Chelsea's Vocation

Chelsea is pausing the podcast from June through August. See you in September with all new episodes!

The podcast’s second bonus content compilation features new content from  Episode 17 : Language Development & Autism with Trisha Sacharski https://youtu.be/TEGMNwFO8qc   Episode 27 : Ableism & Autism with Sxdni Small  https://youtu.be/eod4hBuMbi4 Episode 30 : Bodily Autonomy & Autism with MJ Lamb  https://youtu.be/H5hr5YD_XCI Trisha is a dedicated Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) with...

Studies indicate that 75% of autistic youth report bullying , often on a chronic basis. And with the increased emotional impact on autistic youth, bullying significantly increases suicidality ( Autism Research Institute ). In this episode, Chelsea differentiates between bullying and disability harassment , because the legal framework that protects our children from the latter is crucial. She also...

Many of us take for granted our body’s ability to receive and understand in real time the signals our physical body is sending. However, for neurodivergent individuals, particularly those on the autism spectrum, this process can be much more complex. In this episode, we explore the concept of interoception , what Kelly Mahler has referred to as the eighth sense, and its profound impact on the live...

Given the high rate of “something else” co-existing alongside autism, Dr. Breya Whitefield joins Chelsea as we dive into the nuances of neurodiversity, the implications of co-occurring conditions, and what families need to know to support their loved ones effectively. If you’ve heard the term " comorbidity " associated with someone with a primary diagnosis of autism, know you’re in good...

Trigger warning : This episode includes the topic of sexual abuse. For those caring for and educating neurodivergent children, the concept of bodily autonomy often takes a backseat. This is particularly concerning for autistic children, who, according to alarming statistics, are at much higher risk for sexual victimization than their neurotypical peers. In this episode, Chelsea and her guest, MJ L...

Building a comprehensive care team for your child with autism is both a journey and a necessity. By understanding the American Academy of Pediatrics’ medical home approach and actively engaging with various professionals, you can ensure your child receives the coordinated care they deserve. As you navigate this process, remember to also take care of your own needs as a caregiver. Chelsea lays out...

Becoming the adult you want to be takes time, self-awareness, and sometimes hard work. Add the dimensions of disability and neurodivergence to adolescence, and the complexities deepen. Chelsea’s guest, Layne Ledding , is a 20-year-old young woman whose poem “Victoria’s Secret” captures part of her journey of “Becoming While Autistic”. This episode is almost a responsive reading of (most of) the po...

Fed up with exclusion from relevant conversations, disability rights activists popularized a slogan in the 1990s: “ Nothing about us without us. ” Was this group marginalized because non-disabled people inherently believe people who are disabled need “fixing”? While challenges brought about by autism are worthy of supports, the concept of ableism lurks in corners of parenting, education, and emplo...

Creating supportive environments for autistic children involves understanding their unique needs and making intentional adjustments in various settings. In this episode (the longest to date), Chelsea offers suggestions for setting autistic children up for success across three environments: home , school , and short-stay community outings . Remember, every small change can make a significant impact...

If all behavior is communication for an autistic person, could some of that behavior actually be a response to trauma ? Chelsea welcomes guest Becky Aten , who identifies as neurodivergent and neuroqueer, is late-diagnosed ADHD and autistic, and also lives with diagnoses of Complex PTSD, anxiety, and depression. They walk listeners through what trauma is (and isn’t), how we as parents and caregive...

Even if you listened to all 23 episodes of this inaugural season of the Chelsea’s Vocation podcast, this will be all new to you!  Chelsea realized her humility makes room for God’s power. She refers to these Bible verses, found in 2 Corinthians 12:5-10 (ESV) "On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses — though if I should wish to boast,...

When Chelsea didn't receive any feedback from families about how they were "winning" the holidays, she deduced that maybe it was hard to get those "W"s. That made her think of five ways extended family members can help neurodiverse families navigate this season better together. While this is a great episode to share, there might be some terminology that's unfamiliar t...

If there are couples who consider the possibility that they might raise children with developmental disabilities, Chelsea and Pete were not one of them. In fact, Chelsea admits they had all sorts of ideas about how they would parent both before they were pregnant and after their first child was in their arms. There was an expectation that they’d spend some married time together before they had chi...

Humans are built for joy and community. Somewhere along the line, neurotypical people decided autistic joy inspired by special interests was “perseveration” and required “extinction”. Neuroaffirming perspectives recognize the universality of passions, fascinations, and collections, even if their expansiveness and topic are beyond the neuromajority bell curve. Chelsea welcomes guest Margaret Fairba...

The component of Halloween that’s all about pretending lends itself to talking about autistic masking . What is it? Is it inherently bad? Why is it such a pervasive part of being autistic? Guest Donna Brendel joins Chelsea to give fresh insight in this episode. Donna is a late-diagnosed woman on the autism spectrum, but she’s arriving on the scene just in time. She is the host of the podcast, “ I...

How is autism diagnosed, and what is the value of seeking a medical diagnosis? Chelsea turns to local experts Amy Heffelfinger , who diagnosed Chelsea’s own children two decades ago, and her colleague Lauren Miller for answers in this episode. Dr. Amy Heffelfinger is a mom of two 20-something daughters, a proud professor and chief, a child neuropsychologist, a wife of 28 years, a lover of nature,...

Once upon a time, there was a mother of two young children with autism whose husband traveled a lot for work. She was exhausted all the time. She often wondered how she could take her two children out of the house by herself and keep them safe. One day while she was folding laundry and the TV was tuned in to Animal Planet, she landed upon coverage of the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. Commentat...

When a social communication deficit (by medical standards - see DSM-5 below) is the primary indicator of autism , a lot of people take notice. Chelsea certainly did when her now-grown children were young, particularly her son Justus . Having met and interacted with many autistic people over the last two decades, her fascination with autistic language development has deepened. But her first meaning...

Since Chelsea’s youngest Noey disclosed nonchalantly that they see music in color, Chelsea has been intrigued by synesthesia . Learning about “ Magnetosphere ”, a recently-released feature film depicting protagonist Maggie’s inner and outward experiences with synesthesia, prompted her to zoom in on the topic for this episode. Guest Nicola Rose is the writer and director of “ Magnetosphere ”, a mov...

For students with “Special Education needs” as determined by criteria put forth in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act ( IDEA ), the IEP (Individualized Education Program) is a critical contract. With back-to-school season upon us, Chelsea revisits her own children’s IEP meetings with Brittany Freund .  Brittany is a dedicated Special Education Teacher, beginning her 11th year supporti...

As a prospective parent, Chelsea presumed her children would go to college. When they were diagnosed with autism, post-secondary education was definitely not part of the conversation among educators and allied health professionals on their teams. While both Justus and Noey went to college, the learning curve was steep for everyone involved. Cue this episode’s guest: Emily Raclaw is Director of On...

Katrina Tarke-Karge is a Clinical Child and Adolescent therapist at Evidence Based Counseling Solutions in New Berlin, Wisconsin. She has worked with autistic individuals in a variety of capacities from young children to adults for almost 20 years. She has recently taken on a new role as the Director of Child and Adolescent Services and hopes to expand access to mental health treatment for neurodi...

A 2023 graduate from Columbia College Chicago, Noey Budde is still very much trying to find their place in the world, but has a great start with an illustrious background in both the humanitarian and creative fields. Noey is an educated composer creating pieces for various forms of media, primarily podcasts (including this one!) and film. When not in their studio , they’re found working alongside...

Chelsea is delighted to welcome “autism dads” Nick Backes and Justin Sneesby to this Father’s Day episode of the podcast. Nick is husband and father of three children. Born and raised in southeastern Wisconsin, he is an autism advocate and a stay-at-home dad. Justin has been a husband to his wife for over 15 years, and they have two children. Their oldest son, Ronnie, is 9, while their other son,...