Uniquely Human: The Podcast

EPISODE 138

The Development of the Living and Learning Enrichment Center – An Innovative Neuro-Affirming Community, with Rachelle Vartanian.

Rachelle Vartanian is the Founder and President of the Living and Learning Enrichment Center, a community that supports neurodivergent individuals and their families in many ways. She began her journey as a special education teacher, and then as a parent, who now has as an adult son on the autism spectrum. These experiences have allowed her to clearly see the priorities that are needed to support individuals like her son and others, and she, Barry and Dave discuss her journey and her innovative center.

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Tara Phillips, a speech-language pathologist and Founder of Autism Little Learners, interviewed Barry as a prelude to Barry’s keynote address on her podcast for the Preschool Autism Summit, with more than 40,000 professionals, parents, and autistic individuals registered. As Barry was so impressed by this interview, and given that he often receives requests for more specific information about his career path, he asked Tara for permission and she graciously agreed to allow this interview to be rebroadcast on Uniquely Human: The Podcast.

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To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the publication of Neurotribes, Barry and Dave reflect back on their friendship with Steve Silberman, who passed last year, by revisiting and discussing portions of their podcast interview with Steve in the Fall of 2021, the third episode of Uniquely Human: The Podcast. Filled with humor and reflections, our goal is to express gratitude to Steve for all of his contributions and the unique human he was, and to ensure that those who did not know him develop a deep appreciation for his profound influence on changing the narrative about autism and neurodiversity.

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Spin the Spectrum is an innovative, strength-based program music and DJ program for autistic and neurodivergent individuals. Developed by speech language pathologist Courtney Willis, in collaboration with Jay Clipp, a renowned DJ, and Jah born, a Grammy award-winning producer, opportunities are provided for autistic and neurodivergent individuals to engage in music production and creative self expression. Barry and Dave chat with the Spin the Spectrum team about the development and the impact of this program.

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As a developmental pediatrician, Dr. Wendy Ross serves patients who are autistic and neurodivergent and their families, but her work goes well beyond direct clinical care. She believes in having an impact on community understanding, support and inclusion for all people with neurodevelopmental differences. Barry, Dave and Wendy discuss many of her initiatives in the community and at Jefferson Medical Center in Philadelphia, and the types of supports that truly improve quality of life for neurodivergent and autistic children and adults, and their families.

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Developmental relationship-based interventions have been around for many years, but have not received the level of attention that intervention approaches based on applied behavior analysis have received. Drs. Josh Feder and Andrea Davis, along with a number of colleagues, including Barry, are currently involved in collaborative efforts to bring greater awareness and funding to DRBI interventions. They discuss the justification and research basis for the work currently being undertaken to provide families with greater options for supporting their children’s development.

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As a mental health educational professional advocate, and as a black autistic mother of neurodivergent children, Dr. Destiny Huff brings her extensive knowledge of the law, her in depth, understanding of educational systems, and on the ground experience to her work. Destiny, Barry and Dave discuss the challenges that all parents face, but especially parents of color, in advocating for their child, while navigating the complications caused by various roles that parents may play in the process of interfacing with educational systems.

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Janeen Herskovitz has worn two hats over two decades, as a mother of an adult son and a daughter who are neurodivergent, and as a therapist and former special educator who supports families, parents and neurodivergent individuals. Initially, she took the path of attempting to cure her son and questioned if vaccinations caused her son’s autism, but then evolved into following a different path in understanding of her children’s conditions. She now uses her experiences and her training as a therapist to support others. Barry, Dave and Janeen discuss her journey.

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As a board certified cognitive specialist, author Bea Moise’s work with families and neurodivergent individuals is personally informed through her own lived experiences. Her newest book, Neurodiversity and Technology, presents clear strategies to support neurodivergent children with healthy technology use. In this high-energy discussion with Bea, we talk about neurodevelopmet, technology strategies, and how to navigate the use of tech at different times of day.

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Eric Garcia is one of the very few autistic and neurodivergent journalists on the national scene, based in Washington, DC and covering congress and the Trump administration. Barry, Dave and Eric discuss his role as an autistic journalist, and his coverage of Washington, DC politics, and current stories that impact the autistic and neurodivergent community.

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