
About this episode
Whitney Price discusses the power of empathy and community in advocating for families with neurodiverse children.
Send a text What if the strongest form of advocacy didn’t sound loud, but felt deeply human? We sit down with Whitney Price , founder and executive director of Unpuzzled Parents Connect , to unpack how empathy, clarity, and community can move mountains for families raising neurodiverse kids. From West Virginia’s resource deserts to two-hour doctor trips and long insurance battles, Whitney shows how facts over fury and kindness over shame can open doors that frustration often slams shut. We trace the family journey from the shock of an early autism diagnosis to the quiet heroics of daily advocacy: documenting medical necessity, lining up provider letters, and appealing denials with patience and precision. Whitney shares practical tactics for IEP meetings, healthcare pushback, and those tough moments when a child’s sensory needs collide with rigid systems. Along the way, she refuses the false choice between being “nice” and being “effective,” proving that compassion is a strategy, not a soft spot. Connection anchors everything. Whitney explains how a simple support group grew into a nonprofit that trains parents, hosts expert voices, and builds bridges through story and practical…
People in this episode
Host: Mike Rathbun
Guest: Whitney Price
Topics covered
- advocacy
- neurodiversity
- empathy
- community support
- autism awareness
- parenting strategies
Keywords
- advocacy
- neurodiverse kids
- IEP meetings
- healthcare
- autism
- support groups
- empathy
- community
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Unpuzzled Parents Connect
Places: West Virginia
More episodes of Pork Pond Gazette
- Breaking The Silence On Suicide · June 11, 2026 · 39 min
- Kindness Is The Comeback · June 4, 2026 · 33 min
- Why Small Acts Of Kindness Still Matter · May 28, 2026 · 49 min
- When Parents Become Advocates · May 21, 2026 · 43 min
- Kindness On Cloudy Days · May 14, 2026 · 35 min
- Storytelling That Turns Small Talk Into Trust · May 7, 2026 · 35 min
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Pork Pond Gazette podcast page.