![147 [Encore] Picky Eating and Down Syndrome - the fundamentals with Dr. Kay Toomey](https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Podcasts126/v4/ad/d5/9e/add59e03-b36c-20d7-543c-6a5cf82b8cd6/mza_13106187792979126911.png/250x250bb.jpg)
Afleveringen
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Let's talk about the complexities of finding happiness as parents of children with disabilities. - Find roadmaps or embrace the present? - When are Roadmaps important? - What are the 6 important check points before delving into Radical Acceptance?
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In this episode, I talk to Dawnmarie Gaivin, a powerhouse in the world of spelled communication, about her journey raising two remarkable sons with autism and their path to becoming skilled communicators. Dawnmarie, or DM as many know her, opens up about her journey in parenting—and ultimately advocating for—her sons.
DM talks about presuming competence, we dive into her work with Spellers, and she reflects on the importance of recalibrating ourselves in the face of setbacks, trusting your instincts, and keeping the bigger vision in mind. She reminds us that no matter how challenging the journey may feel, staying grounded can make all the difference.Spelled Communication, she tells us, is much more than a method; it’s a path to connection for individuals who’ve faced incredible communication barriers. We talk about how co-regulation, staying attuned to our kids’ sensory needs, and creating an environment of trust can help unlock their potential.
Key Takeaways:
How to recalibrate your expectations as a parent
What mindfulness and being present brings us
The critical importance of patience in letterboarding techniques.
What it means to presume competence
Get In Touch:
👉Learn more about the Speller Center: https://spellers.com/
👉Watch the Spellers Documentary: www.spellersthemovie.com
👉Explore more ways for your child to thrive: https://functionalnutritionforkids.com/nonlinearlearning/
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Zijn er afleveringen die ontbreken?
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Guest: Elizabeth Vosseller, Founder of Growing Kids Therapy Center and I-ASC
Host: Vaish Sarathy, Math and Science Teacher, Learning Strategist
This episode challenges the assumption that low cognitive skills in children with disabilities are due to a lack of intelligence. Instead, the conversation focuses on how motor skill limitations can significantly impact a child's ability to communicate and learn.
Elizabeth Vosseller is a speech therapist and founder of S2C (Spelling to Communicate). She talks to me this week about how Motor Issues Autism can seem like cognitive disorders.For more details visit here.
“What we observe often is the body. We can’t really observe intelligence directly.” Tune in to listen to how powerful using motor-skills appropriately can be.
Key Takeaways:
Traditional assessments of intelligence often rely on motor skills, which can be misleading for children with motor difficulties.
Speech itself is a fine motor skill, and difficulties with speech production can be a sign of underlying motor challenges.
Sensory processing issues can further complicate motor skills and communication.
Many children with disabilities, including Down syndrome and autism, experience difficulties with motor skills.
The "least dangerous assumption" is to believe a child may be capable of more than they can currently demonstrate.
Get In Touch:
👉Learn more about S2C at Growing Kids Therapy Center: https://growingkidstherapy.com/
👉Visit the I-ASC website: https://i-asc.org/advocacy-campaign/raise-expectations/
👉Explore a different way for your kid to learn:
https://functionalnutritionforkids.com/nonlinearlearning/ -
In this episode of Nonlinear Learning, I address a listener's concern about their child's reluctance to learn. We explores the concept of readiness to learn, learning that behaviors often misinterpreted as defiance may stem from a) communication differences, b) sensory overload, or c) a lack of emotional safety. Tune in to learn about what a low-demand teaching environment may look like! For a short time, I am offering a FREE Training on Building Focus regardless of so-called "readiness to learn". You can register for the Building Focus Training here Key Ideas: Learning readiness can be misunderstood by parents and educators. Tantrums may indicate a lack of emotional safety. Eye contact is not a necessary indicator of learning. Walking away can be a child's way of coping.
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At least 5% of autistic adults may have Aphantasia - image free thinking. This number may be higher for non-speaking kids, especially with ocular apraxia. Is this a learning disability? TJ, the creator of the popular social media account - nigh.functioning.autism, discusses their experience with visualization and image-free thinking. Here are some key takeaways: Visualization and image-free thinking can vary among individuals, with some processing thoughts in text rather than mental images.
Presuming competence and adapting teaching methods to individual students is crucial for effective learning. Multimodal learning, incorporating movement, touch, visuals, and music, can enhance learning and memory.Follow TJ / Tiffany on social media for updates and more resources: nigh.functioning.autism
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Let's explore the critical balance between life skills, independent living, and education for children with disabilities. The importance of academic learning in building logical and critical thinking, as well as emotional regulation is often ignored or trivialized in the lives of children with a disability. If your school team is focusing on life skills at the expense of education, If you find yourself asking what about independece, what about college,
this is the right discussion for you! -
In this episode, we address a crucial and often daunting question for parents of children with disabilities:
How will my child be supported when I am no longer around?
Many of us, as parents, carry the weight of this question, wondering about our children’s future in our absence. Today, my guest Sangeetha Chakrapani offers a powerful and hopeful answer.
Sangeetha is the founder trustee of Together Foundation in Mumbai and co-founder of the Together Community, a residential project for adults with disabilities located in Hosur, Greater Bengaluru. She is also a mother to two autistic adults and two neurotypical adults. With vast experience managing teaching programs, vocational training, and life skills development, Sangeetha brings a wealth of knowledge on how to create thriving, supportive environments for neurodivergent individuals. She is also the author of Autie Tales: Interactive Stories for People with Autism and has earned certifications in integrated education, counseling, and young adults' programs.
Tune in to hear more about:
- Building sustainable, supportive living communities for adults with disabilities.
- The vision behind the Together Community and how it addresses the needs of both individuals with disabilities and their families.
If you are exploring future care options for your child with disabilities or considering community-based living models, this episode will provide you with insights, hope, and a path forward.
Key Takeaways
- Focusing on building a community that ensures care and growth for your child after you are no longer there.
- How vocational training and life skills programs create independence and fulfillment for neurodivergent adults.
- The importance of parental vision and community collaboration in shaping the future for individuals with disabilities.
You can reach out to Sangeetha at [email protected]You can find the Together Foundation at https://togetherfoundationtrust.org/
And the Together Community at https://togetherfoundationtrust.org/group-home/
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If you have struggled with making a neurotypical math curriculum work for your child with disabilities, whether Down Syndrome or Autism or other disabilities that impact their sensory-motor profile,
If you have a child who communicates via AAC, or is an unreliable speaker, or a Speller - perhaps they use RPM or S2C,
you may find that either "regular" Math is not available to your child, or not accessible.
In this episode, Lisa Mihalich Quinn and I have a hard but necessary conversation on the gaps in special ed, and what needs to happen to make academics accessible for ALL STUDENTS!
Lisa has been doing this for years, and is one of the leaders in accessible academics for students with disabilities. She is also a huge advocate for non-speakers who spell / type to communicate.
Key Topics Discussed:
- Presuming competence in non-speaking and minimally speaking autistic students
- The role of assistive technology in promoting communication and learning
- Creating inclusive classrooms through collaboration between parents, educators, and students
- Communication for Education training and its impact on global educators
Connect with Lisa:
You can learn more about Lisa Mihalich Quinn’s work and the Communication for Education program at https://reacheveryvoice.comYou can find Lisa's Accessible Academics program HERE.
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In the 50th episode of Functional Nutrition and Learning for Kids, one of my favorite thought leaders, Soma Mukhopadhyay, talks to us about:
-how learning channels determine teaching
-the 4 goals of RPM - not just information download - but cognition, sensory, tolerance and communication goals.
-the importance of a sensory map when working with a child (as opposed to a label)
If you are interested in helping your child jump start their learning and sensory goals, I highly recommend checking out RPM.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 any supplement or diet recommendations.
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PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance) (now being reframed as Pervasive Demand for Autonomy) is a profile on the Autism Spectrum characterized by a heightened sensitivity of the nervous system that becomes activated when a person experiences a loss of autonomy or equality.
Did you know that 70% of learners with PDA are not able to participate in traditional school settings?
In this episode, we dive into with early childhood mental health consultant and therapist Jessica Hanzo. Jessica sheds light on how PDA differs from typical demand avoidance due to its pervasive impact on the nervous system, making it challenging for individuals to access even their basic needs.
Our conversation explores:
- Why a child’s demand avoidance is NOT a parental failure.
- The external manifestations of PDA and how they can be misinterpreted.
- How to support parents, educators, and caregivers when supporting children with PDA.
- Low Demand Parenting, and how it can help your child
Jessica emphasizes the importance of reframing PDA behaviors as a response to feeling unsafe and highlights the value of understanding the nervous system, cultivating curiosity, and embracing creativity when working with these children.
You can connect with Jessica Hanzo on Instagram @pda.project or find her at https://pdaproject.com/ and explore more of her insights on supporting neurodivergent children through a neurodiversity-affirming and trauma-informed approach.
Links mentioned in the podcast:
https://www.pdasociety.org.uk/https://pdaproject.com/
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In this episode of "Non-Linear Learning," Dr. Vaish Sarathy answers a mother’s question about supporting her 10-year-old autistic son with ADHD, who struggles with anger and behaviors at school.
Dr. Vaish dives deep into the roots of dysregulation, discussing how stress—sensory, biochemical, and communication-related—can drive behaviors often mistaken for misbehavior.
Learn about the vital role of understanding and addressing your child’s stressors before turning to nutritional and supplemental interventions.
This episode offers a compassionate, science-backed approach to helping your child thrive.
Takeaways:
Behavior is the body's response to stress, not intentional misbehavior. Understanding the root cause of a child's behavior is crucial for effective support. Addressing sensory overload, gut health, and communication needs can help reduce stress and improve behavior. The role of nutritional supplements in addressing behavior -
“Yoga isn’t just about stretching; it’s about finding balance in every aspect of life.”
In this heartfelt episode, Fiji McAlpine, a dedicated yoga teacher and mother to an autistic child, shares her transformative journey with yoga and its profound impact on parenting. Fiji opens up about how yoga has been a guiding light, helping her navigate the ups and downs of parenting with patience, openness, and acceptance.
Discover how yoga’s calming techniques and the practice of co-regulation have helped Fiji create a grounding presence for both herself and her child. Through mindfulness and a regular yoga routine, she’s found ways to manage stress, reclaim her time, and foster a positive environment for her family.
Tune in to learn:
- The role of yoga in enhancing patience and acceptance in parenting
- How co-regulation and mindfulness can transform the parenting experience
- Practical tips for integrating yoga into your daily routine to support your family
Connect with Fiji at www.fijimcalpine.com
Fiji has also created a code for listeners that gives them full access to thousands of classes, meditations, programs etc. You can access her programs here.
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How does intelligence work again? We don’t know. But we do know the ONE technique, the ONE process that can help your child (and you) develop nuanced thinking skills, critical thought, an engaged mind, and an active brain - things we regard as intelligence.
It is widely known in all circles, with all cognitive experts, AND even with employers to help build engagement in their companies, but the people that should be using these - TEACHERS, and PARENTS don’t often use this.
In this episode, Dr. Vaish Sarathy tells you exactly what to do to build your student’s complex thinking skills.
If you want to explore how lesson plans may look for you with this idea, please DM Vaish at www.instagram.com/drvaishsarathy
You can also access her free ebook on Learning Strategies that Actually Work here.
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If your child struggles with anxiety, aggression, seizure or even sleep issues, how many times have you had someone advice you - “Have you tried CBD”? Every time I hear this, I wonder how CBD can be the answer to EVERY problem?
It turns out, it is quite possible.
Dr. Julie Buckley makes her second appearance on Episode 93 of Functional Nutrition and Learning for Kids in this fantastic deep dive into CBD and how to get started for your child!
I learned 3 important things:
Pure CBD (without terpenes, without THC) is not a sedative or psychoactive It is all about the dose Water soluble CBD is the way to go.You can reach Dr. Buckley at www.HealthyUstore.org
If you loved this episode, please share your rating at www.ratethispodcast.com/vaish
Disclaimer: This is not medical advice. It is meant for educational purposes only. Please consult your doctor before making supplement changes for your child.
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We explore essential planning for parents of children with disabilities with CPA and estate attorney James Lange!
Note and disclaimer - this episode deviates from our previous episodes in that it is about financial planning and how to provide for our kids after us. Please use your usual due diligence and research before implementing these strategies. Also please note that this episode is very US-centric.
James shares his personal experience and provides valuable insights, emphasizing three critical steps: getting the child approved for SSI or SSDI, creating a special needs trust for estate planning, and optimizing taxes through Roth IRA conversions.
James offers a free book, 'Retire Secure for Parents of a Child with a Disability,' and a virtual summit for further resources and support.
Connect with James Lange at www.paytaxeslater.com and explore his book, “Retire Secure for Parents of a Child with a Disability,” for more detailed guidance.
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Today’s episode is one of a kind - an expert leads us into incredible detail into the physical and physiological principles behind picky eating and other feeding disorders, specially in children and adults with Down syndrome.
If that sounds complex, I assure you that while it is complex, it is not complicated. Dr. Kay Toomey, in this episode talks to us about postural stability and breathing and how they relate to Feeding Delays.
I love it when an expert takes us back to the basics. We are often so busy looking for hacks to a particular issue that we lose track of the fundamentals. This episode is just that - a journey back to the very basics, so we can pick up what we missed and address the root cause of picky eating.
You can find Dr. Toomey at www.sosapproachtofeeding.com and you can find her freebie made just for you - a collection of Low Oral Motor Demand Foods at www.functionalnutritionforkids.com/feedingsos
Clicking on the above link will also give you an ACTION handout of 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 child’s doctor. Please consult your physician before implementing any supplement or diet recommendations.
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We explore the vagus nerve, your body’s communication superhighway some more this week, with Dr. Navaz Habib!
Upgrading the vagus nerve is key to anti-inflammatory activity, to supporting nervous system function and mood regulation.
If you are looking to reduce your child’s anxiety, to help them switch easily from fight-or-flight to rest-and-digest, here are a few ways Dr. Navaz suggests:
Supporting Nutrition and Gut Health [download your gut health kit here]
Finding your breath: Diaphragmatic breathing through your nose [Use this link to explore your breath with Dr. Vaish - she is a volunteer teacher in this breathing workshop]
You can connect with Dr. Navaz Habib at drnavazhabib.com or www.healthupgraded.com
He is the host of "The Health Upgrade Podcast" and the author of the book "Upgrade Your Vagus Nerve."
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Did you know that there are almost 120,000 published papers studying Magnesium in Pubmed, and 150 of them just study Magnesium supporting hyperactivity.
Over 300 study the effects of Magnesium and sleep and over 2000 publications study Magnesium and depression and it goes on. In fact last I looked, you could type in Magnesium and ANYTHING and you’d find a study for it.
But should you do Magnesium Glycinate or Magnesium Sulfate or Magnesium Citrate
Today’s guest Laura Collinwood, Registered Nurse and Holistic Health Coach, talks to us about the importance and all-pervasiveness of Magnesium – the different types and when and why they are important.
Magnesium can be a phenomenal support for Autistic people in that it supports anxiety, hyperactivity, constipation and sleep – symptoms that often co-exist.
To know exactly what forms to use and where (a sort of bullet-point summary of this podcast) get your Magnesium Toolkit here:
https://www.functionalnutritionforkids.com/magnesium
You can also reach Laura and her fantastic Magnesium Products at https://www.health-and-wisdom.com/
This is a repost of a previous episode, previously published on Jan 16, 2023
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 any supplement or diet recommendations.
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In this episode, Dr. Sarathy interviews Sofi Ghassaei, a remarkable and accomplished 20-year-old Autistic Poet and Playwright.
Sofi has made significant strides in the world of literature and theater despite the slower process of spelling her thoughts to communicate.
Her work has been featured in various publications such as the 2023 poetry anthology "Di lo que quieres decir," Teen Creative magazine, and Neuroclastic.
Sofi takes us through her journey of being the first non-speaking Autistic Playwright (that I know of).
The most remarkable part of Sofi’s journey in my eyes is how she took a “dare from her anxiety monster” to do this most daunting of work. Enjoy!
You can find Sofi’s Play [it is her First Year Play- Anniversary!!] at this link:
https://www.youtube.com/live/bkZB8xwm4dU?si=WMV7g2uWiYNuAHf3
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SKY BREATH LINK
In this episode, Vaish answers a question from a mom of a 6-year-old Autistic boy with ADHD who is experiencing some parenting struggles. We discuss why parenting parenting a child with a disability becomes challenging - and discuss 7 ways to move from swimming upstream to downstream. Send Vaish questions to be answered in future podcasts here. To get a jump start on your child's regulation (from a gut health perspective), check out my Gut Health Toolkit. 03:02 Swimming Against the Current 04:26 The 7 point checklist 07:15 Understanding the Reasons Behind Behavior 08:10 Effective Communication with the Child 10:30 Prioritizing Self-Care for Parents - Laat meer zien
