Non Linear Learning

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

 

Let's explore the critical balance between life skills, independent living, and education for children with disabilities.   The importance of academic learning in building logical and critical thinking, as well as emotional regulation is often ignored or trivialized in the lives of children with a disability.    If your school team is focusing on life skills at the expense of education,   If you find yourself asking what about independece, what about college, this is the right discussion for you!

In this episode, we address a crucial and often daunting question for parents of children with disabilities: 

How will my child be supported when I am no longer around? 

Many of us, as parents, carry the weight of this question, wondering about our children’s future in our absence. Today, my guest Sangeetha Chakrapani offers a powerful and hopeful answer.

Sangeetha is the founder trustee of Together Foundation in Mumbai and co-founder of the Together Community, a residential project for adults with disabilities located in Hosur, Greater Bengaluru. She is also a mother to two autistic adults and two neurotypical adults. With vast experience managing teaching programs, vocational training, and life skills development, Sangeetha brings a wealth of knowledge on how to create thriving, supportive environments for neurodivergent individuals. She is also the author of Autie Tales: Interactive Stories for People with Autism and has earned certifications in integrated education, counseling, and young adults' programs.

 

Tune in to hear more about:

- Building sustainable, supportive living communities for adults with disabilities.

- The vision behind the Together Community and how it addresses the needs of both individuals with disabilities and their families.

If you are exploring future care options for your child with disabilities or considering community-based living models, this episode will provide you with insights, hope, and a path forward.

 

Key Takeaways

- Focusing on building a community that ensures care and growth for your child after you are no longer there.

- How vocational training and life skills programs create independence and fulfillment for neurodivergent adults.

- The importance of parental vision and community collaboration in shaping the future for individuals with disabilities.

You can reach out to Sangeetha at [email protected]

You can find the Together Foundation at https://togetherfoundationtrust.org/

And the Together Community at https://togetherfoundationtrust.org/group-home/

If you have struggled with making a neurotypical math curriculum work for your child with disabilities, whether Down Syndrome or Autism or other disabilities that impact their sensory-motor profile,

If you have a child who communicates via AAC, or is an unreliable speaker, or a Speller - perhaps they use RPM or S2C,

you may find that either "regular" Math is not available to your child, or not accessible.

In this episode, Lisa Mihalich Quinn and I have a hard but necessary conversation on the gaps in special ed, and what needs to happen to make academics accessible for ALL STUDENTS!

Lisa has been doing this for years, and is one of the leaders in accessible academics for students with disabilities. She is also a huge advocate for non-speakers who spell / type to communicate. 

Key Topics Discussed:

- Presuming competence in non-speaking and minimally speaking autistic students

- The role of assistive technology in promoting communication and learning

- Creating inclusive classrooms through collaboration between parents, educators, and students

- Communication for Education training and its impact on global educators

Connect with Lisa: You can learn more about Lisa Mihalich Quinn’s work and the Communication for Education program at https://reacheveryvoice.com

You can find Lisa's Accessible Academics program HERE. 

In the 50th episode of Functional Nutrition and Learning for Kids, one of my favorite thought leaders, Soma Mukhopadhyay, talks to us about:

-how learning channels determine teaching

-the 4 goals of RPM - not just information download - but cognition, sensory, tolerance and communication goals. 

-the importance of a sensory map when working with a child (as opposed to a label) If you are interested in helping your child jump start their learning and sensory goals, I highly recommend checking out RPM.

Disclaimer: The information in this Podcast is for educational purposes only. Vaishnavi Sarathy, Ph.D. is an educator, not a doctor, specifically not your child’s doctor. Please consult your physician before implementing any supplement or diet recommendations.

PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance) (now being reframed as Pervasive Demand for Autonomy) is a profile on the Autism Spectrum characterized by a heightened sensitivity of the nervous system that becomes activated when a person experiences a loss of autonomy or equality. 

Did you know that 70% of learners with PDA are not able to participate in traditional school settings?

In this episode, we dive into with early childhood mental health consultant and therapist Jessica Hanzo. Jessica sheds light on how PDA differs from typical demand avoidance due to its pervasive impact on the nervous system, making it challenging for individuals to access even their basic needs.

Our conversation explores:

- Why a child’s demand avoidance is NOT a parental failure. 

- The external manifestations of PDA and how they can be misinterpreted.

- How to support parents, educators, and caregivers when supporting children with PDA.

- Low Demand Parenting, and how it can help your child

Jessica emphasizes the importance of reframing PDA behaviors as a response to feeling unsafe and highlights the value of understanding the nervous system, cultivating curiosity, and embracing creativity when working with these children.

You can connect with Jessica Hanzo on Instagram @pda.project or find her at https://pdaproject.com/ and explore more of her insights on supporting neurodivergent children through a neurodiversity-affirming and trauma-informed approach.

 

Links mentioned in the podcast: https://www.pdasociety.org.uk/

https://pdaproject.com/ 

 

In this episode of "Non-Linear Learning," Dr. Vaish Sarathy answers a mother’s question about supporting her 10-year-old autistic son with ADHD, who struggles with anger and behaviors at school.

Dr. Vaish dives deep into the roots of dysregulation, discussing how stress—sensory, biochemical, and communication-related—can drive behaviors often mistaken for misbehavior.

Learn about the vital role of understanding and addressing your child’s stressors before turning to nutritional and supplemental interventions. 

This episode offers a compassionate, science-backed approach to helping your child thrive.

Takeaways: 

• Behavior is the body's response to stress, not intentional misbehavior.
• Understanding the root cause of a child's behavior is crucial for effective support.
• Addressing sensory overload, gut health, and communication needs can help reduce stress and improve behavior.
• The role of nutritional supplements in addressing behavior

“Yoga isn’t just about stretching; it’s about finding balance in every aspect of life.”

In this heartfelt episode, Fiji McAlpine, a dedicated yoga teacher and mother to an autistic child, shares her transformative journey with yoga and its profound impact on parenting. Fiji opens up about how yoga has been a guiding light, helping her navigate the ups and downs of parenting with patience, openness, and acceptance. 

Discover how yoga’s calming techniques and the practice of co-regulation have helped Fiji create a grounding presence for both herself and her child. Through mindfulness and a regular yoga routine, she’s found ways to manage stress, reclaim her time, and foster a positive environment for her family.

 

Tune in to learn:

- The role of yoga in enhancing patience and acceptance in parenting

- How co-regulation and mindfulness can transform the parenting experience

- Practical tips for integrating yoga into your daily routine to support your family

 

Connect with Fiji at www.fijimcalpine.com

Fiji has also created a code for listeners that gives them full access to thousands of classes, meditations, programs etc. You can access her programs here.

How does intelligence work again? We don’t know. But we do know the ONE technique, the ONE process that can help your child (and you) develop nuanced thinking skills, critical thought, an engaged mind, and an active brain - things we regard as intelligence. 

It is widely known in all circles, with all cognitive experts, AND even with employers to help build engagement in their companies, but the people that should be using these - TEACHERS, and PARENTS don’t often use this. 

In this episode, Dr. Vaish Sarathy tells you exactly what to do to build your student’s complex thinking skills. 

If you want to explore how lesson plans may look for you with this idea, please DM Vaish at www.instagram.com/drvaishsarathy 

You can also access her free ebook on Learning Strategies that Actually Work here. 

If your child struggles with anxiety, aggression, seizure or even sleep issues, how many times have you had someone advice you - “Have you tried CBD”? Every time I hear this, I wonder how CBD can be the answer to EVERY problem?

It turns out, it is quite possible.

Dr. Julie Buckley makes her second appearance on Episode 93 of Functional Nutrition and Learning for Kids in this fantastic deep dive into CBD and how to get started for your child!

I learned 3 important things:

1. Pure CBD (without terpenes, without THC) is not a sedative or psychoactive
2. It is all about the dose
3. Water soluble CBD is the way to go.

You can reach Dr. Buckley at www.HealthyUstore.org

If you loved this episode, please share your rating at www.ratethispodcast.com/vaish

Disclaimer: This is not medical advice. It is meant for educational purposes only. Please consult your doctor before making supplement changes for your child.