6 episodes
inTune Pathways: The Podcast Kristy Forbes
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- Society & Culture
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5.0 • 28 Ratings
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As the host of a unique and impactful podcast, Kristy Forbes combines her professional experience as an educator with a special interest in Pathological Demand Avoidance with a personal touch. She brings an authentic voice to the dialogue on neurodivergence, drawing from her own experiences as an autistic adult, a parent to neurodivergent children, and a professional in the field.
KF's mission (and dreaming) invites families and carers to imagine transcending conventional approaches in supporting their children and loved ones; invites professionals to dismantle traditional power imbalances & social hierarchies rooted in privilege and to disengage from power imbalances and engage in meaningful, community-level presence and deep listening. Most importantly, Kristy offers a reframe; an alternate perspective of what it truly means to be neurodivergent and how we both formulate and cultivate a positive sense of autistic identity and culture within a neuronormative society.
Her passion stems from a commitment and drive to decolonise and dismantle the ways in which we hear one another and begin to rewrite what the textbooks say we are, as neurodivergent people and communities.
With radical acceptance.
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To Honour or NOT To Honour (my child's request to return to school post-burnout)
In this episode of inTune Pathways - The Podcast, host Kristy Forbes delves into the challenging decisions parents face when choosing educational paths for their autistic children, particularly when the children's wishes clash with parental concerns. Kristy, a late-identified PDA autistic with ADHD, and educator with a focus on the social model of disability, explores the implications of mainstream schooling versus alternative education for teens experiencing burnout and anxiety. She discusses the concept of Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA), its impact on autistic individuals, and the deep internal conflicts they face, such as the desire to fit in with peers against the reality of their needs.
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Is our current approach counterproductive, should we be more proactive?
In This Thought-Provoking Episode:
We tackle a question many families face: Is our approach to supporting our PDA autistic children actually counterproductive? We navigate the fine line between respecting our children's autonomy and our natural parental instincts to guide and support them, particularly when they show reluctance to engage with the world outside their comfort zones. But is this what it truly is? A simple reluctance to leave one's comfort zones?
Key Highlights:
Understanding Autonomy vs. Support:
Delve into the delicate balance of respecting our children's choices while grappling with parental concerns about engagement and isolation. Explore the nuanced dynamics of autonomy and support in the context of PDA and autism.
Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) Insights:
Join Kristy as she shares her personal and professional insights on PDA, differentiating it from other forms of demand avoidance and discussing its profound impact on children's willingness to engage. Gain a deeper understanding of PDA and its implications for family life.
The Recovery Journey:
Take a look at the individualised nature of recovery and adaptation, acknowledging the uniqueness of each child's path to re-engagement. Learn about the stages of recovery and how to support your child through this transformative journey.
Community Support and Avoiding Comparison:
Emphasise the importance of community support and the pitfalls of comparing our journeys to those of others. Discover the value of a supportive community and learn how to navigate the challenges of comparison in the context of parenting and PDA.
Embracing Trial and Error:
Highlight the trial and error process in discovering effective supports and tools, learning more about our children's needs, and adapting our approaches accordingly. Understand the importance of flexibility and adaptability in finding what works best for your child.
Future Considerations:
Reflect on our fears and hopes for our children's futures, stressing the importance of staying present and responsive to their current needs. Explore the future implications of our parenting approaches and how we can best support our children in the long term. -
You are not alone
In this profound podcast episode, Kristy unpacks the challenges faced by families raising and/or being Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) individuals, emphasizing the unique and complex nature of PDA and the necessity for understanding and tailored support.
Through a compelling analogy of a child struggling to swim, she highlights the often misunderstood and misjudged experiences of PDA individuals, stressing the importance of recognizing their inherent neurobiological responses and advocating for patience, acceptance, and out-of-the-box thinking in providing support.
This episode is a heartfelt call to action for empathy, understanding, and community solidarity in navigating the intricacies of PDA.
You can learn more about our Core Programs Here:
inTune Pathways Core Programs
To learn more about Kristy and her work:
Kristy Forbes, inTune Pathways -
Answering your questions: Dad's the one, and We are all different.
In this episode, Kristy shares her responses to questions put to her by participants of our Core Programs, inTune with PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance) and Critical Care & Recovery for anxious, demand avoidant children.
You can learn more about our Core Programs Here:
inTune Pathways Core Programs
To learn more about Kristy and her work:
Kristy Forbes, inTune Pathways -
Understanding Autistic communication as culture
Join Kristy Forbes and Kieran Rose again as they discuss misconceptions about autistic communication; that while it differs from neuronormative communication, that doesn't mean it's any less valid or effective. They touch on hyperlexia, synaesthesia, difficulties around social situations and how the autistic radar is alive and kicking.
You can find Kieran Rose and learn more about his work at the links below:
The Autistic Advocate Website
Kieran on Twitter
Kieran on YouTube
Kieran on Facebook
Check out inTune Pathways at:
inTune Pathways Website
inTune Pathways Facebook
inTune Pathways YouTube
inTune Pathways Instagram
inTune Pathways Tiktok -
Exploring autistic behaviour with Kieran Rose
Join Kristy Forbes and Kieran Rose as they discuss behaviours often assumed to be associated with being autistic: where they come from, how they’re understood or misunderstood and how we can better accommodate and understand behaviour as an externalised expression of an internalised experience, and not dysfunctional or non functional neuronormative behaviour.
You can find Kieran Rose and learn more about his work at the links below:
The Autistic Advocate Website
Kieran on Twitter
Kieran on YouTube
Kieran on Facebook
Looking to learn more about autistic behaviour? You can check out the inTune Pathways resources here, join the waitlist for our 12 week program for families raising autistic children here, or access our blog or YouTube Channel.
Customer Reviews
brilliant, warm, funny, real
Kristy Forbes—your voice means the world to me.
Exceptional.
Found these conversation so helpful, easy for anyone to understand.