What happens when a parent knows something is different about their child, but no one seems to listen?

In this episode of the Attention Different Podcast, Stephen Tonti and Aaron Smith sit down with 𝐋𝐢𝐬𝐚 𝐑𝐢𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫, neurodiversity consultant, special education advocate, and founder of Journey to Bloom, to discuss what it really takes to support neurodivergent children beyond a diagnosis. Drawing from her own experience raising two neurodivergent sons, Lisa shares how trusting her instincts, navigating early intervention, and learning to advocate within the education system transformed not only her children's lives but her own.

Together, they explore why early intervention matters, how parents can build the right support team, what schools often get wrong about IEPs and 504 plans, and why neurodiversity should be understood through a strengths-based lens rather than a deficit model. The conversation also dives into masking, burnout, radical acceptance, and how creating environments where children can authentically be themselves leads to better outcomes for everyone.

✨Highlights✨

✔️ Why trusting your parental instincts can make all the difference.

✔️ What early intervention really is and how families can access it.

✔️ The differences between IEPs and 504 plans.

✔️ How to advocate effectively during school meetings.

✔️ Why "fixing" neurodivergent children is the wrong goal.

✔️ What radical acceptance looks like in parenting and education.

✔️ How masking develops and why authentic self-expression matters.

✔️ Practical strategies for building a support team around your child.

“𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑔𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑠𝑡 𝑔𝑖𝑓𝑡 𝐼'𝑣𝑒 𝑔𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑛 𝑚𝑦 𝑘𝑖𝑑𝑠 𝑖𝑠 𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑜𝑤𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑚 𝑡𝑜 𝑏𝑒 𝑎𝑢𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑦 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑚𝑠𝑒𝑙𝑣𝑒𝑠, 𝑛𝑜 𝑚𝑎𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑤ℎ𝑎𝑡.” —𝐋𝐢𝐬𝐚 𝐑𝐢𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫

Whether you're a parent, educator, clinician, or neurodivergent adult, this conversation offers practical guidance, validation, and hope for creating environments where every child has the opportunity to thrive.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺:

• Hosts: Stephen Tonti, Aaron Smith & Devin Pitts-Rogers
• Producer: David Grabowski
• Editors: Ian Lopez & Luis Paulo de la Fuente
• Sound Mix & Theme Music: David Grabowski

𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 Lisa Richer:

• Website: journey2bloom.com/
• LinkedIn: Search Lisa Richer

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We are Attention DIFFERENT not DEFICIT An advocacy and edutainment podcast centered on radical acceptance and neurodiveristy. Attention Different aims to de-stigmatize and build community by exploring the intricacies of living life and "adulting" with ADHD in the modern world. We periodically feature experts, special guests and influencers in the ADHD community.

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