People are very fired up in autism land, and it often relates to the conflict between speaking autistics and parents of nonspeaking autistics. There is so much that is very confidently proclaimed about our disability as nonspeaking autistics. But the glaring problem in all of this is: no one seems to care that our voices are rarely consulted or included.

Danny shares about what he experiences when he works to de-escalate his dysregulation, including insights on the benefits of therapy and mindfulness. Let us know if this is helpful for you!

We're back for a special episode on communication equity (regular episodes resume in May!). Spelling is an amazing gift to nonspeakers and their loved ones, but there are many barriers to access to spelling. This is particularly pronounced for BIPOC communities, as well as low-income communities. We share perspectives and focus on the Communication Equity campaign by Spellers & Allies Advocacy Network at I-ASC.

LINKS

Spellers and Allies Advocacy Network’s Communication Equity campaign

I-ASC on Facebook and Instagram (where Spellers and Allies makes their social media posts)

Speller Access Fund

Brothers Helping Spellers

Black autistic advocates to follow:

Tiffany Hammond - Fidgets and Fries, and on Instagram

TJ - Nigh Functioning Autism, and on Instagram

Kaishawna - on Instagram

Happy holidays! As the year ends, so does the first season of All Our Brave Hearts. We reflect on this first year of the podcast, share brave things we've done recently, and provide a sneak peek of Danny's schemes for season 2 - including more interactions with our listeners. Thank you for being with us, and stay tuned for more to come in ~March 2025!

Inspiration! Disabled folks are too aware that we are apparently a fountain of inspiration to non-disabled folks. The problem is that this often leaves us feeling worse about our situation, which is rarely helped by people who so casually claim inspiration from us.

At the same time, we appreciate that Danny's work and story do inspire people in meaningful ways. So what is the difference? 

We discuss that here, and would love to hear your thoughts!

As our theme song says, "we are all needing more kindness and care." It's Election Day, and we share thoughts on how the hate and conflict in recent years is a sign that people are hurting and need more care. Danny shares his dismay over the dominance of hateful rhetoric, and we chat about how we can foster more care in the world.

Understanding and transforming our fears might be one of the most daunting, but meaningful, things we can do as humans. We chat about how we're working to face fears and to release our clinging to narratives that ultimately harm us. Setting boundaries, striving for more agency, releasing control, practicing acceptance, working toward challenging goals (freediving and riding the train alone), and dealing with financial instability - we cover a lot! And we call for more brave hearts, to face truth and open our minds, for a better world.Let us know any fears that you're working to transform!

Another brief break (unplanned), and back with another Q&A episode (keep those questions coming)! We touch on access to talk therapy for spellers, building motor skills and strength, and the oneness of the universe. Thank you for submitting questions!

Keeping it short & sweet this episode! We've been both exhausted and having a tough time lately, and it seems like many people in our lives have been, as well. So, Danny decided to talk about a "few of our favorite things"!

Sorry, sincerely sorry. This episode is about apologizing! This is such an important practice that can help both the giver and receiver of the apology, and it is critical for maintaining thriving relationships. We share how we approach apologies and what we need in an apology, and Danny chats about the implications of his disability in all of this. You won't be sorry you listened!