into college. Today, Dr. Shawn A Robinson is a reading instructor at Madison College, and a Senior Research Associate in Wisconsin's Equity and Inclusion Laboratory. He and his wife are the authors of the Doctor Dyslexia Dude book series. This is an inspiring story you need to hear.

ABOUT THE GUEST - Shawn A Robinson PhD is a full-time reading instructor at Madison College, a Senior Research Associate in Wisconsin's Equity and Inclusion Laboratory (Wei LAB) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a social entrepreneur, co-founder of Doctor Dyslexia Dude, former board member of the International Dyslexia Association, and serves on the inaugural advisory council of Benetech. Robinson graduated from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh (UWO) with a Bachelor of Science in Human Services, a Master's in Education from DePaul University, and a PhD in Language and Literacy from Cardinal Stritch University.

Robinson has over 40 peer-reviewed publications and received several distinguished honors throughout his early career such as: the 2017 Alumni Achievement Award/New Trier High School Alumni Hall of Honor; the 2016 Outstanding Young Alumni Award from UWO; and received Educator of the Year from All-State Insurance (Chicago) 2005. Robinson is also a Life Member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

You can support the podcast and receive subscriber-only benefits at www.patreon.com/neurodiversity. The Neurodiversity Podcast is available on Facebook and Instagram, and on Twitter @NeurodiversePod. For more information go to www.NeurodiversityPodcast.com

What are you grateful for regarding neurodiversity? Our listeners share their thoughts, and Emily Kircher-Morris reflects on the things she's thankful for during this kickoff of the 2021 holiday season. While we're on the subject, thank YOU for making 2021 the biggest year of growth in our history!

You can support the podcast and receive subscriber-only benefits at www.patreon.com/neurodiversity. The Neurodiversity Podcast is available on Facebook and Instagram, and on Twitter @NeurodiversePod. For more information go to www.NeurodiversityPodcast.com

Emily Kircher-Morris has a discussion with Joy Lawson Davis and Deb Douglas, authors of a new book called Empowering Underrepresented Gifted Students, about equity challenges in public education. They provide a snapshot of the contributors who helped write the book from their individual perspectives as marginalized, neurodivergent students, and describe why eliminating gifted programs won't fix equity issues in gifted education. Many more topics as well, on episode 104.

ABOUT THE GUESTS - Dr. Joy Lawson Davis is a career educator with over 30 years of experience as a practitioner, scholar, author, and consultant. A graduate of the College of William & Mary, Dr. Davis holds both Master's and Doctorate degrees in Gifted Education.

She is currently the Special Populations columnist for the NAGC publication Teaching for High Potential, and serves on the Gifted Child Today advisory board. Dr. Davis served a two-year term as chair of the NAGC's Diversity & Equity Committee and is an at-large member of the NAGC Board of Directors.

Deb Douglas has a Masters of Science in Curriculum and Instruction, and is the architect of the GT Carpe Diem Workshop, a system designed to empower gifted and high-potential children to self-advocate. She's a past president of the Wisconsin Association for Talented and Gifted.

You can support the podcast and receive subscriber-only benefits at www.patreon.com/neurodiversity. The Neurodiversity Podcast is available on Facebook and Instagram, and on Twitter @NeurodiversePod. For more information go to www.NeurodiversityPodcast.com

Learning to empower our kids and students to do for themselves is often harder than just doing it for them. But ultimately they will need autonomy, so we must help them hone their executive function skills now. Emily Kircher-Morris talks with Sarah Kesty about how to go about helping our kids, and how to retrain teachers to help their students be self-empowered. It's another great conversation you shouldn't miss.

ABOUT THE GUEST - Sarah Kesty is an executive function expert, an international speaker, an autism specialist with the state of California, a published author, and a 504 and IEP expert. She's also the host of The Executive Function Podcast.

Sarah specializes in developing executive function skills in teens and tweens. She's the author of Everyone Has Something, which she hopes will empower divergent learners to embrace their journeys and reframe their struggles in a positive light. She has worked with students with a range of disabilities for over 15 years, and writes for educational media such as KQED and Edutopia.

The Neurodiversity Podcast is available on Facebook and Instagram at Neurodiversity Podcast, and on Twitter @NeurodiversePod. For more information go to www.NeurodiversityPodcast.com.

People with ADHD have to face both the strengths and struggles that come along with their diagnosis. During ADHD Awareness Month, we're presenting some important conversations we've had along the way about ADHD, including this conversation with Brendan Mahan, who shares his struggle with ADHD and executive function.

This conversation was first released in October of 2019.

ABOUT THE GUEST - Brendan Mahan, MEd., MS, is an ADHD/Executive Function consultant, coach, and speaker. As a veteran educator, he is skilled at teaching people how to effectively manage the challenges they face. He and his twin sons have ADHD, and he enjoys helping others with ADHD meet the challenges they face.

Brendan is also host of the ADHD Essentials podcast.

The Neurodiversity Podcast is available on Facebook and Instagram at Neurodiversity Podcast, and on Twitter @NeurodiversePod. For more information go to www.NeurodiversityPodcast.com

Emily Kircher-Morris previews the inaugural GTN Awareness Week with Marc Smolowitz, producer and director of the upcoming movie The G-Word. We talk about the organization behind the event and how you can get involved. GTN Awareness week is October 25-29, and will feature different events each day. To take part in the free activities and discussions, go to www.thegwordfilm.com. To hear the interview with Marc about the stories of the people featured in The G Word, and for more info about the movie, click here.

ABOUT THE GUEST - Marc Smolowitz is a multi-award-winning director, producer and executive producer who has been significantly involved in 50+ successful independent films wearing many hats across the film and entertainment business. The combined footprint of his works has touched 200+ film festivals and markets on 5 continents, yielding substantial worldwide sales to theatrical, television and VOD outlets, notable box office receipts, and numerous awards and nominations. His long list of credits includes films that have screened at top-tier festivals such as Sundance, Berlinale, AFI Docs, IDFA, DOC NYC, CPH: DOX, Tokyo, Melbourne, Viennale, Krakow, Jerusalem, among others. 

In 2009, Marc founded 13th Gen, a San Francisco-based film company that works with a dynamic range of independent film partners globally to oversee the financing, production, post-production, marketing, sales, and distribution efforts of a vibrant portfolio of films and filmmakers.

The Neurodiversity Podcast is available on Facebook and Instagram at Neurodiversity Podcast, and on Twitter @NeurodiversePod. For more information go to www.NeurodiversityPodcast.com

People with ADHD have to face both the strengths and struggles that come along with their diagnosis. When ADHD is combined with giftedness (twice-exceptionality), those struggles can be magnified, or maybe worse, hidden. On episode 100 Dr. Matthew Fugate shares data from his research about ADHD and provides parents and teachers insight into better understanding our kids. This conversation was first published June 26, 2019.

About the guest - Dr. Matthew Fugate received his doctorate in Gifted, Creative, and Talented Studies at Purdue University. Prior to this, he worked as an elementary teacher in the Houston Independent School District where he also served as a Gifted Coordinator and Magnet Coordinator. Dr. Fugate's past research has examined the relationship between working memory and levels of creativity in gifted students who have ADHD characteristics. He also examined the coping mechanisms of twice-exceptional girls in secondary school as they navigate both their academic studies and interpersonal relationships.

He has presented to parents, teachers, and schools across the United States and internationally on topics such as creativity, curriculum compacting, identification, twice exceptionality, underserved populations, and total school cluster grouping.

The Neurodiversity Podcast is available on Facebook and Instagram at Neurodiversity Podcast, and on Twitter @NeurodiversePod. For more information go to www.NeurodiversityPodcast.com

Traditional talk-based therapy is sometimes less effective for neurodivergent people. On this episode, Emily Kircher-Morris welcomes ADHD-er and licensed social worker Chris Nealy, to discuss the effectiveness of experiential therapy for neurodivergent individuals. They talk about some of the different forms of experiential therapy, like applied theater, equine facilitated psychotherapy, and technology-based interventions. These forms of therapy focus on nonverbal communication and body language, allowing for more effective communication and engagement. They also discuss how experiential therapy has helped improve relationships and understanding within families.

Takeaways

• Experiential therapy, which focuses on nonverbal communication and body language, can be highly effective for neurodivergent individuals.

• Applied theater and equine facilitated psychotherapy are examples of experiential therapy interventions that have shown positive results.

• Technology-based interventions, such as video modeling and incorporating personal interests like gaming, can also be effective in experiential therapy.

• Experiential therapy can help improve relationships and understanding within families by providing a different perspective and facilitating communication.

Our courses in the Neurodiversity University are 50% off right now, for a limited time. Click here, and use the promo code SUMMER24.

Join the Neurodiversity Podcast Advocacy & Support Group on Facebook!

Chris is a licensed social worker and military veteran service provider in the state of North Carolina. As a person with ADHD, he fully embraces the strengths and challenges of executive functioning differences experienced by those affected by ADHD and Autism. Chris enjoys helping others recognize their potential in personal, social, academic, and professional arenas. ADHD/Autism have huge impacts on intimate relationships as well, and Chris provides support for parents and couples who are navigating the hurdles of loving someone with these qualities.

BACKGROUND READING

Chris's practice

Triple Play Farm

"Buck," the film

Today's classroom can feel like an alien environment for neurodivergent learners, and the resulting anxiety can derail and disrupt their educational experience. Simple and easily-implemented accommodations can completely change outcomes.  How important is placement for a child's happiness and well-being? What do psychological professionals understand that educators often don't? Creating an educational environment for neurodivergent kids in a system that isn't made for them, on episode 99 of the Neurodiversity Podcast.

ABOUT THE GUEST - Dr. Laura Anderson Kirby is a licensed clinical psychologist, providing evaluations and therapy for children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). While ASD is her specialty, Dr. Kirby has broad training in child clinical psychology and works with children and families from various backgrounds with a wide range of presenting problems including anxiety, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and depression. She's also the parent of two children.

​Dr. Kirby has a bachelor's degree in psychology from Duke University, a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Maryland, College Park, and completed her pre-doctoral internship and post-doctoral fellowship at the Yale Child Study Center. At Yale, she was trained in the Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE) program, which is a parent-training program recently found to be quite effective for decreasing childhood anxiety.

She's the author of a children's book called Henrietta's Thistleberry Boots.

Some colleges and universities are beginning to understand the challenges of autistic and otherwise-neurodivergent people to adapt to the higher education experience. One such university is Marquette, who has developed a program called "On Your Marq," to equip autistic students for the new rigors of academia. Emily Raclaw runs the program, and Emily Kircher-Morris sits down to talk with her on episode 98.

Emily Raclaw, MS, LPC is the director of Marquette's On Your Marq program. She's a lifelong Milwaukee resident and brings 15 years of disability in education expertise to the program. She has presented at several conferences and trained other college success programs on the topics of disability as diversity, neurodiversity, and programming.  

Emily taught high school special education, worked as a vocational rehabilitation counselor, and coordinated a college success program for students with disabilities. She is an expert in program creation and development, as well as a disability advocate and professional. She is also a licensed professional counselor.

You can support the podcast and receive subscriber-only benefits at www.patreon.com/neurodiversity. The Neurodiversity Podcast is available on Facebook and Instagram, and our Twitter handle is @NeurodiversePod. For more information go to www.NeurodiversityPodcast.com

On episode 97 we talk with Fleassy Malay about prosopagnosia, commonly referred to as "face blindness." What are the symptoms? What can you do to lessen the effects, and how can you enlist the help of your friends and colleagues? Fleassy is a TEDx speaker and viral poet, is the host of the new "Fierce Gentle - The Courageous Voice Podcast," and deals with the challenges of prosopagnosia every day.

ABOUT THE GUEST - Fleassy Malay is a two-time TEDx speaker and viral poet. She's a global advocate for women's rights, LGBTQI+ visibility, and a fierce voice for the power of authenticity and courage as a social change tool. Founder and CEO of Melbourne's acclaimed Women's Spoken Word organization and monthly event, Mother Tongue, she has guided the voices of thousands of women into the world.

Fleassy studied at the famous London stage institution The BRIT School, which was also the source of talents such as Amy Winehouse, Adele, Kae Tempest and more. She now writes and presents regularly to her online community of over 20k followers with poetry, talks, and opinion pieces. In 2017 she published her book, Sex and God, and in 2018, launched her album of spoken word, Unhear This. In 2020 she successfully crowdfunded her latest book Virago: A Poetic Manifesto.

You can support the podcast and receive subscriber-only benefits at www.patreon.com/neurodiversity. The Neurodiversity Podcast is available on Facebook and Instagram, and on Twitter @NeurodiversePod. For more information go to www.NeurodiversityPodcast.com