Episode Summary In this episode of the Autism Blueprint Podcast, I had the pleasure of speaking with Rachael Dunkle, a licensed clinical professional counselor and certified high conflict divorce coach. Rachel shared her journey into the mental health field, which was inspired by her personal experiences with trauma and addiction, as well as her ow…

Episode Summary: In this episode of the Autism Blueprint Podcast, I had a conversation with autism specialist, Katherine Scott about preparing for back to school. “Miss Kat,” a licensed marriage and family therapist, shared valuable insights on the struggles parents and children face during this time. We discussed the pressures of success, challeng…

Episode Summary: In this episode, I had the pleasure of welcoming Jan Stewart, a dedicated mother and advocate for neurodivergent individuals, back to the Autism Blueprint Podcast. Jan shared valuable insights into the challenges and triumphs of raising her children, Andrew and Ainsley, who are now thriving in their respective careers. Jan discusse…

Podcast Episode Synopsis: In this episode of the Autism Blueprint Podcast, host Janeen Herskovitz, welcomes author and advocate Jan Stewart to share her journey of raising children with mental health and neuro-developmental disorders. Jan Stewart’s award-winning memoir, “Hold on Tight, A Parent’s Journey Raising Children with Mental Illness,” serve…

In this episode of the Autism Blueprint Podcast, we’re in the home office speaking with Lisa Gomez, the Assistant Secretary for Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA). Lisa shared valuable insights into how EBSA works to protect the retirement and health plans of American workers and their families. Throughout the episode, Lisa discussed …

In This Episode In this episode Janeen speaks with Meg Applegate, who shares her powerful story of being a survivor of the troubled teen industry. Meg opens up about her experiences of being undiagnosed autistic throughout her life and the trauma she faced during her time in congregate care facilities from the ages of 15 to 18 and a half. Meg Apple…

In this episode, we’re in the theater chatting with Janeen’s daughter, Rebekah, who has returned to the podcast for the second time after several years. Rebekah, now 24 years old, shared her journey from being a theater-loving kid to a young adult navigating life with neurodiversity. As our new Creative Consultant at Autism Blueprint, Rebekah discu…

In this episode, we’re in the library where I had the pleasure of welcoming Dr. Wendela Marsh for the second time on Autism Blueprint. Dr. Wendy shared valuable insights on the significance of person-first language and the evolution of her book series, “Adulting While Autistic.” We delved into the challenges faced by autistic adults living independ…

In this episode of the Autism Blueprint Podcast, Janeen welcomes Dr. Sourav Sengupta, a child and adolescent psychiatrist, to discuss important topics related to children’s mental health. The conversation delves into the role of medication in treatment, the importance of untangling complex stories, and the significance of working with systems to su…

Today I am joined by the insightful and compassionate Katherine Scott, a licensed marriage and family therapist at our private practice. Known for her expertise in working with neurodivergent individuals, Katherine brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our discussions. In today’s episode, we explore the complex dynamics of needs versus wan…

In today’s episode, we’re traveling overseas to chat with a special guest, Jude Morrow, a renowned autism advocate and author. Jude shares his personal journey from the medical model of disability to the neurodiversity lens, and how it has shaped his work in advocating for the rights and dignity of neurodivergent individuals. We discuss the importa…

Today we’re in your wallet, talking about the complex issue of autism and consumerism. When parents are vulnerable and faced with consumerism while trying to find the right care for their child, the results can be financially and emotionally devastating. In this episode Janeen shares her experience and what to look out for on your journey. This epi…

Today we’re in the family room talking about support from extended family and friends. It’s not an easy task for autism families to get the support we need from the people we love. This episode is designed to share with them and make it a bit easier. This is a replay. The original episode aired 8/3/2022 This episode is sponsored by The Peer Network…

This episode is sponsored by The Peer Network. Sometimes the journey to well-being feels overwhelming. But you don’t have to walk it alone. Welcome to the peer network, where connection meets compassion through telehealth peer support. At the peer network, their certified peer support specialists are more than just trained professionals. They are i…

We’re in the workplace today talking with cofounder and COO, Tom D’Eri. Tom shares his experience growing up with an autistic brother and helping to create a sustainable employment opportunity for him and so many others. In This Episode You Will Discover How his family came up with the idea for Rising Tide Car Wash. Tom’s experience as an autism si…

We’re in the home library today talking with author and public speaker, Ron Sandison. Ron shares his experience growing up autistic and has some fantastic advice for parents, professionals and churches who help people on the autism spectrum. In This Episode You Will Discover How a honey badger and a groundhog help keep Ron grounded. How a special i…

We’re in the TV room/home theater today talking with Angie Harrington of The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City. Angie’s son was diagnosed with autism last year, and she shares how she is navigating her new normal. In This Episode You Will Discover Why Angie decided it was time to leave the show Her family’s journey to get her son, Hart, an autism d…

We’re in the therapy office today chatting with Whitney Owens about her autism motherhood journey. Whitney shares her experiences as a mom, private practice owner and entrepreneur. In This Episode You Will Discover What is a faith-based practice and who is it for? How Whitney’s life has changed since her daughter’s diagnosis The most difficult part…

We’re in the family room today chatting with Brigitte Shipman about helping our autistic kids become independent adults. Brigitte shares her experiences as a mom and coach, including her experience of writing a book with her son. In This Episode You Will Discover How to set up your child for success in life How to handle the mom guilt that accompan…

We’re out of the house today, talking about travel. If you’ve ever tried to travel with your neurodivergent kiddos, you know it can be quite a challenge at times. Getting there is not always half the fun. So we’re chatting today with Dawn M. Barclay about her new book, “Traveling Different: Vacation Strategies for Parents of the Anxious, the Inflex…

We’re in the library today talking with marriage and family therapist, Katherine Scott, about her new book, “The Tail Of A Trio.” We’ll be chatting about how the book can be used by parents, therapists and teachers to help kids of all ages and abilities work through socializing, adjusting to new situations and the healing power of friendships. In T…

Today we’re in the family room talking about support from extended family and friends. It’s not an easy task for autism families to get the support we need from the people we love. This episode is designed to share with them and make it a bit easier. In this episode you will discover: What inhibits family and friends from reaching out. How you can …

We’re in the girls’ room today chatting with Dr. Wendela Whitcomb Marsh about why it’s so difficult for girls to get diagnosed with autism. Her most recent book, “Recognizing Autism In Women and Girls,” was just released this week and is a must-read for every clinician and woman on the spectrum. In this episode you will discover: Dr. Wendy’s story …

We’re in the family room today with host Janeen Herskovitz, talking about the number one thing her coaching clients have reported makes the biggest difference in their interactions with their children. It’s not a specific therapy, secret supplement or special diet…it’s presuming their competence! In this episode you will discover: What it means to …

We’re having a cup of tea with Stephanie Weiderstrand today, talking about autism parenting. Join us for Stephanie’s story and how she manages special needs parenting as well as helping other families grow and thrive. In this episode you will discover: Stephanie’s story and what she has learned through her daughter with ASD. How to manage your ener…

We’re in the music room today with renowned child advocate and musician, Raffi! Not only is he a gifted musician, songwriter, producer and child advocate that you may remember from your own childhood, he’s helping to educate the world about the importance of honoring our children and how this concept can make our world a more peaceful place. In thi…

We’re in the library today speaking with Dr. Reema Naim about the sensory system and how it impacts your child. Dr. Naim’s book series, Adventures of the Sensokids, help kids understand their sensory needs and how to regulate it. In this episode you will discover: Why Dr. Naim became an occupational therapist and how she uses her own superpower to …

In honor of our 100th episode, we’re in the family room today with host Janeen Herskovitz, talking about what she’s learned during her 20 plus years of parenting a child with autism. In this episode you will discover: The things Janeen would do differently if she knew then what she knows now. What it means to take better care of yourself. The most …

We’re in the therapy room today speaking with Dr. Susan Sherkow of The Sherkow Center. In this episode we talk about making meaningful connections with your child and how to best understand their needs. In this episode you will discover: Dr. Sherkow’s autism journey as a professional and how she has seen this landscape change over many years. The S…

We’re in the bedroom today speaking with George Bailey of ZPods. We discuss autism fatherhood, his company that created a bed designed just for kids with autism and related health issues, and so much more. In this episode you will discover: What is a Zpod and how it can help your child sleep. The issues autism parents face in trying to get their ki…

We’re in the library today speaking with two editors of the book, Sincerely Your Autistic Child ; What people on the autism spectrum wish their parents knew about growing up, acceptance and identity. We discuss how the book came about, and why your child’s point of view and needs should be at the forefront of how we parent and treat them. In this e…

We’re in the master bedroom today speaking with psychotherapist, Kate McNulty, about navigating romantic relationships when one partner has autism. Her book, Love and Aspergers, discusses the topic in detail. Her perspective as a woman on the autism spectrum who was diagnosed late in life, informs her experience as a therapist. In this episode you …

We’re in the family room today with host Janeen Herskovitz, talking about the areas where autism parents get stuck. In her private practice, where Janeen provides therapy and autism parent coaching, parents often have the most difficulties in these areas. In this episode you will discover: The most common areas where parents of neuro-diverse childr…

We’re in the library today talking with autism researcher, Simon Baron-Cohen, about his new book, “The Pattern Seekers: How Autism Drives Human Invention.” In the book, he argues that understanding autism, and what he calls the Systemizing Mechanism to figure out why things are, is key to understanding the origins of and evolution of human creativi…

We’re in the therapist’s office today chatting with Marriage and Family Therapist, Katherine Scott, about how to help our kids with COVID fatigue. We’re a little over six months into the COVID experience, and while it’s had varying impacts on everyone, I think we can all agree we’re SO over it. Katherine and I talk about how to manage the stress an…

We’re in the master bedroom today talking with relationship coach, Janelle Harding. We’ll be discussing the issues that come up in a marriage with someone on the spectrum, as well as tips for connecting with your child. In this episode you will discover: How autism affects relationships, particularly romantic ones. Tips for connecting with someone …

Welcome to Autism Blueprint’s Kitchen Table Talk- a series of episodes where my husband, Joe, and I share some of our experiences living with autism over a cup of coffee at our kitchen table with you. So pull up a chair and join us. In this episode we will be talking about: What autism parents are learning from their COVID experience. We posted a q…

We’re in the family room today talking with Juan Santos, a professional counselor, relationship expert and autism sib. He’ll be sharing his immigration story, relationship tips, and his experience growing up with a sister on the autism spectrum. In this episode you will discover: What gets in the way of building healthy relationships. How to streng…

Welcome to Autism Blueprint’s Kitchen Table Talk- a series of episodes where my husband, Joe, and I will be sharing some of our experiences living with autism over a cup of coffee at our kitchen table with you. So pull up a chair and join us. In this episode we will be talking about: Our new podcasting equipment; and discovering how to use it as we…

One of the scariest parts of raising a child with a life-long disability is planning for their care after you’re gone. And if you’re one of those parents, you may not know that there are things you can put in place now for your child that will help your family financially, assist them in their independence, and ensure they are cared for when you’re…

Self-care can be really difficult for autism parents, but it is SO necessary. In this episode, Autism Blueprint Podcast host, Janeen Herskovitz is interviewed by Luminara Serdar from Autism Transformed as part of her online summit: Autism Recovery Summit 4: Healing Brain, Body and Being. In this episode you will discover: Why self-care is so import…

Welcome to Autism Blueprint Quick Tips; A mini episode where I share a quick nugget of knowledge to help you on your autism journey. This episode is sponsored by the Autism Blueprint Classroom where you can download free resources, and purchase online courses and videos to help you survive and thrive as an autism parent or professional. Join the co…

We’re in the family room today talking with parenting expert, Samantha Moe about how to handle challenging behaviors in your children. In this episode you will discover: How your emotional state can affect your child’s. The difference between meltdowns and tantrums, and how to approach them. What could be going on in your child beneath the surface …

We’re in the kitchen today talking with Denise Voight about food and nutrition. Denise is a clinical nutritionist who specializes in helping individuals with autism and ADHD, and she knows a ton about how nutrition affects your child’s brain. In this episode you will discover: What is functional medicine and functional nutrition? What are toxic foo…

We’re in the classroom this week talking with Caitlin Sweetapple. Caitlin is the Director of Education at Shrub Oak International School, and will be talking about how to get the right educational support for your child. In this episode you will discover: How Caitlin’s experience working with students on the autism spectrum, fueled her passion for …

Welcome to Autism Blueprint Quick Tips; A mini episode where I share a quick nugget of knowledge to help you on your autism journey. This episode is sponsored by the Autism Blueprint Classroom where you can download free resources, and purchase online courses and videos to help you survive and thrive as an autism parent or professional. Join the co…

We’re in the family room this week talking with Nichole Wilson. Single parenting is especially difficult when you’re raising a child on the autism spectrum. Nichole will be sharing how she manages raising her daughter and running a magazine for autism moms. In this episode you will discover: Nichole’s personal autism mom story. How she balances wor…

My guest this week is Licensed Professional Counseling Associate, Tosha Rollins. Parenting a child on the autism spectrum is challenging, but especially during the time of COVID-19. We’ll be discussing her recommendations on how to get through it. In this episode you will discover: How Tosha became a therapist who specializes in autism. How emotion…

Welcome to Autism Blueprint Quick Tips; A mini episode where I share a quick nugget of knowledge to help you on your autism journey. This episode is sponsored by the Autism Blueprint Classroom where you can download free resources, and purchase online courses and videos to help you survive and thrive as an autism parent or professional. Join the co…

My guest this week is social skills expert, Laura Crowley. Social skills is a struggle for most kids on the autism spectrum as well as many children with ADHD. It’s also the topic of the most common questions I receive from parents: ‘What can I do to help my child learn social skills?’ Today we will be unpacking this very complex question. In this …