Adulting with Autism April Ratchford MS OT/L

Hey guys, welcome to Adulting with Autism, the podcast where we dive into the rollercoaster of adulthood through a neurodiverse lens. I'm April Ratchford, your friendly occupational therapist mom, proudly on the spectrum and raising an amazing young adult son with autism. Join us as we share stories, tips, and laughs, offering a supportive space for anyone navigating life's twists and turns. Grab your drink of choice, no judgment, and let's embark on this journey together. This is Adulting with Autism.
Hey guys, hey. Happy Saturday. I told you guys I would end up doing two episodes a week for you guys. It just happens the second one's on a Saturday. And I hear you guys judging me. Who does episodes on Wednesdays and Saturdays? This therapist does. Tried Fridays. It's a dumpster fire for therapists on Fridays. So I had to go to Wednesdays and it just so happens Saturdays are a great day for therapists.
I love you guys' feedback of what you like, what you don't, because you're pretty honest with me. I like honesty, even if it's brutal. One thing I do like to give you guys is a rounded out opinion, well, not opinion, but a rounded out view of different people on the autism spectrum. And my next guest is a guest who is on the autism spectrum and he's quite accomplished. And I want you to hear his perspective of how he grew up with autism because he wasn't really diagnosed until he was four. His grandmother was a big influence on his life. She just kept on trucking and kept reading and working with him until he started talking.
Let me tell you about Philip. Philip is an accomplished author, consultant, and entrepreneur who previously has worked with FedEx, Goldman Sachs, Bank of America, and Chick-fil-A. He got his Master's of Divinity degree from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, his MBA from Harvard Business School, and his bachelor's degree majoring in political science and economics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Philip has previously been featured in Business Insider, Entrepreneur Magazine, Forbes, and LinkedIn, as well as a number of podcasts.
When Philip is not fulfilling his purpose to grow God's people, grow God's businesses and grow God's kingdom, he enjoys reading, cheering on his Tar Heels, and raising his twin daughters with his wife, Myra. Now, Philip has also written a couple of books: "Disagree Without Disrespect" and "Future Proof, How to Adopt and Master Artificial AI to Secure Your Job and Career."
So I would love for you to give a warm welcome to Philip and listen to his story.
Hey, April.
Hey, how are you?
Good, how are you?
Good. Thank you for rescheduling. My niece got married last weekend and it was a zoo.
I can imagine. Dealing with change can be difficult to handle regardless of whether you're on the spectrum or not. It was a beautiful wedding, but I'm so glad it was over.
No problem. I get it. Because I know you have two little girls.
Mm-hmm. How old are they?
Seven.
You got a long way to go. Just wait. Just wait.
I know. I know. I know. Walking them down the aisle, that's a whole other thing. But I'm kind of glad I got time on my hands, not having to worry about that anytime soon.
My dress doesn't fit or I don't like the way it looks. Okay, all right, we're dealing with dolls right now so I can handle that a little bit better right now. So welcome to my podcast, I'm so glad you're on. I looked at your bio and I want to be you when I grow up also. You've accomplished so much.
Thank you.
I was like, wow, I was like, I'm on only thing number three, hopefully Lord willing I got a little more I'd like to go so some more things on my list I'd like to accomplish as well. So I was like, oh, my gosh, I can't even get myself together just to get this podcast. There's one step at a time, that's all we can do, you know, just build on that.
So tell my audience a little bit about yourself and how you came to get here with all your accomplishments.
Yeah. So I think I started

Hey guys, welcome to Adulting with Autism, the podcast where we dive into the rollercoaster of adulthood through a neurodiverse lens. I'm April Ratchford, your friendly occupational therapist mom, proudly on the spectrum and raising an amazing young adult son with autism. Join us as we share stories, tips, and laughs, offering a supportive space for anyone navigating life's twists and turns. Grab your drink of choice, no judgment, and let's embark on this journey together. This is Adulting with Autism.
Hey guys, hey, happy Wednesday. Welcome back to the podcast. As you can see, I have all the noises happening today. It's a day where I'm trying to be productive and every single noise that can happen is happening. I have cats, I have trucks, I have beepity beeps, you name it, I got it. Really, I am trying to be productive and belt out episodes, which is unusual for me. Usually, I'm a last-second Sally. Ask my sister. I'm going to have her on the podcast too. She'll tell you. I am last second. And today, it's just a big ball of mess.
I am happy to have you guys back for another episode. It is episode 20. I can't believe I made it to 20. Thanks, guys. I really appreciate you guys. And I enjoy doing these. And I hope you're getting some info out of this. As I was, again, my cats with all the opinions. As I was doing this episode, my son Z was like, why do you have so many mental health people on here? You got like a kabillion. And I looked at him and I said, well, because not everyone speaks the same language. He's like, what? I was like, some people don't understand the language unless different people say the same thing a different way. And that's why I like to present information. That's the same from different people because not everyone gets it in the same way.
For instance, when I went to OT school, I was taking a neuroscience class and it did not matter who I talked to in class. I could not understand it for the life of me. It was the teacher, my classmates, they all tried to explain it to me. And I finally was like, I need somebody who speaks April language. So who knew me better than my sister? So she just explained it in my language. She grew up with me. So she just explained it in my terms. Same thing. I bring different people on to help you professionally. Maybe that, personally grow. And one person may not grasp it with one professional, but maybe they grasp it with another. And that's all I want to do is help everyone kind of personally grow. Parents, caregivers, young adults on the spectrum, adult in the spectrum, that want to take it to the next level. This is a big crazy world. We all need some help. We all need a little help sometimes.
Bringing on my next guest is Constantine Moran. Constantine is a passionate advocate of personal growth, self-discovery, and a professional developer. Let's start this again, shall we? Shall we? Let's do this again. Constantine is a passionate advocate of personal growth, self-discovery, and professional development with over 15 years of experience. Through his journey from a fear-ridden man hiding his authentic self to embracing vulnerability and authenticity, Constantine demonstrates that self-discovery can unlock the keys to your personal and professional success.
As a holistic life empowerment mentor and coach, he inspires and empowers individuals on their unique journeys toward growth and self-discovery through both his professional and personal life, as well as his podcast, Unleash Thyself. Integrating his passion for technology, spirituality, and mentorship, Constantine helps individuals unlock their full potential, fostering a positive impact on the world around them. His mission centers on personal growth, spirituality, and self-discovery, dedicated to uplifting and empowering every member of the audience with his humble and sincere insights.
His call to action directs listeners to Unleash Thyself, which is his website that serves as a valuable resource for seek

Welcome back to another episode of Adulting with Autism! I'm April Ratchford, your friendly occupational therapist mom, proudly on the spectrum and raising an amazing young adult son with autism. In this episode, we dive deep into the concept of leadership, especially through the lens of ethical leadership, as inspired by a recent experience my son Ahzerei had at work.
We are joined by the insightful Shana Francesca, a keynote speaker, consultant, and workshop facilitator with expertise in international and ethical leadership. Shana shares her unique journey from a challenging upbringing in an evangelical Christian cult to becoming the founder and CEO of Concinnate LLC, where she promotes intentional living through curiosity, respect, and accountability.
Shana enlightens us on the importance of building real-life relationships beyond the confines of social media, the essence of visualization over manifestation, and the critical difference between leadership and ethical leadership. She also provides practical tips for identifying ethical environments in workplaces and higher education institutions.
Unfortunately, due to a storm in Kentucky, our conversation was cut short, but the insights Shana shared were truly eye-opening. Don't miss her recommendations for books that challenge traditional views and promote a more inclusive understanding of leadership and relationships.
Thank you for tuning in, and remember, you don't have to be a natural-born leader to make a difference. Leaders can be created through dedication and ethical practice. Stay awesome and keep shining bright!
Until next time, this is April Ratchford signing off from Adulting with Autism. Don't forget to share, review, and subscribe to help our podcast grow!
https://www.concinnate.world/
https://www.facebook.com/Concinnate/
https://www.instagram.com/concinnate.world/
How We Show Up- Nia Birdsong
Untamed- Glennon Doyle
Author Bell Hooks

Thriving with Neurodivergence: A Deep Dive with Dr. Matt - Adulting with Autism Podcast
In this engaging episode of the "Adulting with Autism" podcast, host April Ratchford and renowned clinical psychologist and advocate for neurodivergent individuals, Dr. Matt, explore the challenges, strategies, and triumphs of neurodivergent adulthood. From tackling misconceptions about neurodivergence to illuminating the importance of self-advocacy for neurodivergent individuals, the conversation is both educational and inspiring.
The discussion navigates various topics in-depth, from the psychological and financial impacts of abusive working environments to the benefits of Vocational Rehabilitation (Voc Rehab). Emphasis is also placed on how medication and therapy can aid individuals in managing high levels of anxiety, and the necessity of finding a suitable balance between tech-time and social activities for children
The conversation highlights the evolving job market with companies restructuring their interviewing processes to create a fair environment for autistic individuals. The discussion also delves into the fears and difficulties confronting autistic individuals or their caregivers when pursuing independent living, emphasizing the need to celebrate achievements over focusing on skill deficits.
This insightful episode provides practical steps towards independence and self-reliance for autistic teens and adults. Topics range from teaching budgeting and life skills to addressing the significant differences between enjoying and developing video games. The importance of nurturing dietary habits and identifying strengths gets outlined, providing a blueprint for sustainable personal and career growth. The episode concludes with a profound message about harnessing interests and strengths to foster meaningful connections and successful careers.
https://www.theneurodiversitycollective.com/
https://www.facebook.com/drmattzakreski/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-zakreski-0a32358/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtp0JmQXsPZfDWtfbS2yRCw

Immerse yourself in the compelling episode of Adulting with Autism hosted by April Ratchford, an occupational therapist and proud adult on the autism spectrum. This enlightening episode delves into the intriguing world of face blindness or prosopagnosia, a condition affecting approximately 1% of the global population.
Ratchford welcomes special guest Sadie Dingfelder, a former journalist who discovered she had face blindness just before turning 40. Author of the revealing book “Do I Know You? A face-blind reporter's journey into the science of sight, memory, and imagination," Sadie offers valuable insight into the challenges of living with this condition. Her story, enrichened by captivating and humorous anecdotes, is a fascinating deep dive into neuroscience and the challenges of recognizing faces.
Ratchford shares her own experiences with face blindness, offering insights into other aspects of neurodivergence like aphantasia and severely deficient autobiographical memory. Celebrating some famous personalities like Brad Pitt and Jane Goodall, who also have face blindness, this episode highlights the solidarity and understanding in the world of neurodivergence
Listeners will also hear insights into Sadie’s experience with the Cambridge Face Memory Test, a diagnostic tool for face blindness. She relates the long-running mysteries of her life that unveiled with her diagnosis and discusses the unique strategies she employs to recognize people.
Sadie's story is filled with resilience and humor, offering a compelling testament to the rewards of embracing life's quirks. Listen to this captivating episode for a riveting exploration into the realms of face blindness and neurodivergence.
 
https://www.sadied.com/

Welcome to an eye-opening episode of 'Adulting with Autism', your go-to podcast for approaching the adventures of adulthood through a lens of neurodiversity. Dive into the intricacies of trauma and the effects it has on individuals' physical and emotional states, and explore the uniqueness of stress responses and trauma inflicted upon various aspects of life.
We're joined by Michelle Brown, a functional nutrition specialist, traditional herbal medicine practitioner, and Ayurveda expert. Michelle helps her clients globally address complex health issues like fatigue, mood issues, gut health, and hormones. Learn from her multifaceted healing approach combining functional nutrition and trauma-informed lens.
Explore a deep dive into nervous system resilience, the powerful shifts necessitated in overcoming personal health struggles, and moving forward in life. Understand the body's inefficiency and learn strategies to let go of harmful patterns locked in blame or guilt. Discover the steps that neurodiverse individuals can take to release nervous system 'freeze' due to past traumas and biochemical imbalances.
This episode shines a spotlight on the healing role of therapy and somatic experiencing and the importance of understanding our unique neurobiology and physiological balance. We discuss the fundamental role of Ayurveda in stress and trauma management, busting the myth of health being a one-size-fits-all and acknowledging everyone's unique mind-body types.
Discover the crucial role of diet, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory foods in supporting mental health and reducing nervous system overwhelm, which is often overlooked in conditions like autism and mental health. This potpourri of insights serves as a powerful resource for anyone seeking to understand nervous system biology and the mind-body connection.
Finally, wrap up with practical tips to avoid re-traumatization and enhance resilience, covering more than just talk therapy - it's about a holistic approach to well-being! Tune in to leverage Michelle's Ayurvedic guide and kickstart your unique journey into holistic health routines.
https://botanacea.lpages.co/mood-fix-assessment/