Non Linear Learning - Rethinking Education for Neurodivergent Learners – Details, episodes & analysis

• Why most autism tech fails non-speakers
• How apraxia—not cognitive delay—affects communication
• What happens when you design technology with non-speaking autistic users
• How augmented reality tools can support motor planning, regulation, and independence
• What it means to integrate AI without removing human connection

• Learn more and explore the research: etherealresearch.ca
• Follow me on Instagram: @drvaishsarathy
• Get the free Non Linear Learning Ebook www.drvaishsarathy.com/nonlinearlearning

In this episode of the Tiger Moms Chat, I sit down with my brilliant friend and co-host, Searmi Park—concertmaster of the Eugene Symphony and founder of Autism Mustang Alliance—to talk about letting go of neurotypical dreams to make space for radical possibility.

As we talk about "Lesser Dreams" - we discuss

1. How some dreams can hold you back!

2. The critical concept of Apraxia (even in how you dream)

3. What happens inside Non Linear Education

4. We also answer a listener’s heartfelt question:

And some Q/A about speaking and going to school and AAC!

🔗 Links + Resources:

1. Learn about Non Linear Education (Enrollment closes May 1!):

2. Follow me on Instagram: @drvaishsarathy

3. Learn more about Autism Mustang Alliance: https://autismmustangalliance.org/

Is there an expiry date to Autism / Down Syndrome Support Groups?

Join self-proclaimed Tiger Moms Searmi Park and Vaish Sarathy as they discuss:

a) Why Searmi has never joined a support group, and

b) Why Vaish repeatedly leaves every group she joins. 

Key Takeaways:

• Support groups can be both helpful and limiting.
• Venting is necessary, but it shouldn't cement negativity.
• Creating a new kind of support group could be beneficial.

Join Searmi and Vaish in their A-Ha moments in the Tiger Moms series!

Searmi Park is the founder of the Austism Mustang Alliance and the Concermaster at the Eugene Symphony. 

I learned about the fascinating link between brain function and glucose from Dr. David Stephens, founder of Humanity Restored. With expertise in neuropsychology, neuroscience, and mental health, Dr. Stephens sheds light on how trauma impacts cognition and how glucose therapy might aid recovery.

• Trauma significantly affects learning and cognitive function.

• Glucose is a crucial brain fuel and may support healing.

• Dietary interventions can influence neurodevelopmental health.

• Consulting a healthcare provider is essential before considering new interventions.

👉 Learn more about Dr. David Stephens' work at https://restoredhumanity.com/s/about.php

👉 Connect with Dr. Vaish Sarathy on Instagram: @dr.vaishsarthy

Disclaimer - I do have a caveat for this episode - and that is this : Dr. Stephens does talk about some specific interventions - glucose therapy is this case. Please take care and make sure you consult with your child’s primary doctor if you decide to follow through on this. The views expressed in this episode are just for education and not for treatment.

Searmi Park [Concertmaster at the Eugene Symphony] and I [Vaish Sarathy] are both mothers to non-speaking Autistic young men.

This is the the very first of many casual conversations on All Topics Disability [unfiltered].

Searmi and I talk about the TOP 3 Interventions that worked for our kids - and it turns out we have a similar list!

I learned about the revolutionary concept of what I call now “unconditional teaching” from Glen Doman’s book “Teach your baby to Read”. And today I am with his grandson - Spencer Doman, the current director of Doman International. 

We discuss neuroplasticity, the role of challenge and newness in learning and immense necessity of presuming competence in children with disabilities.

Key Takeaways:

• Physical exercise, diet, challenge, newness, and love drive neuroplasticity.
• Teaching children in short, fast sessions enhances learning.
• Critiques of the Doman Method
• The importance of Family involvement

Get in Touch:

👉 Learn more about Doman International and Spencer’s work at www.domaninternational.org

 👉 Connect with Dr. Vaish Sarathy on Instagram for more updates, tips, and podcast highlights: www.instagram.com/drvaishsarathy

• A change in perspective is crucial for effective learning.

Guest: Dr. Mary Bove, Herbal Medicine Expert
Host: Vaish Sarathy, Math and Science Teacher, Learning Strategist

This December, as I immerse myself in the Art of Living Ashram in Boone, North Carolina, training to become a breathing and meditation teacher, I’m bringing you one of our most-loved episodes to revisit!

In this encore, we explore how natural, plant-sourced herbal alternatives can support chronic challenges like attention issues, digestion, and immune health for both kids and adults.

Dr. Bove breaks down the practical applications of herbal medicine, what makes it effective, and common mistakes in its use. She also shares her favorite herbs for children under five, including:

• Fennel Seed

• Chamomile Flowers

• Lemon Balm

Tune in to discover how to integrate these herbs into teas, extracts, baths, and more to support your child’s health naturally.

• Herbal medicine can provide safe, natural alternatives for managing chronic issues.

• Herbs like fennel seed and chamomile flowers are gentle yet effective for young children.

• Herbal remedies can be used in various forms, including teas, glycerin extracts, or even baths.

• Email Dr. Mary Bove: herbaldocmb@gmail.com
• Get your Free Gut Health Kit: www.drvaishsarathy.com/guthealth

Enjoy this episode as you settle into the season. Share your thoughts with me on Instagram @drvaishsarathy, and let’s connect!

🌏 Whether you’re enjoying winter or summer, I’ll see you next week with more ways to support your child’s learning journey. Until then, take care!

Kathy Shean-Jones, movement specialist, specializes in helping children with neurological and physical challenges unlock their potential through the brain’s incredible ability to form new neural pathways. 

We dive deep into how movement can transform the way children learn and interact with the world around them.

Kathy shares her insights on how movement isn’t just physical—it's an essential component of learning, especially for neurodivergent learners. By creating brain-friendly environments and using movement-based strategies, she helps children overcome challenges and find their unique path to growth.

Key Takeaways:

• The connection between movement and learning for neurodivergent children.

• How to incorporate movement into everyday learning strategies to support physical and emotional regulation.

• The power of radical acceptance in facilitating a child’s growth and learning.

Get in Touch:

👉 Find Kathy Shean-Jones and her work at Move Abilities LLC: www.moveabilities.com 👉 👉Connect with Dr. Vaish Sarathy on Instagram for more updates, tips, and podcast highlights: @drvaishsarathy
👉For more resources on neurodivergent learning and education strategies, visit the website.

In this episode of Nonlinear Learning, I talk to Dr. Brent Hogarth, who shares his extraordinary journey from a tumultuous youth to discovering emotional regulation and self-awareness through his time living in a Buddhist monastery. Dr. Brent delves deep into the concept of the flow state—a state of consciousness where we are fully immersed, intrinsically motivated, and performing at our best.

We explore how flow is not just about peak performance but also about living in harmony, both for our children and ourselves as parents. Dr. Brent explains the neuroscience behind flow, the challenges of achieving it in today’s distraction-filled world, and the transformative role of autonomy, competence, and connection.

This conversation highlights how being in flow helps neurodivergent children thrive, empowers parents to step into radical acceptance, and fosters collaborative growth for the whole family.

Key Takeaways:

• What the flow state is and how it enhances learning and living.

• The neuroscience of flow: What happens in the brain and body.

• The importance of autonomy, competence, and connection in achieving flow.

• Common obstacles to flow, like distractions and self-consciousness, and how to overcome them.

• The four-stage cycle of flow and why struggle is a necessary part of the process.

Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or learner, I am hoping this episode will inspire you to create conditions for flow in your own life and in the lives of those you support.

Get in Touch:

👉Find Dr. Brent Hogarth’s work here. 

👉 Explore resources on mindfulness and emotional regulation: https://drvaishsarathy.com

👉 Stay connected: Follow us on Instagram for more tips and stories