Neurodiversally Speaking

Behaviour contracts are a great collaborative tool we love for tackling sleep-time headaches - they help families & kiddos (neurotypical and neurodiverse alike) hash out the "why", set clear steps, and pick reinforcers that actually work. We walk you through real examples from our lives - from timers and five‑/two‑minute warnings to replacement ideas - and how to write a simple, kid-friendly c...

Today we're so excited to be speaking with a true dually-certified unicorn in the SLP & ABA world - Rose Griffin! Rosemarie Griffin, MA, CCC/SLP BCBA, is an ASHA-certified Speech-Language Pathologist and Board Certified Behavior Analyst. She has over 20 years of experience as a professional working in both the public and private sectors. Rose is the founder of ABA SPEECH. ABA SPEECH offers the...

Time to chat about speech-language pathology (SLP) and how it's teachings can be applied to behavior analysis (ABA) and trust us, this is going to be a goldmine for anyone in the field! We'll talk about how collaboration between SLPs and ABA therapists can supercharge the progress of their clients. We'll share practical tips that highlight the importance of understanding speech and language develo...

Today, we’re diving into the world of pseudoscience and myths surrounding autism and neurodiversity. You know, stuff like the vaccine-autism connection, restrictive diets, and those intriguing speech therapy drops that promise the moon but deliver a whole lot of... nothing? We’ll break down these claims, separating the genuine knowledge from the fluffy nonsense while keeping it all real and relata...

With the back to school season fast approaching, there's no better time to start preparing our kiddos for a smooth transition back to the routine. In Part 2 of our Back To School: Smooth Transitions series, we'll continue to talk about super practical strategies that you can start using before the school bell rings. Think less chaos in the mornings, smoother drop-offs, and ways to help your little...

Back to school can be a wild ride for both kids and parents, and in this episode, we’re diving deep into how to make that transition as smooth as butter. We’ll explore how the shift from laid-back summer vibes to the structured school routine can feel like jumping from a cozy hammock into a cold pool. From tackling morning meltdowns to navigating the chaos of new classrooms, we’ve got practical ti...

Today, we're welcoming on Allan Giron - Founder of The Sensory Supply and producer of the podcast! We'll kick things off by reminiscing about how we first crossed paths two years ago at the Geneva Centre for Autism Symposium in Toronto and how the seed for the podcast was planted. We'll talk about how the 3 of us just clicked from the get-go and look back on what an incredible journey we've been o...

Today we're hitting a major milestone - it's been one whole year since we started this podcast journey! 🎉 Can you believe it? In this episode, we're taking a moment to reflect on the fun ride we’ve had over the last 25 episodes since starting Neurodiversally Speaking, sharing our absolute favourite moments and conversations that really made an impact. From deep diving into autism and neurodiversi...

Welcoming back one of our favourite guests, Mercedes Palermo - founder of Autism Out Loud . Mercedes is a registered nurse and dedicated mom to her autistic daughter who has an ARFID diagnoses (Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder). Throughout our conversation, Mercedes shares her family's journey with ARFID while highlighting the challenges that many individuals with ARFID face on a daily ba...

Today, we're sitting down with Kim Vincent, Co-Founder of Ability Hive to learn about how one family's journey inspired a new wave of inclusivity. Ability Hive is a Canadian retail business based just outside Ottawa that focuses on sensory and therapeutic tools for individuals with disabilities and diverse sensory needs. Inspired by his journey as a parent to two neurodivergent children, Kim is pa...

Today, we're talking about Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS) with special guest Brooke Rea, an expert SLP who's got all the right credentials and then some. She’ll breaking down what CAS really is, especially for parents who might be scratching their heads wondering why their little one seems to struggle with speech. Brooke gives us the lowdown on the signs of CAS, the importance of early interven...

Let's face it, navigating the world of picky and selective eaters can feel like trying to solve a Rubik's cube...while blindfolded! In this intro to our "Eating & Feeding" series, we'll discuss the ins and outs of feeding our young neurodiverse kiddos while breaking down the differences between picky and selective eaters, and share our own relatable mom struggles to dish out real-life strategi...

Today, we're excited to welcome Dr. Emily Levy to the podcast! Emily is the founder and director of EBL Coaching, a specialized tutoring program that offers individualized one-on-one home, virtual, and on-site instruction using research-based, multi-sensory techniques. In this episode, we’re diving deep with Dr. Emily Levy, who’s all about turning educational struggles into success stories. We tac...

Kiddos struggling with sleep? You’re definitely not alone! Today, we're talking sleep & bedtime strategies for kids - whether neurodiverse or neurotypical. We'll share some real-life hacks from our experiences as both clinicians and moms, offering tips & strategies that’ve worked in our homes and clinic. We’ll discuss everything from bedtime routines that actually make a difference to the...

Welcome Dr. Hilda Ho for our discussion on all things PDA - and not the PDA you may be thinking of. This episode is all about "Pathological Demand Avoidance" in young neurodiverse learners. Dr. Hilda Ho is a registered psychologist with a practice in Child Clinical Psychology, based in Vancouver, BC. She has extensive experience with the diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and other neurod...

Welcome back Jamie McCleary from Autism Canada to chat about a super fun upcoming event called Kids Play For Autism , kicking off this April for Autism Acceptance Day (April 2nd). This event is all about play — and we know that play looks different for everyone, especially for children on the autism spectrum. Jamie shares the heartwarming origin story of the event and how we can all get involved....

Meet Martie Goldberg (MS. CCC-SLP, BCBA) and Megan Dore (COTA-L) , founders of OutGrow Therapeutics - a group of US-based clinics born from a simple but powerful realization: Pediatric therapy works best when it honours the whole child and supports the entire family. Martie & Megan bring over 20 years of combined experience to their practice, but the heart of their practice comes from their ow...

Plans can go sideways real quick when working with young neurodiverse learners. How you prepare and adjust on the fly can make all the difference in turning those chaotic moments into positive opportunities! We'll discuss tackling the tough moments that can pop up during assessments or therapy sessions, even when young learners start showing some aggressive behavior. Instead of seeing these moment...

Today, we're chatting with Vanessa Eastmure & Jessie Collins from the London Children's Museum - the masterminds behind the museum's redesign, focused on making it a welcoming haven for all kids, whether neurodiverse or neurotypical. Throughout our conversation, we explore how they've created a space that’s all about accessibility and inclusion for all families. We learn about their awesome se...

Today, we're speaking with a very exciting guest - author Julie M. Green! Julie M. Green is the author of Motherness , a memoir of generational autism, parenthood, and radical acceptance ( ECW Press , 2025). In 2024, she was a finalist for the CBC Nonfiction Prize. Her writing has appeared in the Washington Post, Globe and Mail, HuffPost, Parents, Chatelaine, CBC, Today's Parent, and more. She als...

The holidays & new year can be a time of emotional highs and lows, so today, we're diving into the topic of young ones grappling with "big feelings" - whether neurodiverse or neurotypical! We kick things off by emphasizing the importance of recognizing the subtle signs that precede emotional outbursts—because there's usually a whole lot brewing before the storm hits. With a blend of our real-l...

Time for a guest we're so excited about. In this episode, we'll be sitting down with Meg Raby of Kulture City to discuss all things inclusivity! Meg Raby is an autistic female, pediatric speech-language pathologist (SLP) and neurodivergent advocate, writer of the children's book series "My Brother Otto", and a regular contributor to "Scary Mommy". She writes about life, love, family dynamics and h...

For our next episode, we get into the nitty-gritty of so-called “bad” behaviour in neurodiverse kids, emphasizing that there are no bad kids—just unmet needs. We'll break down how to identify and tackle these behaviours both at home and in clinical settings, offering practical tips for parents and professionals alike. With a mix of personal anecdotes and clinical insights, we'll highlight the impo...

Today, we're talking all about communication! Get ready to dive into what really counts as communication, especially for our neurodiverse kiddos. In this episode, we'll share our experiences as both clinicians and mothers, breaking down the myth that if a child isn’t talking, they aren't communicating. From pointing and tantrums to those adorable first sounds, we'll explore how every little expres...

Join us as we chat with Jamie McCleary, the Executive Director of Autism Canada. Throughout this episode, she shares insights on her personal journey as both an autistic professional and a mom to a neurodiverse family while also shedding light on the amazing resources offered by Autism Canada for families & autistic individuals across Canada. She kicks things off by diving into the challenges...