Finding Mikey - Parenting our kiddo with Autism

Finding Mikey - Parenting & ASD, SPD, ADHD, Autism
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CALL US at 469-249-0425 Full show notes and episodes can be found at https://findingmikeypodcast.com Autism, has impacted our family, and this is our journey. We are Mike and Heather, and we share stories! We will talk with Authors, Specialists, Doctors, Activists and legal professionals to gather insight on how to better prepare our kids for full integration into school, society and independent adulthood. Our goal is to INSPIRE other parents, a little bit each day, to help them be the best advocate for their kiddos' growth.

  1. Our ABA Experience - Interview with Carrie Campbell

    05/15/2022

    Our ABA Experience - Interview with Carrie Campbell

    Full Show notes can be found at: https://findingmikeypodcast.com/our-aba-experience-interview-with-carrie-campbell/ Feel free to call us anytime at 469-249-0425 ABA has been a great experience for our family. Our son has Autism Spectrum Disorder and ABA therapy has helped him learn skills and improve his behavior and better his communication skills. The therapist work with him one-on-one and help him to practice the social and emotional skills he is learning in a safe and fun environment. We have seen great progress in our son since starting his therapy sessions and we are very grateful for the help and support of the therapist. We spoke with other parents of autistic kids and learned that they were seeing positive behaviors more often that negative behaviors after just a few therapy sessions! They spoke of bettering social skills and overall better daily living skills.

    32 min

  2. 04/29/2022

    The benefits of Montessori education for children with autism

    According to the National Autistic Society, "There is increasing evidence that the Montessori approach is highly effective for children on the autism spectrum." The individualized learning plan and hands-on teaching methods help students with autism learn in ways that are tailored for them. Montessori schools also emphasize social skills and peer interaction, which can be beneficial for children with autism. In addition, the structure and routine of a Montessori classroom can provide a calming environment for children with autism. We are joined by Erin Banks to talk through this teaching method and explore how it can help your kiddo grow! What is Montessori learning and how can it help children on the autism spectrum? How does a Montessori classroom environment differ from a traditional classroom setting for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD)? What are some of the key benefits of Montessori learning for children with ASD, such as improved communication and social skills, increased focus and concentration, and better self-esteem? Are there any drawbacks to using a Montessori approach for educating children with ASD? How can parents ensure that their child receives the best possible education through a Montessori program or in another setting that meets their individual needs?" Full Show notes can be found at: https://findingmikeypodcast.com/the-benefits-of-montessori-education-for-children-with-autism Feel free to call us anytime at 469-249-0425

    33 min
  3. Dawn Barclay - Author of "Traveling Different"

    04/22/2022

    Dawn Barclay - Author of "Traveling Different"

    Call Us at 469-249-0425 Travel can be stressful when you do it alone but add on the pressure of making a trip fun for your child and that’s when the heat is really cranked up! This episode is about traveling with your neurodiverse kiddos. Do you travel already? Ever taken a long flight with your family? How about a cruise? Well, if the thought of those gave you anxiety, this should help. We spend some time with Dawn Barclay, a lifelong traveler, writer and mom of 2 who when they were young she described as “anxious and inflexible”. She has a motherlode of tips for travel and really just makes it all sound easier than expected.

    30 min

  4. 04/15/2022

    Superpowers, Friends, and Social Skills

    Today’s topic is about friends, your kiddo’s superpower, and social skills. Tune in to hear us discuss how friendship and socialization has changed since we were kids, and some of the different ways that our children’s social needs can be met. Learn how we have approached helping Mikey to navigate having a friend over through giving him a list of house rules. We introduce you to a number of amazing communities, websites, and resources we have benefitted from, including the Tilt Podcast, Koaster Kids, and Model Me Kids. Find full show notes at : https://findingmikeypodcast.com/superpowers-friends-and-social-skills/

    27 min

  5. 04/09/2022

    Child Find - Early Intervention

    It can certainly be distressing when you start noticing that your child is experiencing developmental delays. But, on our journey with Mikey, we have discovered that there are services available for early intervention that won’t leave you bankrupt! In this episode, we’re talking all about the Child Find program, which makes the identification, evaluation, and early intervention therapy accessible for children with delayed development in every school district. You’ll find out how Mikey’s challenging preschool experience opened our eyes to Child Find, and how the program is structured, from the evaluation process to the multitude of services offered. We also touch on the telling indicators of developmental delays, eating therapy, and so  much more! Tune in for this informative episode to put your mind at ease and open the door to an affordable, effective solution for your child. Key Points From This Episode: The impulsivity that became apparent when Mikey started preschool. Our process of selecting the appropriate preschool for Mikey. The early intervention services available for children with social and learning differences.  What Child Find is and who the program is designed for. The financial accessibility of the program! Indicators of developmental delays. Mikey’s occupational therapy focus and structure. What eating therapy is and the affordability of it through Child Find! The Child Find evaluation process. The importance of early intervention. The early intervention services offered for kids with delayed development. Some of our favorite resources! Tweetables: “One of the awesome things about Child Find is once they do an evaluation and they see that  your child qualifies for services, all of those services are provided by the funding of the school  district.” — Heather [0:11:11] “It’s very important, when a child is young, to try to get them to use their words, use their  sounds, and develop words to communicate. However, assistive technology has come a really  long way.” — Heather [0:24:00] Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center ECTA Part C coordinator list Understood Autism Parenting Magazine Call us at 469-249-0425 Finding Mikey Finding Mikey on Apple Podcasts

    30 min

  6. 04/02/2022

    April - Autism Awareness Month

    April is Autism Awareness Month, and April 2 is World Autism Awareness Day! Today’s episode is about building community, raising awareness, and sharing resources. We introduce three resources that have been useful to us in terms of building community and learning more about autism. Log in to hear more about how to get involved, find community, and learn from the wealth of wisdom that has been published online. Join us to hear more today. Key Points From This Episode: Today’s topic: building community, raising awareness, and sharing resources. Three different ways you can be a part of the show: leave us a review, call us on thephone, and donate to us via the link on our website. The Autism Community in Action and how it can be used as a resource. How you can get involved in an upcoming online conference offered by TACA. Topics that will be covered at the conference, including therapies, legal planning,research, Spectrum Awakening and more. How to use the Spectrum Awakening website as a free resource. Autism Speaks and what Heather learned while exploring the website. Who created these resources: people who saw a need and wanted to meet it. Why these websites are aligned with the goal of the Finding Mikey Podcast. Tweetables: “We’re fortunate that there’s a plethora of information out there. It’s hard to read through sometimes but those are three really great ones.” — Mike [0:15:05] “I’m just grateful that these resources are out there because our podcast is about creating community and these websites were developed by people that saw a need and they wanted to create community as well.” — Heather [0:15:18] Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Autism Speaks Spectrum Awakening TACA Call us at 469-249-0425 Finding Mikey on Apple Podcasts

    17 min

  7. 03/25/2022

    IEP and other fun acronyms!

    Give us a call at 469-249-0425 Getting an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) for your child can be intimidating. Luckily there are supports you can draw on that can help you through this process. On the show today we take a look at how to start the IEP process and share what we learned from going through the journey ourselves. One of the key things we learned about IEPs is that you can start the process without a diagnosis. So, if the lack of a diagnosis has been holding you back, we encourage you to get started as soon as you can! Another crucial element of this undertaking is feeling empowered, supported, and prepared. Hear how you can utilize the resources your school district has to offer and why getting in touch with advocates in your area can be so beneficial. We also take a look at the need for a Full Individual Evaluation (FIE), which is integral to constructing an IEP for your kiddo, and how to start that process. Tuning in you'll hear a breakdown of the timeline you can expect, as well as details on how it all works. While our experiences have largely been positive, there are plenty of horror stories, and we encourage you to thoroughly document the entire process, including a paper trail of your correspondence and potentially even recording your first IEP meeting. We cover a lot in this episode, from how to prioritize goals for your child, to making sure you're in a position where you can adequately advocate for your kiddo. Join our conversation on FIEs, IEPs, and other interesting acronyms now! Key Points From This Episode: A brief overview of Mikey’s story and constructing an Individualized Education Plan (IEP). Why it was important to have an IEP in place to get accommodations for Mikey after the family moved from a private school in Texas to a public school in Virginia. How the state or school you use can affect your options and your experience. A breakdown of why you need to go through the IEP process to get the accommodations you need for your child. How the IEP process is customized for your child and what you want as goals. Some of the information you can get from your school district’s website on special education. How they can help you feel prepared for the IEP process. Reasons why the IEP process can be emotional and difficult. The importance of documenting all your relevant correspondence during the IEP process. How you can and should start the IEP process even if you don’t yet have a diagnosis. The need for a Full Individual Evaluation (FIE), the timeline you can expect, and how it works. Why an FIE is integral to constructing an IEP for your child. An overview of the support you can get from advocates in your area. The benefits of having a coach or advocate attend your IEP meeting with you. Why you should consider recording your IEP meeting. Mikey’s IEP and why a self-contained autism classroom is important for him at this point. How your child’s IEP can change over time. Remember that you don’t need to sign an agreement at an IEP meeting. Tweetables: “The path to those accommodations is through an IEP and the IEP process is a process. So, your mileage will vary. It's very customized to your child. And it's very customized to what you want as goals.” — Mike [0:08:12] “District websites have a link for special education. And within that link, they're going to have all kinds of information.” — Heather [0:08:46] “The more documentation you have, the better you can advocate for your child if need be, down the line.” — Heather [0:23:38] “You don't have to sign the IEP at that meeting, even if you just want to think about it for a week. Go ahead. It doesn't have to be signed at that meeting. It's not a requirement.” — Heather [0:28:45] Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Call us at 469-249-0425

    32 min
  8. Medication Versus Supplementation Versus BOTH

    03/18/2022

    Medication Versus Supplementation Versus BOTH

    As most of you know, our son Mikey has high functioning autism as well as ADHD. We put him on a good supplement routine, a whole foods diet, and tried out many different kinds of therapies, and saw a lot of improvement in him. However, he was still struggling. Although we were always very intentional about putting him on natural remedies, we decided to see how he would respond to more conventional medications leading up to his third year of school. In this episode, we discuss the self-contained autism classroom that Mikey was in for his first few years of school, the difficulty he had engaging in a classroom environment, and the apprehension we felt about medications. You’ll also hear about the almost 180-degree switch in Mikey’s behavior after going on the meds and how he was able to start participating in school to the extent that his IEP (Individual Education Plan) was amended for full inclusion from grade three! We speak about the difference this made to ours and Mikey’s lives and how grateful we are that he will have access to all the learning that comes with mixing with the other kids in a classroom environment. We also touch on some of the challenges and side effects and the different ways that we found to work around those. Join us today to find out what a difference a mixture of natural and conventional treatments made to our son’s experience of the world! Key Points From This Episode: The natural treatments we’ve tried with Mikey and why we were curious about medication. Why we prioritized Mikey’s autism over his ADHD at first. The classroom setting in Mikey’s self-contained autism classroom. When we decided to try medication out for Mikey and why it was during the summer break. The apprehension we felt about putting Mikey on medication initially. Different positive and negative effects that Mikey experienced. The drastic change in Mikey’s behavior and how he could start engaging in school. How Mikey’s IEP was amended for full inclusion after second grade. How we had to tailor Mikey’s diet to keep him from being underweight. Intentions to find alternative treatments mixed with gratitude that the medication is working. Our decision to put Mikey into the Montessori school and the opportunities he will have there. “I let Mikey’s teacher know that he was on medication now, just a small dose that we were trying out. She let me know the first week of school that she thought Mikey was night and day different.” — Heather [0:14:00]  “By the end of second grade, his IEP was amended again to say that, for third grade, he would be full inclusion.” — Heather [0:16:04] “He was starting to apply rules and was starting to be self-realizing about his behavior, which was really cool.” — Mike [0:17:20] “I’m always going to be looking for the next best therapy that will help Mikey reduce his medication or not need it. I’m still not 100 percent that I want him on it forever, but I’m thankful that it is working for right now.” — Mike [0:25:41] DON'T FORGET: You can call us at 469-249-0425

    29 min
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CALL US at 469-249-0425 Full show notes and episodes can be found at https://findingmikeypodcast.com Autism, has impacted our family, and this is our journey. We are Mike and Heather, and we share stories! We will talk with Authors, Specialists, Doctors, Activists and legal professionals to gather insight on how to better prepare our kids for full integration into school, society and independent adulthood. Our goal is to INSPIRE other parents, a little bit each day, to help them be the best advocate for their kiddos' growth.

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