The Moms Talk Autism Podcast is for parents raising children with special needs. We are four moms, all with autistic children and other neurodivergence. Teaching a special needs child to navigate the world around them comes with challenges and struggles. We want to talk about those challenges openly with you and others. We discuss grief, school, family balance, siblings, therapies, social conversations, behaviors, delays, diagnosis advocation, and marriage. We do not hold degrees in medicine ...
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This one is a bit wild, y’all. Just like Tash’s favorite chunky sweater. We talk about pet peeves, our favorite outfits and clothing, ways to unwind and relax, and our apps that we just can’t quit! This is exactly what it’s like when we are all in the same room. Lots of giggles, maybe a couple of swears. Just giving you a heads-up. 😉…
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Jonathan Alderson Pt. 3: Consequences and our Kids
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WHAT DO I DO ABOUT THE OREOS?!?! :D (Inside joke… listen and you’ll understand!) For a discussion on consequences, this one has a lot of laughs. It's important to laugh at ourselves, right? How do we teach our kids consequences that empower them to make better choices? What is the framework around this? AND.. if we haven’t been the best with conseq…
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Welcome to the first of our Merry-Go-Round Episodes! We needed a fun way to revisit episode topics that we'd already done, but as you all know, certain topics are ever-changing. Much like a merry-go-round we just circle right back around. Today’s episode we touch on SLEEP! Let us know if there are any topics you'd like for us to revisit and update …
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We love it when DM chats lead to podcast guests. Katie shares her personal story about her son’s diagnosis and therapy journey, specifically ABA. This led to her finding her voice, speaking up, and helping others in her area and state to receive more coverage for autism services. We all have to start somewhere! Connect with Katie on Instagram @7luc…
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Mindful Voices: A One-Stop Shop for Therapy?!
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Today we had a great discussion with Rachael Farkas at Mindful Voices about therapies and services available to autistic families in a “one-stop shop” style company. There are places out there that can provide speech, OT, potty training, ABA, etc all from one location and team. Everyone works together and has access to your kids’ data and informati…
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Life is tough, but so are YOU! Shannon and Britt here to talk about current struggles with our autistic kids. Dentists, ER visits, soccer practice, and the struggle to get on a literal bus. No one says this life is boring, am I right? Things happen to us, that’s life. How we react and process and move forward? Well, that’s where it’s really up to u…
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Jonathan Alderson Pt. 2 : Receptivity & Communicating With Our Kids
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Another amazing conversation with Jonathan Alderson today! We dive into the topic of feeling frustrated when our kids “just won’t listen” to us and how we can find our way back to the joys of parenting again, even with kids who may have more challenging behaviors. How can we adjust our expectations? What are the changes that we can make in our inte…
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Jonathan Alderson Pt. 1: Why All Therapy May Not Work for All Kids
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Today we had the pleasure of talking with Jonathan Alderson. Jonathan has a Master's of Education from Harvard and also completed a three-year intensive certification training in autism treatment at the Autism Treatment Center of America. While we could go on and on about his BIO, what we discuss is even MORE important. After working directly with …
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The Moms' Current Fav Book w/ author Kelley Coleman
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We can’t wait to dive in with our guest today, Kelley Coleman, author of “Everything No One Tells You About Parenting a Disabled Child”. No joke, this is one of the best books on autism and parenting disabled kids we’ve ever read! We talk about the book and venture into other topics including: The “Go Home, Google, and Cry” method isn’t the only op…
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Feeding our Kids: The Feeding Assessment Tool w/ Elizabeth Klein, BCBA, LBA, M.Ed.
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It is of no mystery to most of us, or so it seems, that feeding and diets are significant touchstones in having a kid on the spectrum. No matter where they fall, that is the very thing that became apparent in all of her work. Join us for this expert guest, Elizabeth Klein, BCBA, LBA + M.Ed., who shares her professional experience in the field and i…
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School Based Speech Therapy w/ Sarah Anzalone, SLP
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In today's episode, we had the pleasure of chatting with Sarah Anzalone, Speech Language Pathologist. Sarah works in the Camas School District as an SLP working specifically with elementary-age children. Sarah shares with us about coming from a large district in Las Vegas to a much smaller district in Camas and how different that looks. She also gi…
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It’s another Grab Bag today! We polled you guys this week on Instagram to get your questions! (Another reason to chat with us on IG, wink wink…) Here’s what we tackle: Spreading awareness vs being protective of our children’s diagnosis, how do we handle this? How do you handle punishment in your home with your kids? How do we personally handle aggr…
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What!? Wait?! We are talking about one of our very own. It’s a long story but it’s all about the journey, in this case, Jean’s Journey to advocacy, and blossoming into the public education advocate, specifically at the cause of reimagining Special Education. You might want to listen to this in sections. Understandably, Jean, while compelling in fac…
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Sister, Advocate, and Psychologist : Dr. Taylor Day
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Today we have an amazing conversation with Dr. Taylor Day. She is a child psychologist and parent coach specializing in autism and neurodivergent care and today joins Jean & Shannon for a special episode. In this episode we cover a lot and it may even double as an actual therapy session for all three ladies, as we have a very powerful discussion. J…
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School Based Occupational Therapy w/ Sharon Peddie, OT
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Sharon Peddie is an occupational therapist that works in her local school district and private practice. Her experience in both of these fields offers her a unique perspective on the importance of OT in all aspects of a person’s life. Different strategies and techniques are used depending on the environment. Seems obvious, but not everyone views th…
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HomeSchooling: A Discussion with Manisha Snoyer
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Today’s show is all about homeschooling! We chat with Manisha Snoyer of Teach your Kids about the different ways that you can educate your children while thinking outside of the box. We discuss curriculum, what a day in the life of homeschool can look like, and where you can find more support and information if it’s something that you are consideri…
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Siblings: A Lifetime Dedication w/ Mollie Garre and Maya LaBate
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We have an AMAZING one for you today! Little warning.. the tears start early, at the 6 minute mark! It’s not sad, it's heartwarming. Its emotion evoking. And so thoughtful. Today we talk about what it's like to be a sibling to an autistic individual. We had the pleasure of speaking with Mollie Garre, who is the daughter of previous guest, Monica Me…
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Can you believe it?! We are officially in 2024. Today we got together to discuss our vision for the upcoming year, personal, professional, and podcast! 2023 was quite the year for the 4 of us; many lessons learned. We are taking those lessons into this year and want to share with you what that means for us! From growing in our advocacy, to growing …
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Another year has come and gone… 2023 has had many ups and downs for each of us personally. We touch on the highs and lows, as well as talk about our favorite podcast memories over the last 12 months. Most importantly of all, we are so grateful to have YOU here with us this year. We hope this podcast continues to be an avenue to feel connected, mayb…
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Keeping our Kids Safe at Home w/ Jay Korza
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It can feel like keeping our kids safe is a moving target. Just when we think we have it figured out, something new pops up that we have to problem-solve. If you’re anything like us, it’s one of your biggest worries. Today, Jay and Shannon discuss all of the safety precautions they have taken in and around their home to keep Gracie safe and help li…
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Breaking Barriers: Diagnosis to IronMan Athlete
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In today's episode, we bring you another incredible community member. We had the pleasure of sitting down and chatting with June Bunn or as I've been calling her, “Mama June”! June shares all about her journey in raising Adrienne, her daughter who is on the autism spectrum. With a diagnosis that was given or more “fought for” in the year 2008 a tim…
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"Are You Sure?" : Colleen Johnson's Story
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From meeting her husband on the Fiddler on the Roof national tour to starting their family together and having two amazing boys, Colleen discusses her journey through Autism and Down Syndrome diagnoses. We talk about the feeling of being blindsided by multiple health issues with her sons Eli and Luke. Colleen walks us through their journey and disc…
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Suicide and the Signs: AnneMoss Rogers' Story
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This episode is about suicide and suicide prevention. We feel strongly this is a topic we all need to be aware of and educated about, particularly as it relates to parenting neurodivergent children. If you or someone you love needs to seek help, the US Suicide Hotline for calling and texting is 988, available 24/7. A quick Google Search will bring …
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All of us girls on the pod follow Mama Fry! This was such a great conversation about the ins and outs of raising an adult son with autism. We talked a little about her journey with her son as he grew up, but really focused on what the transition to adulthood looks like. What does it look like when our kiddos turn 18? If you’re concerned about what …
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Lots of great questions from our listeners this week. These are some of our favorite episodes to record, we love hearing from and talking about the subjects that are most important to you. This week, we touched on a wide variety of topics: Puberty and Hygiene Medical-grade strollers and equipment Chiropractic care Aggression Friendships with Typica…
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Raising My Son Before Services: Monica Meyers Part 2
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In this episode, we continue with part two of Monica’s story. This episode details a little more of what the future planning for Michael looks like along with Monica and what she is moving into career-wise.By Tash Dillmon & Shannon Korza
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Raising My Son Before Services: Monica Meyers Part 1
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Today's episode starts us with part one of this two-part series. We sat down to chat with the lovely Monica Meyers, a community member, advocate, and trailblazer to this community in the state of Washington. Monica shares her experience not only with her son's diagnosis that came in a time of no internet but also the courageous amount of advocacy s…
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We holiday OUR way. Join us for a discussion on the many ways the holidays can look, but mostly feel, and how we have navigated that. There is a build-up of hyperintense emotions and activities around these times, no matter the holiday or culture; nuances that don’t become apparent until you are faced with the realities of having an autistic or neu…
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Talking Our Kids: Back To School Updates
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We are halfway through school this semester and wanted to do a little check-in. We discuss each of our kids’ progress and the challenges that we are facing this year in school. Overall, we are all doing pretty well, but that doesn’t negate the fact that we still worry. It’s a lot and we know you get it too. We mentioned a book and documentary that …
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Employing Autistic Adults w/ Eileen Youngberg
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Today Tash & Shannon sit down with Eileen Youngberg, an Assistant Program Manager from Trillium Employment Services. Trillium is a non-profit organization based in Washington State. We dive deep into not only the work Eileen does but also the importance of why we need to be advocating and pushing for our kids as they are leaving the transition prog…
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The Importance of Peer-to-Peer Support
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Come join us! Today we are talking about our community and defining the very pillar of why we exist as a podcast and community. Peer-to-Peer support can be defined as a person who belongs to the same group or shares the same lived experience. In contrast to mentorship where help is provided by an expert, in peer-to-peer support ALL peers are equall…
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How to Achieve Inclusive Education w/ Bre Gastaldi (Part 2)
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In this next installment with Bre Gastaldi, Inclusive Education Consultant & Educator, we learn about the actionable steps that need to be taken at large as well as day-to-day. The goal is to make huge systemic shifts in education and it takes all of us adopting a core set of beliefs and values.By Jean Wade Mayer & Tash Dillmon
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What Inclusive Education REALLY Is w/ Bre Gastaldi (Part 1)
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Today we learn and discuss how people and institutions hold their own definition of what real inclusion means. We brought on Bre Gestaldi, an Inclusion Education Consultant & Educator, to break down the “What” + “Why” of what inclusive education REALLY is. Facts + links provided in the episode: Research reasons - No studies conducted since the late…
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Creating Your Community with Sarah Watkins from AUsomesauce
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Making connections with others can be very daunting, especially for special needs families. Where do you even start? We are so pleased to share our chat with Sarah Watkins, from AUsome Sauce, a non-profit organization based in Southern California, who saw a problem in her area and decided to do something about it. Sarah shares about her own family,…
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Today, we’re talking tics, involuntary movements, stimming, and other repetitive behaviors. What are they and how do we experience them in our own households, it’s quite the ride. Tics and other stimming behaviors are very common among autistic individuals. Sometimes they are very self-soothing and can really help someone feel grounded and regulate…
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This episode is all about us ladies and some random facts! We love to have these episodes to not only share some personal stuff about us crazy girls but to also bring some fun lighthearted laughter to your week once in a while!By Tash Dillmon & Jean Wade Mayer, Brittney Crabtree
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It is thought that experiencing joy and experiencing grief are two mutually exclusive emotions or houses of emotions. In this episode, through an authentic conversation, we debunk that isn’t the case and prove the two can coexist and WHY it's important to embrace joy with grief.By Jean Wade Mayer, Brittney Crabtree & Tash Dillmon
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This episode is ALL about our recent trip to visit Tash in Washington! We reflect on the trip and how meeting on Instagram has changed our lives so much. Come chat with us!By Tash Dillmon & Jean Wade Mayer, Shannon Korza, Brittney Crabtree
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Some great questions from our listeners today, focusing on speech therapy and communication. We deep dive into our kids’ speech and language development over the years and also discuss some of our favorite therapies. Not every therapy is available or appropriate for every child, so do your research and see what’s best for your family. Want to learn…
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How Distrust Can Affect the Way You Advocate
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Join us today as we discuss how our perception of trust and distrust in medical professionals has shaped our behavior as both a parent and advocate for our exceptional children.By Jean Wade Mayer & Brittney Crabtree
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Adaptive Diving : Discover Diveheart w/ Jim Elliot and Tinamarie Hernandez
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You don’t want to miss this one! Such an amazing chat today with Jim Elliot and Tinamarie Hernandez of Diveheart. Diveheart is a non-profit organization that specializes in adaptive scuba diving to any child, adult, or veteran with a disability, in hopes of providing physical and psychological therapeutic value to that person. In their words, “Dive…
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Finding the Right Caregiver with Dr. Alisa Elliot
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Today we talk with Dr. Alisa Elliot, who is the owner and creator of Chrysalis Spectrum in Houston, Texas. Her company provides in-home care for a variety of people in need, including those with disabilities. Today we’re chatting about why it’s important to have respite and in-home care. We also discuss what to look for in a provider, what to expec…
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Step inside our brains for the second installment of Mom Guilt. Why because Mom Guilt is inevitable and provides endless amounts of opportunities to discuss. This time it is about the actual inner dialogue that takes place. “I am a failure.” “I am the worst mom.” Why are we like this?!By Brittney Crabtree & Tash Dillmon, Jean Mayer
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Insert Bon Jovi song lyrics... Today we sat down and recapped the summer so far. The good, the bad and the ugly. Come hang with us as we chat summer. And then hop on IG and let us know how it's going for YOU!By Brittney Crabtree and Jean Wade Mayer, Shannon Korza
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Let's Get Physical : Movement & Our Kids
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Today’s episode we sat down with guest and author ,Sheena Leedham, to talk all about movement and the benefits it provides for our exceptional needs children. We do a dive into how this movement can not only help on a physical level but also bring confidence and inclusion with their Neurotypical peers. Links: Follow this link to learn more about Th…
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On this episode we identify, breakdown and apply the four traditional styles of parenting: Authoritative, Authoritarian, Permissive and Uninvolved/Neglectful. We dive into the newer developed parenting styles such as Tiger, Attachment, Positive/Gentle, Outsource and Helicopter. Why we may operate mainly with only one or two of these styles, at any …
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Participating in Therapy While Allowing Our Kids to be Their Authentic Selves with Dr. Kristin Wegner
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We are thrilled to have Dr. Kristin Wegner on today, discussing ABA and other behavioral therapies. Kristin talks about her background working with neurodivergent children and the educational and professional journey that has brought her where she is today. We dive into the history of ABA and how it has evolved over time. We discuss both the positi…
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It’s a grab bag of your most asked questions this week! Here's what you've been asking about: 1. Eating habits and sensory-related food aversions @8theplate SOS Approach to Feeding 2. Driving and riding in the car: safety and car seat alternatives Buckle Up For Life 3. Making friends: peer support and maintaining friendships Special Olympics…
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Life with my Boys, One Autistic and the other Deaf : Jen Haase's Story
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Today Jen shares her story with our community. From having two boys in 13 months to having her youngest diagnosed as deaf shortly after birth, to then having her oldest diagnosed as autistic, Jen shares how this has changed the dynamic in her family. She shares how they have to balance the wants, needs, and sensitivities of both children as well as…
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Slipping & Sliding Into Summer: Handling the Transition
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It’s summertime, aren’t you excited? Or are you wondering how to fill all of those hours of unstructured time at home? We go into depth on each of our summer plans and talk about camps and programs that are offered in our areas. We also touch on sports and vacations. Camping with autistic kids, it’s possible as long as you're flexible…and know wher…
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