Refrigerator Moms

Kelley Jensen, Julianna Scott
  • 4.3 (7)
  • Parenting
  • Updated Weekly

Born from 20 years of friendship, during which they navigated the trenches of autism parenting and advocacy, the Refrigerator Moms is Kelley Jensen and Julianna Scott’s way of reaching out to parents waging the same battles they were.  Their purpose with this podcast is to clear the fog, silence the noise, and find a path through neurodivergence for parents that are stuck between bad choices. They tackle parenting topics such as mom guilt, tantrums, pathological demand avoidance, siblings, medication, comorbidities, social media, and much more. 

  1. Is Autism Therapy Actually Worth It? Here's How to Know

    5d ago

    Is Autism Therapy Actually Worth It? Here's How to Know

    How do you sort real help from snake oil when you're researching autism interventions? In this episode of Refrigerator Moms, Julianna Scott and Kelley Jensen share a practical checklist for evaluating any autism therapy whether you're looking at evidence-based treatments like ABA and speech therapy, or exploring options further off the beaten path like TMS, dietary protocols, or supplement. They talk about why waiting for full FDA approval isn't realistic when your kid's childhood has an expiration date, and how to make smart, informed decisions in the meantime. Kelley and Julianna cover everything from vetting peer-reviewed research and checking provider qualifications to tracking your child's measurable progress and knowing when to pivot. They remind parents to account for comorbid diagnoses like anxiety, depression, and OCD, and they close with a pointed reminder to keep political noise out of your treatment decisions: you're raising a child, not joining a movement. Whether you're newly navigating an autism diagnosis or a seasoned parent looking to refine your approach, this episode offers a grounded, experience-backed framework for cutting through the overwhelm. 🔗 Learn More: Website: refrigeratormoms.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/refrigeratormoms/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/refrigeratormoms Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/refrigeratormoms/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@RefrigeratorMoms Refrigerator Moms is sponsored by Brain Performance Technologies, a specialty mental health clinic that offers neuromodulation treatments including SAINT (Stanford Accelerated Intelligent Neuromodulation Therapy) for treatment-resistant depression and major depressive disorder, as well as MeRT (Magnetic e-resonance therapy) for autistic people aged three or older. Learn more at https://brainperformancetechnologies.com 00:00 Introduction & episode overview00:54 Evidence-based treatments for autism01:05 ABA is still worth it despite its issues01:37 Sponsor: Brain Performance Technologies02:04 Medications on-label for autism02:57 The checklist: how to research interventions03:09 Why parents have to try03:31 Step 1: Find independent research03:55 Exhaust insurance and school district first04:05 Peer-reviewed journals vs. anecdotal claims04:39 Reading summary studies and weighing evidence05:31 Consider all comorbid diagnoses06:20 Advocating for depression/mood diagnoses07:18 Sponsor: Brain Performance Technologies (mid-roll)07:45 Step 2: Check provider qualifications08:29 Step 3: Evaluate claims critically08:55 No cure, only better symptom management09:10 Step 4: Cross-check multiple sources09:45 Weigh the risk of harm before trying anything10:10 Step 5: Consider international research10:39 TMS research worldwide; MeRT Facebook group11:28 Step 6: Track your child's progress12:19 Adjust approach based on results12:30 Step 7: Use community and professional support13:07 Clinical trials as an option13:28 Step 8: Maintain a critical, practical mindset13:38 Keep politics out of treatment decisions14:13 Combine sources for informed decisions14:32 Closing & where to find resources

    16 min
  2. Real Parent Questions: Autism Accommodations, PDA, Team Sports & Young Adults Who've Checked Out

    May 27

    Real Parent Questions: Autism Accommodations, PDA, Team Sports & Young Adults Who've Checked Out

    Julianna Scott and Kelley Jensen open up the social media mailbag for one of their most popular episode formats — real questions from parents, answered with the candor and hard-won experience that Refrigerator Moms is known for. This week's questions span the full arc of the parenting journey: a parent of a nine-year-old convinced they already know the diagnosis before the psychiatrist has said a word; a family watching their child struggle with what looks like panic attacks; a mom navigating conflicting advice about PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance); and a volunteer baseball coach at a complete loss while an unsupported autistic child disrupts every practice. They talk about the problem with self- and parent-diagnosis, why depression is so often missed in high-functioning young adults, and why "he's autistic, deal with it" isn't a plan. They also revisit SPACE therapy, the limits of radical acceptance, and how to think about matching a child's actual skill level to the activities and environments you put them in. Whether you're new to this journey or deep in it, this episode delivers the kind of straight talk that helps you take the next step — whatever that looks like for your family. 🔗 Learn More:Website: refrigeratormoms.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/refrigeratormoms/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/refrigeratormomsFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/refrigeratormoms/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@RefrigeratorMoms Refrigerator Moms is sponsored by Brain Performance Technologies, a specialty mental health clinic that offers neuromodulation treatments including SAINT (Stanford Accelerated Intelligent Neuromodulation Therapy) for treatment-resistant depression and major depressive disorder, as well as MeRT (Magnetic e-resonance therapy) for autistic people aged three or older. Learn more at https://brainperformancetechnologies.com 00:00 Intro: social media Q&A episode00:17 Julianna's nerves about the format00:36 Q1: Seeing a psychiatrist for first time02:27 Intake process explained04:04 Takeaway: don't parent-diagnose05:12 HIPAA & adult child context06:04 Sponsor: Brain Performance Technologies06:31 Q2: Meltdowns escalating to panic attacks06:47 Panic attacks need professional help07:08 Q3: High-functioning, unmotivated young adult08:54 Screen for depression first09:19 Small steps & realistic expectations10:23 Sponsor: SAINT treatment overview11:09 Q4: Conflicting PDA advice12:04 Know your child's specific circumstances12:23 SPACE therapy reference13:08 Be willing to pivot strategies13:23 Q5: Autistic child on baseball team14:01 Coach's role & league support14:38 Parents need to be involved15:30 Group sports vs. solo sports for autism16:09 Parents can't just say "deal with it"17:04 What does the child actually learn?17:24 Lack of post-diagnosis support for parents17:42 Outro & disclaimer

    19 min
  3. Why Your Autistic Child's Doctor Just Prescribes More Meds (And What Parents Can Do About It)

    May 20

    Why Your Autistic Child's Doctor Just Prescribes More Meds (And What Parents Can Do About It)

    America has a psychiatric care crisis — and most families are living it without knowing why. Kelley Jensen and Julianna Scott dig into their new Refrigerator Paper, Psyched Out: No Appointments Available, to answer one of the most common questions they hear: "Why haven't I heard of TMS?" The answer, it turns out, starts long before a patient ever walks into a clinic. With only about 60,000 practicing psychiatrists in the country — and nearly half of Americans living in officially designated mental health shortage areas — access to care is shrinking just as demand explodes. Half of all lifetime mental illnesses begin by age 14, millions are entering the system earlier than ever, and a retirement wave is projected to remove tens of thousands more psychiatrists from the workforce by 2030. Meanwhile, only 5–10% of psychiatrists prescribe TMS, even though it's covered by insurance and backed by clinical evidence. The result? Medication becomes the default — including for autistic children — simply because it's the only tool most practitioners are trained to use. Kelley and Julianna aren't just naming the problem — they're making the case for real solutions: expanding GP accreditation for TMS, loosening restrictions on psychiatric nurse practitioners, and recruiting the next generation of psychiatrists. Most importantly, they're calling on families and consumers to demand more. If you've ever been handed a prescription and wondered whether there was another option, this one's for you. 🔗 Learn More:Website: refrigeratormoms.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/refrigeratormoms/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/refrigeratormomsFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/refrigeratormoms/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@RefrigeratorMoms Refrigerator Moms is sponsored by Brain Performance Technologies, a specialty mental health clinic that offers neuromodulation treatments including SAINT (Stanford Accelerated Intelligent Neuromodulation Therapy) for treatment-resistant depression and major depressive disorder, as well as MeRT (Magnetic e-resonance therapy) for autistic people aged three or older. Learn more at https://brainperformancetechnologies.com (00:00) - Introduction & episode overview (00:29) - What is "Psyched Out" paper about? (01:17) - Scale of the mental health crisis (02:06) - Sponsor: Brain Performance Technologies (02:33) - How few psychiatrists are there? (03:39) - Psychiatrists retiring & the funding gap (04:16) - How to become a psychiatrist (05:15) - Psychiatric nurse practitioners (05:38) - The coming retirement wave by 2030 (06:00) - Mental health shortage areas (06:37) - Sponsor: SAINT protocol explained (07:19) - Medication as the default for autism (08:12) - GPs filling the prescription gap (08:41) - 42% of antidepressants from GPs (09:33) - Why TMS remains underutilized (10:23) - What you can do about it (11:22) - Closing thoughts (11:24) - Subscribe & find resources (11:46) - Disclaimer

    13 min
  4. Should You Avoid ABA? | Autism Parents Confront the $600M Fraud

    May 13

    Should You Avoid ABA? | Autism Parents Confront the $600M Fraud

    ABA therapy is under fire — and autism families deserve the full story. Kelley Jensen and Julianna Scott dig into the federal fraud audits targeting ABA providers, with up to $600 million in improper Medicaid payments identified by the Department of Health and Human Services. They walk through how ABA earned its status as a covered benefit, how private equity exploited that coverage, and what fraudulent billing actually looks like in practice. This episode is paired with the Refrigerator Moms paper "ABA: As Easy as ABC," which gives families a comprehensive resource for understanding and navigating ABA therapy. Kelley and Julianna share their own experiences navigating the ABA world as autism parents and give concrete steps families can take right now to vet providers, monitor therapy delivery, and protect themselves from fraud without walking away from a therapy that — done right — can still make a real difference. Bottom line: don't throw the baby out with the bathwater. The fraud is real and it's serious, but so is the value of quality, evidence-based ABA. Your job as a parent is to be an informed, engaged consumer — and this episode tells you exactly how. 🔗 Learn More: Website: refrigeratormoms.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/refrigeratormoms/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/refrigeratormoms Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/refrigeratormoms/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@RefrigeratorMoms Refrigerator Moms is sponsored by Brain Performance Technologies, a specialty mental health clinic that offers neuromodulation treatments including SAINT (Stanford Accelerated Intelligent Neuromodulation Therapy) for treatment-resistant depression and major depressive disorder, as well as MeRT (Magnetic e-resonance therapy) for autistic people aged three or older. Learn more at https://brainperformancetechnologies.com 00:00 Fraud and disabled people 00:33 ABA fraud audits overview 01:12 ABA history and insurance coverage 02:00 Parents fought for ABA benefits 03:02 Sponsor: Brain Performance Technologies 03:40 Private equity enters the ABA space 04:57 Bankruptcies and billing fraud 05:34 Federal audit findings: $600M 06:36 Industry credibility takes a hit 07:08 Types of fraud: billing, credentials 08:02 Should you still pursue ABA? 08:53 Step 1: Decide if ABA fits your family 09:07 What ABA actually looks like 09:53 Range of ABA applications 10:18 Step 2: Verify provider credentials 10:47 Filing complaints with insurers 11:53 Sponsor: SAINT protocol 12:35 Step 3: Understand the therapy plan 13:19 Step 4: Research provider reputation 13:42 University programs as a resource 14:32 High therapist turnover — what to do 15:40 Step 5: Monitor therapy delivery 15:58 In-home vs. center-based therapy 16:39 Step 6: Review billing and claims 16:57 Step 7: Stay informed and advocate 17:10 Consumer power and whistleblowing 17:40 Step 8: Balance caution with access 17:54 Most ABA providers are ethical 18:03 Closing thoughts

    20 min
  5. Autism Moms Across Generations: Waiting Rooms, Waitlists & the Fight for Services

    May 6

    Autism Moms Across Generations: Waiting Rooms, Waitlists & the Fight for Services

    Julianna Scott and Kelley Jensen sit down with Jean Mayer — Texas-based disability advocate, school board trustee, co-host of Moms Talk Autism, and mother of a 12-year-old autistic son — for a candid cross-generational conversation about what has and hasn't changed in the autism parenting journey. From the early days of dial-up internet and therapy waiting rooms to today's social media overwhelm and policy battles, the three moms compare experiences, swap hard-won wisdom, and get real about guilt, grief, advocacy, and the long game of raising a child with complex needs. Key Takeaways: The nucleus of the autism parenting experience — love, fear, guilt, and responsibility — remains constant across generations, even as systems, language, and access points shift.Therapy waiting rooms once served as an unplanned but vital community hub for autism families; that informal peer connection has largely disappeared.Information overload today can be as harmful as the information dearth of the early 2000s; discernment and curating a small, trusted circle matters more than volume.Navigating a fragmented medical and educational system often turns parents into "reluctant experts" — managing treatment plans, insurance denials, and IEP meetings without a roadmap.Policy is the upstream driver of access: understanding the difference between school practice and actual written policy is a powerful tool for parents.Lived experience is inherently subjective and should not be the sole basis for policy decisions, even though it is an essential voice in advocacy.Transition planning for autistic young adults should remain flexible and evolving, not fixed — and parents building themselves as trusted resources (not just caretakers) is underrated advice.Loneliness in disability housing is a growing and underaddressed crisis; intentional community models deserve more attention.The coming DSM-6 changes are already creating fatigue among behavioral health professionals and uncertainty for families still building identity around shifting diagnostic criteria.Finding your people — even just a very small circle — is more protective and actionable than scrolling social media for answers.🔗 Learn More: Website: refrigeratormoms.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/refrigeratormoms/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/refrigeratormoms Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/refrigeratormoms/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@RefrigeratorMoms Refrigerator Moms is sponsored by Brain Performance Technologies, a specialty mental health clinic that offers neuromodulation treatments including SAINT (Stanford Accelerated Intelligent Neuromodulation Therapy) for treatment-resistant depression and major depressive disorder, as well as MeRT (Magnetic e-resonance therapy) for autistic people aged three or older. Learn more at https://brainperformancetechnologies.com 00:00 Introduction & guest welcome00:53 Jean introduces her family01:50 From hospitality career to autism mom04:13 Who told you to pivot careers?06:43 The acute vs. forever reality of autism07:23 Comparing generations of autism parents08:34 The guilt that never erodes08:58 Then vs. now: information dearth vs. glut09:55 The early internet & dial-up days10:40 The value of therapy waiting rooms11:19 How waiting rooms built community14:22 When connection was hard even in person15:02 The phone problem in waiting rooms today16:54 Safe spaces where everyone understands17:33 Navigating today's information overload18:03 Leaving toxic Facebook groups for Instagram20:08 Finding your people online21:24 Drowning in information & needing a lifeline21:49 Lived experience vs. policy22:34 How advocacy began with insurance denials24:55 Policy gaps & IEP meetings in Texas26:31 Walking in the dark: the early autism era27:14 Autism as emerging industry27:37 The DSM shifts & changing diagnosis29:27 What will DSM-6 change?30:35 How Jean's advocacy evolved step by step33:57 The looming fear: what happens after I'm gone?35:57 School board, lobbying & statewide impact40:27 What the next generation of autism parents faces41:18 Transition planning for autistic adults42:13 Kelley's son: evolving transition & loneliness in housing43:33 Julianna's son: independent living & losing control45:42 Being a trusted resource vs. caretaker47:08 Speed round begins47:19 Greatest extravagance47:54 When do you cry?49:03 What do you deplore most about autism?49:44 What have you learned to love?50:10 What are you reading right now?51:31 Upward Bound & Moms Talk Autism shoutout53:31 Closing & thank you55:27 Legal disclaimer & outro

    58 min

  6. Apr 29

    What Autism Parents Really Think About Love on the Spectrum (Netflix)

    Julianna Scott and Kelley Jensen share their candid, sometimes conflicted reactions to Netflix's Love on the Spectrum. Julianna, who watched every season, brings enthusiasm and nuance; Kelley, who watched two episodes before tapping out, brings the perspective of a parent for whom the show hits painfully close to home. Together they explore whether the show humanizes or infantilizes its cast, the tension between heartwarming moments and lived-in autism parenting reality, and the underexplored question of neurodivergent people dating neurotypical partners. They also shout out Inclusion Fusion, a Las Vegas-based social program for autistic adults that Logan from this season attends. Key Takeaways Cast members who've participated largely report positive experiences and say they don't feel exploitedThe show has responded to audience feedback by adding LGBTQ+ couples and greater cultural and socioeconomic diversity over its seasonsFor autism parents, the show can be genuinely difficult to watch because it mirrors real anxieties about their child's futureReality TV packaging (upbeat soundtrack, quick-cut "special interest" intros) risks infantilizing its cast, even when intentions are goodAll cast members are matched with other neurodivergent people, leaving the experience of dating neurotypical partners largely unexploredMasking is a major, underaddressed factor in how autistic people navigate romantic relationships with neurotypical partnersInclusion Fusion (Las Vegas) is highlighted as a model social program offering consistent Friday-night hangouts for autistic adults -- masks off, fun firstBreakups and long-term relationship struggles after filming rarely make it into the show's narrativeThe show sparks broader conversations about sexuality, reproduction, and long-term partnership for autistic adults"Flowers growing through concrete" -- the show's emotional core resonates differently depending on whether you're watching from the outside or living it🔗 Learn More:Website: refrigeratormoms.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/refrigeratormoms/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/refrigeratormomsFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/refrigeratormoms/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@RefrigeratorMoms Refrigerator Moms is sponsored by Brain Performance Technologies, a specialty mental health clinic that offers neuromodulation treatments including SAINT (Stanford Accelerated Intelligent Neuromodulation Therapy) for treatment-resistant depression and major depressive disorder, as well as MeRT (Magnetic e-resonance therapy) for autistic people aged three or older. Learn more at https://brainperformancetechnologies.com 00:00 Intro00:14 Kelley's shoutout: Inclusion Fusion01:24 Logan and Inclusion Fusion01:34 What Inclusion Fusion offers02:45 Need for programs like this03:23 Sponsor: Brain Performance Technologies03:52 Diving into Love on the Spectrum04:01 Reviews and audience reactions05:34 Is the show exploitative?06:41 Cast members' own perspectives07:22 Showrunners listening to feedback07:42 Kelley's take: wholesome but hard to watch08:35 When it hits too close to home09:25 Julianna's personal conflict watching10:07 Fear for their children's futures10:25 Dating, safety, and vulnerability11:23 Breakups and real-life outcomes12:26 Dating struggles aren't unique to autism13:08 Not enough actionable takeaways14:00 Sexuality and marriage on the show14:19 Documentary vs. reality TV14:57 Sponsor: Brain Performance Technologies15:10 "It's so cute" -- the outsider view16:05 Humanizing or infantilizing?17:09 Why only neurodivergent couples?18:19 Masking before and after commitment19:28 Who stood out: Logan and Connor20:27 Fan favorite couple Abbey and David broke up21:22 Ending on a positive: the dogs22:13 Outro and disclaimer

    23 min

  7. Apr 22

    What The Pitt Gets Wrong About Autistic Adults & Sexual Health

    Julianna Scott and Kelley Jensen dig into a storyline from the hit medical drama The Pitt, where autistic character Becca is treated for a UTI and her sister Dr. Mel invokes "supported decision making." The hosts applaud the show for raising the topic — then spend the episode unpacking everything it glossed over. From the legal mechanics of conservatorship to the near-total absence of guidance around reproductive health for disabled adults, Julianna and Kelley get into the weeds so the show didn't have to. Kelley also shares the surprisingly sweet story of securing conservatorship for her own son before his 18th birthday. Highlights The Pitt introduced "supported decision making" to a mainstream audience — a real legal framework worth understandingNo state in the U.S. allows anyone to make reproductive decisions on behalf of another adult, including through conservatorshipConservatorship varies significantly by state and comes in different categories: financial, healthcare, and moreSupported decision making lets the individual retain final authority while supporters explain options and consequences — but it raises many unanswered questionsSexual and reproductive health for disabled adults is one of the least-guided, most legally complex areas of disability careConservatorship can be suspended or revoked if circumstances change — it's not necessarily permanentStart conversations about conservatorship and reproductive health at puberty, not at age 18Loop in your child's pediatrician early — documented conversations can help you advocate laterDon't use Britney Spears as your benchmark for conservatorship — her case was extreme and atypicalInformal supported decision making is something many autism families are already practicing without realizing it🔗 Learn More: Website: refrigeratormoms.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/refrigeratormoms/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/refrigeratormoms Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/refrigeratormoms/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@RefrigeratorMoms Refrigerator Moms is sponsored by Brain Performance Technologies, a specialty mental health clinic that offers neuromodulation treatments including SAINT (Stanford Accelerated Intelligent Neuromodulation Therapy) for treatment-resistant depression and major depressive disorder, as well as MeRT (Magnetic e-resonance therapy) for autistic people aged three or older. Learn more at https://brainperformancetechnologies.com 00:00 Intro & The Pitt recap01:09 Becca's UTI storyline explained01:36 Sponsor: Brain Performance Technologies02:08 More questions than answers02:14 When representation oversimplifies03:15 Becca's consent & boyfriend Adam03:55 UTIs, protection & unanswered questions04:11 Becca's living situation05:05 Sexual health & disability: no guidance05:28 What is supported decision-making?05:37 What is conservatorship?06:07 Ad: Brain Performance Technologies07:10 Conservatorship & reproductive rights07:56 Supported decision-making explained08:18 Where does supported decision-making fall short?08:34 Pregnancy, responsibility & legal gaps09:16 Kelley's son's conservatorship story10:47 The judge says "Granted"11:10 When independence IS possible11:42 Advice: don't use Britney as your benchmark12:47 Start at puberty, not at 1813:06 Document with your pediatrician13:10 Julianna's son & informal supported decisions14:23 Autonomy, complexity & The Pitt's value15:01 Outro & disclaimer

    16 min

  8. Apr 15

    Why This Viral Autism Book Has Us Asking Hard Questions About Facilitated Communication

    Upward Bound by Woody Brown is getting major media buzz — a New York Times review, a spot on Jenna Bush Hager's Today Show book club — but Julianna Scott and Kelley Jensen aren't satisfied with the surface-level conversation. They dig into what makes this debut novel both powerful and complicated: its unflinching portrait of broken adult day programs, the real systemic failures facing profoundly autistic adults, and the thorny science (and ethics) of facilitated communication. They celebrate the book's important message while pushing back on the mainstream coverage that missed the bigger story. Key Takeaways: Upward Bound is being celebrated as inspiration porn, but its deeper value is as a critique of broken systems for profoundly autistic adultsFacilitated communication is a pseudoscience — studies consistently show the facilitator, not the autistic person, drives the outputThe "ideomotor effect" (think Ouija board) explains how facilitators can unconsciously influence responses without intending toAAC devices build independence; facilitated communication never can — and that distinction matters enormouslyFacilitated communication has a documented dark side, including cases of false abuse accusations and, in extreme cases, criminal exploitationThe most important stories in this book are about the staffers, the systemic underfunding, and the "cliff" autistic adults fall off of after age 22 — not just Woody's individual storyMainstream media coverage (including the Today Show interview) failed to ask critical questions about the system the book is actually indictingParents of profoundly autistic children develop remarkable communication shorthand with their kids — that's a feature, not a bug, but it's different from facilitated communicationThe book is worth reading and sharing — just go deeper than the inspiration porn framing and let it spark the harder conversations🔗 Learn More: Website: refrigeratormoms.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/refrigeratormoms/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/refrigeratormoms Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/refrigeratormoms/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@RefrigeratorMoms Refrigerator Moms is sponsored by Brain Performance Technologies, a specialty mental health clinic that offers neuromodulation treatments including SAINT (Stanford Accelerated Intelligent Neuromodulation Therapy) for treatment-resistant depression and major depressive disorder, as well as MeRT (Magnetic e-resonance therapy) for autistic people aged three or older. Learn more at https://brainperformancetechnologies.com (00:00) - Welcome & Autism Acceptance Month (00:27) - Introducing Upward Bound by Woody Brown (01:02) - What is inspiration porn? (01:18) - Did Woody write this book? (02:05) - The plot: adult day programs explained (02:57) - Vignettes & multiple perspectives (03:35) - Who this book is for (04:01) - Should you send it to autism families? (04:45) - Systemic failures & the real story (06:02) - Camp Cammie & the "place for me" question (06:19) - Getting kicked out of special needs spaces (07:00) - The Temple Grandin movie reference (07:52) - Why coverage missed the system story (08:12) - Facilitated communication: the elephant (08:54) - 3 questions that debunk FC (09:39) - What is facilitated communication? (10:19) - How FC works in practice (12:43) - Why the facilitator is the real author (13:05) - Watching the Today Show interview (13:31) - Woody at Columbia: what it means (14:35) - Kudos & the real intention of the book (15:46) - How the book was supposedly generated via FC (17:02) - Parents as creative translators (17:56) - AAC devices vs. facilitated communication (18:28) - FC vs. AAC: independence is the goal (19:28) - What media coverage left out (19:59) - The Anna Stubblefield case (21:06) - Why parents are justifiably upset (22:28) - Red flags in the text (23:49) - Thomas the Tank Engine & other tells (24:57) - Perspective-taking & authorship clues (26:52) - It's a love story — but who's telling it? (27:57) - Shame on coverage; kudos to the book (28:07) - The r-word & editorial choices (29:34) - Acknowledge the facilitator; read the book (30:40) - The system conversation we need (31:02) - Outro & disclaimer

    33 min
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4.3
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

Born from 20 years of friendship, during which they navigated the trenches of autism parenting and advocacy, the Refrigerator Moms is Kelley Jensen and Julianna Scott’s way of reaching out to parents waging the same battles they were.  Their purpose with this podcast is to clear the fog, silence the noise, and find a path through neurodivergence for parents that are stuck between bad choices. They tackle parenting topics such as mom guilt, tantrums, pathological demand avoidance, siblings, medication, comorbidities, social media, and much more. 

Information

  • Creator
    Kelley Jensen, Julianna Scott
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    49
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Refrigerator Moms
  • Show Website
    Refrigerator Moms

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