You Don’t Want a Hug, Right? The Hilarity and the Hard of Raising Humans with Neurodiversity

Burnout. It’s a word that comes up often in society and is often synonymous with being tired and needing a vacation. But when it comes to neurodivergent folks, autistic burnout can look radically different and have long-lasting effects. In today’s episode, Becca Lory Hector shares her experience of being diagnosed with autism as an adult after an extensive bout of autistic burnout. She explains why her burnout occurred, what support she wished she had received, and what might have kept her fr...

Therapy plays an important role in our neurodiverse children’s lives… But let’s be real: the act of constantly driving all over to drag our kids into dingy, uncomfortable waiting rooms multiple times a week is not fun. In this episode, Gwen and Kristen dive into this phenomenon: why parents of neurodiverse kids end up in this situation, how to make the process and experience a little more tolerable, and when it might be time to pull the plug on certain therapies (and escape the excrucia...

The classroom is the essential component across every school from K-12 to higher education. So why is it that physical space is often overlooked as being a central player in the learning experience? If you’re a parent to a child with a disability, then you know that their environment can make all the difference! In today’s episode, we’re interviewing Dr. Elif Tural and Dr. David Kniola, experts in the field of universal design and its various applications in educational settings and beyond. T...

Few things are more important to us as humans, especially to neurodivergent children, than access to quality healthcare. But did you know that Black and Hispanic children are less likely to be identified with autism than white children? This simple fact invites a closer look into the social currency that many of us take for granted and why the healthcare system looks vastly different to those of marginalized populations. In today’s episode, we’re interviewing Robin Ennis, a social worker and ...

We have so much to be grateful for, and what better time to acknowledge that than with Thanksgiving just on the horizon? Since expressing gratitude is essential to our health and happiness, especially as parents of neurodiverse children, we’re on a mission to be more intentional with how we recognize all the things we have to be thankful for each and every day — whether they’re obvious, a little quirky, or even a bit of a stretch! In today’s episode, we’re covering everything from letting go ...

Standardized testing and educational plans are a reality of life for us as parents of neurodiverse students. But it can be a bit daunting to think about, especially if you’re new to the process. There are forms and meetings and legalities that can overwhelm you if you’re not prepared. And honestly, it’s hard to be prepared for something you don’t know much about. That’s why we’re here to help you. In today’s episode, we’re sharing how we’ve navigated the individualized education program...

Most of us with neurodiverse children have IEP or 504 plans, and that means your child will have a team working with them at school. The team, your child, and you form an important dynamic when it comes to your child’s education and, from our experience, starting the year off on the right foot makes all the difference. In today’s episode, we’re continuing with our back to school series and we’re sharing why the school team partnership is so important, and the 5 key questions you should ask yo...

Kristen recently retired from her work at The Joshua School, a non-profit, facility school, approved by the Colorado Department of Education that partners closely with local school districts to provide the intensive services many of the students need. It was such a meaningful experience in her life and it’s something we really need to talk about. In today’s episode, Kristen shares what The Joshua School is, what she learned there, what she added to that environment, and what she's able ...