The Autism Dadvocate Podcast: Recent Episodes
Paul Carroll
In this podcast, Paul Carroll, Creator & Founder of AutismDadvocate.org, discusses topics that truly matter to fathers of autistic children.
Yep, we’re going there, going deep into the pure messiness of being the father of an autistic child. In this solo podcast, Paul goes deep and vulnerably into all the areas where fathers are challenged, particularly with all the different roles that these amazing Dads play every day.
Paul discusses the following roles:
- Surprise, surprise! you’re a human being first before your role as a Dad
- Okay, let’s now discuss your role as a father
- Your role as spouse / partner
- Your role as a friend (and supportive Dadvocate)
In this podcast, Paul interviews Susanna Lovell, Life Coach and author of the recently-released book - Your True Self Is Enough: Lessons Learned on My Journey Parenting a Child with Autism". Susanna shares her journey of navigating through the worry and heartbreak of raising a special needs child. She ultimately finds her true life calling: to help other parents find and realize joy and passion in their own lives. Episode outline: Paul and Susanna discuss the following: * Susanna's journey as a single mom * Susanna's struggle with postpartum depression and anxiety * Her daughter's autism diagnosis and co-morbidities * How our culture treats families with disabilities * Susanna's life lessons on self-care as a parent
In thisepisode, Paul interviews Manisha Lad, who is the Founder of The Sensory Pathway Center in New Jersey. Just in time for Mother's Day, Manisha shares her journey as the mother of an autistic son, and how it propelled her to found her own non-profit to help other moms (and Dads) on their autism journeys.
Paul and Manisha discuss the following:
- Akhil' s diagnosis at a very young age
- What Manisha learned about Akhil and his autism
- Akhil’s broken silence: a new journey begins
- Managing emotions and remaining positive during difficult times
- How Akhil's insights helped Manisha find even more interventions
- Akhil's journey to college
Within the autism community, parents often navigate the complex comorbidities associated with autism, including mental health issues.
The latest Autism Dadvocate podcast shares one father’s journey with autism, love and ultimately - grief. My guest is this episode is Robert Hubbard, whose latest book - Scenes with my Son - shares his courageous story.
Paul and Robert discuss the following:
- Robert's journey as a father with his son's autism diagnosis
- How Auggie's autism progressed as a child and as a teenager
- Auggie's comorbidity with mental health
- Robert's personal journey with faith
Burnout...........we hear this term everywhere…….office workers, nurses, teachers, police officers, working Moms… but is the phenomena of burnout different for parents with autistic kids?
The answer may surprise you (and it’s a resounding yes).
Within the autism community, parents navigate therapy appointments, IEP meetings, endless calls with health insurance companies, meltdowns, special diet needs, and creating a sensory-safe environment for their kids.
In this episode, Paul discusses burnout with Christopher MacLellan, CEO of the Whole Care Network – an organization dedicated to promoting care and support to families or anyone in a caregiving role.
Paul & Christopher discuss the following
-Why addressing burnout matters
-The impacts of burnout if not addressed
-Strategies and tips for minimizing burnout
-Manageable self-care tips that don’t take lot of time or money
Our current US Surgeon General – Vivek Murthy – recently stated that loneliness in the U.S has become epidemic, and is as detrimental to your health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.
Within the autism community, this isolation is particularly pervasive amongst fathers of children on the spectrum……
In this episode, Paul and Andrew Horn, CEO of Tribute and Executive Men’s Coach, discuss the following:
- Why isolation, disconnectedness and loneliness is so prevalent amongst men in our society
- Why addressing isolation and seeking a community matters…..
- Strategies and tips for addressing isolation and loneliness
- 3 steps to making deeper connections
- “Go first”
- “Authenticity & vulnerability”
- Persistence and tenacity - meaningful connections do take time
As Dads, we want the best for our kids, right? However, when we as Dads set neurotypical standards for our neurodiverse kids, we are not being good Dads. In fact, we’re doing just the opposite.
In this podcast, Paul interviews Jude Morrow, CEO of Neurodiversity Training International, author, and TedX speaker. They discuss the unique dynamics between neurotypical Dads and neurodiverse kids
Paul and Jude discuss the following:
- Jude’s own journey and diagnosis
- Parenting practices that derailed Jude’s adolescence
- Common assumptions Dads make about their autistic kids
- When Dads should intervene, and when Dads need to back off
- Top Three Mistakes that Dads typically make with their kids
What if you were the father of two autistic children, only to be diagnosed with autism yourself at the age of 41? This is the compelling story of Jeremy Rochford.
In the latest Autism Dadvocate podcast, I interview Jeremy Rochard. Jeremy is an author, TedX speaker, weight loss coach, standup comedian, and all-around amazing (and funny!) guy.
We discuss his fascinating journey with autism, which includes:
- His weight loss journey - 200 lbs!
- His foray into stand-up comedy
- His children’s diagnosis
- His own autism diagnosis
- His advice and insights to other autism dads
Please join us for an organic (and very humorous) conversation between these two Dads.
80-85% of young autistic adults are unemployed and underemployed………………………………………
It doesn’t have to be this way. …..
Many organizations are now incorporating neurodiversity as a part of their broader DEI efforts. Furthermore, there is deeper awareness and support for neurodiverse employees in the workplace.
Nonetheless, young autistic adults face immense challenges as they enter the workforce. Please join Paul as he engages in an animated discussion with Becca Lory Hector on this topic. Becca is not only the Founder of Truly Inclusive Leadership, an organization dedicated to supporting and integrating disabled employees in the workplace, but she herself was diagnosed with autism at the age of thirty-six.
Paul and Becca discuss the following:
· Common challenges autistic employees face in the workforce
· What autistic employees can do to self-advocate in the workplace
· Reasonable accommodations that organizations can make that benefit of their neurodiverse workers
· How Dads can effectively prepare their autistic kids to transition into the workforce
For children with autism, masking is a social survival strategy.
There is often pressure on autistic children to perform social behaviors that are considered “normal “ or neurotypical. Some children hide their neurodiverse behaviors in order to fit in.
Regardless of its positive intentions, masking can lead to serious health consequences, such as depression, anxiety, autistic “burnout”, and even suicidal ideation.
In this podcast, Paul is joined by Shane Sale, Neurodivergent Specialist and father of an autistic daughter. They enter into an animated discussion on this critical topic.
Paul & Shane discuss the following:
- How our autistic children typically “mask” their behavior
- What the progressive stages of masking are
- The differences between girls and boys when it comes to masking (and why it is so pervasive amongst autistic girls)
- The long-term impacts of masking on our kids’ health
- How Dads can support their kids in this area
75-80% of marriages with an autistic child end in separation or divorce. This often-cited statistic (though open to dispute), nonetheless reveals the challenges of a marriage with an autistic child. In this podcast episode, Paul engages in a lively and organic conversation with a panel of professionals on this topic, including Jeremy Hamburgh and Ilana Smith of mybestsociallife.com, as well as Dr. Stephanie Holmes, a NeuroDiverse Marriage Specialist.
The panel discusses the following:
- The phenomena of martial strain, separation, and divorce within the autism community (why is it so prevalent in our community?)
- The most common areas of strife with married couples of autistic children
- What Dads need to know about maintain healthy constructive dialogue with their wives/partners
- Where Dads can find additional resources on this topic
Need a little inspiration? Then, listen to the compelling story of Debra Vines, who was introduced by Holly Robinson Peete as a 2022 Top 10 CNN Hero at the CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute last December.
Debra shares her personal journey as the Mom of an autistic son, which includes isolation, mental health challenges, addiction, and even incarceration.
Paul and Debra discuss the following:
- Debra’s personal journey as the mother of as an ASD son
- Her struggles with obtaining therapies for her son, and the impact on her mental health & well-being
- The creation and mission of theanswerinc.org
- Deb’s personal observations – are there differences in the experience of Moms raising ASD kids, versus Dads?
- Deb’s creation of ”Just for Men” a support group for fathers of children with autism, and what we’re planning for Autism Awareness month in April
25-30% of autistic children are minimally verbal or do not speak at all, although this is not a reflection of their intellectual ability.
For their Dads, it is critical they seek out augmentative or alternative communication methods, such as speech therapy.
In this podcast, Paul interviews Lenora Edward, Chief Knowledge Officer of Better Speech, a leading online speech therapy provider for ASD kids. Lenora and Paul engage in a broader discussion on the impact of speech delays with autistic children.
Paul and Lenora discuss the following:
- Why do (some) autistic children struggle with speech?
- What are some early indicators of potential speech delays?
- What initial steps should Dads take when they identify a speech delay with their children?
- What are some common speech therapies employed to help autistic children?
2022 is coming to a close. In this short solo podcast (the first one in quite some time), Paul reflects back on 2022, invites the Autism Dadvocate community to look ahead to 2023, and ends the episode with an exciting announcement.
Paul discusses the following:
- Past episodes from 2022 (and why they mattered)
- Future topics for 2023 that the Autism Dadvocate community has asked Paul to go deeper on – which include marital strain, unemployment / underemployment of autistic workers, and underestimating our kids’ abilities
- The sobering death of Stephen “tWitch” Boss - and why this matters to the Dadvocate community
- A big announcement for 2023
What if everything we know about parenting is wrong? Neurotypical styles are handed down and applied to our autistic kids.
In this podcast, Paul interviews Orion Kelly, Founder of the YouTube channel “That Autistic Guy” – with over 42,000 subscribers. Orion is not only the father of an autistic son, but was diagnosed himself with autism after becoming a father.
We discuss Orion’s experiences and advice on raising (not parenting) an autistic child.
Please join us for an organic (and highly charged!) conversation on this topic between an Australian and an American Dad.
Part of our role as fathers is to prepare for our children’s future - their care, their education, their independence, and what they’ll do when we’re gone. For fathers of autistic children, these issues become even more important.
Paul joins Andrew Komarov, Founder of Planning Across the Spectrum, in an active discussion around what fathers need to know about finances and financial planning for their autistic children.
Paul and Andrew discuss the following:
· The biggest challenges young autstic adults face when it comes to finances
· Unique tools and financial assets for ASD kids, e.g. ABLE account
· Estate planning decisions that Dads must make
· What can Dads do (and should do) to prepare their ASD kids for financial independence
You’ve noticed how much your son or daughter loves interacting Alexa. She is unflinching in her patience in answering any questions your autistic child asks her, even helping to build your child’s conversational skills.
In this podcast, Paul interviews Dr. Zamora Olin, an expert in Digital Transformation and Data Analytics. Dr. Olin provides an overview of the role that Artificial Intelligence (AI) can play in the development of our autistic kids. She is not only the parent of an ASD son, but the Founder of “Thrive with ARTIE”, an app designed to help children and teens with autism master the skills they'll need to be successful after High School, including interpersonal skills and money management.
Paul and Dr. Olin discuss the following:
· Dr. Olin’s journey before and after her son’s diagnosis with autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
· The role of AI in the development of our ASD children
· How children can benefit from AI in the areas of personal finance, health & wellness, workplace skills, personal safety, and career management.
· The driving factors that led to Dr. Olin creating the Thrive with Artie app
80-85% of autistic adults are unemployed or underemployed………………………………………
This is the statistic that keeps me awake at night.
Young autistic adults face immense challenges - and yes, even discrimination - as they enter the workforce. Paul enters into a lively discussion on this topic with Rebecca Beam, CEO & Founder of Zavikon, an organization dedicated to matching neurodiverse candidates with employers who believe inclusion is the future.
Paul and Rebecca discuss the following:
· Common challenges ASD adolescents face as they enter the workforce
· How ASD workers can self-advocate in the workplace
· Small accommodations that supervisors and managers can make on behalf of their neurodiverse workers
· What Dads can do to prepare their kids to enter the workforce
After a diagnosis, and on top of the swirl of emotions you’re feeling, there are a multitude of decisions to make – specialists to meet with, therapies to pursue, leaving most Dads feeling overwhelmed and confused.
In this podcast, Paul interviews autism Dad Justin Nahama. Justin provides a unique perspective to our community based on his career as a Marine veteran, former federal prosecutor, business attorney, and strategic advisor to mental-health leaders such as Deepak Chopra and foundations who serve the Navy SEAL and special operations community. In addition to currently serving as Deepak Chopra's COO, Justin founded the company NuroLux, an organization dedicated to empower families impacted by autism and the professionals supporting them. He is not only the parent of an ASD son, but experienced the paralysis many of us Dads face after our child’s diagnosis, leading to his creation of Nurolux. Justin goes deep into his personal and transformational journey as the father of an ASD son.
Paul and Justin discuss the following:
· Justin’s reaction to his son’s diagnosis and Justin's mental-health challenges while supporting his son.
· Things Justin wished he knew earlier based on his battles with insurance providers, school districts, and other professionals during his journey
· Powerful mental-health perspectives for Dads based on lessons learned from Justin's work with Deepak Chopra and the Navy SEAL community.
· The catalysts in Justin’s life that led to his vision for Nurolux
In this podcast, Paul interviews Jeremy Hamburgh, Founder of “My Best Social Life” – an organization dedicated to providing strategies that give young adults with autism the confidence and skill to meet new people and attract them into their life. They discuss how adolescents with autism can develop friendships and even romantic relationships.
Paul and Jeremy discuss the following:
- Jeremy’s unique personal connection to the autism community
- Jeremy’s journey to becoming an autism friendship and dating coach
- Common social challenges young autistic adults encounter
- How Dads can coach their ASD kids to more comfortably navigate social settings
ABA.........t’s such a highly charged topic in the autism community. ABA (Applied Behavioral Analysis) is a type of therapy that teaches skills and proper behavior to ASD children through reinforcement and practice.
In this podcast, Paul interviews Shannon Penrod of the web TV series “Autism Live”. She is not only the parent of an ASD son, but she also has first-hand experience with ABA.
Paul and Shannon discuss the following:
- Shannon’s own journey as the parent of an autistic child
- Common questions Dads have when they first learn about ABA
- Pro’s and con’s to ABA and why some see it as a controversial therapy
- Where and how Dads can learn more about ABA for their kids
Just in time for Mother’s Day! In this podcast, Paul interviews Holly Robinson Peete, actress and Founder of HollyRod Inc. - an organization dedicated to raising autism awareness through education and kindness. Holly and Paul discuss the unique (and diverse) roles Moms and Dads play in raising an ASD child.
Paul and Holly discuss the following * Holly’s son’s (RJ’s) diagnosis * Is there a difference in the experience of Moms raising ASD kids, versus Dads? * What was Holly’s own experience, vs Rodney? * What does Holly and her team observe about Moms and Dads at HollyRod? * What can Dads learn from Moms of ASD Kids?
Each journey of the father of an ASD child is unique. Yet, there are so many valuable lessons to be learned from other Dads - the struggles, the confusion, the everyday miracles, and most importantly - the precious insights learned along that journey.
In this podcast, Paul interviews Rodney Peete, NFL star and co-founder of the HollyRod Foundation with his wife, Holly. They share their unique (and common) experiences raising an autistic son.
Rodney and Paul discuss the following:
- Some early indicators that showed that their child was “different”
- Hurdles that Dads (and Moms) face getting a successful diagnosis
- Unique challenges fathers face raising a child on the spectrum
- Rodney's son's new gig with the Los Angeles Dodgers
The “Cliff”….it’s what every father of an autistic child dreads. The cliff is when ASD children age out of support and services, typically between 18-21- and are left alone and unsupported to navigate young adulthood.
In this podcast, Paul interviews Eric Jorgensen, Founder of Special Needs Navigator – an organization dedicated to help parents navigate the maze of benefits, resources, and services available to those with intellectual or developmental disabilities.
Paul and Eric discuss the following:
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Eric’s own journey as the father of an ASD son
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Common struggles Dads encounter when it comes to autism-related benefits and services
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How Dads can prepare in advance for “the cliff”…………..
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Financial and estate planning questions Dads must answer for the benefit of their kids
What does the future hold for our autistic children? What advances or developments can we as Dads expect to see that impact our community?
In this podcast, Paul interviews Christopher Male, Founding Partner of the Autism Impact Fund – the first venture fund dedicated to investing in autism.
In this episode, Paul and Christopher discuss the following
- Christopher’s own amazing journey as the father of an ASD son
- The in-the-middle of the night spiritual epiphany that led to his creation of the Autism Impact Fund
- How the autism industry is large, growing, and poised to benefit from innovation
- The future of autism enabled services and life sciences
So, will my autistic teenager be able to get a driver's license?.....
Paul and Andrew Arboe, Founder & Creator of Driving with Autism, discuss the following:
- Andrew’s own journey as a young adult with ASD
- Common challenges for ASD teenagers when learning to drive
- What Dads can do to prepare their ASD kids for driving
- How Dads can connect with “Driving for Autism” to help their ASD kids
In this short solo episode, Paul discusses the duality of raising an ASD child.
On the one hand, the enormous gratitude for the miracles that these amazing children teach us. And on the other hand, acknowledging the sharp reality of the many challenges Dads face when raising a child on the spectrum.
How can Dads keep an eye on the physical activity of their autistic kids? This is a challenge given that many ASD kids have issues with gross and fine motor skills.
In this episode, Paul interviews Shaun Danhouser, President and current Chair of TOPSoccer. They discuss the following:
- The role of sports for ASD kids
- The benefits of solo and team sports for ASD kids
- How Dads can prepare their kids for physical activity
- How and where Dads can connect with leagues in their community that support ASD kids
The Ryan Express is a film about Robby, an autistic sixth grader, who can only move forward in his life by inventing a time machine to travel back and fix his biggest mistake. The film will star Kevin Sorbo and feature a surprise cameo from legendary baseball pitcher, Nolan Ryan.
They discuss the following:
- Hollywood’s past depictions of autism in film and television
- How Rachael and Laura came to write the screenplay for "The Ryan Express"
- Production and casting for “The Ryan Express”
- Future release date for “The Ryan Express” and how the autism community can view this indie film.
In this podcast, Paul interviews Danny Combs, Founder & CEO of T.A.C.T. (Teaching the Autism Community Trades) He is also the father of an amazing son born on the spectrum.
Paul and Danny discuss the following:
- Danny’s own journey as the father of an autistic son
- The unacceptably high rate of unemployment within the autism community (80-90%)
- The Mission of TACT (Teaching the Autism Community Trades)
- Common career tracks for the Autism Community
- How Dads can prepare their kids to enter the workforce
In this episode, Paul interviews Dominick Quartuccio, co-host of the “Great Man Within” podcast. They discuss the 4 spiritual lessons Dom has learned from his special needs sister. 1). Forgiveness is Freedom
2). Make Joy a Priority
3). Receiving Begets Abundance
4). Different is Beautiful
Paul and Hunter discuss the following:
- Hunter’s own story of growing up with ASD and his diagnosis
- Hunters experience as an ASD Dad
- How Hunter reacts when people say to him - “you don’t act autistic” or “you don’t look autistic”?.........
- How does it feel when you’re “masking”?
- What are the top 3 most annoying myths / stereotypes associated with autism?
In this short solo podcast, Paul discusses the six most common misconceptions he hears about autism -- mostly in the ways that he typically “hears them” from those outside our community.
In this interview style episode, Paul and Jim explore the shadow side of autism and ask one another the following questions.
Questions:
- Have you ever been Dad shamed?
- What was your hardest meltdown experience?
- How has having an ASD child affected your marriage?
- How has having an autistic child affected your mental health?
- How has having an autistic child impacted your social life?
- What is your biggest source of anxiety having an autistic child?
- What is your most aggravating stereotype associated with Autism?
- What’s the one piece of advice you’d offer to Dads who just learn about a diagnosis?
- What’s the one thing you want others outside our community to know about regarding autism?
Paul and Jaclyn discuss the following:
· Jaclyn’s own amazing personal connection to the Autism community (you don’t want to miss this!)
· The common challenges Jaclyn sees as ASD adolescents move into adulthood
· Why coaching for those on the spectrum can be more effective than therapy
· The mission and services provided by ASD Life Coaches, LLC
Show notes:
- Podcast Guest, Jaclyn Hunt - Founder of ASD Life Coaches, LLC
- https://www.asdlifecoaches.com/
- asdlifecoaches@gmail.com
In this podcast, Paul interviews Erik Feig, Founder & CEO of Feig Mediation Group, Inc. He is also the amazing father of three neurodiverse children.
Paul and Erik discuss the following:
- The amazing story and journey of Erik and his 3 children
- The phenomena of martial strain, separation, and divorce within the autism community
- What Dads need to know about maintain healthy constructive dialogue with their wives/partners
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The mission and Services of Feig Meditation Group
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Moving beyond conflict to alignment
- When should Dads consider mediation as an option?
- The difference between mediation and therapy
In this podcast, Paul interviews Jesse Morris, General Partner at Human Ventures, Inc. He is also the fraternal twin to Paul, an amazing brother born on the spectrum.
Paul and Jesse discuss the following:
- The amazing story of Jesse and his 3 siblings, including Paul
- The evolution of his relationship with his brother over the years
- What Dads need to hear about being the sibling of a child with ASD
- How can Dads support both their neurodiverse and neurotypical children?
Show notes:
- Andrew Horn & the Junto info
- Andrew Horn - Social Entrepreneur | Men's Life Coach | Podcast Host
In this podcast, Paul interviews Dr. Celeste Chamberlain, CEO of 3.14 Academy. - an organization dedicated to raising autism awareness through education and kindness.
Paul and Dr. Chamberlain discuss the following
- Dr. Chamberlain’s own experience raising 2 ASD sons
- Is there a difference in the experience of Moms raising ASD kids, versus Dads?
- What can Dads learn from Moms of ASD Kids?
- Dr. Chamberlain’s experience launching the 3.14 Academy and its overall mission
3.13 Academy website: www.314academy.org
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/314academy/
It’s been almost two years since Autism Dadvocate was launched….
In this solo episode podcast, Paul reviews the top six themes he’s heard from Dads of autistic kids the past two years.
- Marital Strain
- Loneliness, isolation, mental health issues
- Guilt & regret
- Distance & discord with extended family
- Challenges with schools, IEPs, and therapies
- Resentment, even anger
Maybe you see yourself in some of these themes
So…....you think your child may be on the spectrum? You’ve seen a few indicators, but don’t know where to start.
In this podcast, Paul interviews Jason Himber, CEO of Easy Speech Therapy Center - an organization dedicated to providing ASD children customized approaches for language, behavioral and occupational therapies.
Paul and Jason discuss the following
- Jason’s own amazing journey as the father of an ASD daughter
- Where Dads can start after an ASD diagnosis
- Various therapies Dads can explore for their kids
- How Dads can “step into” the community
In this podcast, Paul interviews Eric Jorgensen, founder of Special Needs Navigator. More importantly, Eric is a single father of an ASD child who has an amazing & compelling life story that led him to single parenthood. This is an intense, emotional podcast between two Dads “going deep”.
In this episode, Paul reviews the following:
- Eric’s career in the US Navy
- His sudden thrust into single fatherhood due to the passing of his wife
- How 2020 was one of the most challenging years of his life due to his and his son’s health issues
- His creation of Special Needs Navigator as a result of the events in his life
- The top themes he hears from parents in his work with Special Needs Navigator
Eric Jorgensen is Founder & Creator of Special Needs Navigator, an organization dedicated to creating a new category of services - Special Needs Navigating - to bridge the gap between education, financial, legal, medical, and social services.
Special Needs Navigator
2020 was the most challenging year in our lives. Between the pandemic, civil unrest, a hostile political landscape, a contentious election, and disturbing events at the US Capitol, our resiliency was tested to the brink. In this episode, Paul reviews some basic principles on how fathers can remain resilient in 2021 and come out of this year stronger and more successful.
In this episode, Paul reviews the following
- What resiliency really is (not the false definitions of resiliency)
- Why resilient Dads are good at staying connected and seeking community
- How a difficult year can lead to post--traumatic growth
- 5 simple practices Dads can take to be more resilient
In the podcast, Paul refers to the following:
- “One Sentence Journaling”, James Clear, author of “Atomic Habits”
- “The Power of Vulnerability”, Brene Brown, Ted Talk
In this podcast, Paul interviews Kim Evensen, CEO & Founder of Brothers, and the author of two books on male friendship: “Brothers” and “The Real Bro Code”. This episode is a follow-up to Paul’s prior podcast “The Epidemic of Loneliness with Dads of Autistic Kids”.
Together, they discuss the following:
- Why is this topic important for men? (and it is…)
- Why do strong friendships matter, particularly for mental health?
- What gets in the way of male friendships?
- Why do men tend to diminish friendships when they become a Dad?
- Tips on what you as Dads can do to forge meaningful connections
Kim is the CEO and Founder of Brothers, Inc. He has previously studied leadership for three years and is emerging as a subject matter expert on male friendship and connection. He is also an author, and has published two books The Real Bro Code (2020) and Brothers (2019)
In this episode, Paul Carroll goes deep into a taboo subject - the isolation, loneliness, and disconnectedness experienced by many Dads of autistic kids.
In this confessional episode, Paul discusses the following:
- why this topic is so important (and particularly during the pandemic)
- what is the true definition for this phenomena
- what are the health consequences of disconnectedness
- why is it so pervasive in the U.S
- what are the benefits of "true" connection
In this episode, Paul Carroll interviews Stefan Bjes, founder of Blue Line Spectrum Safety --- an organization that provides comprehensive training to first responders related to the unique challenges of those affected by autism.
The holidays can be rough – buying gifts, making holiday meals, and visiting with friendly and family in a pandemic environment – can all put stressors on our kids. But for us Dads, one of the hardest parts is hearing the “armchair commentary” about how to raise our children on the spectrum from well-intended but deeply misguided relatives.
Paul will walk through some of the common types of commentary we hear, and how we can respond. Especially when relatives bring up the following:
- Vaccinations
- Diet
- Early diagnosis / early therapy
- Schooling & education
- How to handle meltdowns
- Hollywood stereotyping – Rainman, Temple Grandin, the Good Doctor
- Viral videos and “feel good” news stories
In this episode, Paul Carroll, Founder & Creator of AutismDadvocate is going deep, asking fathers to reflect and journal on the questions below.
Some of the questions are uncomfortable, some are insightful, but all of them are designed to spark new modes of thinking for these amazing Dads.
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Do I completely identify -- or see my own identity --- as the father of an autistic child?
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How do I “show up” with my child?
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How do I “show up” with my wife / partner?
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How do I intentionally recharge my batteries?
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What are my unique personal values?
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How do I want my child to speak at my funeral? (even if they’re non-verbal)
Meltdowns are tough. As Dads, we experience a surge of adrenalin and anxiety when our child has a meltdown.
As a follow-up to Podcast #2, “Five Things Dads can do to Avoid a Meltdown”, Paul Carroll reviews the 8 things Dads can do during a meltdown.
1). Acknowledge your own physiological reactions
2). Look for an escape room, retreat, neutral area.
3). Use code words with your spouse, partner, and children
4). Leverage any items that promote positive sensory input
5). Remove /silence any environmental inputs or distractors
6). Avoid / remove any additional sensory inputs, even after the meltdown is over!
7). Avoid trying to reason, argue, or threaten punishment
8). It’s okay to remove yourself
Meltdowns are rough. As Dads, we will do anything – ANYTHING to avoid a meltdown, particularly in a public place.
So……….is there anything we can do? The answer is…………YES!
In this episode, Paul reviews the 5 things Dads can do to avoid a meltdown:
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Set expectations with your child
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Prepare a schedule
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Know your child’s unique sensory triggers
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Leverage your child’s “comfort items”
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Acknowledge, praise, and reward good behavior
In this 3 minute introductory episode, Paul Carroll - Founder & Creator of AutismDadvocate.org - launches his first podcast with an overview of his work and the intent of the podcast.
In this episode:
- What is AutismDadvocate?
- Why did I create the site and the podcast
- The Future of Autism Dadvocate