Autism & Neurodiversity

Parenting is one of those jobs that rarely matches up with our expectations. The challenges of parenting an autistic or neurodivergent is an experience many of us were not well prepared for. Sometimes it's hard to adjust our expectations for what it would be like, what our child would be like, and what our definitions of success look like. If you are feeling disappointed and frustrated, if your re...

It takes resilience to grow, develop, and be happy and successful in life when we have very real struggles. Resilient children, teens, and young adults are more willing to try things and try at them for longer. Low resilience leads to giving up quickly or even refusing to try. Get some insightful tips on how to foster resilience in your child, teen, or young adult, especially if they are autistic...

Parenting an autistic and/or neurodivergent child can be a challenging yet rewarding journey. As they transition into adulthood, the question of independence often arises.  In this episode, Jason explores practical strategies to help neurodivergent young adults navigate the path to self-reliance.  Join him as he delves into essential life skills, self-advocacy, safety considerations, and strategie...

Do you want to raise a confident child, teen or young adult? One who is not afraid to take risks, try new things, and perseveres in the face of challenges?  When you get skilled at building their self-confidence you can help them be more successful even if they are autistic, an ADHDer or neurodivergent with disabilities that make things extra challenging. Unfortunately, sometimes the harder we try...

Do you have a teen or young adult in your life who is pulling away from you? If so, you're not alone. Many teens and young adults but especially autistic and neurodivergents go through a phase where they need to distance themselves from their parents in order to grow and develop their own identity. When you understand why neurodivergent young people pull away and have strategies to help them throu...

Our young people, especially our autistic and neurodivergent, thrive when they're met with support and empathy, and spiral down when they're met with shame-based approaches and rejection. It can be challenging to offer empathy, especially when your child, teen, or young adult is behaving negatively or acting out. But empathy is an essential tool for crushing shame and boosting well-being. When you...

Does your autistic or neurodivergent loved one swing between manic, over the top, emotions and depression?  In this episode, Jason talks about the challenges of extreme swings in emotionally dysregulated states. This can lead to problems in their relationships, at work, and in other areas of their lives.  Being more aware of the signs of mania can help us be more effective in supporting the develo...

Have you ever tried to stop yelling at your kids, only to find yourself yelling again? Have you tried rewarding and punishing, but it's not working? If so, you're not alone. Many of us were parented with shame-based approaches, and we may be unintentionally using the same approaches with our own kids. But the research shows that shame-based parenting is ineffective and destructive. In this episode...

Time blindness is a common challenge for autistics and neurodivergents. It can make it difficult to estimate how long it will take to complete a task, to plan ahead, and to meet deadlines. This can lead to frustration and anxiety for both parents and their children. Understanding some of the nuances of time blindness can help us develop more supportive strategies. Follow "Debbie Grygla" on  Instag...

Have you ever felt powerless, confused, angry, or resentful because you were struggling to hold healthy boundaries with your child, teen, or young adult? Or maybe you thought you were holding boundaries, but they felt ineffective or even damaging to your relationship? In this episode, I share my insights on how to set healthy boundaries with love, in a way that strengthens your relationship, conne...

Learn how saying 'yes' can strengthen bonds, promote open communication, and guide your child's growth. Discover practical strategies to shift from conflict to connection, leading to empowered, confident kids. Tune in for a fresh perspective on effective parenting. Follow "Debbie Grygla" on Instagram 👉 If this episode resonated with you, we’d love for you to leave a quick 5 star review sharing yo...

If you've ever felt stuck in your attempts to build a meaningful bond, Debbie is here to share a powerful tool that can transform your relationship into one of influence and connection. Discover how this tool can lead to better support for your child's success, development, and overall happiness while enhancing the joy and fulfillment you experience in your relationship. Tune in and embark on a pa...

"How do you motivate them?" It helps to understand dopamine, the neurotransmitter connected with feeling good and motivated. ADHDers have issues with dopamine levels and transmission. They need more support to increase their dopamine. Novelty is a powerful tool that can help. Follow "Debbie Grygla" on Instagram.  👉 If this episode resonated with you, we’d love for you to leave a quick 5 star revi...

In this episode we explore what may appear as laziness or self-sabotage, but is actually a battle with three anxiety-induced barriers. These common barriers overwhelm and frustrate neurodivergent individuals, hindering their progress. Learn how mindful and intentional mentoring can guide them towards taking that leap of faith, break free of barriers, and unlock their motivation. What You'll Learn...

As we celebrate our 100th episode of this podcast, we reflect on our difficult parenting journey and compare what we used to think was most important to what we value now. Join us as we share what we’ve learned matters most. In this episode, you'll be able to: Delve into the power of practicing presence for savoring life’s most precious moments. Explore how nurturing deep relationships can be a fu...

It’s tricky to navigate through essential developmental experiences–even more so with autistic or neurodivergent young people. You may even find that you’re sheltering them from those experiences. What if there was another way? A way in which you and your autistic or neurodivergent young person experience less stress and more delight because you’ve been given the tool to do so. What You'll Learn f...

Even with the best of intentions neurodivergent individuals can become emotionally dysregulated. It is a common experience among these young people and it is often misunderstood or overlooked by those around them. Through personal stories we aim to give you the tools to better support your young people in managing their emotions and findings ways to thrive. What You'll Learn from this Episode: Wha...

Is there a better way to view your child’s development and behavior rather than by age? Do you find yourself getting derailed by your expectations of their behavior and developmental stage? In this episode we explore a supportive lens that facilitates a more positive frame of mind for the expectations you have for your child–a lens which benefits them and you. What You'll Learn from this Episode:...

We’re all doing our best to raise happy and successful children. Even with the best of intentions, things can go in the opposite direction of what we intended. In this episode, Jason shares a personal story about a negative experience he had while parenting his son and the important lesson in it if you want to improve your relationship with the child, teen or young adult you’re parenting or workin...

Have you ever thought about homeschooling your neurodivergent child only to be derailed by your own thoughts of inadequacy? With our guest, Shannon Biancamano, we discuss how homeschool can be a real possibility. She shares her experience and insights into how she successfully does just that with her own neurodivergent children. What You'll Learn from this Episode: Some mind shift changes that all...

Emotional regulation is more than just maintaining a state of calmness. It requires an awareness of self and the ability to connect with others we trust. Another part of emotional regulation is being able to sit in our negative emotions, which are a normal part of the human experience. When we understand that nothing has gone wrong, we are able to develop greater emotion regulation skills. If we m...

Our role in co-regulation can have a significant impact on an autistic or neurodivergent’s ability to develop self-regulation skills. Multiple studies suggest this impacts every area of their life and well-being. Are the approaches you’re taking offering co-regulation or co-escalation? This matters! What You'll Learn from this Episode: Why co-regulation matters more than we may realize. What the t...

Have you ever wondered if you are an effective mentor? Is there anything else you could be doing to meet your full mentoring potential? In this episode we talk about four types of roles a mentor can fulfill to reach to their fullest potential. As you build a foundationally strong mentoring relationship your mentee will begin to see greater benefits because trust and collaboration are evident. This...

There are many barriers to effective parenting, but in this episode we’re going to discuss one of the biggest barriers that I frequently coach parents on, judgement. It often causes our neurodivergent loved ones to become stagnant in their progress and stay there. It keeps us as a mentor in a lower brain nervous system state, where worry, fear and anxiety thrive. This often sends our mentee into t...

Human nature leads us to naturally impute our own needs and understanding of the world on others, but is this best method of developing a relationship with your neurodivergent loved one? We often ask questions that aren’t beneficial for that relationship, like “How social are they?” What if instead we asked, “Does my loved one want to interact with others?” With their needs in mind we avoid imputi...