Refrigerator Moms

America has a psychiatric care crisis — and most families are living it without knowing why. Kelley Jensen and Julianna Scott dig into their new Refrigerator Paper, Psyched Out: No Appointments Available, to answer one of the most common questions they hear: "Why haven't I heard of TMS?" The answer, it turns out, starts long before a patient ever walks into a clinic.

With only about 60,000 practicing psychiatrists in the country — and nearly half of Americans living in officially designated mental health shortage areas — access to care is shrinking just as demand explodes. Half of all lifetime mental illnesses begin by age 14, millions are entering the system earlier than ever, and a retirement wave is projected to remove tens of thousands more psychiatrists from the workforce by 2030. Meanwhile, only 5–10% of psychiatrists prescribe TMS, even though it's covered by insurance and backed by clinical evidence. The result? Medication becomes the default — including for autistic children — simply because it's the only tool most practitioners are trained to use.

Kelley and Julianna aren't just naming the problem — they're making the case for real solutions: expanding GP accreditation for TMS, loosening restrictions on psychiatric nurse practitioners, and recruiting the next generation of psychiatrists. Most importantly, they're calling on families and consumers to demand more. If you've ever been handed a prescription and wondered whether there was another option, this one's for you.

🔗 Learn More:
Website: refrigeratormoms.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/refrigeratormoms/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/refrigeratormoms
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/refrigeratormoms/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@RefrigeratorMoms

Refrigerator Moms is sponsored by Brain Performance Technologies, a specialty mental health clinic that offers neuromodulation treatments including SAINT (Stanford Accelerated Intelligent Neuromodulation Therapy) for treatment-resistant depression and major depressive disorder, as well as MeRT (Magnetic e-resonance therapy) for autistic people aged three or older. Learn more at https://brainperformancetechnologies.com

• (00:00) - Introduction & episode overview

ABA therapy is under fire — and autism families deserve the full story. Kelley Jensen and Julianna Scott dig into the federal fraud audits targeting ABA providers, with up to $600 million in improper Medicaid payments identified by the Department of Health and Human Services. They walk through how ABA earned its status as a covered benefit, how private equity exploited that coverage, and what fraudulent billing actually looks like in practice.

This episode is paired with the Refrigerator Moms paper "ABA: As Easy as ABC," which gives families a comprehensive resource for understanding and navigating ABA therapy. Kelley and Julianna share their own experiences navigating the ABA world as autism parents and give concrete steps families can take right now to vet providers, monitor therapy delivery, and protect themselves from fraud without walking away from a therapy that — done right — can still make a real difference.

Bottom line: don't throw the baby out with the bathwater. The fraud is real and it's serious, but so is the value of quality, evidence-based ABA. Your job as a parent is to be an informed, engaged consumer — and this episode tells you exactly how.

🔗 Learn More: 
Website: refrigeratormoms.com 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/refrigeratormoms/ 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/refrigeratormoms 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/refrigeratormoms/ 
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@RefrigeratorMoms

Refrigerator Moms is sponsored by Brain Performance Technologies, a specialty mental health clinic that offers neuromodulation treatments including SAINT (Stanford Accelerated Intelligent Neuromodulation Therapy) for treatment-resistant depression and major depressive disorder, as well as MeRT (Magnetic e-resonance therapy) for autistic people aged three or older. Learn more at https://brainperformancetechnologies.com

00:00 Fraud and disabled people

00:33 ABA fraud audits overview

01:12 ABA history and insurance coverage

02:00 Parents fought for ABA benefits

03:02 Sponsor: Brain Performance Technologies

03:40 Private equity enters the ABA space

04:57 Bankruptcies and billing fraud

05:34 Federal audit findings: $600M

06:36 Industry credibility takes a hit

07:08 Types of fraud: billing, credentials

08:02 Should you still pursue ABA?

08:53 Step 1: Decide if ABA fits your family

09:07 What ABA actually looks like

09:53 Range of ABA applications

10:18 Step 2: Verify provider credentials

10:47 Filing complaints with insurers

11:53 Sponsor: SAINT protocol

12:35 Step 3: Understand the therapy plan

13:19 Step 4: Research provider reputation

13:42 University programs as a resource

14:32 High therapist turnover — what to do

15:40 Step 5: Monitor therapy delivery

15:58 In-home vs. center-based therapy

16:39 Step 6: Review billing and claims

16:57 Step 7: Stay informed and advocate

17:10 Consumer power and whistleblowing

17:40 Step 8: Balance caution with access

17:54 Most ABA providers are ethical

18:03 Closing thoughts

Julianna Scott and Kelley Jensen sit down with Jean Mayer — Texas-based disability advocate, school board trustee, co-host of Moms Talk Autism, and mother of a 12-year-old autistic son — for a candid cross-generational conversation about what has and hasn't changed in the autism parenting journey. From the early days of dial-up internet and therapy waiting rooms to today's social media overwhelm and policy battles, the three moms compare experiences, swap hard-won wisdom, and get real about guilt, grief, advocacy, and the long game of raising a child with complex needs.

Key Takeaways:

• The nucleus of the autism parenting experience — love, fear, guilt, and responsibility — remains constant across generations, even as systems, language, and access points shift.
• Therapy waiting rooms once served as an unplanned but vital community hub for autism families; that informal peer connection has largely disappeared.
• Information overload today can be as harmful as the information dearth of the early 2000s; discernment and curating a small, trusted circle matters more than volume.
• Navigating a fragmented medical and educational system often turns parents into "reluctant experts" — managing treatment plans, insurance denials, and IEP meetings without a roadmap.
• Policy is the upstream driver of access: understanding the difference between school practice and actual written policy is a powerful tool for parents.
• Lived experience is inherently subjective and should not be the sole basis for policy decisions, even though it is an essential voice in advocacy.
• Transition planning for autistic young adults should remain flexible and evolving, not fixed — and parents building themselves as trusted resources (not just caretakers) is underrated advice.
• Loneliness in disability housing is a growing and underaddressed crisis; intentional community models deserve more attention.
• The coming DSM-6 changes are already creating fatigue among behavioral health professionals and uncertainty for families still building identity around shifting diagnostic criteria.
• Finding your people — even just a very small circle — is more protective and actionable than scrolling social media for answers.

🔗 Learn More: 
Website: refrigeratormoms.com 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/refrigeratormoms/ 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/refrigeratormoms 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/refrigeratormoms/ 
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@RefrigeratorMoms

Refrigerator Moms is sponsored by Brain Performance Technologies, a specialty mental health clinic that offers neuromodulation treatments including SAINT (Stanford Accelerated Intelligent Neuromodulation Therapy) for treatment-resistant depression and major depressive disorder, as well as MeRT (Magnetic e-resonance therapy) for autistic people aged three or older. Learn more at https://brainperformancetechnologies.com

00:00 Introduction & guest welcome
00:53 Jean introduces her family
01:50 From hospitality career to autism mom
04:13 Who told you to pivot careers?
06:43 The acute vs. forever reality of autism
07:23 Comparing generations of autism parents
08:34 The guilt that never erodes
08:58 Then vs. now: information dearth vs. glut
09:55 The early internet & dial-up days
10:40 The value of therapy waiting rooms
11:19 How waiting rooms built community
14:22 When connection was hard even in person
15:02 The phone problem in waiting rooms today
16:54 Safe spaces where everyone understands
17:33 Navigating today's information overload
18:03 Leaving toxic Facebook groups for Instagram
20:08 Finding your people online
21:24 Drowning in information & needing a lifeline
21:49 Lived experience vs. policy
22:34 How advocacy began with insurance denials
24:55 Policy gaps & IEP meetings in Texas
26:31 Walking in the dark: the early autism era
27:14 Autism as emerging industry
27:37 The DSM shifts & changing diagnosis
29:27 What will DSM-6 change?
30:35 How Jean's advocacy evolved step by step
33:57 The looming fear: what happens after I'm gone?
35:57 School board, lobbying & statewide impact
40:27 What the next generation of autism parents faces
41:18 Transition planning for autistic adults
42:13 Kelley's son: evolving transition & loneliness in housing
43:33 Julianna's son: independent living & losing control
45:42 Being a trusted resource vs. caretaker
47:08 Speed round begins
47:19 Greatest extravagance
47:54 When do you cry?
49:03 What do you deplore most about autism?
49:44 What have you learned to love?
50:10 What are you reading right now?
51:31 Upward Bound & Moms Talk Autism shoutout
53:31 Closing & thank you
55:27 Legal disclaimer & outro

Julianna Scott and Kelley Jensen share their candid, sometimes conflicted reactions to Netflix's Love on the Spectrum. Julianna, who watched every season, brings enthusiasm and nuance; Kelley, who watched two episodes before tapping out, brings the perspective of a parent for whom the show hits painfully close to home. Together they explore whether the show humanizes or infantilizes its cast, the tension between heartwarming moments and lived-in autism parenting reality, and the underexplored question of neurodivergent people dating neurotypical partners. They also shout out Inclusion Fusion, a Las Vegas-based social program for autistic adults that Logan from this season attends.

Key Takeaways

• Cast members who've participated largely report positive experiences and say they don't feel exploited
• The show has responded to audience feedback by adding LGBTQ+ couples and greater cultural and socioeconomic diversity over its seasons
• For autism parents, the show can be genuinely difficult to watch because it mirrors real anxieties about their child's future
• Reality TV packaging (upbeat soundtrack, quick-cut "special interest" intros) risks infantilizing its cast, even when intentions are good
• All cast members are matched with other neurodivergent people, leaving the experience of dating neurotypical partners largely unexplored
• Masking is a major, underaddressed factor in how autistic people navigate romantic relationships with neurotypical partners
• Inclusion Fusion (Las Vegas) is highlighted as a model social program offering consistent Friday-night hangouts for autistic adults -- masks off, fun first
• Breakups and long-term relationship struggles after filming rarely make it into the show's narrative
• The show sparks broader conversations about sexuality, reproduction, and long-term partnership for autistic adults
• "Flowers growing through concrete" -- the show's emotional core resonates differently depending on whether you're watching from the outside or living it

🔗 Learn More:
Website: refrigeratormoms.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/refrigeratormoms/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/refrigeratormoms
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/refrigeratormoms/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@RefrigeratorMoms

Refrigerator Moms is sponsored by Brain Performance Technologies, a specialty mental health clinic that offers neuromodulation treatments including SAINT (Stanford Accelerated Intelligent Neuromodulation Therapy) for treatment-resistant depression and major depressive disorder, as well as MeRT (Magnetic e-resonance therapy) for autistic people aged three or older. Learn more at https://brainperformancetechnologies.com

00:00 Intro
00:14 Kelley's shoutout: Inclusion Fusion
01:24 Logan and Inclusion Fusion
01:34 What Inclusion Fusion offers
02:45 Need for programs like this
03:23 Sponsor: Brain Performance Technologies
03:52 Diving into Love on the Spectrum
04:01 Reviews and audience reactions
05:34 Is the show exploitative?
06:41 Cast members' own perspectives
07:22 Showrunners listening to feedback
07:42 Kelley's take: wholesome but hard to watch
08:35 When it hits too close to home
09:25 Julianna's personal conflict watching
10:07 Fear for their children's futures
10:25 Dating, safety, and vulnerability
11:23 Breakups and real-life outcomes
12:26 Dating struggles aren't unique to autism
13:08 Not enough actionable takeaways
14:00 Sexuality and marriage on the show
14:19 Documentary vs. reality TV
14:57 Sponsor: Brain Performance Technologies
15:10 "It's so cute" -- the outsider view
16:05 Humanizing or infantilizing?
17:09 Why only neurodivergent couples?
18:19 Masking before and after commitment
19:28 Who stood out: Logan and Connor
20:27 Fan favorite couple Abbey and David broke up
21:22 Ending on a positive: the dogs
22:13 Outro and disclaimer

Julianna Scott and Kelley Jensen dig into a storyline from the hit medical drama The Pitt, where autistic character Becca is treated for a UTI and her sister Dr. Mel invokes "supported decision making." The hosts applaud the show for raising the topic — then spend the episode unpacking everything it glossed over. From the legal mechanics of conservatorship to the near-total absence of guidance around reproductive health for disabled adults, Julianna and Kelley get into the weeds so the show didn't have to. Kelley also shares the surprisingly sweet story of securing conservatorship for her own son before his 18th birthday.

Highlights

• The Pitt introduced "supported decision making" to a mainstream audience — a real legal framework worth understanding
• No state in the U.S. allows anyone to make reproductive decisions on behalf of another adult, including through conservatorship
• Conservatorship varies significantly by state and comes in different categories: financial, healthcare, and more
• Supported decision making lets the individual retain final authority while supporters explain options and consequences — but it raises many unanswered questions
• Sexual and reproductive health for disabled adults is one of the least-guided, most legally complex areas of disability care
• Conservatorship can be suspended or revoked if circumstances change — it's not necessarily permanent
• Start conversations about conservatorship and reproductive health at puberty, not at age 18
• Loop in your child's pediatrician early — documented conversations can help you advocate later
• Don't use Britney Spears as your benchmark for conservatorship — her case was extreme and atypical
• Informal supported decision making is something many autism families are already practicing without realizing it

🔗 Learn More: 
Website: refrigeratormoms.com 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/refrigeratormoms/ 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/refrigeratormoms 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/refrigeratormoms/ 
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@RefrigeratorMoms

Refrigerator Moms is sponsored by Brain Performance Technologies, a specialty mental health clinic that offers neuromodulation treatments including SAINT (Stanford Accelerated Intelligent Neuromodulation Therapy) for treatment-resistant depression and major depressive disorder, as well as MeRT (Magnetic e-resonance therapy) for autistic people aged three or older. Learn more at https://brainperformancetechnologies.com

00:00 Intro & The Pitt recap
01:09 Becca's UTI storyline explained
01:36 Sponsor: Brain Performance Technologies
02:08 More questions than answers
02:14 When representation oversimplifies
03:15 Becca's consent & boyfriend Adam
03:55 UTIs, protection & unanswered questions
04:11 Becca's living situation
05:05 Sexual health & disability: no guidance
05:28 What is supported decision-making?
05:37 What is conservatorship?
06:07 Ad: Brain Performance Technologies
07:10 Conservatorship & reproductive rights
07:56 Supported decision-making explained
08:18 Where does supported decision-making fall short?
08:34 Pregnancy, responsibility & legal gaps
09:16 Kelley's son's conservatorship story
10:47 The judge says "Granted"
11:10 When independence IS possible
11:42 Advice: don't use Britney as your benchmark
12:47 Start at puberty, not at 18
13:06 Document with your pediatrician
13:10 Julianna's son & informal supported decisions
14:23 Autonomy, complexity & The Pitt's value
15:01 Outro & disclaimer

Upward Bound by Woody Brown is getting major media buzz — a New York Times review, a spot on Jenna Bush Hager's Today Show book club — but Julianna Scott and Kelley Jensen aren't satisfied with the surface-level conversation. They dig into what makes this debut novel both powerful and complicated: its unflinching portrait of broken adult day programs, the real systemic failures facing profoundly autistic adults, and the thorny science (and ethics) of facilitated communication. They celebrate the book's important message while pushing back on the mainstream coverage that missed the bigger story.

Key Takeaways:

• Upward Bound is being celebrated as inspiration porn, but its deeper value is as a critique of broken systems for profoundly autistic adults
• Facilitated communication is a pseudoscience — studies consistently show the facilitator, not the autistic person, drives the output
• The "ideomotor effect" (think Ouija board) explains how facilitators can unconsciously influence responses without intending to
• AAC devices build independence; facilitated communication never can — and that distinction matters enormously
• Facilitated communication has a documented dark side, including cases of false abuse accusations and, in extreme cases, criminal exploitation
• The most important stories in this book are about the staffers, the systemic underfunding, and the "cliff" autistic adults fall off of after age 22 — not just Woody's individual story
• Mainstream media coverage (including the Today Show interview) failed to ask critical questions about the system the book is actually indicting
• Parents of profoundly autistic children develop remarkable communication shorthand with their kids — that's a feature, not a bug, but it's different from facilitated communication
• The book is worth reading and sharing — just go deeper than the inspiration porn framing and let it spark the harder conversations

🔗 Learn More: 
Website: refrigeratormoms.com 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/refrigeratormoms/ 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/refrigeratormoms 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/refrigeratormoms/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@RefrigeratorMoms

Refrigerator Moms is sponsored by Brain Performance Technologies, a specialty mental health clinic that offers neuromodulation treatments including SAINT (Stanford Accelerated Intelligent Neuromodulation Therapy) for treatment-resistant depression and major depressive disorder, as well as MeRT (Magnetic e-resonance therapy) for autistic people aged three or older. Learn more at https://brainperformancetechnologies.com

• (00:00) - Welcome & Autism Acceptance Month

Julianna Scott and Kelley Jensen dig into real questions posted by autism and special needs parents on social media. They tackle a mom's hurt and embarrassment when her teen's anxiety derailed his own birthday celebration, share sport and activity ideas that blend neurotypical and autistic kids without the pressure of forced socializing, unpack the root cause behind panic attacks (fear, not just breathing), and offer a frank conversation about young adult depression and burnout. They also discuss verbal loops and repetitive questioning, explaining how to decode what a child is really trying to communicate.

Key Takeaways

• When a child's anxiety disrupts a planned birthday celebration, the loss is real for both parent and child. Holding onto what went well (like a successful outing with friends) matters.
• Adjusting expectations is an ongoing process. Rather than blaming, revisit the plan together before the next event.
• "Alone together" activities like bowling, skiing, skating, or hockey let autistic kids build confidence and social connection without heavy verbal demands.
• Mixed-ability sports programs can be a gateway to lasting friendships and skills that carry into adulthood.
• Panic attacks are rooted in fear. Managing the moment is useful, but identifying and addressing the trigger is essential for reducing frequency.
• If panic attacks are frequent, consult a doctor and use behavioral tools like ABCs to track what precedes them.
• Young adult depression and burnout should be treated as a chronic condition requiring ongoing management, not a phase that will pass.
• Interventional psychiatry, SAINT, ketamine, TMS, and traditional therapy can all play a role in treating treatment-resistant depression.
• Kelley's son, who has had depression since childhood, experienced roughly 80% improvement after completing the SAINT protocol.
• Verbal loops in autistic individuals are often anxiety in disguise. Redirect toward the underlying concern rather than repeating the loop.

  00:00 Welcome & episode intro
  00:39 Q1: Birthday meltdown
  02:11 Birthdays are hard
  03:03 Adjust expectations & replanning
  03:37 Sponsor: Brain Performance Technologies
  05:05 Wackiest comment reaction
  05:45 Q2: Mixed activities for neurodiverse kids
  07:10 Kelley's sons & skating/hockey story
  08:14 "No downside to trying"
  08:29 Q3: Panic attacks in a 10-year-old
  09:24 Panic attacks are fear
  10:15 Address the trigger, not just the moment
  11:05 ABCs & seeing a doctor
  11:42 Managing vs. preventing panic attacks
  12:07 No substitute for a professional
  12:23 Sponsor: Brain Performance Technologies
  12:57 Q4: Young adult depression & burnout
  13:51 Not something amateurs should handle
  14:07 Treat depression as a chronic condition
  15:25 Interventional psychiatry & fast-acting options
  15:47 Kelley's son: SAINT treatment update
  16:55 80% improvement after SAINT
  18:01 Try all the tools
  18:34 Q5: Verbal loops & repetitive talk
  19:33 Redirect to the underlying anxiety
  20:31 Holiday loops & visualizing the plan
  21:16 OCD loops vs. autism anxiety loops
  22:13 Antecedent: find the trigger
  22:44 Sign-off & disclaimer

Kelley Jensen and Julianna Scott get personal about perfectionism — and it turns out both hosts scored high on the assessment. They unpack the difference between adaptive and maladaptive perfectionism, why autistic kids are especially prone to perfectionist thinking, and how rigid standards and fear of failure can quietly fuel anxiety, burnout, and even disordered eating. From Tiger Moms to Snowplow parents, helicopter tendencies to procrastination, this episode covers the full landscape. They close with a practical to-do list for recovering perfectionists — parents and kids alike — anchored by the mantra: don't compare, don't compete.

Key Takeaways

• Perfectionism is not a diagnosis, but it can quickly become maladaptive — leading to anxiety, depression, and burnout
• There are two types: adaptive (high standards that drive healthy achievement) and maladaptive (unrealistic standards that lead to paralysis and shame)
• Procrastination is often rooted in perfectionism — if you can't do it perfectly, you put it off
• Autistic kids are especially prone to perfectionism due to black-and-white thinking, rigidity, and identity tied to performance
• Adjusting expectations isn't the same as lowering them — "high standards" should be calibrated to what your child is actually capable of
• Snowplow and lawnmower parenting removes obstacles but leaves kids unable to handle real-world failure
• Appearance perfectionism and socially prescribed standards are fueling disordered eating, particularly in girls on the spectrum
• Parents can unintentionally reinforce perfectionism through excessive praise tied to performance outcomes
• The "what if" exercise — following a worry all the way to its logical end — is a powerful tool for anxiety and perfectionist thinking
• Core strategies: reframe failures as learning, model self-acceptance, set attainable goals, and embrace "good enough"

Website: refrigeratormoms.com 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/refrigeratormoms/ 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/refrigeratormoms Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/refrigeratormoms/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@RefrigeratorMoms

Refrigerator Moms is sponsored by Brain Performance Technologies, a specialty mental health clinic that offers neuromodulation treatments including SAINT (Stanford Accelerated Intelligent Neuromodulation Therapy) for treatment-resistant depression and major depressive disorder, as well as MeRT (Magnetic e-resonance therapy) for autistic people aged three or older. Learn more at https://brainperformancetechnologies.com

00:00 Welcome & Episode Intro
00:28 "Perfection Is the Enemy of Progress"
01:02 When Perfectionism Turns Maladaptive
01:27 Perfectionism in Autism Parenting
01:49 Taking the Perfectionism Assessments
02:49 Frost Multidimensional Scale Overview
03:11 Parental Approval & the Assessments
04:11 Kelley's Results: Adaptive Perfectionism
05:26 Julianna's Results: Maladaptive Patterns
05:35 Ad Break: Brain Performance Technologies (MeRT)
06:30 Julianna Scores — The Full Picture
07:07 Procrastination as Perfectionism
08:37 Autism Diagnosis & Letting Go of the Fantasy
09:15 High Standards vs. Impossible Standards
10:34 Rigidity, Control & Black-and-White Thinking
11:42 Self-Oriented, Other-Oriented & Social Perfectionism
13:18 Appearance Perfectionism & Disordered Eating
14:52 Autism, Rigidity & Big Problem/Small Problem
16:03 Identity, Achievement & Fear of Failure
18:25 Kids Redoing Work & Recognizing the Signs
21:19 Parenting Styles: Tiger, Lawnmower & Snowplow Moms
22:27 Ad Break: Brain Performance Technologies (SAINT)
23:42 What Would We Do? Practical Strategies
25:38 Helping a Spouse Who Doesn't See Their Perfectionism
28:08 The To-Do List for Recovering Perfectionists
34:39 Resilience, Learned Helplessness & Wrap-Up
35:22 Don't Compare, Don't Compete
35:40 Closing & Five-Star Reminder

Kelley Jensen and Julianna Scott dig into one of autism's most charged debates: language. From "nonverbal" versus "non-speaking" to the ADA's definition of disability, to person-first versus identity-first language, the hosts weigh what these distinctions actually mean in practice. They explore who benefits from these word choices, who gets left behind when semantics overshadows real advocacy, and how cultural, academic, and personal identity factors all shape the conversation. With their trademark candor, Kelley and Julianna push back on word policing while acknowledging when precision in language genuinely matters.

Key Takeaways

• "Nonverbal" vs. "non-speaking" is a meaningful distinction in research and classroom settings, but word-policing mid-conversation can derail real advocacy
• Non-speaking individuals may have full language comprehension even without speech — but that assumption shouldn't be applied universally
• The severe autism community is often sidelined when advocacy focuses on semantics rather than services
• The ADA defines disability broadly as any physical or mental impairment substantially limiting one or more major life activities
• Social Security defines disability as inability to engage in substantial gainful activity due to a medically determinable impairment lasting at least 12 months
• Disability definitions have shifted from a medical model toward a civil rights/social model over time
• "Person first" language (a child with autism) was once the standard; "identity first" (an autistic person) is now preferred by many autistic adults
• A 2023 study found autistic adults overwhelmingly preferred identity-first language, while professionals still default to person-first
• A 2024 analysis found person-first language still dominates academic and scholarly literature
• Both hosts agree: Gently correct if a word matters to you, but don't police others or make it the centerpiece of every conversation

🔗 Learn More:
Website: refrigeratormoms.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/refrigeratormoms/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/refrigeratormoms
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/refrigeratormoms/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@RefrigeratorMoms

Refrigerator Moms is sponsored by Brain Performance Technologies, a specialty mental health clinic that offers neuromodulation treatments including SAINT (Stanford Accelerated Intelligent Neuromodulation Therapy) for treatment-resistant depression and major depressive disorder, as well as MeRT (Magnetic e-resonance therapy) for autistic people aged three or older. Learn more at https://brainperformancetechnologies.com

• (00:00) - Introduction: Words & semantics in autism

Julianna Scott and Kelley Jensen tackle a concept that hits close to home for autism families: Intolerance of Uncertainty (IU) — the tendency to react negatively on emotional, cognitive, and behavioral levels to unpredictable situations. They explore how autism parenting puts this into overdrive, from diagnosis-day fears to hypervigilance and the endless "fix it" mindset. Drawing on personal stories, research, and a recommendation for The Healing Power of Resilience, they offer practical strategies: plan only 3–5 years out, measure progress in "inch stones," find joy in small moments, and treat uncertainty tolerance as a muscle you build — not a problem you solve once.

Key Takeaways

• Intolerance of uncertainty (IU) is a defined psychological tendency to react negatively to unpredictable situations — and autism parents often experience it intensely
• Autism can be an unexpected teacher: it forces a crash course in living with the unknown
• The "only until age six" therapy panic is a myth — your child is on their own trajectory
• Plan no more than 3–5 years ahead; don't catastrophize about the distant future
• Your anxiety is not invisible — your child can sense when it's contributing to theirs
• Hypervigilance is the flip side of uncertainty: constantly scanning for threats fuels more anxiety, not less
• Excessive research can actually increase anxiety — know when to turn it off
• Progress for autistic kids should be measured in "inch stones," not milestones
• Resilience is a practice, not a destination — build it like a muscle through community, connection, and self-compassion
• Look for joy in unexpected moments; small shared experiences can quiet the noise of uncertainty

🔗 Learn More: 
Website: refrigeratormoms.com 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/refrigeratormoms/ 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/refrigeratormoms 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/refrigeratormoms/ 
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@RefrigeratorMoms

Refrigerator Moms is sponsored by Brain Performance Technologies, a specialty mental health clinic that offers neuromodulation treatments including SAINT (Stanford Accelerated Intelligent Neuromodulation Therapy) for treatment-resistant depression and major depressive disorder, as well as MeRT (Magnetic e-resonance therapy) for autistic people aged three or older. Learn more at https://brainperformancetechnologies.com

• (00:00) - Introduction & IU defined