Finding Hope on the Spectrum

Brooke Wagner
  • 4.9 (40)
  • Mental Health
  • Updated Weekly

Are you worried about your autistic son's or daughter's future and quality of life? Do you want to feel empowered to be the intuitive parent you know you are? Or are you a curious professional, seeking to learn and discover how to best reach your autistic clients? I invite you to join our community of growth seeking individuals as we connect, share and support each other. This show will feature heart to heart conversations with parents, professionals, and autistic individuals sharing personal insight and life experiences. We will dive deep into supports, programs, and stories that inspire us.

  1. 1d ago

    What If Non-Speakers Understand More Than We Ever Imagined? Lora's Inspiring Journey Through Spelling

    Brooke interviews Valeri Tompkins, a Spellers Method provider, and her daughter Lora about Lora’s path from being diagnosed with autism and ADHD at age two through years of speech therapy, OT, ABA, PECS, AAC, and sign language with limited success. Valeri describes discovering letterboard-based spelling after reading “Underestimated” in 2021 and how spelling leverages gross motor pointing to overcome fine-motor challenges and apraxia-related barriers, leading to open communication, increased confidence, and reduced frustration. Lora shares that spelling gave her a voice and meaningful participation in her own life, emphasizes that non-speakers are intelligent and deserve robust, age-appropriate education, and urges people not to write off non-speakers. They discuss presuming competence, vision issues, lesson-based spelling sessions, concerns about influence, and Valeri’s pivotal moment when Lora spelled “Mom and Dad, I love you.” 00:00 Emotional Cold Open 00:41 Podcast Welcome and Mission 01:20 Meet Valeri and Lora 02:24 Valeri’s Autism Journey 04:14 Discovering Spelling 06:05 Hope vs Expert Limits 07:32 Before Spelling Communication 09:05 What Is Spellers Method 10:53 Vision and Apraxia Pieces 12:54 Misconceptions About Nonspeakers 13:59 Lora Finds Her Voice 16:10 Education and Advocacy 19:34 Presuming Competence 22:11 Lora’s Message to World 26:03 Trust Your Parent Gut 28:58 Boards to Keyboard Progress 30:08 Inside a Spelling Lesson 32:26 No Magic Timeline 33:00 Lesson Question Hierarchy 34:06 Defining Open Communication 35:47 Confidence Through Age Level 37:10 Emotional Breakthroughs 40:22 Avoiding Influence 44:38 Nonlinear Progress 48:35 Hope Moment Hawaii 52:17 Presume Competence Daily 56:29 Parent Regulation Tools 59:18 Age Range And Prep 01:01:54 Never Give Up Connect with Finding Hope on the Spectrum: Email: bwagner@findinghopeonthespectrum.com  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574918739411  Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brooke-wagner-4819233a/  Instagram: @findinghopeonthespectrum  TikTok: Findinghopeonthespectrum Guest Contact: Valeri & Lora Tompkins Spellers Method Provider Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tompkinsvaleri/  & https://www.instagram.com/lorasayswithlove/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/valeri-tompkins-34558115/

    1h 7m

  2. Jun 15

    Understanding the Gut-Brain Connection, Food, and the Biology Behind Behavior

    Brooke hosts Finding Hope on the Spectrum and interviews Dana Kay, an Australia-born, Seattle-based board-certified holistic health and nutrition practitioner and founder of the ADHD Thrive Institute, whose work was inspired by her son’s ADHD diagnosis and a medication cycle that escalated to multiple drugs by age five. Dana explains her view that ADHD symptoms are signals of underlying biological stressors, emphasizing the gut-brain axis, neurotransmitter production (about 90% of serotonin and 50% of dopamine made in the gut), inflammation, and nutrient absorption affecting focus, mood, and sleep. She describes functional lab testing (stool, urine, finger prick) including food sensitivities, leaky gut, organic acids, and cryptopyrrole (linked to zinc and B6 depletion). Practical strategies discussed include reducing common triggers (gluten, dairy, dyes, excess sugar), stabilizing blood sugar with the “no naked carb” rule, improving sleep and screening for sleep apnea, increasing movement and sunlight, limiting screens, and using picky-eating tools like a family food challenge and food chaining. Dana shares her programs, book, and podcast resources. 00:00 Gut Makes Serotonin 00:51 Show Welcome Intro 01:30 Meet Dana Kay 03:22 From Accountant to Advocate 05:08 Medication Spiral Wakeup 08:36 Symptoms Are Signals 10:06 Gut Brain Axis Explained 12:30 Inflammation Nutrients Behavior 15:26 Testing For Root Causes 18:26 Food Triggers To Watch 22:11 Going Gluten Dairy Free 24:03 Organic On A Budget 25:53 Sleep Clues And Apnea 29:44 Sleepwalking and Adenoids 31:41 No Naked Carbs 33:49 Why Kids Are Picky 36:02 Family Food Challenge 38:36 Food Chaining Strategy 41:47 Lifestyle Habits That Help 45:08 ADHD Misconceptions 47:55 Research and Food Policy 50:45 Thrive Institute Program 53:47 Book Podcast and Wrap Connect with Finding Hope on the Spectrum: Email: bwagner@findinghopeonthespectrum.com  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574918739411  Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brooke-wagner-4819233a/  Instagram: @findinghopeonthespectrum  TikTok: Findinghopeonthespectrum Guest Contact: Website: https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/adhdthriveinstitute  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adhdthriveinstitute/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ADHDThriveInstitute  Podcast: https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/the-soaring-child-podcast-thriving-with-adhd/

    57 min

  3. Jun 8

    Rethinking Non-Speaking Autism: Vision, Motor Challenges, and Communication | Ep. 59

    Brooke hosts Finding Hope on the Spectrum and interviews developmental optometrist and expert Dr. Susan Daniel, who shares her groundbreaking work linking vision therapy, motor challenges like apraxia, and communication for non-speaking individuals and spellers. Inspired by her own experience with double vision and her son Matthew's diagnosis of autism and severe apraxia, Dr. Daniel describes her shift from general optometry to specializing in neurodiverse care. She outlines a unique, parent-driven coaching model born out of the COVID-19 pandemic that utilizes tools like syntonic phototherapy (color therapy), prism lenses, and visual-motor exercises to help individuals safely regulate their nervous systems, flatten gait issues like toe walking, and gain the physical visual control needed to reliably access communication methods.  00:00 Double Vision and Fighting the Court Lines  01:01 Podcast Welcome and Introduction  01:40 Meet Dr. Susan Daniel  02:56 From General Optometry to Special Needs Detective  05:38 Matthew’s Journey: Apraxia and Depth Perception  08:07 Collaborating with Spelling Practitioners  10:48 General Eye Exams vs. Developmental Optometry  12:01 High Rates of Ocular Disease in the Autistic Population  13:32 Connecting Body Apraxia to Eye Motor Planning  16:15 The Struggle of Fighting Double Vision Every Day  18:30 Breaking Exercises Down for Communication Desires  20:19 Managing Anxiety and Motion Sensitivity in Public  21:32 Pivoting to a Parent-Driven Coaching Model  22:39 The Power of Repetition and Once-a-Month Visits  24:19 Explaining the "Why" to Motor-Challenged Clients  25:32 Scoring Big Goals: From Letterboards to Pickleball  26:25 Sharing Protocols and Mentoring Global Doctors  29:56 Why Words Aren't Needed for a Complete Eye Exam  32:12 Finding Prescriptions with the Retinoscope Light  33:34 Revealing the Eye Turn Stats: 80% to 90% in Non-Speakers  36:37 Unlocking Purpose: Why Spellers Choose Stencils Over Keyboards  37:59 Balancing the Seesaw of Motor vs. Cognitive Demands  39:21 Syntonic Phototherapy: Balancing the Rest and Digest Spectrum  43:54 Regulating the Nervous System Before Challenging Work  46:30 Taking the Exam Out of the Chair (Floor, Swings, and Trampolines)  48:15 Travel Optometry and Working Across State Borders  51:32 Case Study: Correcting Posture and Mastering the Paragraph Track  52:48 Straightening Up Gait: Fixing Visual Toe Walking with Lenses  54:17 Finding Certified Practitioners Globally via COVD  Connect with Finding Hope on the Spectrum: Website: www.findinghopeonthespectrum.com  Email: bwagner@findinghopeonthespectrum.com  Facebook: Finding Hope on the Spectrum Facebook Page  LinkedIn: Brooke Wagner on LinkedIn  Instagram: @findinghopeonthespectrum  TikTok: @findinghopeonthespectrum Guest Contact: Dr. Susan Daniel Neuro-Developmental Optometrist Website: https://www.susandanieloptometry.com/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-daniel-o-d-4930b726/  YouTube: https://youtube.com/@susandaniel

    59 min

  4. Jun 1

    From Denial to Warrior: The Autism Journey Every Father Needs to Hear | Ep. 57

    Brooke hosts Finding Hope on the Spectrum and interviews Pittsburgh-based autism advocate, author, and speaker Harry Psaros, who shares his family’s early autism journey with his son Gus, including missed warning signs, a preschool birthday party turning point, and a fast Cleveland Clinic diagnosis. Psaros describes shifting from anger to a “warrior” mindset rooted in empathy, self-care, and building a supportive village, and he outlines his “2% rule” of focusing on one daily skill to reduce overwhelm amid competing therapy demands. He discusses multiple therapies, highlighting Dr. Robert Melillo’s Brain Balance approach and reported gains in Gus’s presence, self-advocacy, and nutrition. Gus, 22, is graduating from Kent State in exercise science, pursuing a physical therapy assistant degree, and has won a National Courage Award. Psaros also explains founding North Fayette PALS and serving on the Autism Caring Center board, and he details how his book aims to engage fathers worldwide. 00:00 Overwhelm to 2 Percent 01:01 Podcast Welcome Intro 01:40 Meet Harry Passaris 02:56 Before the Diagnosis 05:38 Birthday Party Wake Up 08:07 Mindset Warrior Shift 12:01 Self Care as Strategy 16:15 Therapies and 2 Percent Rule 20:19 Brain Balance Breakthrough 22:39 Gus Today Milestones 26:25 PALS and Community Support 29:56 Why He Wrote the Book 32:12 Where Are the Dads 33:34 Book Impact Stories 36:37 Drop the Ego 37:59 Tandem Kayak Teamwork 39:21 Bestseller and Translations 40:34 Vision Boards for Goals 43:54 Progress Over Levels 46:30 Legacy and Helping Others 48:15 Find Your Village 51:32 Advice to Younger Self 52:48 What Thriving Means 54:17 Where to Find Harry Connect with Finding Hope on the Spectrum: www.findinghopeonthespectrum.com Email: bwagner@findinghopeonthespectrum.com  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574918739411  Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brooke-wagner-4819233a/  Instagram: @findinghopeonthespectrum  TikTok: Findinghopeonthespectrum Guest Contact: Website: www.harrypsaros.com  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/harrypsaros/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/harrypsaros

    57 min

  5. May 25

    Late Diagnosis, Burnout, and Finding Your Voice as a Neurodivergent Parent | Ep. 56

    Host Brooke welcomes Lisa Richer—an advocate, co-author, leader, and mom of two neurodiverse sons—who shares how being neurodivergent herself connects her experiences as an elite gymnast, corporate leader, and family advocate. Lisa describes growing up undiagnosed, receiving an anxiety label without tools, and later hitting severe burnout after a COVID-era vaccine injury that disrupted her nervous system and led her to therapy, healing, and reclaiming her intuition. She explains why corporate environments often felt combative given her “inside-out” thinking and sensitivity, and why she chose not to return despite a high-level role offer. Lisa discusses her child-led advocacy journey, her collaborative “work with you, not for you” approach at IEP/504 tables using her “three Cs” (clarity, confidence, courage) and RIPE framework, and shares outcomes including improved placements, student self-advocacy, and academic success. She also discusses her chapter in “Confident You: The Raw Conversations,” and upcoming Journey2Bloom workshops and resources. 00:00 Born Too Early 00:49 Meet Brooke And Lisa 02:08 Finding The Thread 03:10 Late Diagnosis And Burnout 06:38 Survival Mode To Service 08:08 Corporate Culture Clash 12:40 Choosing Not Corporate 14:37 Advocacy Begins With Son 16:37 Early Signs And Diagnosis 19:33 IEP Bridge Building 22:16 Three Cs Framework 25:14 Intuition And Trauma Responses 29:53 Authentic Partnership Model 31:30 Middle Ground Advocacy 33:41 Neurodiversity Prism Approach 37:42 Parent Success Stories 43:42 Student Voice and Trust 45:35 Co Authoring Confident You 48:45 Moving Through Fear 50:04 Vision for Journey2Bloom 53:16 Where to Find Lisa 54:36 Closing Thanks and Next Steps Connect with Finding Hope on the Spectrum: www.findinghopeonthespectrum.com Email: bwagner@findinghopeonthespectrum.com  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574918739411  Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brooke-wagner-4819233a/  Instagram: @findinghopeonthespectrum  TikTok: Findinghopeonthespectrum Guest Contact: Website: https://journey2bloom.com/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/journey2bloom/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisaricher/

    57 min

  6. May 18

    Why Teens Pull Away: Understanding Teen Defiance, Anxiety, and Connection | Ep. 55

    In this episode of Finding Hope on the Spectrum, host Brooke talks with teen and parent wellbeing coach Laura Ollinger about why parenting teens is harder in today’s tech-driven, high-pressure world and how parents can better understand teen behavior. Laura shares how her daughter’s early anxiety and her nephew’s suicide shaped her calling to support ages 12–20, and explains teen brain development as a “renovation project,” where the amygdala and emotional sensitivity outpace the still-developing prefrontal cortex, fueling risk-taking and big reactions. They discuss fear of social rejection, healthy individuation and pulling away, red flags for withdrawal, and the need for balanced boundaries plus warmth (authoritative parenting). Laura addresses common misunderstandings like “defiance,” highlights teens’ needs for belonging and significance, notes similar core needs for neurodiverse teens, shares a coaching success story, and describes her Cracking the Parent Code course and HeartMath-based self-regulation tools. 00:00 Why Teens Feel Pressure 01:02 Meet Laura Ollinger 02:04 Her Calling to Coach 03:57 Parenting Four Teens 04:29 Teen Brain Renovation 06:34 Fear and Rejection 08:19 Pulling Away Is Normal 09:55 Red Flags and Check Ins 11:28 Boundaries With Warmth 13:04 Misread Teen Behaviors 17:32 Neurodiverse Teen Overlaps 18:49 Put Relationship First 21:30 A Coaching Success Story 23:53 Programs and HeartMath 27:37 Hope Through Perspective 28:39 Where to Find Laura 28:55 Final Thanks and Wrap Connect with Finding Hope on the Spectrum: www.findinghopeonthespectrum.com Email: bwagner@findinghopeonthespectrum.com  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574918739411  Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brooke-wagner-4819233a/  Instagram: @findinghopeonthespectrum  TikTok: Findinghopeonthespectrum Guest Contact: Website: https://www.positivelyhealthycoaching.com/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/positivelyhealthycoaching/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-ollinger/

    31 min

  7. May 11

    When Gifted Kids Struggle: Executive Function, Identity, and Finding Hope | Ep. 54

    Host Brooke interviews counselor, speaker, and consultant Mark Talaga of the Center for Identity Potential, who specializes in supporting gifted and twice-exceptional (2e) individuals and hosts the Hopelessly Gifted Podcast. Mark shares his own path from being an unrecognized gifted student to struggling in a video game job due to executive functioning and processing issues, then shifting into counseling and mentoring under Andy Mahoney. He explains giftedness as developmental extremes, 2e as giftedness plus diagnoses like ADHD, and asynchronous development as the gaps driving challenges such as anxiety, perfectionism, and shame. Mark describes identity work using the FIT Model across life systems, outlines evaluation including possible neuropsychological testing, emphasizes scaffolding and school collaboration for executive-function supports, and frames “Hopelessly Gifted” as accepting who you are and finding hope through difficulty. 00:00 Hopelessly Gifted Meaning 01:06 Meet Mark Talaga 02:18 From Gifted Kid to Counselor 04:22 Failure to Purpose 05:57 Vulnerabilities Not Weaknesses 08:13 What Twice Exceptional Means 11:21 Why Anxiety Shows Up 13:25 Identity as Expression 17:20 The FIT Model Framework 18:59 Building Positive Identities 21:21 Perfection and Self Kindness 21:56 Assessment Process Next 23:10 Intake And Systems View 24:27 When Testing Helps 25:46 Scaffolding In Action 30:25 Ego And Letting Help In 31:08 Breakthrough Case Story 33:23 Finding The Right School 36:32 Classroom Support Playbook 38:59 Why The Podcast Exists 41:32 Hope For Families 43:24 How To Reach Them 44:51 Wrap Up And Thanks Connect with Finding Hope on the Spectrum: www.findinghopeonthespectrum.com Email: bwagner@findinghopeonthespectrum.com  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574918739411  Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brooke-wagner-4819233a/  Instagram: @findinghopeonthespectrum  TikTok: Findinghopeonthespectrum Guest Contact: Website: https://www.centerforidentitypotential.com/  LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/marktalaga

    47 min

  8. Apr 20

    Healing from the Inside Out: Cellular Health and Autism with Dr. Knight | Ep. 53

    Brooke interviews Dr. Knight, founder of the Autism Wellness Center of Utah, about his path from pre-med studies and business into chiropractic care and then cellular/foundational medicine to better serve children on the autism spectrum. Influenced by early experiences with individuals with special needs and family connections to autism, he pursued extensive training in digestion, nervous system support, cellular healing, and safe detoxification, prioritizing courses that improve his ability to help autistic individuals. He explains cellular inflammation as a barrier to nutrient and hormone signaling and links stressors like toxins, chemicals, mold, infections, and emotional stress to impaired cellular function and regeneration. In practice he starts with dietary changes (avoiding seed/vegetable oils and food dyes), supports detox pathways (liver, kidneys, bowel regularity, lymph), and provides cellular and nervous system support. He describes Health Empowered Families, a remote five-month, four-phase program with weekly access, education videos, phased detox, mitochondrial and gut support, and a lab-informed but cost-conscious approach. 00:00 Continuing Education Mindset 00:48 Welcome and Guest Intro 01:27 From Pre Med to Chiropractic 05:33 Calling to Serve Autism 08:56 Training in Detox and MAPS 13:10 Cellular Healing Explained 19:27 Practical First Steps at Home 23:50 Virtual Program Overview 30:27 Labs and Tracking Progress 33:24 Handling Detox Speed Bumps 35:25 Wrap Up and Resources Connect with Finding Hope on the Spectrum: www.findinghopeonthespectrum.com Email: bwagner@findinghopeonthespectrum.com  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574918739411  Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brooke-wagner-4819233a/  Instagram: @findinghopeonthespectrum  TikTok: Findinghopeonthespectrum Guest Contact: https://autismwellnesscenter.org/

    38 min
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4.9
out of 5
40 Ratings

About

Are you worried about your autistic son's or daughter's future and quality of life? Do you want to feel empowered to be the intuitive parent you know you are? Or are you a curious professional, seeking to learn and discover how to best reach your autistic clients? I invite you to join our community of growth seeking individuals as we connect, share and support each other. This show will feature heart to heart conversations with parents, professionals, and autistic individuals sharing personal insight and life experiences. We will dive deep into supports, programs, and stories that inspire us.

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