Special Needs Kids Are People Too!: Recent Episodes
Amy Bodkin EdS
Welcome to the Special Needs Kids are People Too! Podcast with Amy Bodkin, EdS. Amy is an Autistic adult who also happens to be a School Psychologist turned Special Needs Consultant and Public Speaker! Amy is an Advocate for seeing every child as a person, not a diagnosis because a special needs kid is just like any other child, just more so! You can find out more about Amy’s advocacy work at AmyBodkin.com.
In this episode I am excited to share with you all that I wrote a book! It is called Special Needs Kids Are People Too! Seeing the Possibilities Through a Neurodiverse Lens.
In the week since its official release on Amazon, my book has been #1 New Releases in both Parenting Hyperactive Children and Teaching Students with Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities (ahead of Temple Grandin's new release)!
Special Needs Kids Are People Too! Seeing the Possibilities Through a Neurodiverse Lens has also appeared in the Top 100 New Releases for all new releases in the category of Education!
I've told you I wrote a book, but what is my book about? Listen to today's episode to find out! And if you have already read my book, listen to today's episode to get some insights into the outcomes of Jon, Sarah, William, Anne, Nick, Emma, and Jack!
Join us today!
Show Notes: https://amybodkin.com/podcast-episode-62
For more info about Amy Bodkin, a Special Needs Consultant for parents and professionals, visit our website:
Amy Bodkin Consulting – Seeing the Possibilities through a Neurodivergent Lens because Special Needs Kids Are People Too!
In this episode we talk all about Interoception with Whitney Whitten of Sensational Moms!
Whitney is an Occupational Therapist turned Coach who likes to encourage moms to address their own sensory needs, and it all begins with Interoception!
What is Interoception and how can it impact your home?
Join us today and find out!
Show Notes: https://amybodkin.com/podcast-episode-61
For more info about Amy Bodkin, a Special Needs Consultant for parents and professionals, visit our website:
Amy Bodkin Consulting – Seeing the Possibilities through a Neurodivergent Lens because Special Needs Kids Are People Too!
In this episode we talk about Kids and Electronics: Yes or No?
This is probably one of the biggest topics in parenting circles today whether you homeschool or not, whether your kids have a disability or not.
And it is not an easy topic to navigate because it is one that most parents haven't experienced, at least not in the same way that their kids are experiencing technology now!
What does the research really say? And what can we do to help our children remain safe and healthy?
Join me today in our episode, Kids and Electronics: Yes or No?
Show Notes: https://amybodkin.com/podcast-episode-60
For more info about Amy Bodkin, a Special Needs Consultant for parents and professionals, visit our website:
Amy Bodkin Consulting – Seeing the Possibilities through a Neurodivergent Lens because Special Needs Kids Are People Too!
This is the last episode of our Q&A series -- Q&A: All About Special Needs Homeschooling! We will have a few more episodes before we break for the season, but this will be the last in our Q&A series.
To date, I have never done an episode just on homeschooling! So today I get the opportunity to share with you all about my journey as a homeschooler and what books and resources have influenced me!
Join me today in our episode, Q&A: All About Special Needs Homeschooling!
Show Notes: https://amybodkin.com/podcast-episode-59
For more info about Amy Bodkin, a Special Needs Consultant for parents and professionals, visit our website:
Amy Bodkin Consulting – Seeing the Possibilities through a Neurodivergent Lens because Special Needs Kids Are People Too!
What are the challenges of being a neurodivergent woman? We are taking a break from our Q&A series this week to address this question!
Michelle Markman of ND Coach, Inc is my guest this week, and she works to empower high-masking, high-achieving women, particularly those who have been late-diagnosed or self-diagnosed autistic (or otherwise neurodivergent).
So what are the challenges of being a neurodivergent woman? Well, in some ways they aren't that different from the challenges of being a woman... perhaps, as we say in the podcast, "just more so!"
Join me today in our episode, The Challenges of Being a Neurodivergent Woman!
Show Notes: https://amybodkin.com/podcast-episode-58
For more info about Amy Bodkin, a Special Needs Consultant for parents and professionals, visit our website:
Amy Bodkin Consulting – Seeing the Possibilities through a Neurodivergent Lens because Special Needs Kids Are People Too!
Our next Q&A is all about ACT/SAT Testing Accommodations, a topic of great concern to those with high schoolers.
Today we will be answering important questions like: Which test should my student take? How do I apply for accommodations? What kinds of accommodations could I possibly apply for? Is there anyone who can help with this process?
You can ease your mind about ACT/SAT testing accommodations as I am including links to all the relevant information and necessary forms to apply for ACT/SAT accommodations in the Show Notes.
I am also including a link to my Boost Packet: Planning, Organizing, Documenting Your Homeschool: The Neurodivergent Way. This is a great tool to help you document along the way so applying for these accommodations will not be so overwhelming.
And if you still feel overwhelmed, you can check out my Special Needs Membership. It is a great way to get some help documenting along the way. And if you reach the high school years and still feel overwhelmed, I can walk with you through every step of the way!
Join me today as I help you chart a path towards your student's future!
Show Notes: https://amybodkin.com/podcast-episode-57
For more info about Amy Bodkin, a Special Needs Consultant for parents and professionals, visit our website:
Amy Bodkin Consulting – Seeing the Possibilities through a Neurodivergent Lens because Special Needs Kids Are People Too!
Our next Q&A is all about Misophonia, a condition where a person experiences a decreased tolerance for certain sounds. To help us understand more about Misophonia, I have asked Doctor of Audiology Rae Stout to join me!
Dr. Stout is an Autistic Audiologist that has taken a particular interest in using low gain hearing aids to help children not only cope with Misophonia but to hopefully increase their tolerance for certain sounds.
Dr. Stout speaks to the fact that exposure therapy is rarely successful, but tools like low gain hearing aids that give a child control over their auditory environment can be helpful in decreasing the severity of the child's experience with Misophonia!
I always say that if you want to find a truly exceptional professional in any field that you should look for an Autistic person with a special interest in that field, and Dr. Rea Stout does not disappoint!!
Join me today as I talk with Dr. Rae Stout about the fascinating world of sound!!
Show Notes: https://amybodkin.com/podcast-episode-56
For more info about Amy Bodkin, a Special Needs Consultant for parents and professionals, visit our website:
Amy Bodkin Consulting – Seeing the Possibilities through a Neurodivergent Lens because Special Needs Kids Are People Too!
Today is all about Primitive Reflexes! And I invited Sarah Collins of Homeschool OT to help us out as we dive into this topic!
Sarah is not just a talented OT. She is also a homeschool mom with lived experience with retained primitive reflexes!
What are primitive reflexes? Primitive reflexes are things that our bodies naturally do as babies but that we loose as we develop.
When development gets interrupted, we can end up retaining our primitive reflexes instead of loosing them, which can cause a lot of difficulties in ALL areas of development!
Join me today as I talk with Sarah about what all you need to know about primitive reflexes!
Show Notes: https://amybodkin.com/podcast-episode-55
For more info about Amy Bodkin, a Special Needs Consultant for parents and professionals, visit our website:
Amy Bodkin Consulting – Seeing the Possibilities through a Neurodivergent Lens because Special Needs Kids Are People Too!
This Is Why We Homeschool - Part 2! Last week's episode addressed some questions that could all be answered with the sentence: "This is why we homeschool!" This week I want to expound on that idea by explaining the inverse of why we homeschool!
When people ask why we homeschool, what they sometimes really want to know is, "Why don't you go to school?" Very often they are wondering why I might go to that much effort when we are surrounded by good schools.
In this episode, I share some of the stories that helped me decide that this was the best choice for our family. That doesn't mean it is the best choice for every family every year. But no matter what you choose, you need to stay vigilant!
There are horrible things that happen every year in our schools all over the United States. The only way to make sure your children stay safe and receive a quality education is to be involved--no matter what your educational choices!
Join me today and find out why we homeschool and don't go to school!
Show Notes: https://amybodkin.com/podcast-episode-54
For more info about Amy Bodkin, a Special Needs Consultant for parents and professionals, visit our website:
Amy Bodkin Consulting – Seeing the Possibilities through a Neurodivergent Lens because Special Needs Kids Are People Too!
This is why we homeschool! We are continuing our Q&A series this week, and all of the questions for today’s episode can all be answered with the sentence: "This is why we homeschool!"
There are so many things that can make life more difficult for those of us with needs that fall outside the average. Sensory processing differences can be especially challenging and even more so during puberty, a time when our sensory systems are on high alert!
How do we support our kids well? How do we teach them to support themselves? What do we do when they refuse the coping strategies we offer? How do we manage the requirements placed on us as adults while also respecting our child's differences?
Join me today to find out why we homeschool and what a difference it can make if only we have the courage to step out and go against the grain!
Show Notes: https://amybodkin.com/podcast-episode-53
For more info about Amy Bodkin, a Special Needs Consultant for parents and professionals, visit our website:
Amy Bodkin Consulting – Seeing the Possibilities through a Neurodivergent Lens because Special Needs Kids Are People Too!
We are continuing our Q&A series this week. All of the questions for today’s episode will focus on how to effectively shoulder the responsibility of advocating for others.
There is no doubt that advocating for others does place a burden on the advocate, no matter how much we love and care about the person we are advocating for.
This burden is doubly challenging for Neurodivergent parents who not only have to navigate the importance of self-care like other parents, but they also have to communicate and work within a system that is not designed for them.
So what do you do? Do you just give up? None of the parents I know would accept that as an answer! But there are some things we can do to support ourselves!
Join me today to find out the answer to these and other questions!
Show Notes: https://amybodkin.com/podcast-episode-52
For more info about Amy Bodkin, a Special Needs Consultant for parents and professionals, visit our website:
Amy Bodkin Consulting – Seeing the Possibilities through a Neurodivergent Lens because Special Needs Kids Are People Too!
We are continuing our Q&A series this week. All of the questions for today’s episode will focus on inspiring confidence in our children.
Parents wrote in asking about their struggles with helping their children to not only understand themselves but also accept themselves.
Can we help our children become more confident in themselves? If so, how?
Join me today to find out the answer to these and other questions!
Show Notes:https://amybodkin.com/podcast-episode-51
For more info about Amy Bodkin, a Special Needs Consultant for parents and professionals, visit our website:
Amy Bodkin Consulting – Seeing the Possibilities through a Neurodivergent Lens because Special Needs Kids Are People Too!
We are beginning 2024 with a series of podcast episodes on questions asked by members of my Facebook group! All of the questions for today's episode, the first episode of the new year, focus on how we can find balance.
Parents wrote in asking how they could find balance in helping their children but also enjoying their children. They asked how to find balance in setting expectations and offering accommodations.
All parents doubt themselves and worry that they are missing the mark. But finding balance is a lot like surfing. You can't analyze it. You have to feel it and make tiny corrections to compensate as you go!
Show Notes:https://amybodkin.com/podcast-episode-50
For more info about Amy Bodkin, a Special Needs Consultant for parents and professionals, visit our website:
Amy Bodkin Consulting – Seeing the Possibilities through a Neurodivergent Lens because Special Needs Kids Are People Too!
For the last episode of 2023, I felt like it was important to remind all the moms out there that you are people too!
2023 has been a hard year for many people I know (myself included), and sometimes this time of year can bring some extra stress.
Sometimes we, as moms, need a reminder that as people we also have needs that are worthy of being cared for.
As I take a brief holiday break to take care of myself, I want to encourage you to also find some ways to invest in yourself because you are worth it!
Show Notes:https://amybodkin.com/podcast-episode-49
For more info about Amy Bodkin, a Special Needs Consultant for parents and professionals, visit our website:
Amy Bodkin Consulting – Seeing the Possibilities through a Neurodivergent Lens because Special Needs Kids Are People Too!
I recorded this episode back in the spring before I got sick, and so Amanda's book, Low-Demand Parenting, has already been out for several months.
The conversation we had was quite fascinating! As it turns out, Amanda Diekman is also an Autistic adult who thinks in patterns!
I have found that when an Autistic adult who thinks in patterns writes a book, it is worth reading because it will help you understand exactly how everything fits together!
Low-Demand Amanda is no different! In this episode she provides us with a great overview of what Low-Demand Parenting is all about!
Show Notes:https://amybodkin.com/podcast-episode-48
For more info about Amy Bodkin, a Special Needs Consultant for parents and professionals, visit our website:
Amy Bodkin Consulting – Seeing the Possibilities through a Neurodivergent Lens because Special Needs Kids Are People Too!
One of the hardest things to support a child through is the hateful acts of others, especially as many children feel powerless to stand up against it.
I cannot tell you the number of times I have heard a child say, “No one cares what I think. I’m just a kid.”
This has been a tough year for my own children. One of the ways I can support them is by giving them opportunities to use their voice.
When we can express our feelings and be heard, it often keeps us from feeling so alone and can even leave us feeling empowered!
At a time when almost 60 American Universities are being investigated for Civil Rights violations towards Jewish and Muslim students, I feel that what my children have to say is not only timely but insightful.
Hanukkah this year is still a time to light a flame and shine, but it is also a year where the shadow of antisemitism is ever-present.
Happy Hanukkah, and may we all dig deep within ourselves to find the courage to stand against hate in all of its forms - but most especially with Jewish families, who are bearing the brunt of it right now.
Show Notes:https://amybodkin.com/podcast-episode-47
For more info about Amy Bodkin, a Special Needs Consultant for parents and professionals, visit our website:
Amy Bodkin Consulting – Seeing the Possibilities through a Neurodivergent Lens because Special Needs Kids Are People Too!
Join me for a wonderful talk with the author of The Christmas Menorahs, Dr. Janice Cohn, a psychotherapist in New Jersey and New York who specializes in healing trauma.
The Christmas Menorahs tells a very important story about how ordinary citizens fought back against antisemitism in Billings, Montana.
Anytime anyone is dehumanized, it puts us all at risk, but most especially the more vulnerable populations like special needs kids.
Doing one small thing might not seem like it makes much of a difference, but when we all do one small thing together, it makes a huge difference!!
Catch the rest of the conversation and learn how you can help your kids be "Upstanders" instead of bystanders!
Actionable Steps:
- Buy "The Christmas Menorahs" by Dr. Janice Cohn
- Create your own Christmas Menorah to hang in your window to fight against antisemitism.
- Join me every night starting TONIGHT at 6pm CST as I read a Hanukkah book each night December 1-16th!!
Show Notes: https://amybodkin.com/podcast-episode-46
For more info about Amy Bodkin, a Special Needs Consultant for parents and professionals, visit our website:
Amy Bodkin Consulting – Seeing the Possibilities through a Neurodivergent Lens because Special Needs Kids Are People Too!
Did you know that children with disabilities were also targeted during the Holocaust? And as such it can make learning about the Holocaust a very different experience for kids with disabilities. This topic is even more relevant today in light of recent events. What are the things we need to consider when educating our children, in general, and specifically about the Holocaust and other such events?
Show Notes: https://amybodkin.com/podcast-episode-45
For more info about Amy Bodkin, a Special Needs Consultant for parents and professionals, visit our website:
Amy Bodkin Consulting – Seeing the Possibilities through a Neurodivergent Lens because Special Needs Kids Are People Too!
I am so glad to be back doing podcasts again! I have been through a very difficult 7 months with my health, and we are still not through it yet, but I am feeling better!
So welcome back! Join me and my thoughts on health, neurodiversity, Autism, trauma, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, and Cancer.
I hope you enjoy the update and some of the thoughts that have occurred to me as I have been fighting through these health issues!
Show Notes: https://amybodkin.com/podcast-episode-44
For more info about Amy Bodkin, a Special Needs Consultant for parents and professionals, visit our website:
Amy Bodkin Consulting – Seeing the Possibilities through a Neurodivergent Lens because Special Needs Kids Are People Too!
Did you know that I will be speaking at the Educate & Rejuvenate Online Conference? It's an educational conference for parents and educators alike!
My Workshop is titled "Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, and Dysgraphia… Oh my!"
Click here to register for the conference.. you don't want to miss it!
On the podcast today I am speaking with Kelsey Sorenson, the creator of the Educate & Rejuvenate Online Conference. Kelsey started her business by creating plans for school substitutes, but since she started homeschooling her own child, she is now bringing homeschoolers and educators together to not only grow in their knowledge but also to rejuvenate with others who are passionate about education!
For more info about Amy Bodkin, a Special Needs Consultant for parents and professionals, visit our website:
Amy Bodkin Consulting – Seeing the Possibilities through a Neurodivergent Lens because Special Needs Kids Are People Too!
My family recently had the pleasure of attending Pensacon, a Comicon located in Pensacola, Florida! We love getting to attend Comicons because they are a space where we can be accepted exactly as we are! And we also get to meet a lot of other great people with whom we can “nerd out” about our favorite fandoms!
I think part of the reason the kids I work with are drawn to a lot of these stories and characters is because they are looking for a hero. And who needs a hero more than a person who is going through some difficult things? In my online Jewish Cultural History class, we were talking just the other week about how pretty much all modern day super heroes were created by Jewish writers and artists, which makes sense as the Jewish people have been through some hard stuff throughout their history!
I love having the opportunity to highlight their heroes on my podcast and when possible let them come on the podcast to meet their heroes! I’m not necessarily looking for some random celebrity guests for my podcast. I’m looking for the people that are meaningful to my students who are also good role models! I want to hear about what it is that attracts my students to this character, author, actor, artist, writer, fandom, genre, etc.
At Pensacon, I had the pleasure of being able to record a very short 5 minute podcast with Adassa who played Dolores in Encanto. Adassa is someone who has been through difficult health challenges, not unlike some of the students I work with, and I found the lessons she has taken from those experiences to be extremely powerful! I am so excited to share that brief podcast with you today, and I hope that the background noise does not make it too difficult to hear!
Shownotes:https://amybodkin.com/podcast-episode-42
In which I interview Ambre Sautter from Reshelving Alexandria, and she shares her ideas about why stories can be so meaningful to those of us that are Neurodivergent!
Shownotes: https://amybodkin.com/podcast-episode-41
Gestalt Language Processing is a hot topic right now in Speech Therapy circles, but for the rest of us, what exactly is it? Join me as we use the classic Star Trek story of Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra to understand yet another way we can work to form connections with our children!
Shownotes: https://amybodkin.com/podcast-episode-40
Meet Anthony from Living Book Press, a small family publishing company that republishes books that are out of print! Join us as we discuss how “some of the stories that we tell are not the ones that we tell actively... that we put in a book... that we put on a screen… that we put in a video game. They are the stories that we live!”
Shownotes: https://amybodkin.com/podcast-episode-39
Join me and some of the students in my Special Needs Membership as we talk with Adrienne Kress about the importance of opening ourselves up to the risk of storytelling.. and how she participates in storytelling through writing and acting. Adrienne Kress is the author of the Bendy and the Ink Machine books and others.
Shownotes: https://amybodkin.com/podcast-episode-38
Join me and some of the students in my Special Needs Membership as we talk with Laura Faye Smith about the importance of storytelling and how she participates in storytelling through acting. Laura Faye Smith is the voice of Rosalina in the Super Mario Brothers fandom and Noelle in the video game Genshin Impact.
Shownotes: https://amybodkin.com/podcast-episode-37
When I consult with families, I work within their values system. That means I work with Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Protestant, Mormon, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Jewish, Muslim, Pagan, etc. And I make it my business to be knowledgeable about resources for a wide variety of religions!
One of the things I often talk about with families during a consult is supporting kids not just physically and mentally, but also spiritually. Regardless of our chosen tradition, we ALL want our children to grow up in a positive spiritual environment.
In this episode, I share about the complicated relationship many Autistics (and others) have with religion and how it can even lead to trauma. I also share some ideas on ways that we can work to make religious spaces more neurodivergent-friendly.
Shownotes: https://amybodkin.com/podcast-episode-36
In which I get to info dump about my love of Mythology and we begin a new series on storytelling! Be sure to check out the Show Notes for links to all of the books and videos I mentioned in this episode. While it is a rather lengthy list, it is nothing compared to my personal Mythology collection!!
Shownotes: https://amybodkin.com/podcast-episode-35
Join me as I share with you all about my absolute favorite educational philosopher, Charlotte Mason, and why I think she should be your favorite too! Understanding why we choose to educate the way we do is extremely important because it helps guides us in making educational decisions that advance our goals.
Shownotes: https://amybodkin.com/podcast-episode-34
In this episode, I am joined by Amanda Owens of Illuminate Communicate about what she does as a Speech Therapist consulting with Homeschool families!
Amanda provides support for families online, but she also provides speech therapy for residents of Indiana. She is currently working on becoming a speech therapy provider for the states of Texas and Florida as well!
Shownotes: https://amybodkin.com/podcast-episode-33
Today I talked with Sarah Collins, owner of Homeschool OT, about how she supports families! Sarah does truly fantastic work consulting with families about how we can support our children in all the things they wish to do! I have actually consulted with Sarah myself, so I know she does good work putting resources into hands of parents to empower them! We also discussed a project we are working to collaborate on at A Charlotte Mason Plenary!!
Shownotes: https://amybodkin.com/podcast-episode-32
In today's episode we are talking about music education! Why do we learn music? How do we support children developing a positive relationship with music when they have different processing strengths and weaknesses? What are some resources that are available for exploring music further in your home? All this and more in this episode!
Make sure to subscribe because we will be discussing music more in the future!
Shownotes: https://amybodkin.com/podcast-episode-31
In this episode I interviewed Cynthia Herron, an Autistic Blogger and owner of Inside Our Normal!
Cynthia works to support families who may have had experiences similar to her own family! And she does so from a refreshingly realistic perspective!
Cynthia has recently create a booklet ALL about Sensory Processing Disorder, and she did a GREAT job of breaking down a very complex topic!!! It is great for parents and therapist offices alike!
Shownotes: https://amybodkin.com/podcast-episode-30
Today I talked with Julie Angstadt, Owner of Hummingbird ABA Therapy, about how, as a Neurodivergent person, she created Hummingbird ABA Therapy Center to support children in the development of self-advocacy skills and partner with kids to help them learn things that are of interest to them!
Shownotes: https://amybodkin.com/podcast-episode-29
In this episode, I talked with Kalli Clement, Owner of Perfect Blend Coffee Company, about how she provides opportunities for young adults with disabilities to not only get job training, but to also work, collect a paycheck, and find other opportunities in the community!
Shownotes: https://amybodkin.com/podcast-episode-28
In this episode, I talked with Melissa Goolsby, Owner of Across the Board Therapy Center, about how to find therapists that will honor the personhood of your child and family!
Shownotes: https://amybodkin.com/podcast-episode-27
In this episode, I talked with Kendra Booth, President of Emerald Coast Exceptional Families, about how they created a nonprofit organization to support families with exceptional needs.
Shownotes: https://amybodkin.com/podcast-episode-26
In which Jessica and I talk about the movies Encanto and Turning Red and how they relate to generational trauma.
Shownotes: https://amybodkin.com/podcast-episode-25
Join me today and hear Amber O'Neal Johnston talk about her new book that is coming out in May!!! I absolutely LOVE her message about learning to love who we are and where we come from... and how that opens us up to being able to see what is beautiful in other people!!
This is SUCH an important message for our Special Needs Families where children often struggle with appreciating themselves when they are surrounded by people who aren't like them!
AND Amber will be joining my Special Needs Membership group for some of our discussion of her new book starting in May!! To join the conversation, sign up here:
https://cmplenary.com/product/special-needs-membership/
Show Notes: https://amybodkin.com/podcast-episode-24
Does your child hate math? Is it the subject they struggle with most? Are you searching for the Special Needs Math Curriculum that will solve all of your woes?
If you want to see real progress with math, the key is not a curriculum targeting a specific learning disability.. the key is helping your child see the beauty in math and to find a curriculum that teaches the way your child learns best.
A curriculum designed for a specific disability isn't going to work because we aren't a diagnosis. We are people, which means we are all unique individuals!
Join me, a reformed math-hater, as I share some ideas about how you can adjust your approach to teaching mathematics to help your child start seeing the beauty in math and start loving it!
Show Notes: https://amybodkin.com/podcast-episode-23
Join me today as my daughter, Jessica, and I talk about the importance of internet safety, including some of the measures we have put in place over the years to protect them. Spoiler! It has not included software or guardian tech! It has mostly depended on building and maintaining a trusting relationship with our children and using that as a place to build online relationship skills. Like so many things in life, learning to communicate safely online is something that you learn as you go with the support of people who love you most!
Show Notes: https://amybodkin.com/podcast-episode-22
Join me for another episode of our series: Profiles in Personhood! Today you will get to meet my son, Austin, and learn a little more about what is important to him!
Get ready to laugh along with us as we talk about Hyperlexia, NonVerbal Learning Disability, classic video games, music, and humor! And we get to hear Austin do some of his voice impressions for us!!
Show Notes: https://amybodkin.com/podcast-episode-21
My guest today is Madison Holcomb, an Autistic adult whose work focuses on offering an Autistic perspective to families and professionals.
Madison was a recent guest speaker at SEXABA, a conference focused on the importance of thinking ahead to the needs of not only the child, but also the adult the child will become! This must include giving thought to sex education.
Oftentimes we think of sex education as this "big thing." But in reality, sex education is often just taking ideas experienced in other platonic relationships and generalizing those ideas to a sexual relationship. The problem comes when we allow unhealthy or abusive treatment in platonic relationships that then gets transferred to a more intimate and vulnerable setting.
SEXABA is definitely an attention-getting title. Most people do not put the two ideas together: sex education and Applied Behavior Analysis.
But the conference explores some very important issues that we rarely talk about. I think one of the reasons we don't talk about gender identities and sexuality within the context of ABA is because when we think of ABA we think of children.
But children grow up to be adults. We must be careful to teach our children skills that will continue to serve them and not hamper them in adulthood.
See the Show Notes at https://amybodkin.com/podcast-episode-20
The Holidays can be a very difficult time for Special Needs Families, and one of the big reasons The Holidays can be so difficult is: traditions.
Holiday Traditions are made up by a democracy of the dead. They are not designed to meet the needs of the people in your home today. The were designed for an earlier time.
Join me as we discuss ideas for "Marie Kondo-ing" your Holiday Traditions!
Show Notes: https://amybodkin.com/podcast-episode-19
Join me for the inaugural episode of our new series: Profiles in Personhood! Today you will get to meet my daughter Jessica (unedited) and learn a little more about what is important to her!
In the episode, we decided that if we were going to create an ad for her it would be: Jessica loves drawing, big hugs, and fandoms – including The Wizard of Oz, Bendy and the Ink Machine, and Five Nights at Freddie's.
If you want to see more of what Jessica puts out into the world you can find her on YouTube and Amino under the name JoyPaws!
Show Notes: https://amybodkin.com/podcast-episode-18
Often the perspectives of Autistic individuals (or individuals with other types of diagnoses) are not taken into consideration because their perspective is not well known.
This time of year there are many holidays that expose us to a perspective that also may not be well known to us. With Thanksgiving being last week, Hanukkah being this week, and Christmas coming in a few weeks, I thought it was a great opportunity to have a conversation about the importance of continuing to participate in the great adventure of learning more about our differences.
It is also an opportunity to help our children learn in our global age to not be threatened or dimenished by differences but to rather allow those experiences with differences to enlarge us.
Show Notes at: https://amybodkin.com/podcast-episode-17
ABA has been under fire from Autistic adults because the bodies that govern the field of ABA are not living up to their sacred responsibility to protect children from unethical treatment.
So what do we do with ABA? Do we advocate that every child receive ABA? Or do we say ABA is evil and should be banned? Or...is there a more nuanced approach? I believe there is!!
Join me today as we dive into what the REAL root issue is and how the educational philosophy of Charlotte Mason can help address that issue!
Show Notes: https://amybodkin.com/podcast-episode-16
Real inclusion is all about connection! It's not about having everyone in the classroom doing the exact same work. It's about helping everyone find the way that they can connect with the topic of the day best!
In this episode, I talk about how I manage this in my online classes where I teach Woodworking and Family Yoga through The Charlotte Mason Co-op.
But really, it just comes down to treating kids with respect as persons (just like you) and "minding your own mat" to allow children to work where they are at.
Join me as we talk about providing "wiggle room" so kids can connect in a way that is valuable to them!
Show Notes: https://amybodkin.com/podcast-episode-15
It's tough being a teenager, period! There are so many changes to go through, and if you add sensory processing issues to that, it can be even more difficult! Join me today as we talk about how we can show up as the adults and support our children through these changes!!
Show Notes: https://amybodkin.com/podcast-episode-14
Join me today as we talk about LOVE on the Spectrum! I will be sharing me and my daughter's perspective on the first season of the TV show, "Love on the Spectrum," and then I will be sharing some of the things that I have learned along the way about dating and relationships from an Autistic perspective!
Show Notes at: https://amybodkin.com/podcast-episode-13
I am a HUGE fan of the Teal Pumpkin Project! In fact, not only do we have a Teal Pumpkin sign in our yard, but I am also a Neighborhood Captain, which means I encourage others in my neighborhood to consider participating in the Teal Pumpkin Project!
The Teal Pumpkin Project is a great way of making sure that children with allergies feel supported on Halloween, but it is also a great way of identifying homes in your area that support accepting children just the way they are!
See the Show Notes here:
https://amybodkin.com/podcast-episode-12
I have had the privilege of knowing some pretty fantastic teachers!! But for all of us who are part of an IEP team – whether we are a teacher, parent, administrator, advocate, etc. – it is essential that we make certain that each child's IEP does what it was intended to do: guarantee children that we are prepared to provide them the support they need to grow and learn!!
Let's start taking IEP writing seriously and not just selecting from drop down menus... because Special Needs Kids are People Too!!
And if you need help, reach out! There are so many adults willing to consult and share their experiences!!
Show notes at: https://amybodkin.com/podcast-episode-11
Words are Power: The Importance of Examining the Language We Use
Have you ever wondered why I titled my podcast "Special Needs Kids are People Too" when there is a push to stop using terms like "Special Needs"? There is a reason!! Find out in this episode!
Show notes at: https://amybodkin.com/podcast-episode-10
Who gets to decide which people have value and which don't? Who gets to decide what kinds of diversity are acceptable and what kinds aren't?
What would happen to our creativity and ingenuity as a society if we prevent the existence of certain types of diversity? What happens to our well-being as a society when we choose to exclude people in our lives who are different from us? What happens in our families and our social groups when we choose to exclude members who make different choices?
Join me as we wrestle with some of the questions that have tried men's souls throughout the ages.
Let's collectively step up – and step into – the gap left by our differences!
Show notes at:
https://amybodkin.com/podcast-episode-9
specialneedskidsarepeopletoo #neurodiversity #diversity #autism #downsyndrome #livelongandprosper
Are diagnoses harmful or helpful? The answer is they can be both! Join me this week as we discuss how, like so many topics in life, the answer is often both "yes" and "no!"
Show Notes at:
https://amybodkin.com/podcast-episode-8
I had the opportunity to talk this week with Amber O'Neal Johnston from Heritage Mom - Homeschooling Children With Mirrors and Windows about diversity and neurodiversity!! This is a topic that is very important to me, and I love Amber's story and her message!
We need mirrors in our lives to reflect what is beautiful about who we are, but we also need windows into the lives of others who are different from ourselves! Learning to love and appreciate our own culture – whether that is a neurodiverse culture, a racial culture, or a religious culture – opens us up to being in a mental state where we can love and accept others in a healthy way!
But it also takes courage to face not only our deepest fears and insecurities but also the courage to "not just drink milk with others."
I have recently been reading and been inspired by John F Kennedy's book, Profiles in Courage. In Robert Kennedy's Forward discussing his brother's wisdom in the face of the Cuban Missle Crisis, he quotes Bonar Law: "There is no such thing as inevitable war. If war comes it will be from failure of human wisdom."
May we raise the next generation to grow not just in stature but also in wisdom!
Check out the show notes here:
https://amybodkin.com/podcast-episode-7
I am planting my flag on the side of ABA Reform with this episode. It's the release of our highlights reel from our ABAI symposium, Toward Applied Behavior Analysis Reform: What It Means to "Do No Harm."
Generally speaking, people don't go into a service profession hoping to hurt other people, but we do need to constantly be checking ourselves. When we look back over the long history of medicine, we can point to countless instances where harm was done out of ignorance because we don't know what we don't know.
But this does not excuse us from the responsibility of constantly challenging our previously held assumptions to see if they hold up under scrutiny. We have to start a conversation between the professional community, and the only people who can tell us how we might be causing unintentional harm: Autistic Adults.
This episode includes 5 different speakers from the Symposium titled Toward Applied Behavior Analysis Reform: What It Means to "Do No Harm" at the ABAI 2021 Convention.
- @ 4:10 - 16:00 Intro w/ Madison Holcomb (Camp Encourage)
"A Too-Short, Very Incomplete Introduction to Masking: The Practice, Effectiveness, Costs and Ethics of Performing Neurotypicality" - @ 16:00 - 22:15 Rosie Rossi (BIOS ABA Consultants, LLC)
"Checking Blind Spots: Navigating Neurotypical Standards of Social Skills as it Relates to Neurodivergent Clients" - @ 22:15 - 32:45 Katie Murray (The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, BIOS ABA Consultants)
"Current BCBA Training: What Did I Just Learn?" - @ 34:03 - 48:00 Amy Bodkin (Amy Bodkin Consulting LLC)
"Towards a More Ethical and Developmental Approach to Applied Behavior Analysis" - @ 48:00 - 59:54 Jamine Layne Dettmering (The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, BIOS ABA, National Louis University)
You can download the entire symposium audio recording as well as a PDF of each participant's slides here: amybodkin.com/podcast-episode-6
To help further reform in this field, I have created a course for professionals titled "Towards a More Ethical and Developmental Approach to Applied Behavior Analysis."The course provides up to 12 CEU Credits including 3 Ethics CEUs. Amy Bodkin Consulting LLC is an authorized BACB ACE Provider. Click here for more info.
Educate yourself and others. Share this episode and help us work together to bring about longer, happier lives for Autistics!
As Maya Angelou said, "Do the best you can until you know better, Then when you know better, do better."ABAI 2021 Convention Symposium detail page
autismacceptance #abareform #specialneedskidsarepeopletoo
**This podcast is all about healing trauma through yoga and how it was helpful in my healing journey. I also discuss common misconceptions about yoga, it's history, and it's underlying philosophy and connection to world religions and philosophies.
For show notes and resources, go to:
https://amybodkin.com/podcast-episode-5**
In this episode I discuss the specific ways we can support children to help them process trauma and move forward in a positive direction.
1) We have to reduce pressure and provide positive support.
Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs gives us a great map on how to do this. All we have to do is identify where we are and what we need to take the next step up the hierarchy!
2) We also need to give kids options for processing trauma.
**As most children do not have the advanced language skills to discuss abstract feelings and internal reactions to events, options that involve the arts and movement are best such as yoga, martial arts, art therapy, music therapy, dance therapy, etc.
For show notes and resources, go to:**
https://amybodkin.com/podcast-episode-4
**Episode 3 discusses the 2020-2021 school year, what trauma is, how trauma can impact us, and why it is so important to address and heal trauma.
For show notes, go to:
https://amybodkin.com/podcast-episode-3**
I did not receive my Autism diagnosis until my children were being diagnosed, and it took me a while to be ready to receive those diagnoses. When we did finally receive those diagnoses, we had a lot of challenges to work through—from finding the right supports for my youngest, who was also Hyperlexic, to addressing the health challenges that resulted from chronic masking and unaddressed mental health issues.
For resources mentioned in this episode, please go to:
https://amybodkin.com/episode-2-club-299-my-autism-diagnosis/
Welcome to the first episode of Special Needs Kids are People Too! My core mission is that every special needs child should be seen as a person, not a diagnosis – because a special needs kid is just like any other child, just more so!
So today I will be talking about my Autistic childhood and how it might help you see behavior in a new light.
Often, people think that the behavior of Autistics is weird or unusual, but it isn’t really if you understand how to read the behavior. In this episode, I share some snapshots from my childhood of how different behaviors may have looked unusual to those around me but actually all had very logical reasons.
You can find out more about my advocacy work at AmyBodkin.com.
And remember, Special Needs Kids are People Too!