Springbrook's Converge Autism Radio

The discussion in this podcast contains several helpful nuggets of information. However there are many glaring problems, including implicit racism, transphobia, pathologizing neurodivergent differences, and dismissing autistic lived experience. The discussion of diagnostic disparities across race reflects pervasive implicit racism. Equating whiteness with advantage flattens diverse socioeconomic realities, while poverty is too readily racialized. The framing of higher intellectual disability diagnoses in Black children as mere “racial difference” erases the role of racist clinical practices and culturally biased assessment. Assumptions about language barriers, single-parent households, and parental advocacy disparities reinforce stereotypes about families of color, contributing to ongoing marginalization. The clinician’s self-identification as “educated” implies parents of color are uneducated, and implicitly centers white expertise over community knowledge, perpetuating colonial power dynamics. Regarding the higher rate of LGBTQ+ and transgender identity among autistic people, the podcast problematically frames these identities as “confusion” or “struggle,” which pathologizes and invalidates autistic LGBTQ+/trans identity. Alarmist language about an increase in transgender identity fuels harmful “trend” myths that ignore authentic neurodivergent self-expressions, thereby attempting to diminish the legitimacy of LGBTQ+ autistic identities. Very dangerous rhetoric! PDA is introduced by the host as, “I get really frustrated and rigid when someone places a demand on me.” The ensuing discussion labels PDA perjoratively as “bad behavior,” opppsitional strategies, and “undiagnosed adult autism.” Autistic meltdowns are referred to as “tantrums” and as maladaptive communication. The speakers completely disregard the profound anxiety, sensory overwhelm, and autonomy needs experienced by PDA autistics. Both speakers share that they know very little about RSD, then proceed to express skepticism about its validity, dismissing a crucial framework many neurodivergent people use to explain intense emotional reactions related to rejection. This clinical dismissal invalidates lived experience and contributes to invisibility and psychological harm. Overall, the podcast uses a clinical, neurotypical, deficit-based view that promotes stigma and stereotype rather than affirming the richness of autistic, neurodivergent, gender expansive, and culturally diverse experience. 0 out of 10. Recommendation to host and guest: learn from the lived experiences of autistics and lose the pathologizing behaviorist lens.

Be warned about their credentials, influences, and goals. I’d be weary of a therapist credentialed by liberty university. He also seems to entirely burden a wife and mother while seemingly overlooking that women and girls are on the spectrum as well. There’s a series of unfounded assumptions and demands that really don’t seem reasonable. The anecdotes are loaded and the lip service to acceptance while demanding sitting around talking about football and accusations of lying when things don’t get done, demonstrates a clear lack of understanding and priorities. Quoting the Bible and telling people they can change their brains if properly motivated is pretty screwed up. Ever think that games removed the you from the situation? Didn’t have someone harping on whether mom felt warm fuzzies because they helped with groceries or tolerated the jocks & the demands of Christian patriarchal masking. For the host of the program, your audience isn’t children. You’re all allowed to speak in adult tones.