What happens when two veteran educators, both parents of neurodiverse children, finally sit down and tell each other the truth they have been carrying for decades?

In this deeply personal episode of Who Needs Shoes, I sit down with my mentor and friend of nearly thirty years, Mike Pipa, National Board Certified ELA teacher, building administrator, and now an Instructional Design Coach with the Capital Area School Development Association. What begins as an interview becomes something I didn't fully anticipate: a mirror. Because the story Mike has been living as a parent is not so different from the one I have been living too.

Mike takes us back to the early 1990s, when the word "autism" carried almost no roadmap with it, not for families, and certainly not for schools. He walks us through the moment a developmental pediatric psychologist, who understood his child's neural profile from the inside out, gave his family not just a diagnosis, but a direction. He speaks honestly about the grief that arrives when the parenting story you imagined has to be released, and about the breaking and remaking that follows, again and again, as you learn to see the world through your child's eyes.

And running like a thread through all of it, through thirty-seven years in classrooms, through IEP meetings and parent conferences, through his work coaching educators today, is a conviction he has never let go of: that the soul of a school is not found in its data or its compliance, but in whether every child inside it is treated as our child.

"Every child is our child. It's the system that lulls us into the falsehood that that's not true." — Mike Pipa

"I'm less interested in a diagnosis than in the person sitting in front of me."

For nearly 18 years, music therapist Tori Emery has been building spaces where neurodivergent children, their families, and people on the margins of community don't have to change to belong. In this episode of Who Needs Shoes, host Tanya Manning-Yarde, PhD sits down with Tori to explore what it actually means to meet someone exactly where they are — and what becomes possible when you do.

What We Explore:

*The Yes Space Philosophy. Tori walks us through how she designs her practice — and her life — around removing the burden of change from the child. When the environment says yes, people create, connect, and heal.

*Music as a Clinical Instrument. From the NICU to pediatric wards, Tori reads heart rate, oxygen saturation, and nonverbal cues in real time — adjusting key, tempo, and volume not by instinct alone, but by science. Hear what that level of attunement actually looks like in practice.

*The ISO Principle. One of music therapy's foundational techniques — and one of the most transferable lessons in this conversation. You don't pull someone toward healing. You start where they are.

*What Ghana Taught Her About Community. Tori traveled to Ghana and came back changed — not because of what she offered, but because of what she witnessed: a culture where music isn't a commodity or a clinical tool. It's just life. Communal, unselfconscious, and for everyone.

*LoveWorks, Maggie's Love Boxes, and the Buddy Program. How do you make love tangible? You pack a box for a child in the NICU. You create a sensory room at a church and ask families what belonging actually feels like to them — rather than assuming you already know.

*Her Closing Thought — and the One Worth Sitting With:

"There's a lot more we have in common than we think."

Whether you're a parent searching for a space where your child is celebrated, a clinician who wants to reconnect with why you started, or someone who believes that community is a form of medicine — this conversation is for you.

Find Tori:

Serenade Music Therapy: serenademt.com

Find the Show:

whoneedshoes.com | [email protected] | @whoneedshoes on Instagram

For decades, the American public school system has operated on a binary: you are either "in" the general classroom or you are "out." But my guest today, Michele Gardner, CEO of All In for Inclusive Education, suggests that physical proximity is often mistaken for actual membership.

Michele has spent her career navigating the tension between the legal machinery of special education and the human rights of the children inside it. From managing multimillion-dollar budgets to witnessing the "messy" magic of a percussion program for deaf students, she has seen firsthand how our definitions of competence can either open doors or lock them.

In this episode, we sit down to discuss:

*The "Indicators" of Belonging: Why the most profound shifts in a classroom can be felt before they are seen.

*The Dignity of Risk: Why protecting a student from failure can sometimes be its own form of exclusion.

*Adult Readiness: Moving the conversation away from whether a child is "ready" to whether the system is prepared to receive them.

It is a conversation about the evolution of teacher training, the vital expertise of parents, and the slow, often painful pace of systemic change.

Link:https://www.allinforinclusiveed.org/

In this episode, Tanya Manning-Yarde interviews Lucy Prawl, a dedicated advocate for disability rights with over three decades of experience. Lucy shares her journey from community advocacy to her current role at the PEAL Center, emphasizing the importance of integrating personal experiences with professional expertise. The conversation explores the challenges and triumphs of advocating for individuals with disabilities, the significance of family support, and the need for continuous learning and community involvement. Lucy offers valuable insights on how to empower parents and children in their advocacy journeys, highlighting the importance of resilience and adaptability in the face of challenges.

In this episode of Who Needs Shoes, host Tanya Manning-Yarde sits down with Sadiq Locus, a Drexel and Villanova-educated Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and the founder of PITT LLC (Preparing Individuals Today for Tomorrow).

Sadiq shares his powerful evolution within the field of behavior analysis—moving from an early desire to "cure" autism as an aspiring neurosurgeon to embracing a philosophy of neuro-affirmation, empathy, and family-centered care.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

*The PITT Philosophy: How Sadiq’s firm focuses on "Preparing Individuals Today for Tomorrow" through dignity and collaborative support.

*The Career Pivot: Why he traded neurosurgery for behavior analysis and how that medical foundation shapes his work today.

*Empowering Families: Why observing family dynamics is the secret to unlocking a child’s potential.

*The Reality of the Work: A candid look at the "emotional labor" involved in being a BCBA and the importance of professional work-life balance.

*Small Victories: Why the most significant breakthroughs often start with the smallest wins in communication.

Sadiq’s message is clear: when we lead with compassion and see the best in people, we don't just change behaviors—we change lives.

Connect with Sadiq Locus: Website: https://pittllc.com/ PITT LLC serves Philadelphia, Montgomery, Bucks, Northampton, and Lehigh Counties.

What happens when a high-stakes banking executive realizes the world isn't built for her son? She rebuilds the world.

In this episode of Who Needs Shoes, host Tanya Manning-Yarde, PhD, sits down with the phenomenal Nadine Wright-Arbubakrr—founder of Nassan’s Place and the New York Giants' 2025 Inspire Change Changemaker.

Nadine shares her incredible journey from the financial sector to becoming a community activist in East Orange and Newark, NJ. From securing land for a state-of-the-art sensory center to providing affordable housing for the neurodiverse community, Nadine’s story is a masterclass in resilience, advocacy, and the power of a mother’s love.

In this episode, we discuss:

*The transition from corporate life to full-time advocacy.

*The challenges of finding resources in underserved urban communities.

*How Nassan’s Place became a beacon of hope through sensory-friendly events.

*What it means to accept the journey while fighting for a better future.

About Our Guest: Nadine Wright-Arbubakrr is an award-winning advocate recently recognized by the HollyRod Foundation and the New Jersey State Budget Committee. Her work is redefining the landscape of support for families living with autism.

"I had to prove to her that I didn't belong there."

When Dr. Mary Rice-Boothe was in kindergarten, her teacher placed every Black student in the lowest reading group — without a single test. That moment fueled a 25-year career transforming equity in education, from leading transfer schools in East Harlem to founding a micro-school for neurodivergent learners.

In this episode of Who Needs Shoes, Tanya Manning-Yarde, PhD, sits down with Dr. Mary Rice-Boothe to discuss the high cost of leadership and the internal liberation required to fight for equity. From her time as a principal in East Harlem's transfer schools to founding Leading Within LLC, Dr. Mary shares why she eventually moved from giant systems to founding a micro-school for neurodivergent learners.

🎧 Subscribe to Who Needs Shoes for weekly conversations at the intersection of parenting, advocacy, and neurodiversity.

In this episode, we explore:

*The "Compliance" Trap: Why a love for learning is often mistaken for simple compliance.

*Transfer Schools: Serving as the final safety net for "over-age and under-credited" students.

*The Portfolio Approach: How measuring the "weight of a student's thoughts" creates true equity.

*The Pivot to Micro-Schools: Why intimacy and personalization are the future of education.

*Expert as Mother: Navigating the system as a parent of neurodivergent children.

🔗 CONNECT WITH DR. MARY RICE-BOOTHE:

Website: https://www.mriceboothe.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mriceboothe/

Latest Book: Navigating Power, Harnessing Possibility

👟 ABOUT WHO NEEDS SHOES:

Who Needs Shoes is a podcast for families navigating autism — built on authentic connection, advocacy, and joy. Hosted by educator and advocate Tanya Manning-Yarde, PhD, the show challenges the arbitrary rules of compliance that hold neurodivergent children back.

Websites: whoneedsshoes.com

Editorial Services: tmyediting.com

What does it mean to be the "Architect of your own Galaxy" when your world is shaped by the needs of others?

In this episode of Who Needs Shoes?, Dr. Tanya Manning-Yarde sits down with media creator, autism advocate, and son, Keith Yarde. Keith is an eighth grader with an incredible resume: five years co-hosting the Father.Son.Galaxy. YouTube Channel and Podcast, stop-motion animator, and aspiring novelist. But he also carries a "silent contract"—the unspoken pressure to be the reliable, neurotypical anchor for his family.

In this interview, Keith opens up about:

*The Anchor Mentality: Why he feels there is less room for him to make mistakes than his peers.

*Creative Refuges: How building worlds in Minecraft and Legos provides a necessary escape from an unpredictable reality.

*The "Gifted to Washout Pipeline": A startlingly mature look at why gifted students lose interest when their potential isn't nurtured.

*Gate-keeping Resources: Why knowledge about autism support is often hidden from the families who need it most.

This isn’t just a conversation about autism; it’s a deep dive into identity, the weight of expectations, and the resilience of a young creator carving out his own space.

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Welcome to the first episode of "Who Needs Shoes," a podcast and YouTube channel dedicated to building community, offering support, and finding joy in the journey of parenting with special needs.

Hosts Kerwin Yarde and Dr. Tanya Manning-Yarde share their personal experiences raising their son, Maceo, who is on the autism spectrum. They discuss their journey from the initial diagnosis to the important lessons they've learned about advocacy and education. In this episode, you'll hear the inspiring story behind the name 'Who Needs Shoes'—a symbol for breaking down barriers to learning and celebrating neurodiversity.

This is more than just a podcast; it's a safe space designed to share stories, challenge misconceptions, and remind everyone that every child, including Maceo, can succeed. Join the community!

Website: whoneedsshoes.com

IG: @WhoNeedsShoes

Editing Services: tmyediting.com