Non Linear Learning - Rethinking Education for Neurodivergent Learners

A diagnosis of Down Syndrome or Trisomy 21 carries with itself the very unfair assumption of Intellectual Delay, a default assumption, often made without basis. Join me on this podcast to see how inaccurate this assumption is for almost anyone with Down Syndrome, and what it means to give our kids a fair chance at education.  Disclaimer: The information in this Podcast is for educational purposes...

Dr Jared Seigler compares Functional Neurology to exploring different highways in the brain. If one road is closed, how do we open another road? In a fascinating example of a child doing 3 seemingly unconnected processes at the same time, such as wearing blue glasses, walking backwards and clapping their hands to a metronome, Dr. Seigler demonstrates the effect of the Hebbian process in rewiring t...

It's not what you think, yet you will find it hard to see changes without implementing these changes first. Everyone is fascinated with going gluten free and dairy free, and these things can be very important for any gut dysfunction (whether occuring with autism or otherwise). However, what comes before? This podcast gives you 5 non-negotiables, the changes that we must make first.  Disclaimer: Th...

There are a number of triggering factors associated with a higher incidence of Autism and comorbid conditions: these include genetics, mitochondrial disorders, alterations to the microbiome etc. But in what is like the String Theory of Disease, Dr. Bob Naviaux proposed the Cell Danger Response (made famous by the excellent Suramin study) as a thread tying the different triggers into one integratin...

What happens when Brain Inflammation (sometimes called Autoimmune Encephalitis) is triggered by your own body in a misguided response to an infection? What does a parent see? And What is the role of Functional Nutrition in addressing these symptoms of PANS or PANDAS diagnosis? Molly Brennand is a parent and a Functional Nutrition practitioner and talks about natural treatments for PANDAS using pil...

Are you exhausted at the end of the day? Do you feel like you can never do anything fun with your students (or your child if you are homeschooling)? Do you want to empower your student/child? A flipped classroom may be what you are looking for.  Mandy Rice talks about the benefits of a flipped classroom in this podcast.  Disclaimer: The information in this Podcast is for educational purposes only....

Are you dipping through the thousands of posts asking you to support the immune system, and unsure what that means? I dive into the challenge of explaining why the immune system needs nutritional and lifestyle support without doing any immunology! You leave with 6 action items.  Disclaimer: The information in this Podcast is for educational purposes only. Vaishnavi Sarathy, Ph. D. is an educator,...

The founder of the remarkable Hirsch Academy, Shelley Carnes, talks about the radical shifts that were acheived in her school, when they simply started listening to Autistics.  Disclaimer: The information in this Podcast is for educational purposes only. Vaishnavi Sarathy, Ph. D. is an educator, not a doctor, specifically not your child’s doctor. Please consult your physician before implementing a...

Sonia Story, master movement therapist, talks about how patterned therapeutic rhythmic movement actively matures the cerebellum, and how integrating retained reflexes can mature the brain stem. If movement can actually cause physical changes in anatomical portions of the brain, what are we waiting for? Disclaimer: The information in this Podcast is for educational purposes only. Vaishnavi Sarathy,...

Did you know many visual disturbances in autistic children (or perhaps even with other disabilities) cannot be described just by visual acuity? Or even by visual processing?  Dana Johnson talks about Ocular Motor difficulties in many autistic children (and adults). It was eye-opening (yes, pun intended) to learn about the effect of ocular motor on peripheral vision, eye contact and more.  Disclaim...

Dr. Angela Knapp is a naturopathic physician who works extensively with children.  She talks about increasing rates of autoimmunity in children, and causative factors - factors we can and cannot control.  Listen for ideas on: -infections and autoimmunity -molecular mimicry -increasing rates of autoimmunity -risk for children with Autism / Down Syndrome -how do gluten and dairy impact autoimmunity...

Have you been at the receiving end of the advice (mostly related to food): "Everything is OK in moderation." Join me and my colleague Shelley Hurguy as we discuss where this works and where this doesn't! Disclaimer: The information in this Podcast is for educational purposes only. Vaishnavi Sarathy, Ph. D. is an educator, not a doctor, specifically not your child’s doctor. Please consult your phys...

In new and exciting research, scientists have found that autistic individuals exhibited a significant reduction in myelination and myelin producing glial cells. Let us review what we know about myelination and how we can RE-myelinate.  Disclaimer: The information in this Podcast is for educational purposes only. Vaishnavi Sarathy, Ph. D. is an educator, not a doctor, specifically not your child’s...

What would the world be like if we knew exactly how every child learns? If we didn't feel compelled to put children in well-defined boxes that were easy for US to understand. If we instead centered their education around them. Dr. Joqueta Handy tells us why a child's learning strength is everything that we need to know. Disclaimer: The information in this Podcast is for educational purposes only....

Mindy is an expert in eating disorders and a Functional Nutrition practitioner. She has herself suffered from eating disorders and navigated the difficult terrain of recovery.  "I was being told what to weigh, think and eat. Nobody was addressing what I was hungry for" In this episode, Mindy talks about the intersection between eating disorders, behavior, physiology, respect and nutrition. How can...

When picky eating is not a pathological condition, or severe sensory issues, or extreme gut inflammation, what can you do to help your child eat more diverse, complex, and flavorful foods. That's what Julia Markova talks about in this podcast.  Disclaimer: The information in this Podcast is for educational purposes only. Vaishnavi Sarathy, Ph. D. is an educator, not a doctor, specifically not your...

Myelination is an important neurological process that impacts almost everything I care about in my child: motor coordination, learning, focus, moods.  And there are some easy ways to impact Myelination: Practice, Nutrition, and one more key mindset. Yes, it is actually a mindset. Disclaimer: The information in this Podcast is for educational purposes only. Vaishnavi Sarathy, Ph. D. is an educator,...

Elizabeth Vosseller is a speech therapist and founder of S2C (Spelling to Communicate). She talks to me this week about how motor issues can seem like cognitive disorders.  "What we observe often is the body. We can't really observe intelligence directly." Tune in to listen to how powerful using motor appropriately can be. Disclaimer: The information in this Podcast is for educational purposes onl...

In part-2 of this stimulating conversation, Geralyn leads us through common misconceptions and wrong labels that get attached when a child lags behind neurodevelopmentally. We also chat about the role of diet in brain development.  Disclaimer: The information in this Podcast is for educational purposes only. Vaishnavi Sarathy, Ph. D. is an educator, not a doctor, specifically not your child’s doct...

Geralyn Spiesz, a path-breaking thinker, leader and mother who also has a son with Trisomy 21 shares her unique thoughts and findings on teaching a child with Down Syndrome in this paradigm shifting episode. Particularly how a simple shift from focus on output to focus on input and processing, can result in a potentially equal education for the child.  Disclaimer: The information in this Podcast i...

Let's a take a brief look back at the 12 key learning points on our journey in Functional Nutrition and Learning. And so, the podcast gets gently renamed. So much more to learn ... Disclaimer: The information in this Podcast is for educational purposes only. Vaishnavi Sarathy, Ph. D. is an educator, not a doctor, specifically not your child’s doctor. Please consult your physician before implementi...

Dr. LaRosa explains the detailed connection between the microbiome, disruptions (dysbiosis), and immune and brain function. It is quite impossible to optimize brain activity, whether focus or regulation, in the absence of a diverse and healthy gut microbiome. She talks of simple strategies that can help most people get on the path to a healthy gut, and how powerful these tiny changes can be. Discl...

Among the significant natural factors known to help symptoms of ADHD, micronutrient supplementation is a big one! Here's a short dive into the many ways micronutrients can help you child, and when they may not work. Disclaimer: The information in this Podcast is for educational purposes only. Vaishnavi Sarathy, Ph. D. is an educator, not a doctor, specifically not your child’s doctor. Please consu...

Andrea Livingston, expert holistic chef and recipe developer shares the simplicity with which she plans anti-inflammatory meals for kids. Tune in to hear the utter ease with which Andrea approaches meals. The world of Gluten, Dairy, and even Egg-Free cooking can be as simple as we let it be.  I have a Free Ebook for you that talks about WHY Gut health is important, WHEN to address it, and HOW. It...

Listen to Portland based nutritionist Katharine Jeffcoat as she discusses the intricacies of dealing with picky eaters and talks about how she helps parents raise mindful and competent eaters. How do taste and smell play into picky eating? And.. how letting a child skip a few meals till they are hungry just doesn't work for all kids. If you are interested in a free Ebook to get you started with po...