Autistic and ADHD Kids Parenting Strategies: Every Brain is Different
Published by Samantha Foote & Lauren Ross | Parenting Neurodiverse Kids
Parenting
Kids & Family
Health & Fitness
Mental Health
Welcome to Every Brain is Different, the podcast designed for parents raising kids with Autism, ADHD, and other neurodiverse conditions. Discover practical parenting strategies, expert insights, and real-life stories that highlight the strengths and challenges of neurodivergent individuals. Join us to connect with a supportive community of parents, gain tools to help your child thrive, and celebrate the unique ways every brain works. If you're looking for inspiration, effective parenting strategies, or simply a sense of connection, tune into Every Brain is Different and join a community that truly understands. Website: www.everybrainisdifferent.com Instagram: www.instagram.com/everybrainisdifferent TikTok: www.tiktok.com/everybrainsidifferent YouTube: www.youtube.com/@everybrainisdifferent
Join the Neurodivergent Parenting Community: https://everybrainisdifferent.com/membership Connect with Samantha: https://everybrainisdifferent.com/ Samantha and Lauren discuss the third step after a child is diagnosed with autism: building a support system. They recap the first two steps—learning about autism by getting curious about your own child and connecting with autistic adults and other parents, and applying early for resources like Medicaid and therapy waitlists. They validate how overwhelming ongoing therapies and frequent specialist appointments can be, emphasizing that parenting isn’t meant to be done alone and that some family or friends may not provide the support you expect, making it okay to set boundaries or create distance. They outline professional supports (pediatricians, therapists, mental health providers) and personal supports (spouses, friends, online communities), encourage learning from parents further along while avoiding comparison, and note research linking parental support to lower stress and improved outcomes. 00:00 Welcome and Recap 00:57 Why Support Matters 01:43 Overwhelm and Appointments 04:08 Finding Your Village 04:56 When Family Isn’t Supportive 07:49 Professional Support Team 10:01 Emotional Support and Community 11:29 Learn From Others Avoid Comparison 14:50 Support Groups and Action Step 16:18 Three Takeaways and Closing Connect with Samantha Foote! Website: https://everybrainisdifferent.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everybrainisdifferent YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@everybrainisdifferent
Connect with Samantha: www.everybrainisdifferent.com Download the Guide to Raising Your Neurodivergent Child: www.everybrainisdifferent.com Samantha and Lauren continue their discussion on what to do when you suspect or receive an autism diagnosis, revisiting the idea of “being a detective” to learn what makes your child tick while also debating the line between respecting boundaries and pushing kids to get out into the world for social learning and health. They emphasize acting early to access supports, highlighting Medicaid options like the disability-based Katie Beckett Waiver (which can cover broad healthcare and therapies) and other state-specific waivers for non-traditional therapies, plus early intervention (Zero to Three), developmental preschool requirements, IEPs/504s, respite care, parent training, adaptive equipment, grants, and case management. They stress that professionals often won’t volunteer these resources, approvals can take months to years, denials are common, and parents should reapply, follow up persistently, join local Facebook groups for area-specific guidance, get on multiple therapy waitlists, keep organized records, and request school assessments in writing. 00:00 Welcome Back Recap 00:40 Boundaries Versus Pushing Growth 03:01 Why Social Practice Matters 05:09 Finding Help After Diagnosis 05:24 Medicaid Katie Beckett Waiver 08:11 Early Intervention and School Supports 09:45 Local Groups and Activity Options 11:52 Waitlists and Getting On Them 13:37 Be the Squeaky Wheel 15:20 Organize Paperwork and Ask Providers 19:53 Action Steps and Next Episode Connect with Samantha Foote! Website: https://everybrainisdifferent.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everybrainisdifferent YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@everybrainisdifferent
Connect with Samantha: https://everybrainisdifferent.com/ Join the Neurodivergent Parenting Community: https://everybrainisdifferent.com/membership Suzanne Jabour Episode About Grief: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/is-it-normal-to-grieve-after-your-childs-autism-or/id1697406719?i=1000750957793 Samantha and Lauren discuss the number one thing they would do after getting an autism diagnosis for your child: learn about your child, not just autism. Samantha emphasizes that a diagnosis is a tool for understanding, not fixing, and that parents may feel relief and grief, all of which are valid. They stress that autism presents differently in each person, caution against overreliance on online checklists, and encourage neurodiversity-affirming thinking over deficit-based views by asking what behaviors communicate and what needs they meet. Examples include sensory accommodations for loud toilets, avoiding uncomfortable clothing, and allowing harmless stimming, while still intervening for safety concerns like self-injury or eloping. They suggest tracking strengths, triggers, and ABC patterns, seeking professional or community support, and preview next week’s focus on applying for resources early due to long waitlists. 00:00 Welcome and Summer Catchup 00:11 Autism Moments and Themed Weddings 02:29 Why This Episode Matters 03:34 Processing the Diagnosis 05:50 Learn Your Child First 07:19 Observe Not Checklists 09:01 Neurodiversity Affirming Shift 10:26 Assessments and Getting Resources 14:08 Deficit vs Affirming Examples 24:04 Behavior as Communication 26:33 Action Steps and ABC Notes 30:12 Wrap Up and Next Week Preview Connect with Samantha Foote! Website: https://everybrainisdifferent.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everybrainisdifferent YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@everybrainisdifferent
Connect with Samantha: https://everybrainisdifferent.com/ Join the Neurodivergent Parenting Community: https://www.everybrainisdifferent.com/membership Get the Guide to Parenting Your Neurodivergent Child: https://everybrainisdifferent.com/ Samantha and Lauren discuss why building a supportive network matters for mental health and how to do it, drawing from Samantha’s postpartum psychosis and breakdown in 2016 and the challenges of parenting children with medical needs. They outline key benefits of support, which include emotional encouragement, practical help, accountability, perspective when “your brain is lying to you,” and connection. They describe four types of support: personal (friends, family, faith/community), professional (primary care, therapists, psychiatrists, coaches, support groups), peer (special-interest and parenting/disability communities), and practical (cleaning, childcare, meal services, assistants). They offer steps to build support without shame: start small, be specific about needs, allow imperfect help while avoiding toxic relationships, and find aligned communities, ending with a one-step takeaway and available resources. 00:00 Why Support Matters 01:39 When Your Brain Lies 03:52 Personal Support Plan 08:51 Professional Help Options 12:33 Peer Support Communities 13:44 Practical Help That Works 17:07 Build It Without Awkward 18:20 Ask Clearly and Specifically 19:33 Boundaries and Finding People 23:54 Weekly Takeaway and Resources Connect with Samantha Foote! Website: https://everybrainisdifferent.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everybrainisdifferent YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@everybrainisdifferent
Join the Neurodivergent Parenting Community: https://www.everybrainisdifferent.com/membership Atomic Habits: https://jamesclear.com/atomic-habits Samantha and Lauren discuss how returning home from vacation can be dysregulating for neurodivergent kids due to transitions and delayed stress responses from masking, sensory input, uncertainty, and social demands. They recommend not scheduling extra activities immediately after returning, prioritizing rest and recovery over productivity, and giving kids (and parents) grace during reintegration. They advise returning to familiar routines without trying to overhaul life, focusing on connection before correction, debriefing the trip to build self-awareness and plan future supports, and watching for delayed burnout days or weeks later. 00:00 Welcome and Summer Check In 00:17 Autism Threads Stories 03:52 Vacation Reset Topic 05:51 Why Coming Home Is Hard 06:45 Decompression Looks Different 08:40 Protect Recovery Days 12:40 Back to Familiar Routines 15:46 Grace Rest and Screen Time 18:54 Debrief and Learnings 20:22 Delayed Burnout Signs 21:12 Key Takeaways and Wrap Up Connect with Samantha Foote! Website: https://everybrainisdifferent.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everybrainisdifferent YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@everybrainisdifferent
Download the Guide to Raising Your Neurodivergent Child: https://everybrainisdifferent.com/ Connect with Samantha: https://everybrainisdifferent.com/ Samantha and Lauren discuss how to help vacations go more smoothly for neurodivergent kids by prioritizing safety, predictability, and regulation over nonstop activities. They explain how vacations disrupt routine, sensory input, and expectations (new places, foods, people, airports, planes, theme parks, beaches), which can overwhelm autistic and ADHD children. They recommend preparing kids in advance with photos, maps, videos, itineraries, visual schedules, and honest communication about uncertainty; using supports like airport assistance (Sunflower lanyards, practice tours, early boarding); and building recovery time with hotel breaks, quiet spaces, and rest days. They suggest creating an escape plan or safe word, avoiding forced socialization, packing sensory tools and familiar items, watching early signs of overload, and adjusting parental expectations so everyone ends the day regulated, safe, supported, and connected. 00:00 Vacation Reality Check 01:17 Why Vacations Overwhelm 03:19 Sensory Overload Hotspots 06:11 Chill Trips Still Hard 08:04 Boost Predictability 11:44 Over Communicate Plans 13:06 Build Recovery Time 17:39 Create an Escape Plan 21:56 Pack Sensory Supports 24:25 Adjust Vacation Expectations 25:55 Bring Familiar Comforts 27:13 Spot Overload Early 28:06 Wrap Up and Recap 29:33 Resources and Farewell Connect with Samantha Foote! Website: https://everybrainisdifferent.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everybrainisdifferent YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@everybrainisdifferent
Samantha and Lauren welcome dance artist and creative coach Annett Bone to discuss dance as self-care—especially for stressed parents raising neurodivergent kids. Annett shares that returning to dance at 43 after a 20-plus year hiatus helped her heal and that dance can be expression, creativity, processing, release, or a way to get out of your head. She encourages starting with the end in mind, then taking small, realistic steps, sometimes just a few minutes alone with music, without fear of judgment. The conversation offers practical ideas like family dance parties, using Just Dance for guidance, exploring movement one body part at a time, and combining movement with writing, drawing, senses, and imagery like animals or weather. Annette invites listeners to DM her “brain” on Instagram for a free customized 20-minute movement session and mentions her podcast, The Dancepreneuring Studio. Connect with Annette: www.instagram.com/annettbone www.AnnettBone.com . Connect with Samantha: https://everybrainisdifferent.com/ Get the Free Ultimate Guide to Parenting Your Neurodivergent Child: https://everybrainisdifferent.com/ 00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro 00:54 Why Dance Matters 01:49 Dance as Self Care 03:48 Busy Moms Start Small 07:33 Easy Ways to Begin 10:17 Creative Movement Games 12:28 Classes and Dance Styles 15:00 Dance for Every Body 19:06 Final Tips and Mindset 21:21 Where to Find Annette 23:18 Rapid Fire Fun Question 24:18 Wrap Up and Takeaways Connect with Samantha Foote! Website: https://everybrainisdifferent.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everybrainisdifferent YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@everybrainisdifferent
Connect With Samantha: https://everybrainisdifferent.com/ Join the Neurodivergent Parenting Community: https://www.everybrainisdifferent.com/membership Samantha and Lauren introduce a multi-part series on road tripping, focusing in this episode on strategies for smoother car travel, especially for kids with autism. They explain why road trips are hard-loss of routine and predictability, sensory overload, limited autonomy, sibling noise conflicts, motion sickness, and movement needs—and emphasize that success is about regulation, not perfection. Tips include planning seating ahead of time, packing comfort items and regulation tools first (headphones, sunglasses, weighted items, fidgets), keeping snacks and water accessible, using GPS timing to reduce “are we there yet,” creating visual roadmaps/schedules, practicing expectations, building in movement breaks, and watching early meltdown signs. 00:00 Summer Chaos Intro 00:47 Road Trip Series Setup 01:54 Why Road Trips Are Hard 04:06 Pre Trip Car Plan 05:43 Predictability With GPS 07:54 Sensory And Sibling Noise 10:32 Devices And Offline Options 11:57 Movement Break Strategies 15:14 Visual Roadmaps And Packing 19:07 Meltdown Prevention And Repair 20:52 Games And Entertainment Ideas 23:57 Validate And Parent Regulation 26:23 Key Takeaways And Wrap Up Connect with Samantha Foote! Website: https://everybrainisdifferent.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everybrainisdifferent YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@everybrainisdifferent
Connect with Samantha: https://www.everybrainisdifferent.com/ Join the Neurodivergent Parent Community: https://www.everybrainisdifferent.com/membership Samantha and Lauren interview Daniella Feldhausen, a former DC attorney who founded Kids Up Reading Tutors after earning a master’s in special education and focusing on helping children with reading and spelling challenges, including dyslexia and dysgraphia. Daniella explains that her team tailors one-on-one, high-dosage tutoring (multiple sessions per week) based on a detailed skills evaluation rather than relying on a diagnosis, aiming to help students catch up quickly and build confidence. 00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro 00:46 How Kids Up Works 03:43 Confidence and Family Wins 05:25 Dyslexia vs Dysgraphia 08:49 Hidden Struggles in Older Grades 10:42 First Steps for Parents 13:01 It Is Never Too Late 19:01 IEPs and School Limits 23:20 Resources and Where to Find Daniella 24:46 Fun Question and Farewell 25:43 Host Highlights Wrap Up Connect with Daniela: Website: www.KidsUpReadingTutors.com LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/daniela-feldhausen-kidsupreadingtutors/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/KidsUpReadingTutors/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/kidsupreadingtutors/ Connect with Samantha Foote! Website: https://everybrainisdifferent.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everybrainisdifferent YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@everybrainisdifferent
Join the Neurodivergent Parenting Community: https://www.everybrainisdifferent.com/membership Connect with Dr. Linda Silbert: https://stronglearning.com/ Samantha and Lauren interviews Dr. Linda Silbert of Strong Learning Incorporated about supporting neurodivergent learners and reframing bad grades as symptoms rather than reasons for punishment. Dr. Silbert urges parents to stop blaming children or schools, become detectives about root causes (academic, social, emotional, bullying, sensory, or anxiety), and approach teachers and IEP meetings collaboratively. She emphasizes repairing parent-child friction by apologizing, listening, and teaching practical study skills in short, effective bursts rather than long sessions, noting that stress can make students “blank” during tests. Dr. Silbert describes gamifying reading intervention, using card-deck games, fluency activities, and plays aligned with Orton-Gillingham, to reduce anxiety, build confidence, and improve reading, and shares resources including her new book Why Good Kids Get Bad Grades. 00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro 00:40 Grades Are Symptoms 02:57 Homeschool and Nervous System 05:20 IEP Advocacy and Collaboration 07:11 Bullying and Emotional Fallout 11:10 Repairing Parent Child Trust 14:30 Study Smarter Not Longer 16:30 Gamified Reading Breakthrough 19:39 Play Based Learning Tools 21:13 Resources and Where to Find 22:09 Fun and Closing Reflections 23:06 Hosts Wrap Up Takeaways 28:51 Reading Counts Any Format 30:05 Final Goodbye Connect with Samantha Foote! Website: https://everybrainisdifferent.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everybrainisdifferent YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@everybrainisdifferent
Join the Neurodivergent Parenting Community: https://www.everybrainisdifferent.com/podcast Samantha and Lauren discuss how neurodivergent children may mask at school or other settings: suppressing stims, sensory distress, and authentic behavior to appear “typical” and then have meltdowns at home because home feels safest, a pattern also described as after-school restraint collapse. They emphasize that these explosions are nervous system and stress responses, not manipulation, and that chronic masking drains executive functioning and can leave kids in fight-or-flight. The episode outlines signs a child may be struggling at school (shutdowns, irritability, control-seeking, sibling conflict, isolation, increased PDA behaviors, avoiding help, and even not using the bathroom) and suggests ways to reduce nervous system load and improve safety at school through sensory-friendly routines, supportive accommodations, authenticity at home, and self-advocacy skills, while avoiding forced eye contact, dismissing concerns, over-scheduling, and rewarding extreme compliance. 00:00 Masking Recap 01:02 Why Home Meltdowns Happen 02:15 What Masking Looks Like 03:43 Executive Function Burnout 06:26 After School Restraint Collapse 06:59 Signs of Distress at School 09:20 Signs Your Child Masks 11:31 Reduce Load Before School 13:40 School Supports That Help 15:39 Stop Rewarding Compliance 16:47 Build Authenticity at Home 17:17 Teach Self Advocacy 17:41 What Not To Do 19:35 Connection Over Correction Connect with Samantha Foote! Website: https://everybrainisdifferent.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everybrainisdifferent YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@everybrainisdifferent
Connect with Samantha: https://everybrainisdifferent.com/ Join the Neurodivergent Parenting Community: https://www.everybrainisdifferent.com/membership Samantha and Lauren open by discussing mom guilt and the importance of giving yourself grace when you miss commitments, lose your cool, or have hard parenting moments, emphasizing that apologies and tomorrow-as-a-reset matter. They then explain masking: children, especially neurodivergent kids, may hold it together at school and unravel at home because home is emotionally safe, not because parents are doing something wrong or the child is being manipulative. They describe how cognitive fatigue (executive-function demands), emotional exhaustion (managing expectations, social stress, fear of trouble, rejection sensitivity), and sensory overload (noise, lights, clothing discomfort) accumulate during the day, leaving kids with no capacity for even small demands like “How was your day?” They note masking can also differ between co-parents, and suggest school accommodations (movement, no forced eye contact, IEP/504 supports) and coping skills, with next week focused on making school feel safer. 00:00 Welcome and Mom Guilt 01:03 Grace and Repairing Moments 03:05 What Masking Looks Like 07:17 Why Home Meltdowns Happen 09:26 School Accommodations 12:15 Safe Parent and Coparenting 14:42 The Cost of Masking 20:06 Sensory Overload Stack 22:51 You Are the Safe Place 24:22 Community Support and Wrap Up Connect with Samantha Foote! Website: https://everybrainisdifferent.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everybrainisdifferent YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@everybrainisdifferent
Connect with Samantha: https://everybrainisdifferent.com/ Join the Neurodivergent Parenting Community: https://www.everybrainisdifferent.com/membership Samantha and Lauren interview Julianne Kohlbrand, an ADHD financial coach who became debt-free after $107,000 in consumer debt and a later-in-life ADHD diagnosis at 42, and now helps neurodivergent families simplify money management. Julianne shares how motherhood intensified overwhelm and led to her diagnosis, and explains that neurodivergent people often need different, less perfection-driven approaches than strict dollar-by-dollar budgets. Key strategies include giving yourself grace, automating bills, weekly calendar check-ins, reducing tempting triggers (like removing budget apps), using visuals and a “would you rather” gamified decision tool, and adding accountability partners while avoiding shame through agreed budgets and separate “fun money” line items for each spouse. They discuss impulse spending, the 24-hour cart rule, a separate email for bills, and ways to teach kids about money through open conversation, goal-setting, savings accounts, and age-based paid home tasks. 00:00 Meet Julianne Kohlbrand 01:04 Late ADHD Diagnosis Story 02:42 Money Shame and Coaching Fail 04:35 ADHD Friendly Money Systems 07:16 Gamify Spending Decisions 07:54 Accountability Without Shame 09:41 Fun Money and Boundaries 12:20 Impulse Control Tricks 15:28 Teaching Kids Money Habits 18:39 Allowance And Budgeting 19:42 Kids Savings Account Setup 20:18 Home Tasks For Pay 22:17 Earning Extra Money Struggles 23:56 Grace And Small Systems 25:16 Resources And Where To Find 27:14 Fun And Farewell 28:06 Post Show Highlights 29:44 Lego Dopamine Spending 31:13 Play Money Chore System 32:18 Final Wrap And Comments Connect with Julian: https://debtrebelpodcast.com/ https://www.instagram.com/jewlzthebudgetnerd https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliankohlbrand/ Connect with Samantha Foote! Website: https://everybrainisdifferent.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everybrainisdifferent YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@everybrainisdifferent
Join the Community: https://www.everybrainisdifferent.com/membership Samantha and Lauren discuss why many neurodivergent people may interpret language literally and communicate more directly, which neurotypical people can misread as rude. They define literal thinking as interpreting exact words rather than implied meaning, sarcasm, or social context, and share examples such as misunderstandings around figurative phrases (“break a leg”), social pleasantries (“we should hang out sometime”), sarcasm (“nice job”), vague directions (“do the dishes” vs. “clean the kitchen”), and hidden social rules (“make yourself at home”). They explain contributing factors, including a preference for clarity and precision, pragmatic language differences, cognitive load, and predictive processing theories, then outline the benefits of direct language (less confusion, faster problem-solving, clearer boundaries, less social exhaustion). 00:00 Why Literal Thinking 00:47 Rude or Direct 01:42 Defining Literal Thinking 03:30 Everyday Examples 05:08 Vague Directions 07:34 Hidden Social Rules 09:45 Why It Happens 12:53 Direct Communication Strength 17:04 Misread as Argumentative 19:36 Parenting Communication Tips 22:15 Wrap Up and Resources Connect with Samantha Foote! Website: https://everybrainisdifferent.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everybrainisdifferent YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@everybrainisdifferent
Join the Community: https://www.everybrainisdifferent.com/membership Episode 18 with Dr. Tosha Strickland: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/18-dr-tosha-strickland-and-central-auditory/id1697406719?i=1000636604839 Samantha and Lauren discuss how ADHD and Central Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) can look similar, distractibility, not following directions, zoning out, school struggles, but involve different underlying challenges: ADHD affects attention regulation and executive functioning, while APD involves difficulty processing spoken information despite normal hearing. They share examples and comparisons (e.g., difficulty in noisy classrooms, frequently saying “what,” slow verbal response time, mishearing similar words, and doing better with written/visual instructions), note that ineffective ADHD medication may indicate APD, and describe how APD can be supported with classroom microphones, hearing aids that modulate timing rather than amplify sound, reduced background noise, extra processing time, and checking understanding. They encourage parents to advocate for evaluations through pediatricians and appropriate specialists, use practical supports like one-step directions and routines, and provide positive feedback since neurodivergent kids receive disproportionate negative feedback. 00:00 Welcome and Topic 00:23 Why They Get Confused 01:14 Medication Clue and CAPD 04:04 What ADHD Really Is 06:45 What Auditory Processing Is 08:29 Misdiagnosis and Mindset 10:46 Side by Side Examples 13:18 Conversation and Response Time 16:48 Getting Evaluated and Advocating 21:17 Practical Supports at Home 23:22 Grace and Positive Feedback 25:21 Wrap Up and Resources Connect with Samantha Foote! Website: https://everybrainisdifferent.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everybrainisdifferent YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@everybrainisdifferent
Join the Neurodivergent Parenting Community: https://www.everybrainisdifferent.com/membership Samantha and Lauren discuss sensory processing disorder (SPD) versus autism spectrum disorder, explaining what SPD is, where it overlaps with autism, and why sensory challenges alone do not mean autism; they note ADHD can also include sensory differences. They define SPD as difficulty detecting, modulating, or interpreting sensory input and emphasize it is used clinically but is not in the DSM-5, which can limit insurance resources, comparing this to PDA and sharing an example of a bipolar misdiagnosis used to access care. They define autism by social communication differences and restrictive/repetitive behaviors, with sensory reactivity included in criteria, and describe sensory patterns (hyperreactivity, hyporeactivity, and sensory seeking) with everyday examples. They recommend supports such as reducing sensory load, previewing transitions, offering choices (clothing, ear protection, movement breaks), tracking triggers, pursuing occupational therapy evaluations, and prioritizing function over label. 00:00 Introduction 01:37 What SPD Means 01:49 Diagnosis Codes and Resources 03:55 SPD vs Autism Criteria 06:29 Sensory Patterns Explained 09:13 Mixed Sensory Profiles 10:48 Smell and Food Sensitivities 13:34 Overlap and Why It Matters 16:01 Practical Supports at Home 19:40 Function Over Label 21:23 Wrap Up and Resources Connect with Samantha Foote! Website: https://everybrainisdifferent.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everybrainisdifferent YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@everybrainisdifferent
Get the Book: https://a.co/d/0fOrLF7d Connect with Dr. Gilly Kahn: https://www.drgillykahn.com/ Samantha welcomes back psychologist, mom, and writer Dr. Gilly Khan to discuss her book Allow Me to Interrupt, which focuses on emotional dysregulation and rejection sensitivity dysphoria (RSD) in females with ADHD. Dr. Kahn explains how she approaches families seeking or newly receiving an ADHD diagnosis, including considering psychological testing, consulting a psychiatrist, and discussing family preferences around medication and stigma. She describes how emotional dysregulation is strongly tied to ADHD but not included in DSM-5-TR criteria, cites Russell Barkley’s advocacy, and outlines what is known and less researched about RSD as popularized by William Dodson. Dr. Khan also discusses balancing ADHD strengths and challenges through accommodations, highlights the role of estrogen and dopamine across the female lifespan, and notes comorbidities such as migraines and their links to hormones and dopamine. 00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro 00:40 About Dr Gilly Khan and Her Book 02:18 Next Steps After Diagnosis 05:33 On the Fence About Labels 09:25 ADHD in Girls Emotional Clues 14:17 Too Much Masking and Strengths 15:24 Creativity and Accommodations 19:44 Comorbidities Hormones and Migraine 27:08 Where to Find the Book Connect with Samantha Foote! Website: https://everybrainisdifferent.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everybrainisdifferent YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@everybrainisdifferent
Join the Neurodivergent Parenting Community: https://www.everybrainisdifferent.com/membership Samantha and Lauren explain key differences between 504 accommodation plans and IEPs to help parents know what to request when a child struggles at school. They describe how unsupported neurodivergent kids may be mislabeled as misbehaving, defiant, lazy, or unmotivated, and emphasize that children need an environment that works with their brain, not to “try harder.” A 504 plan is generally easier to obtain, doesn’t require a diagnosis, and provides accommodations (e.g., extra test time, movement breaks, preferential seating, reduced homework, sensory supports) within general education without specialized instruction. An IEP adds individualized goals, specialized instruction, related services (speech, OT, PT, music therapy), possible pullout support, progress tracking, and stricter eligibility based on assessment and educational impact. They advise requesting evaluations in writing, asking questions in meetings, pushing back when needed, and being a persistent advocate in an under-resourced system. 00:00 Welcome and Overview 00:45 Why Advocacy Matters 03:46 When Support Is Missing 06:19 What a 504 Plan Does 06:44 504 Examples and Eligibility 10:03 IEP Basics and Services 13:03 IEP Eligibility and Impact 16:30 504 vs IEP Quick Compare 18:49 Requesting an Evaluation 20:34 Meetings and Pushing Back 21:59 System Gaps and Real Talk 24:37 After Qualification and Reviews 25:58 Common Mistakes and Next Steps 27:02 Wrap Up and Resources Connect with Samantha Foote! Website: https://everybrainisdifferent.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everybrainisdifferent YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@everybrainisdifferent
Get the Parenting Guide: https://everybrainisdifferent.com/ Samantha and Lauren continue their discussion on why autistic and ADHD kids may seem like rigid thinkers, focusing on their need for clear rules and consistent expectations to feel regulated and safe. They explain how inconsistent enforcement or differing rules across households can create confusion, dysregulation, and even meltdowns, and suggest strategies like clearly explaining why rules differ, writing down major house rules for caregivers, and building routines that allow exceptions without breaking the “system.” They reframe “rigid” as a misunderstanding of neurodivergent needs for structure, predictability, and clarity, noting that different processes can still lead to the same outcome. The hosts emphasize supporting structure with advance notice, clear expectations, predictable routines, and choice within structure, while teaching flexibility and coping skills when calm. 00:00 Podcast Intro Recap 01:02 Rules Need Consistency 02:04 Different Houses Different Rules 03:49 Make Rules Clear and Written 08:01 Rigid vs Structured Reframe 10:51 Trust Their Process 13:32 When Change Triggers Meltdowns 16:23 Organization Systems That Work 19:16 Support Structure Not Flexibility 20:15 Closing Thoughts and Wrap Up Connect with Samantha Foote! Website: https://everybrainisdifferent.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everybrainisdifferent YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@everybrainisdifferent
Get the Summit Replay: https://www.everybrainisdifferent.com/summit Connect with Samantha: https://everybrainisdifferent.com/ Samantha and Lauren begin a two-part discussion on why autistic people are often labeled “rigid.” They argue the label frequently reflects a neurotypical expectation that others should do things “the correct way,” while autistic people may rely on predictability for clarity, structure, and safety. Using a “manual vs. automatic transmission” analogy, they explain how unclear expectations increase cognitive load and anxiety, which can look like inflexibility or lead to meltdowns. They reframe routines (same breakfast, clothes, routes) as regulation and efficiency, emphasize giving kids autonomy where possible, and suggest strategies like alternating choices in therapy or “sandwiching” hard tasks between preferred ones. They note most environments are built for neurotypical processing, so routines act as scaffolding for navigating sensory and social unpredictability, and they will continue the remaining segments next week. 00:00 Introduction 00:32 Why Rigid Gets Misused 02:09 Safety Through Structure 03:22 Manual vs Automatic Brain 05:38 Clear Expectations Reduce Anxiety 08:32 Routines as Self-Regulation 11:28 Giving Kids Control Back 14:02 Modeling Flexibility at Home 16:02 World Built for Neurotypicals 18:15 Wrap Up and Part Two Tease Connect with Samantha Foote! Website: https://everybrainisdifferent.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everybrainisdifferent YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@everybrainisdifferent
