Neurodiversally Speaking

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...

Today, we're jumping into the world of play and its crucial role in helping both neurodiverse and neurotypical kids learn & thrive. We'll kick off by emphasizing that play isn’t just a fun pastime; it’s a powerful tool for learning, behaviour development, emotional regulation and communication. Throughout our chat, you’ll hear some real talk about the difference between child-led and adult-dir...

Time for a super important topic: Spotting those early signs of autism in kiddos! If you've been feeling something's a bit different with your little one or maybe a friend or teacher has raised some questions, you're definitely not alone and this is the episode for you! We'll share our insights as clinicians in the field, giving you the lowdown on what to watch for, how to approach it, and how to...

Join us as we sit down with the incredible Mercedes Palermo, the founder behind Autism Out Loud. As a registered nurse and dedicated mom to her autistic daughter, Mercedes shares her inspiring journey toward creating a platform that champions inclusivity & awareness for neurodiverse individuals across the globe. We dive deep into her personal experiences—navigating the joys and challenges of p...

Transitioning from one task to another can feel like climbing Mount Everest for our young kiddos, whether neurodiverse or neurotypical. In this episode, we'll dive into the core of why these transitions can be such a tough nut to crack and share some real-life strategies that both parents and professionals can use to smooth out those bumps along the road. Transitioning isn't just about changing ge...

Visual supports can be the key to understanding in young learning minds, whether neurodiverse or not, and that’s our topic for today! So, whether you're a parent, teacher, or clinician, this episode is sure to leave you with fresh ideas to help your children thrive. We'll dive deep into how these tools— like visual schedules, comic strips, and beyond —can help kids learn and communicate needs effe...

In today's episode, we're diving deep into neuro-affirming care, and trust us, it’s way more than just a buzzword! We'll break it all down for you and talk about the ethical practice of honoring neurodiverse individuals and the massive strides that fields like ABA and SLP have made over the years. Throughout this episode, we'll be pulling from our own experiences as clinicians to shine a light on...

Today, we're diving into the world of SLP (Speech Language Pathology) and ABA (Applied Behaviour Analysis), where we believe that teamwork truly makes the dream work. We'll be breaking down what SLP & ABA are and how these two fields can come together to create a more effective and holistic treatment approach. We’ll also tackle some misconceptions about both fields, sprinkle in some practical...

The inaugural episode of Neurodiversally Speaking! Get to know us, our backgrounds, and the life experiences that led us to start this podcast. In this episode, we delve into our motivations for establishing this podcast, emphasizing our commitment to bridging the divide between research and practical application in the realms of autism and neurodiversity. Our discussions cover our vision of foste...