Unmasking Social

We all know that FAPE (a Free Appropriate Public Education) is mandated; however, many families hit a wall when they haven’t memorized every procedure or navigated the maze of red tape. That’s where voices like Jenn Choi and Anne Cunningham make all the difference.

Jenn shares her story of raising two autistic children, leaving behind a successful career, and transforming her path into parent advocacy. Anne reflects on her pivot from education into advocacy, bringing her deep knowledge to empower families.

Together, they shine a light on how parents can support their children—especially teens and tweens who are navigating transitions and in need of strong advocacy within the Westchester and NYC school systems. They also deeply understand the barriers of inequity in education and continuously work on projects to ensure their ideas impact all of special education—from Regents exams to the special education funding formula.

Jenn and Anne are true firecrackers: empathetic, resourceful, and relentless in guiding families who may feel lost. They ensure that parents know their rights, find their voice, and never feel silenced in the process.

Connect with Our Guests

Follow Jenn Choi (NYC)
Facebook: Jenn Choi
Website: https://jennchoiadvocates.com/our-team/

Find Anne Cunningham (Westchester)
Podcast: Family Therapist Connections
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/family-therapist-connections-the-podcast/id1752924856
Website: https://www.advocate4students.com/

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From an early age, Savannah Archer knew something felt different. She experienced sensory overload – especially around food textures – and quickly learned the importance of advocating for what she couldn’t tolerate.

By finding the balance between following the rules and creating adaptations for herself, Savannah built a foundation of self-advocacy that has guided her ever since.

Today, she connects with people across the world through Sav’s Life Skills, empowering others to self-regulate by:

• Understanding their internal experiences
• Setting boundaries
• Coping with sensory overload
• Practicing honesty with those around them

Savannah also brings her professional background in criminal justice and trauma support into her work, creating a space where neurodivergent individuals feel seen, safe, and supported. Her ability to combine lived experience with trauma-informed practice gives her coaching and resources added depth and impact.

It’s Savannah’s authenticity – choosing to show up as her true self – that has allowed her to reach thousands of neurodivergent people worldwide. She shares openly about moments of change, including leaving a senior director role at a major company when it no longer aligned with her values.

Savannah’s story is one of resilience, self-advocacy, and the power of living authentically.

In this episode, she offers strategies, insights, and encouragement for anyone navigating sensory challenges, social expectations, and the journey toward self-acceptance.

You can follow Savannah on savslifeskills.com
and on Instagram @savvylifeskills

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YouTube: Unmasking Social: The Podcast - YouTube

Dr. Rae Stout — an audiologist with AuDHD and the mother of two autistic children — shares why Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) is so often overlooked and why early detection is crucial.

She explores how APD, when combined with AuDHD, can create an “avalanche” effect that impacts access to social connections. Dr. Rae takes us on a poignant journey through her own years of being misunderstood — from her early attempts to join the ASL community to eventually finding her tribe.

She dives deep into the common misunderstandings and missed assessments surrounding APD, helping us see its frequent overlap with dyslexia and heightened sensitivity to external stimuli.

You can find her on Instagram and Facebook under Rae Stout, or visit her website at https://www.drraestout.com/

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Livia Sarah from Liv Label Free joins me for a powerful conversation about the intersection of eating disorders and autism. We explore the books on recovery she felt called to publish for those “peeking at the finish line but not there yet,” and how her later autism diagnosis became the missing puzzle piece that explained why classic eating disorder recovery approaches didn’t work for her.

Livia shares how advocacy - through her Instagram platform and community - gave her and so many of her followers a new perspective on life. She reflects on the grounding role that depth, values, and meaning have always played in her journey.

This is a deep conversation about life, neurodivergence, and the ways we can find meaning and connection even in the struggle.

You can find Livia on
 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livlabelfree/
Website: https://www.livlabelfree.com/
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Livia-Sara/author/B0BR7YZ1XM?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=9ec3103e-9097-4a66-bfb7-1ad4b92f519c

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YouTube: Unmasking Social: The Podcast - YouTube

Sharon sits down with speech-language pathologist and creator Lauren Greenwood to explore practical, neuro-affirming ways to build social-communication confidence in kids and teens. Lauren shares the origin story of her SOCIALSPARK Conversation Picture Cards, why these portable and context-specific visual scaffolds reduce cognitive load while maximizing social attention, and how “small talk” and small moments can turn into greater connections with others. They discuss the importance of social communication skills, the challenges faced by neurodivergent individuals, and the tools and strategies that can help bridge the gap between neurodivergent and neurotypical individuals, especially teens and tweens with Autism and AuDHD.

The conversation highlights the importance of connection over perfection in social interactions and offers hope for fostering meaningful relationships in a rapidly evolving social world.

You can follow Lauren and the SOCIALSPARK curriculum on https://www.socialsparkspeech.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/socialsparkspeech/

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In this heartfelt episode of Unmasking Social, Dr. Aubrey Fine joins us to explore the powerful, therapeutic role of animals in the lives of neurodivergent individuals. From his own transformation- from a child terrified of animals to a research pioneer in animal-assisted interventions - Dr. Fine offers insight into how the four-legged and two-legged connection can foster social connection in our ND's.

Together, we unpack the science behind the human-animal bond, its impact on anxiety, social engagement, and emotional growth/ resilience, and how animals can create internal self-regulation. Dr. Fine also reminds us that while animals offer unconditional love and acceptance, their welfare must always come first.  Aubrey’s primary research interests relate to the psycho-social impact on the human-animal bond, interactions, and animal-assisted interventions, social skills training, children with ADHD, and resilience in children.

Dr. Fine is not just an author and distinguished professor and psychologist, but has also been featured in a monthly column in Dog Fancy Magazine, The Loving Bond - speaking to the human-animal bond. He has been a guest on numerous national TV and Radio Shows, including ABC, Discovery Network, KTLA, NPR, PBS, Fox, and CNN programs. His work has also been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Time Magazine, People Magazine, Allure Magazine, The London Daily Telegraph, The Associated Press, as well as The New York Times and The Los Angeles Times. Dr. Fine is on the Board of Directors of Pet Partners. He is the past chair of the
Human Animal Bond Advisory Committee for Pet Partners and the steering committee on Human-Animal Interactions for the American Veterinary Medical Association.

You can find him and follow his work on https://www.aubreyhfine.com/

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In this episode, Nancy Tarshis and I delve into the importance of seeing children as whole individuals—not just through the lens of labels.” Together, we explore the complex interplay of strengths and challenges faced by 2e and autistic children, and why it’s essential to go beyond diagnostic categories to truly understand and support them. Nancy's journey from social skills to social thinking was transformative and led her to become not only an educator but a trainer on how to authentically support social skills across schools in this country.

Nancy shares her deep clinical insight on how meaningful connection begins with knowing each student personally - what drives them, what they care about, and what they need to thrive. She emphasizes that when we empower children to identify and advocate for their own needs, we foster not only growth but self-determination.

You can find Nancy on https://www.socialthinking.com/collaborative, and you can reach her via email at [email protected]

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In this episode, Sharon Baum discusses the complexities of political conversations, especially in the context of teaching teens and tweens, particularly those with autism. She emphasizes the importance of navigating political discourse without falling into black and white thinking, advocating for the embrace of shades of gray. The conversation highlights the need for authentic discussions, the value of teachable moments, and the preparation of students for future advocacy roles. Baum encourages listeners to model open-mindedness and respect for diverse opinions, fostering an environment where innovation and understanding can thrive.

In this episode, Sharon wants you to you walk away with how important the following is: 

• Passions shape political views and should be embraced.
• Modeling open-mindedness is essential for teaching students the same level of accepting different opinions.
• Engaging in debates is healthy, nurtures understanding, and elevates perspective taking

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In this episode of Unmasking Social, host Sharon Baum speaks with journalist and disability advocate Laszlo Jajczay about his experiences with social communication, the challenges faced by neurodivergent individuals, and the importance of advocacy in the disability community.

Laszlo shares insights from his podcast, Friends with Wheels, and discusses the transition from high school to college for neurodivergent students, the current state of disability rights, and the impact of mental health on individuals with disabilities. The conversation emphasizes the need for community support and self-advocacy, as well as the importance of finding one's tribe to navigate social challenges.

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YouTube: Unmasking Social: The Podcast - YouTube

Mara McLoughlin’s journey as a twice-exceptional child shaped her passion for social communication. Personal experiences—supporting a parent with a traumatic brain injury and a partner with aphasia—deepened her commitment to helping others navigate communication challenges.

In this episode, Mara shares how her path took her from Oregon to the Navajo Nation, working in schools where she witnessed the intersection of autism and mental health. Trained in the UCLA PEERS® program, she now blends evidence-based tools with yoga-informed mindfulness, interoception, and somatic practices to support both students and parents.

With 15+ years as an SLP and 30 years as a somatic educator, Mara brings a neurodivergent-affirming, holistic approach to her work—and a vision of inclusivity as the norm, not the exception.

You can find Mara at:
IRL.com | YouTube: IRL | email: [email protected]

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