Neuroversity

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This one is about your host.  Yep, even after she said she wouldn't make this podcast about her.
It's the absolutely true story of Jessica's struggle with elephants and fear and how she saved herself from being stuck in a locked seatbelt. 
(With an assist from @autismcafe, Tobe Nwigwe, and herself)

Eileen Lamb
https://theautismcafe.com
IG and Twitter:
@theautismcafe
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/theautismcafe

Tobe Nwigwe
https://www.tobenwigwe.com
"Unfollow Me"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcGd2Es8N7U

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The next installment of the Word of the Week series is out!
WOW for this time is Dopamine
What is it?  Where does it come from?  Why do we need it?  What the heck does it have to do with neurodiversity?

Find out all this and how Jessica does her research in this episode.

Resources Used:
https://www.sciencenewsforstudents.org/article/explainer-what-dopamine
https://kids.kiddle.co/Dopamine

Hat Tip to Billy Joy
"Me and Mrs. Jones"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYOQDnWFXYI

Support this podcast with a review on Apple podcasts or check out the website for other ways to show the love.
https://www.neuroversitypod.com/

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You just never know where a slice of pizza will take you.
For me, and today's guest, it was the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
Join me as I introduce you to one of the best humans around, Carla McDonald.  This is a conversation between two moms about parenting, advocating, learning, laughing, and more.

Carla's younger son is autistic and also has PTEN Hamartoma Tumor syndrome (PHTS), which is a rare genetic condition that causes an increased risk for certain cancers, benign growths, and neurodevelopmental disorders.  As many as 20% of patients with PHTS are also autistic.  By talking about this rare genetic condition, Carla hopes to spread awareness and knowledge so that children (and adults) can get the screenings needed to help  improve their well being.

For more information about PHTS visit:
https://ptenfoundation.org/

For more information, or to support the show:
https://www.neuroversitypod.com/

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Is he neurodivergent?
Does it matter?
Is it possible for a Disney character to represent SO much?
Uh, yes.
Join Jessica for an introductory lesson on Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and how the portrayal of Bruno in the latest Disney movie, Encanto, shines an important light on the representation of neurodiversity in pop culture.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

https://www.mic.com/identity/bruno-encanto-mental-illness

https://iocdf.org/

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Get ready class, we're moving up to an intermediate level course on brain development and genetics this week at Neuroversity.

In my conversation with Dr. Kevin Pelphrey, the Harrison-Wood Jefferson Scholars Foundation Professor of Neurology at the University of Virginia Brain Institute, I begin to try and understand the history of the medical and research fields study of autism.  Dr. Pelphrey's experience as both a scientist and a parent to five children, two of which are autistic, positions him in the field of brain science as a bit of a "unicorn".  A doctor who believes and values the medical model of research and the scientific method as well as curious and open to the neurodiversity model of understanding neurodivergence.

This conversation is both very technical and highly personal as we look at the complex and intriguing reasons autism "shows up" in boys and girls.  I promise, this episode will expand your thinking, leave you curious about what the future holds, and probably confuse you just a little.  But isn't that kind of the entire point of Neuroversity?

To find out more about Dr. Pelphrey and to read his studies:
https://braininstitute.virginia.edu/kevin-pelphrey
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/autism-it-s-different-in-girls/
https://newsroom.uvahealth.com/2021/04/20/autism-develops-differently-in-girls-than-boys-new-research-suggests/
https://www.spectrumnews.org/news/profiles/kevin-pelphrey-charting-the-course-of-the-social-brain/

To find out more about Neuroversity:
https://www.neuroversitypod.com/

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In this episode of Neuroversity, Jessica talks with attorney, author, artist and advocate Haley Moss.   Diagnosed as autistic when she was three years old, Haley is passionate about disability inclusion and neurodiversity.  In our conversation today, we focus on her latest book, "Great Minds Think Differently: Neurodiversity for Lawyers and Other Professionals.  We discuss the idea of universal design and accommodations and why they are absolutely not just for the disabled.   We also try to breakdown the stereotype that neurodivergent professionals can only work in STEM.

About Haley Moss:
Haley Moss is a lawyer, neurodiversity expert, and the author of four books that guide
individuals through professional and personal challenges. She is a consultant to top corporations and nonprofits that seek her guidance in creating a diverse workplace, and a sought-after commentator on disability rights issues. The first openly autistic lawyer in Florida, Haley’s books include “Great Minds Think Differently: Neurodiversity for Lawyers and Other Professionals (ABA Book Publishing; June 2021) and “The Young Autistic Adult’s Independence Handbook”(Jessica Kingsley Publishers; November 2021). Her articles have appeared in outlets including the Washington Post, Teen Vogue, and Fast Company.

For more information on Haley visit:
https://haleymoss.com/

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Time to introduce a new series that will be added to the rotation for Neuroversity in 2022.  Word of the Week.  This will be a regularly re-occuring episode where we focus on a new word or concept that impacts neurodiverse individuals, but can also be found in anyone. 
First up, Misophonia, which literally means "hatred of sound"
What is it?  What is it not?  And how does it impact neurodiverse and neurotypical individuals?


While citing from the following resources, Jessica tries to make sense of the trouble with some sounds.

https://www.healthline.com/health/adhd/misophonia-and-adhd#The-link-between-ADHD-and-hypersensitivity

https://edgefoundation.org/small-sounds-strong-reaction-misophonia-and-adhd/

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Wouldn't it be wonderful if there was a curriculum designed to meet children where they are, recognize their strengths,  and adjust as necessary to meet the goals desired by the child and the family?  

What if educators received adequate training on a non-medical model for helping neurodiverse students reach their full potential, not the imposed expectations of an education built for neurotypicals?

I feel very Lennon saying this, but, imagine?

Meet Dr. Katrina Martin, the founder of Bridges Learning System.  After years of working within and on behalf of the education system for disabled youth, Katrina has a core belief that true education reform is urgently needed.  She contends that now is the time to remove the antiquated paradigm of educating autistic and neurodivergent students through a medical model of disability.  And in its place, she is building a social justice model of education, supporting strengths and teaching the benefits and values inherent in diverse ways of thinking. 

Dr. Martin founded Bridges Learning System with the belief that by bringing together the autistic community and those who work on their behalf we can change the world, one student, one family, and one educator at a time.

Guess we don't have to imagine anymore!
https://bridgeslearningsystem.com/
For questions or to find out more, contact Dr. Martin directly:
https://meetings.engagebay.com/KatrinaMartin

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With an admitted lack of knowledge on dyslexia, host Jessica Kidwell has a beginner's lesson on this disability with Lorraine Hightower, Certified Dyslexia Advocate and Consultant.  In this episode we discuss:

• The definition of dyslexia and its prevalence
• The signs and indicators of dyslexia in preschool aged and older children
• Steps parents should take if they suspect their child has dyslexia
• Gold standards for treatment and remediation
• How the IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) and State criteria can lead to inequity in treatment as well as an adversarial relationship with public schools
• How to best partner with your school team to advocate for your child
• The use and need for accomodations
• How dyslexia impacts adults and our society

About Lorraine Hightower:
Lorraine is a certified Dyslexia Advocate & Consultant who helps parents of children with dyslexia navigate the special education process. Working collaboratively with schools, she creates appropriate educational plans that allow children to learn and thrive. Lorraine also informs and influences education leaders, legislators, and community members on best practices for educating children with dyslexia. In 2016, she was awarded “Child Advocate of the Year'' by the Virginia Parent and Teacher Association. Lorraine holds a certificate in Special Education Advocacy from the William and Mary Law School and is a member of the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA). Lorraine’s advocacy at the state level resulted in mandated teacher training on dyslexia as well as improved reading interventions in local school districts.
https://www.lorrainehightower.com/

Resources Mentioned:
International Dyslexia Association
https://dyslexiaida.org/
Sally Shaywitz, MD
Yale Center for Dyslexia
https://dyslexia.yale.edu/
National Center for Learning Disabilities
https://www.ncld.org/

Support the podcast:
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You know that old Dean Martin song right?
"It's the Holiday Season, (the holiday season)
 So whoop dee do, and dickery dock,
 and don't forget to.....check and see if your neurodiverse friends and family are ok."
Well, that's how it SHOULD go.

This week's episode highlights the ways that holiday gatherings can be particularly stressful for neurodiverse individuals.   And looks to several #actuallyautistic and #actuallyneurodiverse advocates for helpful tips that can help everyone have a universally enjoyable holiday season.

Referenced in this episode:
Suzan Issa, Emotional Regulation and Neurodiversity Specialist for individuals and families, talks about the 80/20 concept of meeting neurodiverse needs and makes the analogy of joint wear and tear in terms of neurodiverse sensory stimulation.
https://suzanissa.com

Lauren Melissa Elzey, aka @autienelle on IG and Twitter, is an Autistic Self-Advocate and Author, provides invaluable insight and education to the #actuallyautistic community as well as allistic allies.  Her post about Thanksgiving tips was quoted in this episode and a link to the post can be found:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CWgOSJ4lHjG/

Yulika Forman, PhD, LMHC, aka @theexpertally, provides beautiful graphics that provide helpful tips for neurodiverse individuals and allies.  This episode referenced her 4S's for holiday gatherings, which can be found:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CWlJLe9Ac2m/

She has also created a free downloadable 15 page compilation of holiday tips offered by neurodivergent adults (autistic, ADHD, and other conditions). They are organized by topic and can be found:
https://www.theexpertally.com/product-page/holiday-tips-for-neurodivergent-adults

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