Embracing Autism

Today we have the honor of introducing Dr. Alex Klein, PsyD on the topic of pathological demand avoidance (PDA) in autism. Dr. Alex is a licensed clinical psychologist who specializes in parenting as well as assessing neurodivergent adults and children. He currently runs a private practice in Oakland, California where he does counseling with individual adults, couples, and parents, as well as evaluating adults and children for autism, ADHD, and other forms of neurodivergence. His primary interests include neurodiversity-affirming care, parenting challenging children, PDA, social justice, trauma, education, and advocating for the rights of children. Dr. Klein also uses his experience as a former teacher and school-based therapist to advocate in school districts for more appropriate learning environments for challenging students.

Website: www.dralexklein.com

Tune in as we expose the raw reality of the intense exhaustion of parenting an autistic child that can feel all-consuming. We dive into the common experiences of feeling overwhelmed, depleted, and "running on fumes," with a reminder that it's okay to simply be present with your child without trying to immediately strategize.

Support our mission, become a member today: patreon.com/autismwish

Today we’re happy to connect with Estates, Trusts, and Probate Attorney Adam Abramowitz. A sincere desire to help people protect their loved ones inspired Adam to focus his legal career on estate planning. He believes estate planning is an ongoing, lifelong process and he works with clients to see how each decision they make will fit into the overall picture of their long-term plan and goals. Adam is dedicated to assisting clients with all aspects of estate and trust planning, including the use of trusts for the next generation, charitable gift planning, special needs planning, disability coverage and estate and trust administration.

Website: www.steinsperling.com

Facebook @Steinsperling

In this Halloween-themed episode, we’re excited to share practical tips for creating a fun, sensory-friendly Halloween experience for autistic kids, and a special guest appearance from the newest member of our family! We’ll also talk about how Halloween might look a little different this year as we embrace these changes.

Support our mission, become a member today: patreon.com/autismwish

Today we sit down and chat with Amy McCoy, an autism parent, award winning children’s author, and disability educator. Her debut children’s novel, Little Big Sister, shares the sibling perspective of growing up with a brother who has autism. Amy combines her expertise as a former elementary school teacher with her experience of parenting a child with autism as she visits elementary schools, libraries, bookstores, and parenting groups offering interactive presentations highlighting disability acceptance. Amy lives in New York with her husband, Greg, and their children, Matthew and Kathryn, who are the inspiration for her books and her work.

Follow Amy on Facebook @AmyMcCoyChildrensAuthor and Instagram @amymccoyauthor

Snag your copy of her book at www.littlebigsisterbook.com

This episode is sponsored by Little Big Sister and Amy McCoy.

Join us as we dive into strategies for navigating hurricanes and other natural disasters with autistic children. We’ll share tips on preparing ahead, creating safety, managing sensory overload, and returning to routine, while revealing how we create a sense of adventure to bring comfort and joy during the storm.

Support our mission, become a member today: patreon.com/autismwish

Today we chat with Guy Stephens! Guy is a passionate advocate and nationally recognized expert on restraint and seclusion. In 2019, he founded the Alliance Against Seclusion and Restraint (AASR), a respected nonprofit aimed at reforming policies and practices to eliminate punitive discipline and the school-to-prison pipeline. Guy promotes trauma-informed, neurodiversity-affirming approaches and has spoken at numerous conferences and educational courses across North America. He also serves on the boards of The Arc of Maryland and PDA North America. Guy is committed to creating inclusive, safe environments by embracing neurodiversity and neuroscience to ensure equal rights for all.

Follow Guy's work at AASR at: Facebook, TikTok, X and YouTube @endseclusion and Instagram @endseclusionorg

Visit the AASR website at: www.endseclusion.org

Join us as we discuss the pros and cons of homeschooling an autistic child. We’ll cover the benefits of personalized learning, socialization challenges, and tips for creating routines and incorporating therapies to help you decide if homeschooling is right for your family.

Support our mission, become a member today: patreon.com/autismwish

Today we’re sitting down with Occupational Therapist and Pediatric Feeding Specialist Cuyler Romeo. Her extensive leadership and clinical experience are instrumental in the execution and management of Feeding Matters’ strategic initiatives. In partnership with the CEO, Jaclyn Pederson, Cuyler collaborates with constituents to identify, track, and assess innovative approaches to the PFD system of care. Cuyler also facilitates strategic partnerships with select professional associations including the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). She is currently a treating clinician in Banner-University Medical Center’s NICU and works to advance the feeding skill domain by facilitating AOTA’s mealtime Occupations: Feeding, Eating, and Swallowing Community of Practice.

Follow Cuyler and FeedingMatters on Instagram and Facebook @FeedingMatters or visit the website at www.feedingmatters.org

Take this quiz to determine if your child's feeding has any areas of concern: https://questionnaire.feedingmatters.org

On Sept. 4th a gunman who shall not be named entered Apalachee High School and ended the lives of 4 people in our community, two 14 year old students and 2 teachers. One of the two students, whose name was Mason, was autistic. Today we will discuss the incident that has put our community in national headlines and how we are processing the impact it has had on our children and the autism community. Due to the nature of the topic being discussed, this episode may not be appropriate for children.

Support Mason's Family: https://tinyurl.com/apalacheestrong