I learned about the revolutionary concept of what I call now “unconditional teaching” from Glen Doman’s book “Teach your baby to Read”. And today I am with his grandson - Spencer Doman, the current director of Doman International. 

We discuss neuroplasticity, the role of challenge and newness in learning and immense necessity of presuming competence in children with disabilities.

Key Takeaways:

• Physical exercise, diet, challenge, newness, and love drive neuroplasticity.
• Teaching children in short, fast sessions enhances learning.
• Critiques of the Doman Method
• The importance of Family involvement

Get in Touch: 👉 Learn more about Doman International and Spencer’s work at www.domaninternational.org

 👉 Connect with Dr. Vaish Sarathy on Instagram for more updates, tips, and podcast highlights: www.instagram.com/drvaishsarathy

 

• A change in perspective is crucial for effective learning.

  What if 2025 is finally the year where we shift our perspective toward our students, our kids, our learners?   I introduce my brand-new 3-step framework for addressing learning challenges in neurodivergent students in this episode.    Once you have a different way of looking at things you can apply it to Math, Picky Eating, Behaviors and EVERYTHING!   Let's change the way our learners are educated, treated and valued.  Onward!

Guest: Dr. Mary Bove, Herbal Medicine Expert Host: Vaish Sarathy, Math and Science Teacher, Learning Strategist

This December, as I immerse myself in the Art of Living Ashram in Boone, North Carolina, training to become a breathing and meditation teacher, I’m bringing you one of our most-loved episodes to revisit!

In this encore, we explore how natural, plant-sourced herbal alternatives can support chronic challenges like attention issues, digestion, and immune health for both kids and adults.

Dr. Bove breaks down the practical applications of herbal medicine, what makes it effective, and common mistakes in its use. She also shares her favorite herbs for children under five, including:

• Fennel Seed

• Chamomile Flowers

• Lemon Balm

Tune in to discover how to integrate these herbs into teas, extracts, baths, and more to support your child’s health naturally.

Key Takeaways:

• Herbal medicine can provide safe, natural alternatives for managing chronic issues.

• Herbs like fennel seed and chamomile flowers are gentle yet effective for young children.

• Herbal remedies can be used in various forms, including teas, glycerin extracts, or even baths.

 

Get in Touch:

• Email Dr. Mary Bove: [email protected]
• Get your Free Gut Health Kit: www.functionalnutritionforkids.com/guthealth

Enjoy this episode as you settle into the season. Share your thoughts with me on Instagram @drvishasarathy, and let’s connect!

🌏 Whether you’re enjoying winter or summer, I’ll see you next week with more ways to support your child’s learning journey. Until then, take care!

 

Kathy Shean-Jones, movement specialist, specializes in helping children with neurological and physical challenges unlock their potential through the brain’s incredible ability to form new neural pathways. 

We dive deep into how movement can transform the way children learn and interact with the world around them.

Kathy shares her insights on how movement isn’t just physical—it's an essential component of learning, especially for neurodivergent learners. By creating brain-friendly environments and using movement-based strategies, she helps children overcome challenges and find their unique path to growth.

Key Takeaways:

• The connection between movement and learning for neurodivergent children.

• How to incorporate movement into everyday learning strategies to support physical and emotional regulation.

• The power of radical acceptance in facilitating a child’s growth and learning.

Get in Touch: 👉 Find Kathy Sheen-Jones and her work at Move Abilities LLC: www.moveabilities.com 👉 👉Connect with Dr. Vaish Sarathy on Instagram for more updates, tips, and podcast highlights: @drvishsarathy 👉For more resources on neurodivergent learning and education strategies, visit the website.

 

In this episode of Nonlinear Learning, I talk to Dr. Brent Hogarth, who shares his extraordinary journey from a tumultuous youth to discovering emotional regulation and self-awareness through his time living in a Buddhist monastery. Dr. Brent delves deep into the concept of the flow state—a state of consciousness where we are fully immersed, intrinsically motivated, and performing at our best.

We explore how flow is not just about peak performance but also about living in harmony, both for our children and ourselves as parents. Dr. Brent explains the neuroscience behind flow, the challenges of achieving it in today’s distraction-filled world, and the transformative role of autonomy, competence, and connection.

This conversation highlights how being in flow helps neurodivergent children thrive, empowers parents to step into radical acceptance, and fosters collaborative growth for the whole family.

Key Takeaways:

• What the flow state is and how it enhances learning and living.

• The neuroscience of flow: What happens in the brain and body.

• The importance of autonomy, competence, and connection in achieving flow.

• Common obstacles to flow, like distractions and self-consciousness, and how to overcome them.

• The four-stage cycle of flow and why struggle is a necessary part of the process.

Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or learner, I am hoping this episode will inspire you to create conditions for flow in your own life and in the lives of those you support.

Get in Touch: 👉Find Dr. Brent Hogarth’s work here. 

👉 Explore resources on mindfulness and emotional regulation: https://functionalnutritionforkids.com 👉 Stay connected: Follow us on Instagram for more tips and stories

Let's talk about the complexities of finding happiness as parents of children with disabilities.    - Find roadmaps or embrace the present? -  When are Roadmaps important? -  What are the 6 important check points before delving into Radical Acceptance?

In this episode, I talk to Dawnmarie Gaivin, a powerhouse in the world of spelled communication, about her journey raising two remarkable sons with autism and their path to becoming skilled communicators. Dawnmarie, or DM as many know her, opens up about her journey in parenting—and ultimately advocating for—her sons. DM talks about presuming competence, we dive into her work with Spellers, and she reflects on the importance of recalibrating ourselves in the face of setbacks, trusting your instincts, and keeping the bigger vision in mind. She reminds us that no matter how challenging the journey may feel, staying grounded can make all the difference.

 Spelled Communication, she tells us, is much more than a method; it’s a path to connection for individuals who’ve faced incredible communication barriers. We talk about how co-regulation, staying attuned to our kids’ sensory needs, and creating an environment of trust can help unlock their potential. 

 

Key Takeaways:

• How to recalibrate your expectations as a parent

• What mindfulness and being present brings us

• The critical importance of patience in letterboarding techniques.

• What it means to presume competence

Get In Touch:

👉Learn more about the Speller Center: https://spellers.com/

👉Watch the Spellers Documentary: www.spellersthemovie.com

👉Explore more ways for your child to thrive: https://functionalnutritionforkids.com/nonlinearlearning/

 

Guest: Elizabeth Vosseller, Founder of Growing Kids Therapy Center and I-ASC  

Host: Vaish Sarathy, Math and Science Teacher, Learning Strategist

 

This episode challenges the assumption that low cognitive skills in children with disabilities are due to a lack of intelligence. Instead, the conversation focuses on how motor skill limitations can significantly impact a child's ability to communicate and learn. 

Elizabeth Vosseller is a speech therapist and founder of S2C (Spelling to Communicate). She talks to me this week about how Motor Issues Autism can seem like cognitive disorders.For  more details visit here.

“What we observe often is the body. We can’t really observe intelligence directly.” Tune in to listen to how powerful using motor-skills appropriately can be.

Key Takeaways:

• Traditional assessments of intelligence often rely on motor skills, which can be misleading for children with motor difficulties.

• Speech itself is a fine motor skill, and difficulties with speech production can be a sign of underlying motor challenges.

• Sensory processing issues can further complicate motor skills and communication.

• Many children with disabilities, including Down syndrome and autism, experience difficulties with motor skills.

• The "least dangerous assumption" is to believe a child may be capable of more than they can currently demonstrate.

Get In Touch: 

👉Learn more about S2C at Growing Kids Therapy Center: https://growingkidstherapy.com/

👉Visit the I-ASC website: https://i-asc.org/advocacy-campaign/raise-expectations/

👉Explore a different way for your kid to learn: https://functionalnutritionforkids.com/nonlinearlearning/

 

In this episode of Nonlinear Learning, I address a listener's concern about their child's reluctance to learn.   We explores the concept of readiness to learn, learning that behaviors often misinterpreted as defiance may stem from a) communication differences, b) sensory overload, or c) a lack of emotional safety.    Tune in to learn about what a low-demand teaching environment may look like!   For a short time, I am offering a FREE Training on Building Focus regardless of so-called "readiness to learn".   You can register for the Building Focus Training here     Key Ideas:

• Learning readiness can be misunderstood by parents and educators.
• Tantrums may indicate a lack of emotional safety.
• Eye contact is not a necessary indicator of learning.
• Walking away can be a child's way of coping.

At least 5% of autistic adults may have Aphantasia - image free thinking. This number may be higher for non-speaking kids, especially with ocular apraxia. Is this a learning disability?   TJ, the creator of the popular social media account - nigh.functioning.autism, discusses their experience with visualization and image-free thinking.   Here are some key takeaways:

• Visualization and image-free thinking can vary among individuals, with some processing thoughts in text rather than mental images.
• Presuming competence and adapting teaching methods to individual students is crucial for effective learning.
• Multimodal learning, incorporating movement, touch, visuals, and music, can enhance learning and memory.

Follow TJ / Tiffany on social media for updates and more resources:  nigh.functioning.autism