Autistic and ADHD Kids Parenting Strategies: Every Brain is Different

Samantha Foote & Lauren Ross | Parenting Neurodiverse Kids
  • 5.0 (30)
  • Parenting
  • Updated Weekly

Welcome to Every Brain is Different, the podcast designed for parents raising kids with Autism, ADHD, and other neurodiverse conditions. Discover practical parenting strategies, expert insights, and real-life stories that highlight the strengths and challenges of neurodivergent individuals. Join us to connect with a supportive community of parents, gain tools to help your child thrive, and celebrate the unique ways every brain works. If you're looking for inspiration, effective parenting strategies, or simply a sense of connection, tune into Every Brain is Different and join a community that truly understands. Website: www.everybrainisdifferent.com Instagram: www.instagram.com/everybrainisdifferent TikTok: www.tiktok.com/everybrainsidifferent YouTube: www.youtube.com/@everybrainisdifferent

  1. 4d ago

    What is the Second Thing to do After Getting an Autism Diagnosis? | Ep. 175

    Connect with Samantha: www.everybrainisdifferent.com Download the Guide to Raising Your Neurodivergent Child: www.everybrainisdifferent.com   Samantha and Lauren continue their discussion on what to do when you suspect or receive an autism diagnosis, revisiting the idea of “being a detective” to learn what makes your child tick while also debating the line between respecting boundaries and pushing kids to get out into the world for social learning and health. They emphasize acting early to access supports, highlighting Medicaid options like the disability-based Katie Beckett Waiver (which can cover broad healthcare and therapies) and other state-specific waivers for non-traditional therapies, plus early intervention (Zero to Three), developmental preschool requirements, IEPs/504s, respite care, parent training, adaptive equipment, grants, and case management. They stress that professionals often won’t volunteer these resources, approvals can take months to years, denials are common, and parents should reapply, follow up persistently, join local Facebook groups for area-specific guidance, get on multiple therapy waitlists, keep organized records, and request school assessments in writing.   00:00 Welcome Back Recap 00:40 Boundaries Versus Pushing Growth 03:01 Why Social Practice Matters 05:09 Finding Help After Diagnosis 05:24 Medicaid Katie Beckett Waiver 08:11 Early Intervention and School Supports 09:45 Local Groups and Activity Options 11:52 Waitlists and Getting On Them 13:37 Be the Squeaky Wheel 15:20 Organize Paperwork and Ask Providers 19:53 Action Steps and Next Episode   Connect with Samantha Foote! Website: https://everybrainisdifferent.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everybrainisdifferent YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@everybrainisdifferent

    What is the Second Thing to do After Getting an Autism Diagnosis? | Ep. 175

  2. Jul 13

    What is the Number 1 Thing To Do After Your Child Gets Diagnosed With Autism? | Ep. 174

    Connect with Samantha: https://everybrainisdifferent.com/ Join the Neurodivergent Parenting Community: https://everybrainisdifferent.com/membership Suzanne Jabour Episode About Grief: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/is-it-normal-to-grieve-after-your-childs-autism-or/id1697406719?i=1000750957793   Samantha and Lauren discuss the number one thing they would do after getting an autism diagnosis for your child: learn about your child, not just autism. Samantha emphasizes that a diagnosis is a tool for understanding, not fixing, and that parents may feel relief and grief, all of which are valid. They stress that autism presents differently in each person, caution against overreliance on online checklists, and encourage neurodiversity-affirming thinking over deficit-based views by asking what behaviors communicate and what needs they meet. Examples include sensory accommodations for loud toilets, avoiding uncomfortable clothing, and allowing harmless stimming, while still intervening for safety concerns like self-injury or eloping. They suggest tracking strengths, triggers, and ABC patterns, seeking professional or community support, and preview next week’s focus on applying for resources early due to long waitlists.   00:00 Welcome and Summer Catchup 00:11 Autism Moments and Themed Weddings 02:29 Why This Episode Matters 03:34 Processing the Diagnosis 05:50 Learn Your Child First 07:19 Observe Not Checklists 09:01 Neurodiversity Affirming Shift 10:26 Assessments and Getting Resources 14:08 Deficit vs Affirming Examples 24:04 Behavior as Communication 26:33 Action Steps and ABC Notes 30:12 Wrap Up and Next Week Preview Connect with Samantha Foote! Website: https://everybrainisdifferent.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everybrainisdifferent YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@everybrainisdifferent

    What is the Number 1 Thing To Do After Your Child Gets Diagnosed With Autism? | Ep. 174

  3. Jul 6

    How to Build a Supportive Mental Health Network | Ep. 173

    Connect with Samantha: https://everybrainisdifferent.com/ Join the Neurodivergent Parenting Community: https://www.everybrainisdifferent.com/membership Get the Guide to Parenting Your Neurodivergent Child: https://everybrainisdifferent.com/   Samantha and Lauren discuss why building a supportive network matters for mental health and how to do it, drawing from Samantha’s postpartum psychosis and breakdown in 2016 and the challenges of parenting children with medical needs. They outline key benefits of support, which include emotional encouragement, practical help, accountability, perspective when “your brain is lying to you,” and connection. They describe four types of support: personal (friends, family, faith/community), professional (primary care, therapists, psychiatrists, coaches, support groups), peer (special-interest and parenting/disability communities), and practical (cleaning, childcare, meal services, assistants). They offer steps to build support without shame: start small, be specific about needs, allow imperfect help while avoiding toxic relationships, and find aligned communities, ending with a one-step takeaway and available resources.   00:00 Why Support Matters 01:39 When Your Brain Lies 03:52 Personal Support Plan 08:51 Professional Help Options 12:33 Peer Support Communities 13:44 Practical Help That Works 17:07 Build It Without Awkward 18:20 Ask Clearly and Specifically 19:33 Boundaries and Finding People 23:54 Weekly Takeaway and Resources   Connect with Samantha Foote! Website: https://everybrainisdifferent.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everybrainisdifferent YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@everybrainisdifferent

    How to Build a Supportive Mental Health Network | Ep. 173

  4. Jun 29

    Why Your Child Falls Apart After Vacation (And What to Do About It) | Ep. 172

    Join the Neurodivergent Parenting Community: https://www.everybrainisdifferent.com/membership Atomic Habits: https://jamesclear.com/atomic-habits   Samantha and Lauren discuss how returning home from vacation can be dysregulating for neurodivergent kids due to transitions and delayed stress responses from masking, sensory input, uncertainty, and social demands. They recommend not scheduling extra activities immediately after returning, prioritizing rest and recovery over productivity, and giving kids (and parents) grace during reintegration. They advise returning to familiar routines without trying to overhaul life, focusing on connection before correction, debriefing the trip to build self-awareness and plan future supports, and watching for delayed burnout days or weeks later.   00:00 Welcome and Summer Check In 00:17 Autism Threads Stories 03:52 Vacation Reset Topic 05:51 Why Coming Home Is Hard 06:45 Decompression Looks Different 08:40 Protect Recovery Days 12:40 Back to Familiar Routines 15:46 Grace Rest and Screen Time 18:54 Debrief and Learnings 20:22 Delayed Burnout Signs 21:12 Key Takeaways and Wrap Up   Connect with Samantha Foote! Website: https://everybrainisdifferent.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everybrainisdifferent YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@everybrainisdifferent

    Why Your Child Falls Apart After Vacation (And What to Do About It) | Ep. 172

  5. Jun 22

    Why Family Vacations Feel Hard with Autistic and ADHD Kids (And What Actually Helps) | Ep. 171

    Download the Guide to Raising Your Neurodivergent Child: https://everybrainisdifferent.com/ Connect with Samantha: https://everybrainisdifferent.com/   Samantha and Lauren discuss how to help vacations go more smoothly for neurodivergent kids by prioritizing safety, predictability, and regulation over nonstop activities. They explain how vacations disrupt routine, sensory input, and expectations (new places, foods, people, airports, planes, theme parks, beaches), which can overwhelm autistic and ADHD children. They recommend preparing kids in advance with photos, maps, videos, itineraries, visual schedules, and honest communication about uncertainty; using supports like airport assistance (Sunflower lanyards, practice tours, early boarding); and building recovery time with hotel breaks, quiet spaces, and rest days. They suggest creating an escape plan or safe word, avoiding forced socialization, packing sensory tools and familiar items, watching early signs of overload, and adjusting parental expectations so everyone ends the day regulated, safe, supported, and connected.   00:00 Vacation Reality Check 01:17 Why Vacations Overwhelm 03:19 Sensory Overload Hotspots 06:11 Chill Trips Still Hard 08:04 Boost Predictability 11:44 Over Communicate Plans 13:06 Build Recovery Time 17:39 Create an Escape Plan 21:56 Pack Sensory Supports 24:25 Adjust Vacation Expectations 25:55 Bring Familiar Comforts 27:13 Spot Overload Early 28:06 Wrap Up and Recap 29:33 Resources and Farewell   Connect with Samantha Foote! Website: https://everybrainisdifferent.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everybrainisdifferent YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@everybrainisdifferent

    Why Family Vacations Feel Hard with Autistic and ADHD Kids (And What Actually Helps) | Ep. 171

  6. Jun 15

    Dance as Self-Care for Parents with Annett Bone | Ep. 170

    Samantha and Lauren welcome dance artist and creative coach Annett Bone to discuss dance as self-care—especially for stressed parents raising neurodivergent kids. Annett shares that returning to dance at 43 after a 20-plus year hiatus helped her heal and that dance can be expression, creativity, processing, release, or a way to get out of your head. She encourages starting with the end in mind, then taking small, realistic steps, sometimes just a few minutes alone with music, without fear of judgment. The conversation offers practical ideas like family dance parties, using Just Dance for guidance, exploring movement one body part at a time, and combining movement with writing, drawing, senses, and imagery like animals or weather. Annette invites listeners to DM her “brain” on Instagram for a free customized 20-minute movement session and mentions her podcast, The Dancepreneuring Studio.   Connect with Annette: www.instagram.com/annettbonewww.AnnettBone.com.   Connect with Samantha: https://everybrainisdifferent.com/ Get the Free Ultimate Guide to Parenting Your Neurodivergent Child: https://everybrainisdifferent.com/   00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro 00:54 Why Dance Matters 01:49 Dance as Self Care 03:48 Busy Moms Start Small 07:33 Easy Ways to Begin 10:17 Creative Movement Games 12:28 Classes and Dance Styles 15:00 Dance for Every Body 19:06 Final Tips and Mindset 21:21 Where to Find Annette 23:18 Rapid Fire Fun Question 24:18 Wrap Up and Takeaways Connect with Samantha Foote! Website: https://everybrainisdifferent.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everybrainisdifferent YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@everybrainisdifferent

    Dance as Self-Care for Parents with Annett Bone | Ep. 170

  7. Jun 8

    The Neurodivergent Family Road Trip Survival Guide | Ep. 169

    Connect With Samantha: https://everybrainisdifferent.com/ Join the Neurodivergent Parenting Community: https://www.everybrainisdifferent.com/membership   Samantha and Lauren introduce a multi-part series on road tripping, focusing in this episode on strategies for smoother car travel, especially for kids with autism. They explain why road trips are hard-loss of routine and predictability, sensory overload, limited autonomy, sibling noise conflicts, motion sickness, and movement needs—and emphasize that success is about regulation, not perfection. Tips include planning seating ahead of time, packing comfort items and regulation tools first (headphones, sunglasses, weighted items, fidgets), keeping snacks and water accessible, using GPS timing to reduce “are we there yet,” creating visual roadmaps/schedules, practicing expectations, building in movement breaks, and watching early meltdown signs.   00:00 Summer Chaos Intro 00:47 Road Trip Series Setup 01:54 Why Road Trips Are Hard 04:06 Pre Trip Car Plan 05:43 Predictability With GPS 07:54 Sensory And Sibling Noise 10:32 Devices And Offline Options 11:57 Movement Break Strategies 15:14 Visual Roadmaps And Packing 19:07 Meltdown Prevention And Repair 20:52 Games And Entertainment Ideas 23:57 Validate And Parent Regulation 26:23 Key Takeaways And Wrap Up   Connect with Samantha Foote! Website: https://everybrainisdifferent.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everybrainisdifferent YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@everybrainisdifferent

    The Neurodivergent Family Road Trip Survival Guide | Ep. 169

  8. Jun 1

    How to Help Your Child With Dyslexia and Dysgraphia with Daniela Feldhausen | Ep. 168

    Connect with Samantha: https://www.everybrainisdifferent.com/ Join the Neurodivergent Parent Community: https://www.everybrainisdifferent.com/membership Samantha and Lauren interview Daniella Feldhausen, a former DC attorney who founded Kids Up Reading Tutors after earning a master’s in special education and focusing on helping children with reading and spelling challenges, including dyslexia and dysgraphia. Daniella explains that her team tailors one-on-one, high-dosage tutoring (multiple sessions per week) based on a detailed skills evaluation rather than relying on a diagnosis, aiming to help students catch up quickly and build confidence. 00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro 00:46 How Kids Up Works 03:43 Confidence and Family Wins 05:25 Dyslexia vs Dysgraphia 08:49 Hidden Struggles in Older Grades 10:42 First Steps for Parents 13:01 It Is Never Too Late 19:01 IEPs and School Limits 23:20 Resources and Where to Find Daniella 24:46 Fun Question and Farewell 25:43 Host Highlights Wrap Up   Connect with Daniela: Website: www.KidsUpReadingTutors.com LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/daniela-feldhausen-kidsupreadingtutors/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/KidsUpReadingTutors/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/kidsupreadingtutors/   Connect with Samantha Foote! Website: https://everybrainisdifferent.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everybrainisdifferent YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@everybrainisdifferent

    How to Help Your Child With Dyslexia and Dysgraphia with Daniela Feldhausen | Ep. 168
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Welcome to Every Brain is Different, the podcast designed for parents raising kids with Autism, ADHD, and other neurodiverse conditions. Discover practical parenting strategies, expert insights, and real-life stories that highlight the strengths and challenges of neurodivergent individuals. Join us to connect with a supportive community of parents, gain tools to help your child thrive, and celebrate the unique ways every brain works. If you're looking for inspiration, effective parenting strategies, or simply a sense of connection, tune into Every Brain is Different and join a community that truly understands. Website: www.everybrainisdifferent.com Instagram: www.instagram.com/everybrainisdifferent TikTok: www.tiktok.com/everybrainsidifferent YouTube: www.youtube.com/@everybrainisdifferent

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