EVOLVE with Dr. Tay: the podcast for parents of autistic kids

Dr. Taylor Day
  • 4.8 (69)
  • Parenting
  • Weekly

welcome to a parenting space actually designed for YOU! where you can get answers about navigating a life that includes autism. I’m Dr. Tay, a licensed child psychologist specializing in autism and neuroaffirming care. I have supported 100s of autistic children and their families and have been in the autism field for over a decade. on this podcast, we focus on supporting your autistic child AND your whole family, including you! every topic is on the table, and your questions (which you can submit through my social media) inspire the episodes created. I share some of my personal stories growing up with a brother who was diagnosed at 23 months of age as well as feature other families' stories so you know you are not navigating this journey alone. this is a space for you to be SEEN. HEARD. SUPPORTED. and get reputable and reliable information about autism instead of searching Google endlessly for hours. I am so dang grateful that you are here. ***disclaimer: not clinical advice, for educational purposes only*** subscribe to this podcast by hitting the plus or follow button so you don't miss an episode.

  1. 1d ago

    238 | telehealth autism evaluations: why I built my practice this way

    about this episode (+ scroll for resources) 👇can an autism evaluation really be comprehensive and accurate when it's done over telehealth? dr. tay takes you behind the scenes of her clinical practice to share why she built a telehealth-based autism evaluation model, what the research tells us about its accuracy, and how she determines whether this approach is a good fit for each child and family. whether you're a parent considering an evaluation for your child or a clinician curious about offering telehealth assessments, this episode explores the benefits, limitations, and clinical considerations that go into making this model work. dr. tay also shares how her evaluation process has evolved to provide more personalized, ongoing support for families beyond the diagnosis itself. you’ll hear about:why dr. tay chose to build a telehealth autism evaluation practice and how the model developedhow telehealth can improve access to specialized, neurodiversity-affirming evaluationsthe research on telehealth evaluation accuracy, including where the evidence is limitedwhy evaluating children in their own homes can offer valuable clinical informationwhen telehealth may not be the right fit and why informed consent mattershow dr. tay's evaluation process has evolved to include more personalized post-diagnosis supportopportunities for clinicians interested in learning how to conduct comprehensive telehealth evaluations timestamps00:00 who this episode is for and why dr. tay chose telehealth 04:00 how telehealth autism evaluations developed during the pandemic 05:17 interstate licensure and reaching families across the country 07:53 accessibility, shorter wait times, and reducing evaluation-related anxiety 10:50 evaluating children in their natural environment and recognizing masking 14:08 what the research says about telehealth evaluation accuracy 17:35 limitations, informed consent, and when telehealth isn't the right fit 25:37 what a comprehensive telehealth autism evaluation involves 29:33 how dr. tay has expanded her model to support families after diagnosis 31:16 evaluation availability and what comes next for the practice 33:31 continuing education opportunities for clinicians 35:08 expanding access through clinician training and collaboration resourcesFOR CLINICIANS ⚡️ conducting comprehensive telehealth evaluations for autism and co-occurring conditions — dr. tay's 1.5-credit continuing education training through Neurodiversity University. live November 6, 2026, at 2 p.m. ET, with a recording available for on-demand learning ⚡️ on-demand: interpreting autism assessment data in high-masking and under-identified presentations — dr. tay's previous continuing education training on integrating assessment data through a neurodiversity-affirming lens ⚡️ The Testing Psychologist, episode 607: how to build a virtual testing practice with dr. taylor day — a deeper conversation for clinicians about the clinical and business considerations of building a virtual evaluation practice FOR PARENTS ⚡️ episode 46 | telehealth evaluations: a new era in autism diagnosis — revisit dr. tay's earlier conversation about virtual autism evaluations ⚡️ episode 180 | complex emotions in autism parenting: the path from grief to acceptance — a related conversation about the emotional experiences families may navigate following an autism diagnosis ⚡️ episode 186: do you really need the ADOS-2 to diagnose autism? — learn more about autism assessment tools and why no single measure determines a diagnosis ⚡️ book a free consult call to the remaining 2 slots for dr. tay's virtual autism evaluations. ⚡️ explore dr. tay's clinical services, parent resources, and support at drtaylorday.com FOR ALL ⚡️ follow dr. tay on instagram @the.dr.tay for practical autism education, behind-the-scenes reflections, and parenting insights

  2. Oct 28

    237 | actually, i'm autistic: burnout, unmasking, and parenting with katherine l'etang

    about this episode (+ scroll for resources) 👇what happens when you're parenting autistic kids while also figuring out your own neurotype, capacity, and what actually works for your family? dr. tay welcomes back katherine l'etang, known as @theneurodiversitymom, to celebrate her new book, Actually, I'm Autistic: Relatable Advice from a Late-Diagnosed Woman Who Couldn't Mask Forever. together, they explore autistic burnout, masking, and the pressure to do everything "right" as a parent. katherine shares how her family's journey has evolved, why small moments of restoration matter, and how experiences that once felt impossible can change over time. it's a conversation about embracing your own needs, honoring your child's, and recognizing that there isn't one right way to navigate autism or parenting. you’ll hear about:why katherine wanted to write a book that combines lived experience, research, and practical guidancethe importance of intersectionality and recognizing that no single autistic experience is universalhow small moments of joy and restoration can support parents navigating burnoutwhen researching and trying to find the "right" answers can become another source of overwhelmhow katherine's son's school journey evolved from burnout and school withdrawal to thriving in a classroomwhy respecting your own capacity and leaving room for nuance matters in neurodiversity-affirming parenting timestamps00:00 introducing katherine’s book and her return to the show 04:22 why intersectionality belongs in autism conversations 06:00 a chapter-a-month writing process amid parenting and a move 09:30 burnout, cathartic writing, and the chapter that was hardest 12:19 small glimmers and realistic restoration for parents 16:20 survival, research overload, and noticing the present 20:33 how katherine's son's school journey changed over time 23:14 writing about family, vulnerability, and masking 27:28 what katherine is proud of and why the book is a handbook 32:04 parent capacity, a gradual school return, and the need for nuance 37:08 making room for complexity beyond social media 38:21 closing reflections and sharing the book resources⚡️ Actually, I'm Autistic: Relatable Advice from a Late-Diagnosed Woman Who Couldn't Mask Forever by Katherine L'Etang — explore and preorder Katherine's new book (out on Nov 3, 2026), which combines lived experience with practical information about autism, masking, self-discovery, diagnosis, and parenting ⚡️ follow Katherine on Instagram @theneurodiversitymom for her lived experience and reflections on being autistic and raising neurodivergent kids ⚡️ return to Katherine's previous episode (#95) as well as the three-part burnout series (episodes #234-236) ⚡️ EVOLVE the membership — ongoing education, monthly masterclasses, and weekly Q+A support for parents of autistic kids ⚡️ explore dr. tay's clinical services, parent resources, and support at drtaylorday.com ⚡️ follow dr. tay on Instagram @the.dr.tay for practical autism education, behind-the-scenes reflections, and parenting insights

  3. Oct 21

    236 | how to support your autistic child through burnout with amanda diekman (part 3)

    about this episode (+ scroll for resources) 👇this episode wraps up our three-part series on autistic burnout. dr. tay is joined by amanda diekman, author of The Parent's Handbook for Kids in Burnout, to talk about what burnout recovery can actually look like over time and why healing is rarely linear. amanda breaks down the phases of burnout, how support needs change across each phase, what “deep rest” can look like for kids, and why parents may need to continually recalibrate between accommodation, capacity-building, safety, and trust. you’ll hear about:why burnout is often a long-term healing process rather than something to “fix”the phases of burnout and how to recognize where your child may bewhy curiosity can return before actual nervous system capacityhow accommodation needs can shift throughout recoverythe role of school, medication, therapy, safety planning, and basic needswhat deep rest can actually look like for autistic kidswhy parents often need support for their own nervous systems, too timestamps00:00 introduction to burnout and amanda diekman's background 02:15 the long journey of writing the burnout book 03:16 shifting mindset from fixing to living well in burnout 04:24 understanding burnout as a long-term process 06:34 defining burnout 08:08 the impact of school and environment on burnout 16:22 the butterfly metaphor: from chrysalis to emergence 19:58 phase one: the child as "a pile of goo" 21:01 phase two: curious but no capacity 23:27 learning to communicate and trust building 24:17 phase three: re-emergence and thriving 39:53 deep rest and recognizing signs of exhaustion resources⚡️ The Parent's Handbook for Kids in Burnout by amanda diekman — a low-demand guide to understanding burnout, supporting recovery, navigating the different phases, and helping your child heal and thrive ⚡️ other episodes to listen to include amanda's previous episode (113), episode 204, and parts 1 and 2 of this series (234 & 235) ⚡️ EVOLVE the membership — ongoing education, monthly masterclasses, and weekly Q+A support for parents of autistic kids ⚡️ explore dr. tay’s clinical services, parent resources, and support at drtaylorday.com ⚡️ follow dr. tay on instagram @the.dr.tay for practical autism education, behind-the-scenes reflections, and parenting insights

  4. Oct 14

    235 | what autistic burnout feels like from the inside with patrick casale (part 2)

    about this episode (+ scroll for resources) 👇this episode is part 2 of our autistic burnout series. dr. tay is joined by patrick casale, a neurodivergent therapist, podcaster, entrepreneur, and group practice owner, for a conversation about what autistic burnout can feel like . patrick shares his lived experience with burnout, the overlap between autistic burnout and chronic illness, the impact of societal demands, and why recovery is rarely as simple as “just reduce demands” or “take a break.” this conversation offers both validation and practical insight for parents who are trying to better understand their child’s burnout, support recovery, and recognize early warning signs before the nervous system fully crashes. you’ll hear about:what autistic burnout can feel likewhy burnout can overlap with chronic illness, sleep disruption, and mental healthhow societal demands and sensory overwhelm contribute to depletionwhy reducing demands is important, but not always simple or realistichow joy, meaning, autonomy, and special interests can support recoverywhat parents can look for when burnout may be approaching timestamps00:00 introduction to autistic burnout and guest 01:28 why conversations about burnout are increasing 02:44 overlap between chronic illness and autistic burnout 05:24 what autistic burnout looks like 07:12 complexity of supporting children in burnout 10:01 restructuring life to manage burnout 12:04 the impact of society and privilege 17:02 supporting children’s interests and joy 21:10 patrick’s journey to autism diagnosis 23:48 transitioning to a therapist and entrepreneur 26:16 running a neurodivergent-led practice 33:28 recognizing and responding to burnout signs 36:04 balancing demands and building capacity 37:19 final thoughts and glimmers of hope resources⚡️ patrick casale’s linktree — connect with patrick, his podcasts, social media, and clinical/business resources ⚡️ Resilient Mind Counseling — Patrick’s neurodivergent-led therapy practice serving clients in North Carolina ⚡️ episode 183 — a related episode on co-occurring health conditions that can overlap with neurodivergence, including chronic illness patterns discussed in this conversation ⚡️ listen to part 1 of this series (episode 234) and stay tuned for part 3 with amanda diekman on how to support your autistic child through burnout ⚡️ EVOLVE the membership — ongoing education, monthly masterclasses, and weekly Q+A support for parents of autistic kids ⚡️ explore dr. tay’s clinical services, parent resources, and support at drtaylorday.com ⚡️ follow dr. tay on instagram @the.dr.tay for practical autism education, behind-the-scenes reflections, and parenting insights

  5. Oct 7

    234 | autistic burnout: what parents need to know (part 1)

    about this episode (+ scroll for resources) 👇this episode kicks off a three-part series on autistic burnout. dr. tay shares what she sees clinically when autistic kids are in burnout, why it can be so confusing for parents, and why traditional approaches to depression, behavior, or school refusal may not fully capture what is happening. this is a primer episode to help you understand what autistic burnout can look like, what makes it different, and why recovery often requires time, nervous system repair, reduced demands, and support for the whole family. you’ll hear about:what autistic burnout can look like in kidsthe three core features of autistic burnoutwhy burnout can overlap with anxiety, depression, PDA, and school refusalwhy “just getting out and doing things” may not help during burnouthow recovery often happens slowly and incrementallywhy your child is not trying to be difficult timestamps00:00 introducing the three-part autistic burnout series 03:25 what this series aims to offer parents 08:36 defining autistic burnout 10:20 skill regression, sensory overwhelm, and deep exhaustion 13:33 how autistic burnout can differ from depression 17:27 intro to burnout phases and what recovery can look like 21:47 recovery, lowering demands, and rebuilding capacity 26:05 closing reassurance and episode wrap-up resources⚡️ EVOLVE the membership — ongoing education, monthly masterclasses, and weekly Q+A support for parents of autistic kids ⚡️ explore dr. tay’s clinical services, parent resources, and support at drtaylorday.com ⚡️ follow dr. tay on instagram @the.dr.tay for practical autism education, behind-the-scenes reflections, and parenting insights

  6. Sep 30

    233 | when sensory is the missing piece behind meltdowns with laura petix

    about this episode (+ scroll for resources) 👇if your child is melting down, resisting, avoiding, running, crashing, or seeming impossible to support, sensory may be part of the story. in this episode, dr. tay welcomes laura petix, occupational therapist and author of The Sensory Code, back to the podcast to talk about sensory regulation, sensory profiles, meltdowns, and how parents can start building sensory support into daily life in a way that actually fits their child. you’ll hear about:why sensory regulation can be so impactful for autistic childrenwhat parents may miss when they only focus on stopping the behaviorlaura’s personal experience as an OT mom navigating intense meltdownswhy parent regulation matters, even when that advice feels frustratingthe 8 sensory systems and how to think about sensory “cups”how The Sensory Code helps parents understand sensory profiles and daily supports timestamps00:00 introduction to sensory regulation in autism 02:02 why sensory supports are crucial for children 04:56 laura's personal journey as an OT mom 09:56 understanding sensory profiles and thresholds 14:59 supporting regulation through simple strategies 20:01 the power of mindset shifts in parenting 24:57 using sensory profiles to tailor activities 29:56 overview of The Sensory Code book 34:59 case study: tactile defensiveness and behavior 40:00 building a sensory lifestyle for daily support resources⚡️ The Sensory Code by laura petix — learn more about the book, sensory profiles, and pre-order bonuses ⚡️ connect with laura on Instagram @theotbutterfly and find resources on her website ⚡️ EVOLVE the membership — ongoing education, monthly masterclasses, and weekly Q+A support for parents of autistic kids ⚡️ explore dr. tay’s clinical services, parent resources, and support at drtaylorday.com ⚡️ follow dr. tay on instagram @the.dr.tay for practical autism education, behind-the-scenes reflections, and parenting insights

  7. Sep 17

    232 | your cycle might be impacting your parenting more than you realize

    about this episode (+ scroll for resources) 👇this episode is for the moms who feel like some weeks they can do it all… and other weeks everything feels harder. dr. tay shares a vulnerable, real-time reflection from the depths of her luteal phase and explains why cycle tracking can be such a powerful tool for understanding mood, energy, capacity, productivity, and parenting. because your hormonal health is not separate from your autism parenting journey. your body, your nervous system, your capacity, and your regulation are all part of the ecosystem your child is living in. you’ll hear about:why the luteal phase can impact mood, energy, and capacityhow cycle tracking can help reduce shame and increase self-understandingthe connection between hormones, mental health, and neurodivergencewhy parenting often requires so much “output” energyhow to adjust expectations, support, and routines around your cyclewhy your capacity matters in the whole-family support picture timestamps00:00 why dr. tay is talking about her luteal phase on an autism podcast 04:16 what the luteal phase is and why cycle tracking matters 08:15 tracking mood and energy, and medication adjustments 16:46 what happens hormonally before your period 23:25 why the luteal phase is harder for some people 27:32 how this connects to parenting and capacity 31:32 adjusting expectations, support, and routines around your cycle 36:36 why this belongs in the autism parenting conversation 38:28 EVOLVE support and closing reflections resources⚡️ EVOLVE the membership — ongoing education, monthly masterclasses, and weekly Q+A support for parents of autistic kids ⚡️ explore dr. tay’s clinical services, parent resources, and support at drtaylorday.com ⚡️ follow dr. tay on instagram @the.dr.tay for practical autism education, behind-the-scenes reflections, and parenting insights

  8. Sep 10

    231 | when giftedness hides autism: understanding 2e kids with dr. megan helmen

    about this episode (+ scroll for resources) 👇what does it mean for a child to be twice exceptional, or 2e? in this episode, dr. tay is joined by dr. megan helmen, a pediatric neuropsychologist and founder of Developmental Discoveries, to talk about 2e profiles, giftedness, autism, and why these kids are so often misunderstood. dr. megan explains how giftedness is not just “being smart,” but can involve a different way of thinking, processing, feeling, and moving through the world. when giftedness overlaps with autism, ADHD, learning disabilities, or other developmental differences, children may have areas of incredible strength alongside areas where they need significant support. this conversation explores why 2e autistic children may be missed, how they use strengths to compensate, why school performance does not always tell the full story, and how parents can better understand and support their child’s unique brain. in this episode, you'll hear:what 2e, or twice exceptional, meanshow giftedness and autism can overlapwhy 2e autistic children are often missed or misunderstoodhow high intelligence can mask support needswhy overall IQ scores may not capture the full picturewhat “subtle but significant autism” can look likehow 2e kids may use compensation strategies in social situationswhy hard things may feel easy and “easy” things may feel hardthe importance of including children in the feedback and diagnostic processhow to support 2e kids through strengths, accommodations, interests, and belongingwhy parents of 2e children deserve compassion and grace timestamps00:00 introduction to 2e and guest background 01:47 dr. megan helmen's journey into neuropsychology 03:36 the shift towards neurodiversity affirming practices 07:12 what is 2e and how does it relate to autism 11:52 subtle presentations of autism in gifted children 16:09 compensation strategies in 2e autistic kids 22:32 IQ and the profile of 2e individuals 26:24 differentiating giftedness from autism 35:36 supporting 2e children in navigating the world 42:36 parenting tips and final thoughts resources⚡️ Developmental Discoveries — learn more about dr. megan helmen’s neuropsychological assessment practice as well as resources for 2e kids. also follow on Instagram and Facebook ⚡️ Autism Traits Guide — a $7 parent-friendly resource that breaks down autism diagnostic criteria, including subtle profiles, and shares examples of how traits can show up across ages, support needs, and presentations ⚡️ EVOLVE the membership — includes the “talking to your kid about their diagnosis” masterclass, along with monthly trainings, weekly Q+A episodes, and ongoing support for parents of autistic kids ⚡️ explore dr. tay’s clinical services, parent resources, and support at drtaylorday.com ⚡️ follow dr. tay on instagram @the.dr.tay for practical autism education and parenting insights

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About

welcome to a parenting space actually designed for YOU! where you can get answers about navigating a life that includes autism. I’m Dr. Tay, a licensed child psychologist specializing in autism and neuroaffirming care. I have supported 100s of autistic children and their families and have been in the autism field for over a decade. on this podcast, we focus on supporting your autistic child AND your whole family, including you! every topic is on the table, and your questions (which you can submit through my social media) inspire the episodes created. I share some of my personal stories growing up with a brother who was diagnosed at 23 months of age as well as feature other families' stories so you know you are not navigating this journey alone. this is a space for you to be SEEN. HEARD. SUPPORTED. and get reputable and reliable information about autism instead of searching Google endlessly for hours. I am so dang grateful that you are here. ***disclaimer: not clinical advice, for educational purposes only*** subscribe to this podcast by hitting the plus or follow button so you don't miss an episode.

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