EVOLVE with Dr. Tay: the podcast for parents of autistic kids

ABOUT THIS EPISODE (+ scroll for resources) 👇 Dr. Tay shares personal experiences and insights about making significant life changes. She discusses the challenges and importance of trusting one's instincts, especially when overthinking sets in. Dr. Tay recounts a personal story involving a car accident and fire ants, which led her to a profound realization about her own business decisions, partic...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE (+ scroll for resources) 👇 In this episode, Dr. Tay chats with Jessie Mewshaw, a speech language pathologist, to discuss the often overlooked topic of medium and high support needs in autism. They dive into why this conversation is vital, sharing personal experiences and professional insights. Jessie discusses her unique journey into the field and her current work with nonspeak...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE (+ scroll for resources) 👇 In this episode, Dr. Tay addresses the current uncertainties of the autism space and how it applies to clinical practice, her personal business, and your parenting journey. She provides an honest reflection on the challenges of navigating unknowns, both personally and within the context of autism care. Dr. Tay emphasizes the importance of serving ones...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE (+ scroll for resources) 👇 Think of this episode like sitting down with Dr. Tay to chat about a variety of topics, while she is getting ready for morning sessions. She shares her struggles with neck pain and ties it to stress and shame while discussing the application to your parenting journey. Dr. Tay then dives into the recent political climate, particularly RFK Jr.'s controv...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE (+ scroll for resources) 👇 Dr. Tay is joined by Camille Joy, an advocate and host of the Moments of Joy podcast. They discuss Camille's journey as a mother of five boys, including her youngest son Maison, who has a congenital heart defect, autism, and intellectual disability. They dive into the importance of early diagnosis, navigating the education system, and advocating for c...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE (+ scroll for resources) 👇 In this mini episode, Dr. Tay shares what families with autistic children are ACTUALLY doing in terms of therapy and support services. Emphasizing the importance of quality over quantity, Dr. Tay discusses common therapies like ABA, speech therapy, occupational therapy, and mental health support. The episode also highlights the significance of individ...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE (+ scroll for resources) 👇 Dr. Tay explores the concept of declarative language and its benefits, especially for demand-avoidant children, with Linda Murphy—a speech therapist, RDI consultant, writer, and expert on the topic. They discuss the definition of declarative language and how it differs from demand-based phrases, emphasizing the importance of thoughtful communication t...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE (+ scroll for resources) 👇 In this mini-episode, Dr. Tay discusses the importance of noticing and reinforcing small wins in the autism parenting journey. Emphasizing the balance between avoiding toxic positivity and acknowledging positive moments, Dr. Tay explains how behaviorism done in a neurodiversity affirming way can play a role in promoting desired behaviors in autistic c...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE (+ scroll for resources) 👇 Dr. Tay welcomes Lo Farmer to discuss the role of parental advocacy. Lo shares her journey from discovering her son's developmental delays to advocating for equitable access to services. Highlighted topics include the emotional and logistical challenges of getting a diagnosis, the broken support systems for special needs families, and Lo's significant...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE (+ scroll for resources) 👇 Dr. Tay discusses five compelling reasons why parents should consider getting their child assessed for autism, despite the current political climate. This mini episode offers insights into the benefits of obtaining a tailored plan, gaining greater understanding and acceptance of your child, boosting parental confidence, and being proactive in mental h...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE (+ scroll for resources) 👇 Dr. Tay welcomes Andi Putt, better known on social media as @mrsspeechiep. Andi, a late identified autistic speech therapist, discusses her work doing autism evaluations and the resources she provides for the autism community. They explore topics including the nuances of autism diagnosis, the importance of neurodiversity-affirming care, and the develo...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE (+ scroll for resources) 👇 In this mini episode, Dr. Tay discusses the challenges and debates surrounding Autism Awareness and Acceptance Month. She shares insights from conversations about the division within the autism community over terminologies, symbols, and approaches, emphasizing the importance of unity and empathy. Dr. Tay highlights the pressing issues like the spread...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE (+ scroll for resources) 👇 In this insightful episode, Dr. Tay welcomes Lisa Jean-Francois, known as @consciouslylisa_ on social media. Lisa shares her in-depth and personal journey of parenting two autistic children. The conversation covers her initial struggles and breakthroughs in understanding autism, the unexpected discovery of her husband's late diagnosis, and her introsp...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE (+ scroll for resources) 👇 In this mini episode, Dr. Tay explores the intersection between evidence-based practices and neurodiversity affirming care in autism treatment. Drawing from her extensive background in research and clinical practice, she discusses the challenges of integrating these approaches to provide tailored, effective support for autistic individuals. Emphasizin...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE (+ scroll for resources) 👇 In this episode, Dr. Tay discusses apraxia with Jordan Levan, a disability advocate and founder of The Apraxia Foundation. They explore the differences between apraxia and dyspraxia, signs and symptoms, and the importance of early diagnosis. Jordan shares his personal journey with childhood apraxia of speech, the types of therapeutic approaches availa...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE (+ scroll for resources) 👇 In this episode, Dr. Tay connects with Neurofriendly Beau, a neurodivergent ADHD coach and parent of a neurodivergent child. They discuss the challenges and dynamics of parenting when the parent and child have different neurotypes. Beau shares insights on her late ADHD diagnosis and limitations of the diagnosis process as well as details her journey t...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE (+ scroll for resources) 👇 Dr. Tay, a licensed child psychologist specializing in neurodiversity affirming care, interviews Laura Petix @theotbutterfly about her children's book on neurodiversity. They discuss how to help children understand their autistic brain and neurodivergent traits, Laura's inspiration for writing the book, and her background as a pediatric occupational t...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE (+ scroll for resources) 👇 In this special episode, Dr. Tay welcomes back special education attorney Ashley Barlow to discuss critical updates impacting special education in the U.S. They delve into the Texas vs. Becerra case regarding the potential elimination of Section 504 protections, explore potential changes within the Department of Education, and highlight the significan...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE (+ scroll for resources) 👇 Dr. Tay welcomes Mercedes Palermo to discuss her experiences as a parent of an autistic daughter diagnosed with ARFID. Mercedes shares her journey, from the initial diagnosis to managing daily challenges, while highlighting her advocacy efforts in spreading awareness. The episode covers key issues like understanding avoidant/restrictive food intake di...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE (+ scroll for resources) 👇 Dr. Tay is joined by Dr. Michelle Fardella, a clinical and school psychologist from Canada, to discuss the critical topic of sex education for autistic youth. The conversation covers various aspects, including the importance of proactive sex education, teaching body autonomy, consent, and addressing misconceptions. They delve into barriers faced by au...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE (+ scroll for resources) 👇 In this episode, Dr. Tay, a licensed child psychologist and parental coach, speaks with Dr. Mona Amin, a board-certified pediatrician known for her social media presence as PedsDocTalk. They discuss critical aspects of navigating the journey of raising an autistic child, including effective strategies for interacting with pediatricians, advocating for...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE (+ scroll for resources) 👇 Dr. Tay shares a real-time update on US policy changes and their impact for autistic individuals and neurodiversity affirming supports. This episode was recorded and published on Jan 29th, 2025 and addresses topics such as DEI, Medicaid, NIH, gender recognition, ICE, and Elon Musk. This episode is not intended to be a news source but instead encourage...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE (+ scroll for resources) 👇 In this episode, Dr. Tay is joined by school psychologist Briana Drimmer to explore the complexities of school eligibility criteria for autism. They discuss the differences between medical diagnoses and educational eligibility, the role of an IEP team, and how to advocate for your autistic child within the school system. The episode also covers the ed...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE (+ scroll for resources) 👇 In this episode, Dr. Tay hosts Marissa Ramos, a bilingual English/ASL speech therapist, to discuss the benefits of incorporating sign language into communication strategies for autistic and hard of hearing children. They dive into the overlapping needs of these children, the surprisingly low percentage of speech therapists who are fluent in ASL, and s...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE (+ scroll for resources) 👇 In this episode, Dr. Tay welcomes Iris Wong, a speech-language pathologist, executive functioning coach, and late diagnosed AuDHD mother with ND children to discuss the importance of executive functions. The conversation covers the definition of executive functions, how they manifest in daily life, and particularly how they impact autistic and ADHD ch...