The Threads of Life Trish O'Dwyer

#1 A look into how often others/society makes assumptions about neurodivergent and/or disabled people's intelligence just by what they see. having heard about the children/adults and their parents struggles the assumption is that they are always miserable and struggling and a real challenge for their parents, as if there is no joy. What is presuming competence and the true meaning of inclusion, all in Mum/S2C Practitioner-speak!
#2 Guest N/A
#3 0:00 Intro/Welcome, I'm back
2:51 Today's episode
2:51 The assumption by others/people/friends you know that our autistic and/or neurodivergent children are always struggling and unhappy and that it is an exhausting all day every day challenge for parents.
10:15 There is always a unique personality with interesting thoughts and ideas in every neurodivergent or disabled person you meet.
11:06 What is presuming competence? 12:57 Definition - Cheryl Jorgensen 2005
15:57 Speaking age appropriately to my autistic non speaking son Henry
20:53 Podcast - follow - review - share. Thank you.
23:58 The true meaning of inclusion
25:15 Interested in S2C? Have a look at www.i-asc.org
#4
Assuming and judging others intelligence by what we seeAll neurodivergent people have unique personalities with their own thoughts and ideas and they are most often fascinating, interesting, humorous, lovely, lovely people. Be curious.Presuming CompetenceSpeaking age appropriately to disabled peopleThe true meaning of inclusionInterested in S2C?
#5 Calls to Action
Pre-roll: web page
Mid-roll: podcast follow/review/share
End-roll: look up I-ASC
#6 Next Episode - tbc

#1 A good hour long episode chatting to Tracy; how we met; Tracy's background as an OT; her PDA (pathological demand avoidance) and autistic son Jack; their family; discovering NVR (Non Violent Resistance) and a new family venture called 'Aspects Together'!
#2 Tracy Weiner
#3 Time Stamps:
0:00 Intro to this episode and Tracy, how we met and Tracy's journey
6:35 Why is my child not coping? What is wrong with my parenting? Discovering PDA and getting no support.
15:08 "It's can't not won't" and "meet their storm with your calm"
16:40 NVR - non violent resistance, a theraputic parenting program through CAMHS
32:08 PDA Tops Tips
45:35 'Aspects Together' - new venture with husband Mark - see fb page
52:13 A story about my Dad and being a carpenter...link to men's mental health and the woodworking workshop at 'Aspects Together'
57:27 a long and positive and uplifting round-up
#4 Summary
Introducing Tracy, her OT background and familyPDA - the journey and top three tipsNVR - a pivotal part of Tracy's journey so much so that she is now a registered practitioner. Tracy's new venture with her husband Mark called 'Aspects Together'
#6 N/A
#7 PDA Society; NVR and Aspects Together + Blinkvist - see research links
#8 Next Episode :
Neurodiverse people can be happy and are wonderful human beings.

#1 This is not an episode on bad parenting or bad children, its an episode why we feel like bad parents and why our autistic and/or adhd and/or neurodiverse children are often made to feel this way. How us parents wish someone could come into our homes and simply observe and offer helpful advice on how to make getting through each 24 hr cycle easier + have someone who actually can witness and believe us and our children. Why its a challenge every single day and what a quick run through of 24 hours in the home is like.
#2 Guest N/A
#3 Time Stamps:
0:45 Intro to this episode
1:00 feeling like a bad parent
2:37 who is there for the parent for those 12-16 hours every day?
2:57 what we wish we had...someone actually come into our home to observe
3:30 someone to believe us and believe our children
6:00 my experience with this actually happening for me and the difference it made
8:30 rant about social service
11:39 Friends or relatives or 1:1's or ta's etc wanting to know what its actually like and how to help
14:57 can't NOT won't
17:00 The 24 hours!
#4 Summary
feeling like a bad parentwhat we parents wish someone would do for uswhy social services does not work for neurodiverse familiesour autistic and/or adhd and/or neurodiverse are not bad or difficult, just different and with unique sensory challengeswhat a 24 hour cycle can be likehow to be a better friend or relative and helpyou are not alone, your child will be okSpellX event online. Free!
#6 Calls to Action:
Pre - roll: I am 20 episodes in...thank you for your listens and shares and follows
Mid-roll: newsletter sign up via website and how to find it quickly
End roll: The free online SpellX event
#7 SpellX - see research links
#8 next Episode- tbc

#1 Food wars vs food relationships and the battle with their sensory systems that are constantly changing. There is so much more going on than just the food. It's different to the neuro-typical journey of fussy or picky eaters. My own experiences and advice from having raising a now 20 yr old son who is adhd plus my youngest Henry who is on speaking, autistic and adhd, age 12. They do grow and develop and their eating habits, relationships with food and mealtimes do get better. Look to professionals (nutritionists, dietitians etc)who are autistic themselves and/or actually live the autism journey as parents for the right advice e.g Yaffi Lvova.
#2 GUEST: N/A
#3 0:00 Intro
0:48 'food wars' should really be 'food relationships'
1:37 It's not war against the child, its against their sensory systems
2:00 Its not just about the food
4:04 what's especially tough for parents
5:31 my own experiences and examples with two of my 3 children
9:37 under/over weight
11:25 Nutritionist and other 'experts' advice
14:00 mix it up, experiment, try not to get riled, forget the traditional rules/norms/manners
17:25 The younger years and thinking things would never get any better, and the now
22:00 Our childrens brains work differently, it is not the same
22:30 Yaffi Lvova, nutritionist and dietitian who lives it and knows the autism journey.
#4
food wars vs food relationshipsit's about so much more than the foodwhat we all know as fussy or picky eatersit's different for autistic, adhd, spd, neurodiverse childrenexpert advice should come from those who are actually autistic or actually live itmy own experiences wiht a 20yr old adhd son and a 12 yr old non speaking, autistic and adhd younger son. it will get better, it takes time and adjustments, experimenting, mixing things up, never giving up
# 5 Calls to Action
pre-roll: new name, website, newsletter
mid-roll: thank you for the listens + follow + review/comment
#6 see under 'research links'
#7 N/A
#8 n+Next Episode...tbc

#1 The message as per an original unisex 'Autism Threads' slogan T-shirt is "NO APOLOGY". Autism is part of who our children at any age, are. It is part of their make-up, it is responsible for the incredible minds they do have and we should make no apology for their actions, noises, lack, of eye contact, different ways of communication. An introduction to Elizabeth Vossellor, Founder of S2C that is 'Spelling to Communicate', a film recommendation called "The reason I Jump" and what 'no apology' translates to for all of us on any given day.
#2 Guest: N/A
#3 Timeline:
0:00 Intro - welcome and intro to my either and/or autistic, adhd, neurodiverse children.
2:52 The NO APOLOGY unisex slogan T-shirt.
4:35 Why NO APOLOGY?
6:23 Meeting Elizabeth Vossellor, Founder of 'Spelling to Communicate/S2C' and her analogy for NO APOLOGY.
14:00 The Reason I Jump film and Bradstow School.
16:53 Never apologise for who you are. What's your NO APOLOGY for today?
19:05 School refusal/avoidance crisis in the UK.


#4
Intro - this back story to 'NO APOLOGY' i.e. a slogan T-shirt to raise awareness and support autism charities.When and why we apologise for our children's autism and why to stop doing so.Meeting Elizabeth Vossellor and her unique analogy for 'NO APOLOGY'"The Reason I Jump" British film on YouTube or AppleTV - my connection.What 'NO APOLOGY' canmean for us all and examples.Hint of a further topic and info coming soon in my February newsletter -school refusal/avoidance.
#5 Calls to Action:
New website + newsletter and podcast sing-up
The NO APOLOGY T-shirt
#6 Links/References:
https://youtu.be/W2GJO_rtzrs?si=Mjkv4pf3GsjpXMON
https://i-asc.org/
#7 Social media: N/A
#8 Next Episode: When you meet an autistic person...how to engage

#1 New Year vibes, already knackered, down with colds again and no resolutions made! Not an episode inviting a pity party but one encouraging awareness as I share what it's like for my non speaking son and I and how I describe just how fully competent he and all non speaking autistic people are and how we need to start to presume competence and treat them both with respect and age appropriately. tit bits on what I am learning as a Spell to Communicate Practitioner.
#2 N/A
#3
0:00 Intro 1:33 New Years vibes2:53 This is not a pity party4:08 What I assume those who know nothing of non speaking autism think my life and my sons life is like5:50 Our non speaking children ARE clever7:16 Sensory impacts7:40 What non speaking autistic people have said themselves (via spelling/typing)8:34 Cognition and Motor11:50 Diagnosis and testing14:06 The least dangerous assumption must surely be full competence? Until they themselves can communicate their thoughts to us14:50 Henry interrupts the recording and says a very poorly (he is unwell) "hello"16:16 A brief day in the life of
#4
This is not a pity party but an invitation to become more aware of non speaking autismThere is nothing wrong with their brains and competency/cognition, they simply have a brain body disconnect and a sensory system that is constantly going offline making motor tasks extremely challenging eg speech!Diagnosis and Intelligence testingWhat I assume others think my life with a non speaking child is likeA day in the life of
#5 Calls to Action:
Intro only - new name and webpage + newsletter sign-up
#6 Books:
The Reason I Jump by Naoki Hiagshida
Ido in Autismland by Ido Kedar (available in audible too)
Carly's Voice by Arthur Fleischmann & Carly
*Underestimated by JB Handley & son
*= reference to S2C Spelling to Communicate program and EV, my course leader!
#7 N/A
#8 TBA