Non Linear Learning - Rethinking Education for Neurodivergent Learners

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.

We explore essential planning for parents of children with disabilities with CPA and estate attorney James Lange!

Note and disclaimer - this episode deviates from our previous episodes in that it is about financial planning and how to provide for our kids after us. Please use your usual due diligence and research before implementing these strategies. Also please note that this episode is very US-centric.

James shares his personal experience and provides valuable insights, emphasizing three critical steps: getting the child approved for SSI or SSDI, creating a special needs trust for estate planning, and optimizing taxes through Roth IRA conversions.

James offers a free book, 'Retire Secure for Parents of a Child with a Disability,' and a virtual summit for further resources and support.

Connect with James Lange at www.paytaxeslater.com and explore his book, "Retire Secure for Parents of a Child with a Disability," for more detailed guidance.

Today's episode is one of a kind - an expert leads us into incredible detail into the physical and physiological principles behind picky eating and other feeding disorders, specially in children and adults with Down syndrome.

If that sounds complex, I assure you that while it is complex, it is not complicated. Dr. Kay Toomey, in this episode talks to us about postural stability and breathing and how they relate to Feeding Delays.

I love it when an expert takes us back to the basics. We are often so busy looking for hacks to a particular issue that we lose track of the fundamentals. This episode is just that - a journey back to the very basics, so we can pick up what we missed and address the root cause of picky eating.

You can find Dr. Toomey at www.sosapproachtofeeding.com

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.

We explore the vagus nerve, your body's communication superhighway some more this week, with Dr. Navaz Habib!

Upgrading the vagus nerve is key to anti-inflammatory activity, to supporting nervous system function and mood regulation.

If you are looking to reduce your child's anxiety, to help them switch easily from fight-or-flight to rest-and-digest, here are a few ways Dr. Navaz suggests:

1. Supporting Nutrition and Gut Health [download your gut health kit here]

2. Finding your breath: Diaphragmatic breathing through your nose [Use this link to explore your breath with Dr. Vaish - she is a volunteer teacher in this breathing workshop]

You can connect with Dr. Navaz Habib at drnavazhabib.com or www.healthupgraded.com

He is the host of "The Health Upgrade Podcast" and the author of the book "Upgrade Your Vagus Nerve."

Did you know that there are almost 120,000 published papers studying Magnesium in Pubmed, and 150 of them just study Magnesium supporting hyperactivity.

Over 300 study the effects of Magnesium and sleep and over 2000 publications study Magnesium and depression and it goes on. In fact last I looked, you could type in Magnesium and ANYTHING and you'd find a study for it.

But should you do Magnesium Glycinate or Magnesium Sulfate or Magnesium Citrate?

Today's guest Laura Collinwood, Registered Nurse and Holistic Health Coach, talks to us about the importance and all-pervasiveness of Magnesium – the different types and when and why they are important.

Magnesium can be a phenomenal support for Autistic people in that it supports anxiety, hyperactivity, constipation and sleep – symptoms that often co-exist.

To know exactly what forms to use and where (a sort of bullet-point summary of this podcast) get your Magnesium Toolkit here:

https://www.drvaishsarathy.com/Magnesium

You can also reach Laura and her fantastic Magnesium Products at https://www.health-and-wisdom.com/

This is a repost of a previous episode, previously published on Jan 16, 2023

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.

In this episode, Dr. Sarathy interviews Sofi Ghassaei, a remarkable and accomplished 20-year-old Autistic Poet and Playwright.

Sofi has made significant strides in the world of literature and theater despite the slower process of spelling her thoughts to communicate.

Her work has been featured in various publications such as the 2023 poetry anthology "Di lo que quieres decir," Teen Creative magazine, and Neuroclastic.

Sofi takes us through her journey of being the first non-speaking Autistic Playwright (that I know of).

The most remarkable part of Sofi's journey in my eyes is how she took a "dare from her anxiety monster" to do this most daunting of work. Enjoy!

You can find Sofi's Play [it is her First Year Play- Anniversary!!] at this link:

https://www.youtube.com/live/bkZB8xwm4dU?si=WMV7g2uWiYNuAHf3

SKY BREATH LINK

In this episode, Vaish answers a question from a mom of a 6-year-old Autistic boy with ADHD who is experiencing some parenting struggles. We discuss why parenting parenting a child with a disability becomes challenging - and discuss 7 ways to move from swimming upstream to downstream. Send Vaish questions to be answered in future podcasts here. To get a jump start on your child's regulation (from a gut health perspective), check out my Gut Health Toolkit.

• 03:02 Swimming Against the Current
• 04:26 The 7 point checklist
• 07:15 Understanding the Reasons Behind Behavior
• 08:10 Effective Communication with the Child
• 10:30 Prioritizing Self-Care for Parents