Full-Tilt Parenting: Strategies, Insights, and Connection for Parents Raising Neurodivergent Children

Executive functioning coach and former teacher Seth Perler joins Debbie for an honest conversation about what isn't working in today's schools for differently wired children. Note: This episode is designed for both parents and educators.Connect with Tilt Parenting Visit Tilt Parenting Take the free 7-Day Challenge Read a chapter of Differently Wired Follow Tilt on Twitter & Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Children's picture book author / illustrator Samantha Cotterill discusses her new book series, Little Senses, which highlights the experience of children with sensory issues or ASD, and also shares her own journey of growing up as a girl on the spectrum.Connect with Tilt Parenting Visit Tilt Parenting Take the free 7-Day Challenge Read a chapter of Differently Wired Follow Tilt on Twitter & Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Eileen Devine, a neurobehavioral therapist and support coach, discusses supporting children with brain-based neurodevelopmental challenges resulting from pre-natal exposure to drugs or alcohol, as well as the unique challenges for adoptive parents raising atypical children.Connect with Tilt Parenting Visit Tilt Parenting Take the free 7-Day Challenge Read a chapter of Differently Wired Follow Tilt on Twitter & Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Wendy Besmann, founder and creative content director of Get There Project and the mother of a son with autism and bipolar disorder, shares her Family Road Map—a step-by-step guide for how families raising differently wired children can more successfully navigate health, insurance, and education systems.Connect with Tilt Parenting Visit Tilt Parenting Take the free 7-Day Challenge Read a chapter of Differently Wired Follow Tilt on Twitter & Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nutritionist Jess Sherman shares ideas for how parents can bring more nourishment into their children’s lives, including, or maybe especially those with food sensitivities, picky or aggressive behavior.Connect with Tilt Parenting Visit Tilt Parenting Take the free 7-Day Challenge Read a chapter of Differently Wired Follow Tilt on Twitter & Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

My guest this week is autism and neurodiversity support specialist Kristy Forbes of In Tune Pathways. Kristy is the parent of four autistic children, and has an abundance of emotional, practical, and lived experience both working with and raising children who are neurodivergent. She has an extensive background in early childhood education and psychology, and as you’ll hear from our conversation, is passionate about radical acceptance without the need or intention to fix, change or cure, particularly in regard to children.​Kristy was diagnosed as autistic at age thirty-three herself, and has committed herself to working with children and adults on the autism spectrum, with a special interest on people who, like her, have a PDA expression. In this episode, we share a deep conversation about how parents can truly tune in to who their children are and show up for them in a way that reflects true respect for their children’s neurodivergence. We cover a lot of ground, including the PDA profile of autism, how parents can get clear about their intentions when exploring interventions for their children on the spectrum, how to support families through periods of intensity and very difficult behavior, and the trauma that can result when children are perpetually in fight, flight, freeze or fawn mode because they’re being forced to conform to a way of being that isn’t true to who they are. Kristy is a wise and genuine spirit who is doing healing work for so many families… I’m grateful to be able to share this conversation with you.  THINGS YOU’LL LEARN FROM THIS EPISODE: What the PDA profile of autism looks like What Kristy sees as the biggest challenges for families raising autistic and neurodiverse children The reason so many neurodivergent families are in crisis The role of intention behind the supports and accommodations parents seek for their children Why Kristy believes it’s critical that parents stay connected with their intuition when making decisions about interventions The ways in which fear can interfere with our making the best decisions for our children Strategies for parents to better tune in with what their child needs The trauma cycle for differently wired kids, and what recovery looks like How Kristy works with parents to help them see and embrace who their children are Kristy’s suggestions for how parents can handle big, aggressive, and violent behavior  RESOURCES MENTIONED: Kristy Forbes’ website InTune Pathways Kristy Forbes on Facebook Kristy Forbes on Instagram Support the showConnect with Tilt Parenting Visit Tilt Parenting Take the free 7-Day Challenge Read a chapter of Differently Wired Follow Tilt on Twitter & Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Educator and school co-founder Zach Morris shares his insights on how we can emotionally support children through difficult periods, including challenges relating to school anxiety and more.Connect with Tilt Parenting Visit Tilt Parenting Take the free 7-Day Challenge Read a chapter of Differently Wired Follow Tilt on Twitter & Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Marriage and family therapist, licensed psychotherapist, and author Susan Stiffelman talks about her book Parenting Without Power Struggles and shares strategies for staying calm in the midst of conflict with our children.Connect with Tilt Parenting Visit Tilt Parenting Take the free 7-Day Challenge Read a chapter of Differently Wired Follow Tilt on Twitter & Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Gwen Vogelgang and her 12-year-old son Rylan talk about their new book, "If I Squeeze Your Head I'm Sorry," which allow readers to enter the brain of a child who sees, feels, and understands the world from a refreshingly unique perspective.Connect with Tilt Parenting Visit Tilt Parenting Take the free 7-Day Challenge Read a chapter of Differently Wired Follow Tilt on Twitter & Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dr. Stacy Hawthorne and Dr. Jessica Potts of The Davidson Institute talk about the unique needs for profoundly gifted children and share insights on how to support their intellectual and social/emotional development.Connect with Tilt Parenting Visit Tilt Parenting Take the free 7-Day Challenge Read a chapter of Differently Wired Follow Tilt on Twitter & Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices