Neuroversity

Send me a Text Message about the show! In this episode of Neuroversity, Jessica Kidwell interviews Emily Barth Isler, a former child actress and writer for YA short stories and plays as well as a sustainable beauty journalist.   Emily also has OCD and synesthesia.  In this first of a two episode conversation, Emily and Jessica discuss Emily's award-winning debut novel Aftermath which explores...

Send me a Text Message about the show! It’s April, which means Autism Awareness Month.  And April 2nd is World Autism Awareness Day.  So I thought it would be a great time to re-visit  episode 22 from Season 1, where I talk ALL about the complicated feelings this month can bring.  There is a lot of background and history surrounding this month-and this episode was my attempt to learn a little abou...

Send me a Text Message about the show! Welcome to Season 2! Today we are talking about "burnout".  Specifically autistic burnout, and how it differs from neurotypical understanding of burnout. Joining me is Dr. Megan Anna Neff, a clinical psychologist working in Oregon. She specializes in working with neurodivergent adults and provides neurodivergent affirming assessments.  And she has a...

Send me a Text Message about the show! What better way to celebrate our first year than to revisit with our favorite guests!  And we open with my two favorite guests EVER: Grace and Charlie Kidwell.  But, I'm not just revisiting with the two guests that live with me, we hear from many of our incredible season one guests!  And we also heard from listeners about what  should be covered on seaso...

Send me a Text Message about the show! Neuroversity is celebrating ONE YEAR of elevating neurodivergent voices and experiences-and I think that is a call to celebrate!  And what better way to celebrate than with a special birthday celebration.  So coming soon, on 11/25/22, we will do just that! I will revisit some past guests, talk about episodes and topics I loved, as well as topics I hope to cov...

Send me a Text Message about the show! Whether you are finding this in October, for ADHD Awareness Month, or just coming across this episode now; consider this a great place to start in gaining an introduction to ADHD. In this episode you will learn: What is ADHD The prevalence of ADHD in the US and among boys vs girls The three type of ADHD The most common behaviors found within each type How som...

Send me a Text Message about the show! What do you think of when you hear the word "masking"? Since it's October, perhaps your thoughts go to Halloween and costumes? Or perhaps, if you are into self-care, you may think of skin care? Or in our post COVID world, maybe you think of face masks? But none of those are the masking we are talking about in Neuroversity this week. In psycholo...

Send me a Text Message about the show! Saira Nagda is a high school senior, looking towards her future and making a difference in her community. She is a captain of her Varsity Cross Country and Track Team.  She is on the leadership board for her school's One Love Club , which educates students on what are healthy and unhealthy relationships. She founded the non-profit organization, RePlay-It...

Send me a Text Message about the show! *Disclaimer: if your child has been diagnosed with SPD, or you suspect they have SPD, the best place to begin with any type of diagnostic or treatment plans is with an Occupational Therapist trained in sensory integration.  I am not an OT, and the information in this podcast series should not be used in any way to diagnose you or your child.   In part three o...

Send me a Text Message about the show! *Disclaimer: if your child has been diagnosed with SPD, or you suspect they have SPD, the best place to begin with any type of diagnostic or treatment plans is with an Occupational Therapist trained in sensory integration.  I am not an OT, and the information in this podcast series should not be used in any way to diagnose you or your child.   In part two of...

Send me a Text Message about the show! *Disclaimer: if your child has been diagnosed with SPD, or you suspect they have SPD, the best place to begin with any type of diagnostic or treatment plans is with an Occupational Therapist trained in sensory integration.  I am not an OT, and the information in this podcast series should not be used in any way to diagnose you or your child.   Today starts a...

Send me a Text Message about the show! As the dog days of summer wind down, it’s time for many of us to turn our attention on to three dreaded words, “back to school”, or maybe they’re you’re favorite three words!  Who am I to judge?  One thing that is certain, it’s a transition, and transitions do not always go smoothly.  Especially in my neurodivergent household.  But regardless of the neurodive...

Send me a Text Message about the show! Turnabout is fair play they say, so..... Join me as I have a conversation with the most important male voice you will ever hear on this podcast, my son Charlie. The day I recorded the Neuroversity episode with Grace, we came home from the studio and Charlie said, "Mom, when will you interview me?" And, in my mind, I thought to myself "He's...

Send me a Text Message about the show! It’s time for another entry into the Word of the Week series-where I pick a word well known or often used among those in the neurodiversity community, and try to understand it more in the context of my world in hopes to build a bridge of understanding to a broader community.   This week we will learn: What is hyperlexia The three types of hyperlexia The preva...

Send me a Text Message about the show! Today we are talking about ADHD.  Specifically women and ADHD and why so many are not finding out they have ADHD until they are 30, 40, or 50 plus years old. With the help of Instagram creator Trina Hayes, a late diagnosed member of "Lady ADHD", I learn more about what ADHD can look like in women.   From time blindness to low self esteem, we take a...

Send me a Text Message about the show! We are going back to basics, an introductory 101 level course, if you will, and taking an in-depth look at what it means to be neurodivergent.  The definition as well as who gets to decide if someone is, in fact, neurodivergent.  Because, much like many things, there is not one definitive answer on this.  Depending on who you ask, neurodivergence can look man...

Send me a Text Message about the show! Today we are talking about neurodivergence in the black community and the intersection of race and disability.  And  when it comes to breaking down barriers related to autism in the black community, no one does it with more passion and clarity than Maria Davis-Pierre, a licensed mental health counselor, autism awareness advocate and founder of Autism in Black...

Send me a Text Message about the show! Today's episode is about ADHD.  Specifically though about ADHD in women, and with a later diagnosis.   We talk all about: diagnosis without context medical vs self diagnosis masking vs mirroring rejection sensitivity dysphoria  prevalence of queerness in the neurodivergent And so much more!  It's a great primer on ADHD and I'm looking forward t...

Send me a Text Message about the show! In this episode, Jessica speaks with Mari Cerda, BCBA, who is the co-founder of The Lighthouse Learning Center and The Leap Institute.  What follows is an important and nuanced conversation about: What IS ABA? What is the history of ABA within the autistic community and the field of Behavioral Analysis? How does the concept of "duality" negatively i...

Send me a Text Message about the show! Join me as I have a conversation with the most important autistic voice you will ever hear on this podcast, my daughter Grace.  This is not an inspirational story.  This is not a sad story.  This is Grace's story.    How she remembers finding out she's autistic.   How she sees herself as a neurodivergent teenager.  How she feels about this podcast,...

Send me a Text Message about the show! Depends on who is doing the celebrating. it’s April, which means Autism Awareness Month.  And April 2nd is World Autism Awareness Day.  You’ll see landmarks like the White House and the Empire State building lighting it up blue.  And Neurodiversity trainings will be occurring all month long in businesses and schools promoting neurodivergent affirming practice...

Send me a Text Message about the show! For the first time in almost 20 years, the CDC has updated their child development milestone guidelines.  In cooperation with the American Academy of Pediatrics, a group of eight subject matter experts recommended changes to these guidelines.  So why is the American Speech Language Hearing Association and most of their 211,000 association professionals concer...

Send me a Text Message about the show! So many incredible insights during this conversation with Dr. Megan Anna Neff, PsyD. About Dr. Neff: Dr. Megan Anna Neff has a doctorate in clinical psychology and is currently a psychology resident in private practice where she specializes in working with neurodivergent adults and provides neurodivergent affirming assessments. They are a parent to two neurod...

Send me a Text Message about the show! I’m doing a little something different this week.  Monday is the last day in February, and whether it is a 28-day February or a 29-day February, the last day is recognized world wide as Rare Disease Day, the globally-coordinated movement on rare diseases, focused on working towards equity in social opportunity, healthcare, and access to diagnosis and therapie...

Send me a Text Message about the show! Another episode in the Word of the Week series! This week? Alexithymia Other than waking up my smart speaker every single time I said it in this episode, what is it?  And how does it relate to neurodivergent individuals, if at all? Resources cited this week: Dr. Nick Walker https://neuroqueer.com/neurodiversity-terms-and-definitions/ Examples given of Alexith...