In this special 9/11 edition of Autistically Speaking, Mary Stanley tackles one of the hardest challenges for parents and educators: how to teach sensitive and neurodivergent kids about difficult world events like September 11th.

Mary explores why tragic history feels overwhelming for children with deep empathy and big emotions, and how adults can approach these conversations with kindness, honesty, and safety. Parents will learn:

How to explain complex events in clear, age-appropriate language.

How to create a safe space for questions and emotions.

Practical ways to manage overwhelm and anxiety in sensitive kids.

How to teach resilience and compassion without retraumatizing.

This episode is about more than history — it’s about raising children who can face hard truths with both courage and kindness.

🎙️ “Our kids don’t just need the facts — they need us to teach them how to carry those facts with compassion.”

In this one-hour episode of Autistically Speaking, Mary Stanley explores the life-changing question every parent faces: Should I tell my child they’re autistic? With honesty and compassion, Mary reveals how labels can either wound or empower, depending on how they’re shared. She unpacks how parents may unintentionally hinder identity through masking expectations, “fix-it” thinking, and silent grief — and offers practical tools for raising children with pride instead of shame.

“Your child doesn’t need to be less autistic. They need to be more themselves.”

As we begin 9/11 week, Home Town Heroes presents a special broadcast dedicated to faith, unity, and hope—the values that carried us through one of the darkest days in our nation’s history. Join us for a heartfelt conversation with John Petros, a true hometown hero whose life of service and strength reflects the very spirit of resilience that defines America. Together, we’ll honor the past, reflect on the present, and look toward a future built on courage, community, and hope.

week in review

Crackin’ the Spectrum – Where Neurodiversity Meets Real Life

It started with questions. Big ones.

Why do autistic voices so often get left out of their own story? Why are parents, educators, and even professionals still stuck in outdated models that don’t reflect the lived experiences of neurodiverse individuals?

That’s where Crackin’ the Spectrum comes in.

Hosted by advocates, parents, and professionals who live this every day, this podcast is a bold, honest exploration of autism and neurodiversity—through a lens of lived experience, not just textbooks. From masking and meltdowns to strengths and stimming, we go beyond the stereotypes to crack open what it really means to navigate the spectrum in today’s world.

Each episode features authentic stories, expert insights, and raw conversations that challenge assumptions, inspire understanding, and amplify the voices that matter most.

Because this isn’t about fixing people.

Crackin’ the Spectrum – Where Neurodiversity Meets Real Life

It started with questions. Big ones.

Why do autistic voices so often get left out of their own story? Why are parents, educators, and even professionals still stuck in outdated models that don’t reflect the lived experiences of neurodiverse individuals?

That’s where Crackin’ the Spectrum comes in.

Hosted by advocates, parents, and professionals who live this every day, this podcast is a bold, honest exploration of autism and neurodiversity—through a lens of lived experience, not just textbooks. From masking and meltdowns to strengths and stimming, we go beyond the stereotypes to crack open what it really means to navigate the spectrum in today’s world.

Each episode features authentic stories, expert insights, and raw conversations that challenge assumptions, inspire understanding, and amplify the voices that matter most.

Because this isn’t about fixing people.

Crackin’ the Spectrum – Where Neurodiversity Meets Real Life

It started with questions. Big ones.

Why do autistic voices so often get left out of their own story? Why are parents, educators, and even professionals still stuck in outdated models that don’t reflect the lived experiences of neurodiverse individuals?

That’s where Crackin’ the Spectrum comes in.

Hosted by advocates, parents, and professionals who live this every day, this podcast is a bold, honest exploration of autism and neurodiversity—through a lens of lived experience, not just textbooks. From masking and meltdowns to strengths and stimming, we go beyond the stereotypes to crack open what it really means to navigate the spectrum in today’s world.

Each episode features authentic stories, expert insights, and raw conversations that challenge assumptions, inspire understanding, and amplify the voices that matter most.

Because this isn’t about fixing people.

Crackin’ the Spectrum – Where Neurodiversity Meets Real Life

It started with questions. Big ones.

Why do autistic voices so often get left out of their own story? Why are parents, educators, and even professionals still stuck in outdated models that don’t reflect the lived experiences of neurodiverse individuals?

That’s where Crackin’ the Spectrum comes in.

Hosted by advocates, parents, and professionals who live this every day, this podcast is a bold, honest exploration of autism and neurodiversity—through a lens of lived experience, not just textbooks. From masking and meltdowns to strengths and stimming, we go beyond the stereotypes to crack open what it really means to navigate the spectrum in today’s world.

Each episode features authentic stories, expert insights, and raw conversations that challenge assumptions, inspire understanding, and amplify the voices that matter most.

Because this isn’t about fixing people.

Crackin’ the Spectrum – Where Neurodiversity Meets Real Life

It started with questions. Big ones.

Why do autistic voices so often get left out of their own story? Why are parents, educators, and even professionals still stuck in outdated models that don’t reflect the lived experiences of neurodiverse individuals?

That’s where Crackin’ the Spectrum comes in.

Hosted by advocates, parents, and professionals who live this every day, this podcast is a bold, honest exploration of autism and neurodiversity—through a lens of lived experience, not just textbooks. From masking and meltdowns to strengths and stimming, we go beyond the stereotypes to crack open what it really means to navigate the spectrum in today’s world.

Each episode features authentic stories, expert insights, and raw conversations that challenge assumptions, inspire understanding, and amplify the voices that matter most.

Because this isn’t about fixing people.

Crackin’ the Spectrum – Where Neurodiversity Meets Real Life

It started with questions. Big ones.

Why do autistic voices so often get left out of their own story? Why are parents, educators, and even professionals still stuck in outdated models that don’t reflect the lived experiences of neurodiverse individuals?

That’s where Crackin’ the Spectrum comes in.

Hosted by advocates, parents, and professionals who live this every day, this podcast is a bold, honest exploration of autism and neurodiversity—through a lens of lived experience, not just textbooks. From masking and meltdowns to strengths and stimming, we go beyond the stereotypes to crack open what it really means to navigate the spectrum in today’s world.

Each episode features authentic stories, expert insights, and raw conversations that challenge assumptions, inspire understanding, and amplify the voices that matter most.

Because this isn’t about fixing people.