I Should Say That Out Loud

In this holiday edition of "I Should Say That Out Loud," Donna Brendel shares insights on celebrating holidays as an autistic person and in an autistic family. She discusses the challenges of gift giving, the importance of creating inclusive family traditions, and the need to balance holiday activities with the sensory needs of autistic individuals. Donna emphasizes the value of patience, creativity, and self-care during the holiday season, encouraging families to enjoy each other's company and embrace new traditions.

In this engaging conversation, Donna interviews Jackie Schuld, ATR-BC, REAT, an autistic art therapist. Jackie shares her journey into art therapy, the importance of creative expression, and her experiences living abroad. She discusses her current sabbatical, the role of art in therapy, and her upcoming book project focusing on the joys of being autistic. Jackie also reflects on three of her books that Donna is excited to dig into, including "Grief is a Mess," "Making it Through Chemotherapy," and "Therapy Private Practice." Finally, she emphasizes the significance of self-care and encouragement in the mental health field. Donna and Jackie become fast friends through this deeply introspective conversation, yet their shared joy of life shines through.

00:00 - Introduction to Jackie Schuld

Donna Brendel, a late diagnosed autistic woman, shares her struggles with expressing her thoughts and ideas out loud. She introduces her podcast, 'I Should Say That Out Loud,' as a platform for herself and others to share their thoughts and experiences. Donna discusses her inspiration from other podcasters and YouTubers, such as Taylor Heaton, Jordan Peterson, and Justin Root. She outlines her plan to create a community where people can engage with each other and share their voices. Donna invites listeners to subscribe, comment, email, and potentially be a guest on her show.

In this conversation, Autistic Friends, Donna (from USA  @IShouldSayThatOutLoud ) and Orion (from Australia  @orionkelly ) discuss how autism affects individuals physically, including the impact on self-care and the tendency to forget basic needs. They also explore the challenges of explaining special interests versus hobbies and the importance of understanding and acceptance from family and friends. The conversation highlights the need for increased awareness and understanding of autism's physical manifestations and the importance of advocating for better nutrition and overall well-being. They laugh and get serious and then laugh some more, and what better way to get through some difficult topics than with some laughter.

In this week's conversation, Donna Brendel (USA) introduces and interviews her friend from across the globe,  @orionkelly  Orion Kelly (Australia), a content creator, podcaster, author, and advocate for autism. They have a blast discussing their friendship, their experiences with autism, and the importance of sharing their stories. They also talk about their respective books and the challenges of writing and publishing. The conversation touches on themes of identity, resilience, and the power of connection. Have a laugh along with them, it's good for you!

In this episode, Donna Brendel shares her research on autism and developmental disabilities. She discusses the findings of the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network (ADDM Network) and highlights the increasing prevalence of autism in children. She also emphasizes the importance of outdoor recreation for children with disabilities and the benefits it provides for their physical and cognitive development. Donna encourages parents to get their children outside and seek support from communities like Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS), now known as The MomCo.

00:00