Unmasking Social

On this week’s episode of Unmasking Social, Tara Trievel — special educator, autism specialist, and parent coach — joins us for a powerful conversation about how to best support parents of autistic teens and tweens while balancing the evolving needs of their children.  Tara explores how parental expectations, environmental modifications, and collaboration across home, school, and community can cre...

Jan Stewart is a passionate advocate for the autism and OCD communities whose voice is rooted in lived experience, compassion, and unwavering perseverance. In this heartfelt episode, Jan shares her deeply personal journey as a parent raising children with neurodivergent needs, including autism, OCD, ADHD, and multiple disabilities. Drawing from years of advocacy, collaboration with educators, and...

In this episode, we talk with Renee Attaway Storer, a speech-language pathologist and long-time collaborator with Social Thinking, whose passion for social learning began during her years at The Parish School in Houston. Renee went on to open up the doors to a social learning program there and now trains professionals across North America, but her dream extended beyond the classroom. She envisione...

In this week’s conversation, Sharon sits down with Rebecca Tarrant in a poignant episode of celebration. Rebecca is a Global Ambassador for Autistic Youth International (formerly Autistic Pride) who has made a great impact on Autism and acceptance and pride in her hometown in NC as well as on an international level. Rebecca speaks from a uniquely powerful perspective as an autistic individual, an...

In this powerful and wide-ranging conversation of Unmasking Social, Dr. Stephen Shore, an international autism advocate, professor, and author, explores autism through a global lens. Drawing on his experiences traveling to more than 58 countries, Dr. Shore shares how cultural beliefs, values, and systems shape the way autism is understood, supported, and experienced around the world. Together, the...

In 2018, Rachel was working as an SLP at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, when a traumatic event occurred at her workplace that drew international attention. I had been hoping to bring Rachel onto the podcast for quite some time, as trauma-informed care has always felt foundational to me in any type of therapy- especially speech and language. In this episode, Rachel share...

In this episode of Unmasking Social, Sharon Baum sits down with Sunnia Khan, a psychologist and advocate working in Pakistan and internationally, to explore the realities facing neurodivergent children, teens, and families. Sunnia shares how stigma and shame often force neurodivergent individuals to remain at home and out of sight in her country, leaving them extremely vulnerable and without acces...

In this solo New Year’s episode of Unmasking Social , host Sharon Baum, MA CCC-SLP, reflects on the journey from unmasking to alignment. After a year of deep conversations about neurodivergence, identity, community, and belonging all through the lens of social, Sharon pauses to look inward and reflect. She shares why her word for the new year is alignment, and what it means to live, work, and conn...

In this episode, I’m joined by Jessie Ginsburg , widely known as The Sensory SLP . Together, we dig deep into the needs of neurodivergent children, tweens, and teens by reframing sensory regulation as the foundation for social connection. We explore what it means to be under stimulated and overstimulated, why regulation must come before communication, and how essential it is for adults to regulate...

Sharon Baum sits down with fellow speech-language pathologist and behavior analyst Steph West, founder of Starfish Social Club. Steph brings a rare and powerful lens to her work—one that thoughtfully bridges the neurotypical and neurodivergent worlds throug h choice. Rather than teaching conformity, she supports clients with social-pragmatic challenges with defining their own social goals - while...

In this episode, we talk with Dr. Cole Denisen, whose journey is a true testament to grit and perseverance. As the first in his generation to attend college, Cole navigated the teen and tween years with minimal preparation or programming, often feeling that something was off socially but without a clear understanding of why, as he received a later autism diagnosis that helped make sense of his exp...

In this episode of Unmasking Social, host Sharon Baum sits down with Dr. Jeffrey Guenzel, CEO of the Interdisciplinary Council on Development and Learning (ICDL), to explore the power of the DIR/Floortime approach in supporting autistic and neurodivergent individuals. The conversation looks deeply into yhe foundations of human development, emphasizing that it all begins with relationships and mean...

I sit down with autistic political activist Charlie Keeble to explore what it means to speak out in a world that often misunderstands neurodivergent voices. Charlie shares his journey from being marginalized and bullied to becoming an outspoken advocate on issues that matter - not just to him, but to the broader autistic community. We dive into the complexities of navigating politics as a neurodiv...

In this episode , Marianne Diab – neuropsychologist in Dubai supporting children and adolescents who may experience differences in skills development, learning, making friends, and adapting to the demands of daily life. Mariann's expertise lies in understanding and addressing the unique needs of young minds, from early childhood right through to late adolescence – and I explore what it truly...

What happens when the family you envisioned doesn’t unfold the way you dreamed?  Dr. Robert Naseef knows this journey deeply. As both a clinical psychologist and a father of an autistic son, he has walked the path from grief and uncertainty to acceptance, joy, and advocacy. In this episode of Unmasking Social, Dr. Naseef shares his personal journey as a father learning to embrace his son Tariq’s n...

We all know that FAPE (a Free Appropriate Public Education) is mandated; however, many families hit a wall when they haven’t memorized every procedure or navigated the maze of red tape. That’s where voices like Jenn Choi and Anne Cunningham make all the difference. Jenn shares her story of raising two autistic children, leaving behind a successful career, and transforming her path into parent advo...

From an early age, Savannah Archer knew something felt different. She experienced sensory overload – especially around food textures – and quickly learned the importance of advocating for what she couldn’t tolerate. By finding the balance between following the rules and creating adaptations for herself, Savannah built a foundation of self-advocacy that has guided her ever since. Today, she connect...

Dr. Rae Stout — an audiologist with AuDHD and the mother of two autistic children — shares why Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) is so often overlooked and why early detection is crucial. She explores how APD, when combined with AuDHD, can create an “avalanche” effect that impacts access to social connections. Dr. Rae takes us on a poignant journey through her own years of being misunderstood — f...

Livia Sarah from Liv Label Free joins me for a powerful conversation about the intersection of eating disorders and autism. We explore the books on recovery she felt called to publish for those “peeking at the finish line but not there yet,” and how her later autism diagnosis became the missing puzzle piece that explained why classic eating disorder recovery approaches didn’t work for her. Livia s...

Sharon sits down with speech-language pathologist and creator Lauren Greenwood to explore practical, neuro-affirming ways to build social-communication confidence in kids and teens. Lauren shares the origin story of her SOCIALSPARK Conversation Picture Cards, why these portable and context-specific visual scaffolds reduce cognitive load while maximizing social attention, and how “small talk” and s...

In this heartfelt episode of Unmasking Social, Dr. Aubrey Fine joins us to explore the powerful, therapeutic role of animals in the lives of neurodivergent individuals. From his own transformation- from a child terrified of animals to a research pioneer in animal-assisted interventions - Dr. Fine offers insight into how the four-legged and two-legged connection can foster social connection in our...

In this episode, Nancy Tarshis and I delve into the importance of seeing children as whole individuals—not just through the lens of labels.” Together, we explore the complex interplay of strengths and challenges faced by 2e and autistic children, and why it’s essential to go beyond diagnostic categories to truly understand and support them. Nancy's journey from social skills to social thinkin...

In this episode, Sharon Baum discusses the complexities of political conversations, especially in the context of teaching teens and tweens, particularly those with autism. She emphasizes the importance of navigating political discourse without falling into black and white thinking, advocating for the embrace of shades of gray. The conversation highlights the need for authentic discussions, the val...

In this episode of Unmasking Social, host Sharon Baum speaks with journalist and disability advocate Laszlo Jajczay about his experiences with social communication, the challenges faced by neurodivergent individuals, and the importance of advocacy in the disability community. Laszlo shares insights from his podcast, Friends with Wheels, and discusses the transition from high school to college for...

Mara McLoughlin’s journey as a twice-exceptional child shaped her passion for social communication. Personal experiences—supporting a parent with a traumatic brain injury and a partner with aphasia—deepened her commitment to helping others navigate communication challenges. In this episode, Mara shares how her path took her from Oregon to the Navajo Nation, working in schools where she witnessed t...