How do you successfully reconcile and find the middle between family members with sensory, dietary, emotional profiles on opposite sides of the fight/flight vs freeze Neuro-biodiversity scale?? We've spent 10 years researching this very topic and finally this year managed to pull all the pieces together to create a Happy Holiday experience for everyone.

Follow Blake's journey on TikTok at @blakefertig

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ADHD and Autism Dad's Group (Private)
You Don't Sound Autistic (YDSA)

Intuitively, we know when we're struggling with mental, physical or emotional aspects of life and when we don't have the words (or diagnosis) to explain the details to friends and family. Sometimes, we invent terms like Blake did when he said he had a Selective Learning Disorder as a kid as an attempt to explain his teacher's scoldings over his behavior, attention span and chattiness to his mother. We also explore Rachelle's curiosity in the same realm after discovering many of her habits might fit with focus and sensory issues. Blake and Rachelle take an online ADHD screening test and compare results to Blake's diagnosis of ADHD.

Follow Blake's journey on TikTok at @blakefertig

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ADHD and Autism Dad's Group (Private)
You Don't Sound Autistic (YDSA)

Not only do women live in a highly interuptable environment when raising kids but today, there are still millions of women living with undiagnosed, unrecognized and unsupported neurodiversity. We dig deeper into the complex social and emotional ways that mirroring and masking can unintentionally keep women from discovering their true mental health owners manual for life.

Follow Blake's journey on TikTok at @blakefertig

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ADHD and Autism Dad's Group (Private)
You Don't Sound Autistic (YDSA)

We're back from a two-week marathon of transitions, transitions and more transitions that led to some exciting breakthrough's and transformations. During this week we also journey back to the start of our relationship 10 years ago, before we had any idea Autism, ADHD, Anxiety, Depression or Hyper Empathy were part of our relationship dynamics and we examine the transitions, strategies, obstacles and friendship that led to where we are today.

Follow Blake's journey on TikTok at @blakefertig

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ADHD and Autism Dad's Group (Private)
You Don't Sound Autistic (YDSA)

This week we adventure out to a family breakfast and get served with a double platter of public meltdowns. Reflecting on our experiences prior to Blake's ASD diagnosis, we breakdown the similarities and differences in meltdowns for Dad and Son and provide multi-generational strategies for Neurodivergent families.

Follow Blake's journey on TikTok at @blakefertig

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ADHD and Autism Dad's Group (Private)
You Don't Sound Autistic (YDSA)

This week we review the process and results of our son's evaluation and eligibility process for creating a preschool IEP (Individual Education Plan). Taking a step farther, we answer critical questions to distinguish medical and educational evaluations that every parent or caregiver of a child with ASD or Neurodiversity needs to know.

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ADHD and Autism Dad's Group (Private)
You Don't Sound Autistic (YDSA)

A MUST-LISTEN EPISODE for EVERYONE, Neurodivergent or Neurotypical. Emotional Regulation is not an easy task for neurodivergent individuals. Blake opens up about a recent conversation with friend and shares the deeply crushing impact of her ignorance when she brushed off and flat out denied belief that Blake has ASD. Listen in and make sure you don't cause the same emotional harm to another person. 

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ADHD and Autism Dad's Group (Private)
You Don't Sound Autistic (YDSA)

Today we venture out to the Georgia Aquarium putting our sensory parenting to the test to maximize enjoyment and mitigate sensory overload, meltdown and shutdown potential for autistic Dad and Son. Together we learn about mammalian "mimicking" from the dolphin show and compare that neuro-biodiverse "mirroring" social go-to's. Finally, inspired by a visit to the ENT to retest hearing and smelling sensory nerve function post-COVID for the little one, we explore olfactory nerve support like Lavender and discuss it's potentially helpful role in downregulating autistic and neuro-biodiverse individuals. Tune in as we find the humor and realities of life on the neuro-biodiversity scale. 

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ADHD and Autism Dad's Group (Private)
You Don't Sound Autistic (YDSA)

Ooh! That sounds fun! Let's try something new with our autistic son and adventure out into a crowded area with loud kids and no real plan for the day. Can we pull this off without us all falling into a meltdown? We quickly learned the concept and value of a "Frame of Reference" when we didn't have one in place for picking apples. After spending the day in the apple orchard, we delve into colors and foods, sensory experiences and the challenges of managing colors, colorful foods and colors that trigger sensory overstimulation. We put the color red to the test because red is usually our arch nemeses and a guaranteed meltdown. We discovered that red didn't hurt us too much when experienced outside in nature and outside of the confines of a structured compliant day of school. Eating a variety of foods and managing an influx of sensory input are both real struggles in Neurodiverse households and we explore the landscape of both. 

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ADHD and Autism Dad's Group (Private)
You Don't Sound Autistic (YDSA)

Watch the day unfold as we adventure out to pick apples for the first time!
You Don't Sound Autistic - A Day at the Orchard