Uniquely Human: The Podcast

To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the publication of  Neurotribes , Barry and Dave reflect back on their friendship with  Steve Silberman , who passed last year, by revisiting and discussing portions of their podcast interview with Steve in the Fall of 2021, the  third episode of Uniquely Human: The Podcast.  Filled with humor and reflections, our goal is to express gratitud...

Spin the Spectrum  is an innovative, strength-based program music and DJ program for autistic and neurodivergent individuals. Developed by speech language pathologist  Courtney Willis , in collaboration with  Jay Clipp , a renowned DJ, and  Jah born , a Grammy award-winning producer, opportunities are provided for autistic and neurodivergent individuals to engage in music produ...

As a developmental pediatrician,  Dr. Wendy Ross  serves patients who are autistic and neurodivergent and their families, but her work goes well beyond direct clinical care. She believes in having an impact on community understanding, support and inclusion for all people with neurodevelopmental differences. Barry, Dave and Wendy discuss many of her initiatives in the community and a...

Developmental relationship-based interventions have been around for many years, but have not received the level of attention that intervention approaches based on applied behavior analysis have received. Drs.  Josh Feder  and  Andrea Davis , along with a number of colleagues, including Barry, are currently involved in collaborative efforts to bring greater awareness and funding to D...

As a mental health educational professional advocate, and as a black autistic mother of neurodivergent children,  Dr. Destiny Huff   brings her extensive knowledge of the law, her in depth, understanding of educational systems, and on the ground experience to her work. Destiny, Barry and Dave discuss the challenges that all parents face, but especially parents of color, in advocating for...

Janeen Herskovitz  has worn two hats over two decades, as a mother of an adult son and a daughter who are neurodivergent, and as a therapist and former special educator who supports families, parents and neurodivergent individuals. Initially, she took the path of attempting to cure her son and questioned if vaccinations caused her son’s autism, but then evolved into following a different path...

As a board certified cognitive specialist, author  Bea Moise’ s  work with families and neurodivergent individuals is personally informed through her own lived experiences. Her newest book, Neurodiversity and Technology, presents clear strategies to support neurodivergent children with healthy technology use. In this high-energy discussion with Bea, we talk about neurodevelopmet, technol...

Eric Garcia  is one of the very few autistic and neurodivergent journalists on the national scene, based in Washington, DC and covering congress and the Trump administration. Barry, Dave and Eric discuss his role as an autistic journalist, and his coverage of Washington, DC politics, and current stories that impact the autistic and neurodivergent community. Learn more on our website See...

As a clinical psychologist,  Dr. Ross Greene  believes that many approaches that are used with students with challenging or concerning behaviors have taken the wrong approach to helping students learn and develop trust in their learning environments and others. As the founder of the Collaborative and Proactive Solutions Model, his goal is to change disciplinary practices to practice...

As they have entered their fourth year as partners in Uniquely Human: The Podcast,  Barry  and  Dave  are still astounded by its success and how much our wonderful and loyal audience keep asking for more. But one perplexing question has remained unanswered, why does it work? Barry and Dave reflect on this issue, and believe the answer can be found, in part, by applying a neurod...

As a trans autistic man, and a social psychology professor,  Dr. Devon Price  is intimately familiar with issues of masking, and the impact that masking may have on the social and emotional well-being of individuals. In this episode, Devon, Dave and Barry delve deeply into these issues and discusses skills that Devon believes are critical for helping neurodivergent individuals unmask the...

Indigenous cultures often have a very different view of raising children who receive diagnoses of autism or other neurodivergent conditions. These differences impact how families and children are supported, but also may result in difficulties when families need to interface with non-indigenous cultural professionals and systems to acquire services that may be helpful. Barry and Dave discuss these...

Two of the major priorities that are now being addressed in the autism and neurodivergent communities are the development of friendships and social relationships, and how to address bullying. Dr. Elizabeth Laugeson , Clinical Professor at UCLA, has focused on both of these issues over the past two decades, from a research as well as a programming perspective. She describes the PEERS program, now b...

Neurodivergent children and their caregivers face unique challenges when a child needs to be brought into hospitals or similar medical settings. Unfortunately, many physicians working in emergency medicine and in hospital settings have little training in supporting children and families under the circumstances. Barry and Dave discuss these issues with Dr. Felix Kreier , an autistic physician worki...

One of the most exciting areas of innovation over the past few decades for children and adults with communication challenges and their families is augmentative and alternative communication options. Barry and Dave discuss a wide range of issues related to AAC with  Rachel Madel , a speech-language pathologist who focuses on AAC in her LA – based practice serving children and adult clients, and the...

Polyvagal theory has emerged over the past few decades as an important construct in psychology and neurophysiology to help explain human reactions, especially when a person is under stress. It addresses a deeper, neurological basis to for understanding fight, flight and freeze responses, that have been misunderstood for years when observed in neurodivergent individuals. Polyvagal theory also provi...

Emotional regulation is being embraced by parents, neurodivergent individuals educators and therapists as an important concept underlying respectful and developmentally informed practices for supporting autistic and neurodivergent individuals. As founder and Director of Children's Autism Services of Edmonton (Alberta, Canada), Terri Duncan , CCC-SLP has prioritized emotional regulation as foundati...

Neurodivergent children and their caregivers face a unique set of challenges in ensuring that they have access to appropriate services supporting dental and oral health. Unfortunately, due to some of these challenges, many children grow up without appropriate supports, and experience long-term negative physical and mental health repercussions. Barry and Dave do a deep dive into these issues with D...

As a deeply reflective, and insightful individual,  Becca Lory Hector has constructed a life and career of sharing what she has learned about growing up autistic, without a diagnosis until adulthood. With her engaging new autobiographical work, she once again demonstrates that lived experience is the best teacher, especially when shared generously with others who benefit from her wisdom. Becca, Da...

One of the most important cutting-edge discoveries for autistic and neurodivergent individuals is that non-speakers, many of them previously thought to be intellectually disabled and non-communicative, are now able to demonstrate their knowledge and share their experiences through supported communication. With their guest, psychology professor  Dr. Vikram Jaswal , Barry and Dave discuss recent res...

Gestalt language Processing and Natural Language Acquisition: A Discussion with Marge Blanc, CCC-SLP, and Alex Zachos, CCC-SLP Gestalt language processing and natural language acquisition are topics that have received a great deal of attention in recent years, grounded in research that goes back to the 1970s. These concepts have helped to explain and describe a process, often observed in autistic...

Strategies for Successful Transitions Back to School for Parents and Professionals a conversation with Dave and Barry Supporting successful transitions back to school is critical for maximizing success for the whole school year. Join us as we throw back to episode 31st, where Dave and Barry shared a lively discussion about challenges and creative strategies to help children of all ages to get off...

A great deal of attention is given to different treatment approaches for supporting communication and relationships with children with social learning differences. However, how we actually speak to children in therapeutic and every day interactions, is given relatively less attention. Through her publications and presentations,  Linda Murphy has devoted much of her recent work to supporting therap...