Podcasts about Special education

In this powerful episode of Beyond Awareness: Disability Awareness That Matters, Diana Pastora Carson is joined by Kristin Wright, Executive Director of Inclusive Practices at the Sacramento County Office of Education. Drawing from her deep personal and professional experiences—as a former California State Director of Special Education and the mother of a daughter with disabilities—Kristin shares her “why” for dedicating her life to the work of inclusion, belonging, and rightful presence. The conversation explores the harmful persistence of the medical model in education, the importance of shifting mindsets from exclusion to rightful presence, and how inclusion must be viewed not as charity, but as a fundamental human right. Kristin also offers candid reflections on systemic ableism, the political threats to essential protections like Medicaid and Section 504, and the urgent need for collective advocacy. This episode is a heartfelt call to action for educators, families, and policymakers to reimagine inclusive education as not only possible, but necessary. Guest Information Kristin Wright Links to Resources MentionedTIES CenterDisability Voices UnitedNational Center for Learning DisabilitiesParents Helping ParentsDisability Rights CaliforniaRightful PresenceJudy HeumannChaeli MycroftAngela Van Ostran Free ASL Classes (Email Diana for details - Diana@GoBeyondAwareness.com) Stay Connected with Diana Diana's Website, including blog Free Resource - 5 Keys to Going Beyond Awareness Free Resource - How to Talk with Kids about Disability Beyond Awareness: Bringing Disability into Diversity in K-12 Schools & Communities - Diana's Book Ed Roberts: Champion of Disability Rights - Diana's Children's Book Ed Roberts: Champion of Disability Rights Thematic Unit/ Disability History Lesson Plans "Beyond Awareness" Digital Course Diana's TEDx Talk Beyond Awareness Facebook Page Diana on Instagram Beyond Awareness Tote Bag Beyond Awareness Pullover Hoodie Beyond Awareness Raglan Baseball T-Shirt Beyond Awareness Journal/Notebook Diana's Teachers Pay Teachers Store - Disability as Diversity Diana's Trifold Laminated Resource: Beyond Disability Awareness: An Educator's Guide, Published by National Professional Resources, Inc. (NPR, Inc.) Credits and Image Description Intro and outro music courtesy of Emmanuel Castro. Podcast cover photo by Rachel Schlesinger Photography. Podcast cover image description: Black and white photograph of Diana, a Spanish-American woman with long, wavy, brown hair. She is wearing a flowy, white blouse and smiles at camera as she leans against wooden building. Photo is colorfully framed with gold and orange rays of seeming sunshine on top half, and with solid sage green color on bottom half. Text reads "Beyond Awareness: Disability Awareness That Matters, Diana Pastora Carson, M.Ed."

In this episode, I  interview Connie, a student from the Language Therapy Advance Foundations program. She shares her practical experiences and results achieved with her students. Key highlights include:✅ Engaging a Disengaged Student: Connie discusses her strategies for working with a high school student who was bored with therapy, emphasizing the use of engaging books to enhance vocabulary learning.✅ Time Efficiency: Learn how Connie cut her preparation time in half by implementing the frameworks taught in our program, allowing for more focused and effective sessions.✅ Achieving Generalization: Connie reports significant progress in several of her students who had previously plateaued, particularly in their ability to generalize syntax skills.This episode offers actionable insights for language therapists looking to improve engagement and outcomes in their practice.Ready to elevate your language therapy skills? Join Language Therapy Advance Foundations and start transforming your therapy approach today.  Learn more about Language Therapy Advance Foundations here: https://drkarenspeech.com/languagetherapy/ We're thrilled to be sponsored by IXL. IXL's comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers' timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments

Welcome to Hot Topics! Join host Gabrielle Crichlow in this empowering episode featuring fellow tutorpreneur Renée Peña Lopez as they discuss the essential role of advocacy in your child's development. Together, they delve into key developmental markers for preschool and elementary-aged children, providing parents with the insights needed to recognize and address their child's unique needs.In this episode, you'll learn effective strategies for advocating for your child's educational and emotional support, and discover how to navigate the systems in place to ensure they receive the help they require. Gabrielle and Renée share practical takeaways for when you feel overwhelmed or stuck, empowering you to advocate confidently and effectively.Renée, an early childhood inclusion specialist and special education teacher, shares her personal journey of advocating for her daughter who faced developmental delays. The conversation highlights the importance of understanding and navigating the special education system, including terms like "CPSC" (Committee of Special Education) and "EI" (Early Intervention). The episode emphasizes the significance of developmental milestones for children aged 3-5 years, advocating early, and the collaborative relationship between parents and educators. Renée also addresses the cultural considerations surrounding advocacy, including the stigma some parents face regarding labels and special education.Whether you're a parent, educator, or caregiver, this episode is filled with expert advice and actionable tips to help you become a mighty advocate for your child. Tune in and take the first steps toward making a meaningful difference in their educational journey! Key Takeaways:- Understanding your child's developmental markers.- Strategies for effective advocacy in educational settings.- Importance of documentation and early intervention.- Navigating cultural considerations and overcoming stigma.- Building collaborative relationships with educators.Don't miss this insightful discussion that empowers you to support your child's needs!,Who is Renée Peña Lopez?Renée Peña Lopez is an Early Childhood Inclusion Specialist, and proud Native New Yorker. She is a licensed special education early childhood teacher who has a passion for quirky learners such as herself. Renée attended Bard College for her B.A. in Dance and Integrated Arts (Video and Arts Education). While on her journey, she fell in love with Early Childhood working at an enrichment school, where the director took a chance on her and suggested she go into the field. She decided to attend Mercy College for (Birth-6th with Student with Disabilities). Now, Renée pulls from her creative background in dance and her vast experience in an array of classrooms from museums to progressive spaces to play-based models. She is also a Mama of a quirky and lovely kiddo who works with Families and Teachers of Littles to help them make sense of their Littles play by finding the magic that makes them shine. Together, we rethink inventions!You can find Renée:On the web: https://www.themagicoflittles.com/On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheMagicOfLittles/On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themagicoflittlesOn Threads: https://www.threads.net/@themagicoflittlesOn Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/themagicoflittles/On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/renee-pena-lopez-9a93957Download "The Mighty Advocate Guide" for free: https://www.themagicoflittles.com/page/619933Purchase digital "Stay on Top of IEPs" Planner with 50% discount for our audience: https://www.themagicoflittles.com/purchase/212062-Stay-on-Top-of-IEPs-Planner/coupon/ASTEPAHEADWatch this episode on YouTube: https://youtube.com/live/Tjw69vLdAIYRate this episode on IMDB: https://m.imdb.com/title/tt36940673/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk********************************************Follow Gabrielle Crichlow:On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gabrielle.crichlow On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gabrielle.crichlowOn LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabrielle-crichlow-92587a360Follow A Step Ahead Tutoring Services:On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/astepaheadtutoringservicesOn Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/astepaheadtutoringservicesOn X: https://www.x.com/ASATS2013On TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@asats2013On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a-step-ahead-tutoring-services/On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@astepaheadtutoringservicesOn Eventbrite: https://astepaheadtutoringservices.eventbrite.comVisit us on the web: https://www.astepaheadtutoringservices.comSign up for our email list: https://squareup.com/outreach/a41DaE/subscribeSign up for our text list: https://eztxt.s3.amazonaws.com/534571/widgets/61fc686d8d6665.90336120.htmlCheck out our entire "Hot Topics!" podcast: https://www.astepaheadtutoringservices.com/hottopicspodcastSupport us:Cash App: https://cash.app/$ASATS2013PayPal: https://paypal.me/ASATS2013Venmo: https://venmo.com/u/ASATS2013Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/hot-topics--5600971/support Original date of episode: March 16, 2025

#368>  Sponsored by the Men's Division of Sara Schenirer.They will help you figure out your yeshiva credits, financial aid, and help you choose a degree program that leads to a successful career.They offer degrees in Accounting, Business, ABA, Psychology, Health Science, Pre-Med, Paralegal, Special Education, and Social Work. All degrees are offered through their prestigious partner colleges and their student support is first-rate.Applications are open now for the fall semester. Visit their website www.sarasch.com, call 917-209-8204, or email rpelberg@sarasch.com to connect with a helpful advisor today.>  Sponsored by The Torah of Tomorrow: One Song, a Hebrew-English edition of a selection of Rav Kook's teachings. To purchase, use code CHATTER for 15% off at https://mosaicapress.com/product/the-torah-of-tomorrow/?sld=seforimchatter> To purchase "The Dybbuk: Its Origins and History": https://amzn.to/4e9rKNe> To join the SeforimChatter WhatsApp community: https://chat.whatsapp.com/DZ3C2CjUeD9AGJvXeEODtK> To join the SeforimChatter WhatsApp status: https://wa.me/message/TI343XQHHMHPN1>  To support the podcast or to sponsor an episode follow this link: https://seforimchatter.com/support-seforimchatter/or email seforimchatter@gmail.com (Zelle/QP this email address)Support the show

Our guest this week is Peter Gerhardt of Rich Hill Park, NJ who is executive director at EPIC Schools located in Paramus, NJ, author of dozens of publications and books, an internationally recognized Autism expert and outspoken advocate for the disability community.Peter has three degrees from Rutgers University: a BA in Psychology, an EdM in Special Education, and a PhD in Education Psychology and Special Education. He has dedicated his life to researching Autism and serving the disability community.  He has developed workshops and given hundreds of presentations domestically and internationally.  Some of his publications include: Make it Meaningful: Creating Programs that Matter into Adulthood for Learners with Autism and Related Disorders (2024).Handbook of Quality of Life for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Autism and Child Psychopathology Series (2022).Transition to Adulthood for Adolescents and Young Adults with Autism: Can We Improve Outcomes? (2022) Social Skill and Adaptive Behavior Intervention with Learners with Autism (2013). Peter also served as a consultant for the widely respected documentary In A Different Key (2021) co-producers: Caren Zucker, John Donovan & Ray Conley with music by Wynston Marsalis.Given the scope of Peter's work we decided to split his interview into two parts. This is part #2. Show Links:Phone – (210) 576-0600Email – PGerhardt@epicschool.orgLinkedIn –  https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-gerhardt-112a4b29/Website - https://www.epicschool.org/Organization for Autism Research (OAR) - https://researchautism.org/Books – - Make it Meaningful: Creating Programs that Matter into Adulthood for Learners with Autism and Related Disorders - Handbook of Quality of Life for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Autism and Child Psychopathology Series - Publication- Transition to Adulthood for Adolescents and Young Adults  with Autism: Can We Improve Outcomes?. Movie – https://www.inadifferentkeythemovie.com/Special Fathers Network -SFN is a dad to dad mentoring program for fathers raising children with special needs. Many of the 800+ SFN Mentor Fathers, who are raising kids with special needs, have said: "I wish there was something like this when we first received our child's diagnosis. I felt so isolated.  There was no one within my family, at work, at church or within my friend group who understood or could relate to what I was going through."SFN Mentor Fathers share their experiences with younger dads closer to the beginning of their journey raising a child with the same or similar special needs. The SFN Mentor Fathers do NOT offer legal or medical advice, that is what lawyers and doctors do. They simply share their experiences and how they have made the most of challenging situations.Check out the 21CD YouTube Channel with dozens of videos on topics relevant to dads raising children with special needs - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzDFCvQimWNEb158ll6Q4cA/videosPlease support the SFN. Click here to donate: https://21stcenturydads.org/donate/Special Fathers Network: https://21stcenturydads.org/  SFN Mastermind Group - https://21stcenturydads.org/sfn-mastermind-group/

Many clinicians, educators, and school leaders know they should be working collaboratively, but don't know how to find time to do it. If you have a friend or colleague who seems to have magical productivity powers, I promise there's a method to the madness. Most likely, they've just gotten really good at a concept I call “asset stacking”. It starts with asking yourself the question, “What can I create now that can save me time or effort later?”  In this third episode in the 3-part clinical leadership, I share how the concept of “asset stacking” can be used by both current and aspiring clinical and educational leaders to make an impact on the systems they're working in. Key Points:✅ Creating a long-term strategic vision for your professional growth✅ The concept of asset stacking and how to use it to impact systems✅ Multiple service delivery models that position you as a leader✅ Developing a master plan that aligns your expertise with system needsTakeaways:✅ Asset stacking compounds your influence over time✅ Your unique combination of skills creates distinctive value✅ Service delivery innovation positions you as a thought leaderAction Step: Begin your leadership master plan by identifying your unique "stack" of professional assets and one system-level challenge they could address.In this episode, I mentioned “The School Leader's Guide to Executive Functioning Support”, a 7-day course to help school leaders launch their executive functioning implementation plan. You can learn more about the course here: https://drkarenspeech.lpages.co/school-leaders-guide-to-executive-functioning-support/  We're thrilled to be sponsored by IXL. IXL's comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers' timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments

If you've ever sat in a school meeting thinking, “They just don't get my kid,” this episode is for you. Guest Cindy Goldrich, an ADHD and executive function expert, reveals what most teachers don't know about ADHD, why school support often misses the mark, and how to advocate with compassion, not conflict. Whether you're a parent seeking support or an educator feeling overwhelmed, Cindy shares a powerful lens on collaboration, stress, and building spaces where complex kids truly thrive. What to expect in this episode:Uncover the surprising gaps in teacher education when it comes to neurodiversityWhy universal design isn't about special treatment, but smarter teaching for all kidsThe powerful link between anxiety and attentionHow approaching schools with curiosity instead of conflict can make all the differenceWhy your child's voice might be the most important one in the conversationAbout Cindy Goldrich, Ed.M., ADHD - CCSPCindy is a leading ADHD and executive function expert and the founder of PTS Coaching. She equips parents, educators, and professionals with research-backed tools to support children with ADHD. Through certified training programs, one-on-one coaching, and nationwide teacher workshops, Cindy helps others build practical strategies for success. She's the author of 8 Keys to Parenting Children with ADHD and ADHD, Executive Function & Behavioral Challenges in the Classroom, a CHADD Public Policy Committee member, and a regular contributor to ADDitude magazine.Connect with CindyWebsite: PTS CoachingEmail: cindy@ptscoaching.com Facebook: PTS CoachingInstagram: @ptscoachingLinkedIn: Cindy Goldrich, Ed.M. ADHD-CCSPAdvocate for Teacher Training: https://ptscoaching.com/2024/09/advocate-for-adhd-teacher-training/Train All Teachers about ADHD Challenges:  https://ptscoaching.com/2023/08/train-all-teachers-adhd/Meet the Teacher: How to Build Relationships: https://ptscoaching.com/2022/09/meet-the-teacher/Get your FREE copy of 12 Key Coaching Tools for Parents at https://impactparents.com/gift.Read the full blog here: https://impactparents.com/how-to-help-adhd-students-succeed-in-the-classroom Connect with Impact Parents:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/impactparentsFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/ImpactParentsLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/impactparentsSponsors "Cognitive Ergonomics from the Inside Out" – A New ADHD InterventionDo you recognize current ADHD interventions fall short? At DIG Coaching, we've developed a groundbreaking field of engineering called Cognitive Ergonomics from the Inside Out. Discover a fresh approach to ADHD care that looks beyond traditional methods.Learn more at www.cognitive-ergonomics.com

Today's guest is Cassandra Orozco, the founder of Beacon of Hope Academy, a faith-based microschool serving K–5th grade students with special needs in Lake Worth, Florida, set to open this fall. As a certified special education teacher with experience in both charter and private schools, Cassandra is passionate about reimagining education to better serve neurodiverse learners. Through Beacon of Hope Academy, she's creating a nurturing, individualized environment where every child is seen, supported, and empowered to thrive. *** Sign up for Kerry's free, weekly email newsletter on education trends at edentrepreneur.org.

Today's guest is Alexandra Batista Rodriguez, founder and director of Steps Learning Center in Orlando, Florida, a specialized K-8 microschool for neurodiverse learners with moderate to significant special needs. Steps Learning Center takes a nontraditional, student-centered approach to learning, and serves a variety of families through various flexible programs, including full-time and part-time microschool enrollment options, tutoring services, and curriculum support for homebound students—all financially accessible to students through the state's school-choice programs.  *** Sign up for Kerry's free, weekly email newsletter on education trends at edentrepreneur.org.  

Our guest this week is Peter Gerhardt of Rich Hill Park, NJ who is executive director at EPIC Schools located in Paramus, NJ, author of dozens of publications and books, an internationally recognized Autism expert and outspoken advocate for the disability community.Peter has three degrees from Rutgers University: a BA in Psychology, an EdM in Special Education, and a PhD in Education Psychology and Special Education. He has dedicated his life to researching Autism and serving the disability community.  He has developed workshops and given hundreds of presentations domestically and internationally.  Some of his publications include: Make it Meaningful: Creating Programs that Matter into Adulthood for Learners with Autism and Related Disorders (2024).Handbook of Quality of Life for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Autism and Child Psychopathology Series (2022).Transition to Adulthood for Adolescents and Young Adults with Autism: Can We Improve Outcomes? (2022) Social Skill and Adaptive Behavior Intervention with Learners with Autism (2013). Peter also served as a consultant for the widely respected documentary In A Different Key (2021) co-producers: Caren Zucker, John Donovan & Ray Conley with music by Wynston Marsalis.Given the scope of Peter's work we decided to split his interview into two parts. This is part #1. Show Links:Phone – (210) 576-0600Email – PGerhardt@epicschool.orgLinkedIn –  https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-gerhardt-112a4b29/Website - https://www.epicschool.org/Organization for Autism Research (OAR) - https://researchautism.org/Books – - Make it Meaningful: Creating Programs that Matter into Adulthood for Learners with Autism and Related Disorders - Handbook of Quality of Life for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Autism and Child Psychopathology Series - Publication- Transition to Adulthood for Adolescents and Young Adults  with Autism: Can We Improve Outcomes?. Movie – https://www.inadifferentkeythemovie.com/Special Fathers Network -SFN is a dad to dad mentoring program for fathers raising children with special needs. Many of the 800+ SFN Mentor Fathers, who are raising kids with special needs, have said: "I wish there was something like this when we first received our child's diagnosis. I felt so isolated.  There was no one within my family, at work, at church or within my friend group who understood or could relate to what I was going through."SFN Mentor Fathers share their experiences with younger dads closer to the beginning of their journey raising a child with the same or similar special needs. The SFN Mentor Fathers do NOT offer legal or medical advice, that is what lawyers and doctors do. They simply share their experiences and how they have made the most of challenging situations.Check out the 21CD YouTube Channel with dozens of videos on topics relevant to dads raising children with special needs - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzDFCvQimWNEb158ll6Q4cA/videosPlease support the SFN. Click here to donate: https://21stcenturydads.org/donate/Special Fathers Network: https://21stcenturydads.org/  SFN Mastermind Group - https://21stcenturydads.org/sfn-mastermind-group/

In this second episode in the 3-part clinical leadership series, I explore the 'lesson planning trap'—a common situation where clinicians focus so much on perfecting individual sessions and miss broader opportunities for impact.I experienced this myself, spending years creating detailed therapy plans while seeing little change at the systems level. Then I realized the importance of distinguishing between planning for individual therapy and planning for effective service delivery. This insight transformed my practice and leadership approach.Today, I'll share how you can take your intervention skills and scale them for lasting change in your school or organization. Key Points:✅ Applying effective intervention principles to enhance service delivery.✅ Understanding the difference between therapy planning and service delivery planning.✅ Introducing scalable protocols that maximize your impact.✅ Evaluating your current strategies for scalability.✅ Utilizing intervention principles in team leadership situations.In this episode, I mentioned “The School Leader's Guide to Executive Functioning Support”, a 7-day course to help school leaders launch their executive functioning implementation plan. You can learn more about the course here: https://drkarenspeech.lpages.co/school-leaders-guide-to-executive-functioning-support/ We're thrilled to be sponsored by IXL. IXL's comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers' timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments

Leila Farschian, Special Educator and Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), is someone who gets things done. She has lived these problems in the field and is actively working to solve them. Her story offers practical insight and inspiration to you in your daily work. As founder of the Global Schoolhouse Project, Leila partners with the International Healthcare Network on Closing the Digital Divide, a project bringing digital devices into schools in Johannesburg, South Africa. It's not just about providing tech. She works directly with teachers and students to train them in effective use while identifying the barriers and gaps that limit access.Through her BCBA work, Leila also developed a range of lessons, curriculum, and tools. To share these more broadly, she created ABA Toolbox, a per-learner platform that automates and scales her resources across clinics. It supports her own practice and others in the district, all with a multidisciplinary, child-centered approach.Leila's work is a reminder that real progress often starts with individuals who take action. Whether she's expanding tech access in underserved schools or streamlining care with practical tools, the best businesses are started by those who understand the problems. #autism #speechtherapy What's Inside:The difficulties and differences between jobs in the ABA field.Closing the Digital Divide with the Global Schoolhouse Project.What is the ABA Toolbox?Mentioned In This Episode:ABA ToolboxGlobal Schoolhouse Project Speech Membership - ABA Speech  ABA Speech: Home

Richard Schumacher and President and CEO, Stacy McGhee, are joined by LSEM Programs & Services Consultant, Kathy Krause, to talk about her career in Lutheran special education. Kathy has served numerous roles throughout her years of ministry with LSEM and now looks forward to her upcoming retirement. The three also talk about some of their fun hijinks along the way. Join us in congratulating Kathy on her second retirement from LSEM!

There was a strong focus on investing in special education for the state during the 2025 legislative session. We spoke with the chair of the Special Education Committee, Senator Sujata Gadkar-Wilcox representing the 22nd District (Bridgeport, Trumbull, Monroe), about what exactly passed. Image Credit: Getty Images

In this heartfelt episode, Special Education Attorney Adam Dayan speaks with Dani Amirian, a former media executive who became a dedicated advocate for her son with special needs. Dani shares her family's journey, beginning with her son James' early diagnosis of strabismus and evolving into a complex path of developmental delays, therapies, and special education planning. She opens up about navigating Early Intervention, CPSE, CSE, private services, and the emotional toll of advocacy. With honesty and determination, Dani offers valuable insights on building the right support team, staying organized, and always believing in your child's potential. Whether you're a parent, educator, or professional in the special needs space, Dani's story will leave you inspired, informed, and empowered.

In this episode, we address the common experience of being overlooked in crucial conversations about the students we serve. Whether you're a clinician or educator who feels unheard while trying to contribute, aspiring to be in a leadership role, or currently in leadership and experiencing impostor syndrome, this discussion challenges you to embrace your role as a leader—regardless of your job title.We'll start this 3-part clinical leadership series by clarifying some misconceptions about leadership and explore how to change your approach.Key Points:✅ Why are important team members excluded from key team decisions about services and programs in schools and other organizations?✅ How to stay relevant and visible to colleagues so they see you as an asset.✅ Overcoming three core limiting beliefs:        

About VernonVernon Wright, also known as @TheWrightLeader, is a multifaceted professional whose work spans across speaking, mentoring, serving on boards, authoring, leading, and educating. He has shared insights gleaned from his diverse experiences with audiences at various levels, from regional to national, and has been featured on over 50 podcasts.Vernon is a sought-after and dynamic speaker who frequently shares his expertise and insights at a wide range of educational conferences, including prestigious events such as TCEA (Texas Computer Education Association), Learning Forward Texas, the IDCC (Instructional Design Coaching and Consulting) Leadership Conference - ESC Region 10, and TCASE (Texas Council for Administrators of Special Education). Soon, Vernon will expand his reach when he speaks at the Leadership EDIT Conference in Kansas City in June, on the convergence of leadership, empathy, trauma-informed practices, and more.His speaking engagements and workshops focus on assisting educational institutions and organizations in developing strong synergies among their teams and building high-performing, collaborative cultures that foster innovation and success. Vernon's ability to connect with his audience and share actionable strategies has made him a popular and respected figure in the education community.In addition to his speaking engagements, Vernon has also been involved in significant collaborative projects within the educational technology sector.Notably, he played a key role in the former joint venture between Microsoft EDU and CUE Inc. (Computer-Using Educators), where he contributed his expertise to the development and implementation of innovative educational technology solutions.Vernon is dedicated to mentoring others in their pursuit of excellence and invites you to connect with his work at TheWrightLeader.com.Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/thewrightleaderLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thewrightleader Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewrightleader/About RachelleEducator, Keynote Speaker, Consultant, Attorney, and AuthorSubscribe to my ⁠newsletter⁠.Check out my ⁠blog⁠ and submit a guest blog.Contact me for speaking & training related to AI, AI and the law, Cybersecurity, SEL, STEM, and more!⁠bit.ly/thriveineduPD⁠Interested in a sponsored podcast or collaboration? Contact me! Rdene915@gmail.com

Loving our autistic children through their struggles isn't always simple — and it's definitely not always easy. In this heartfelt episode, Shannon opens up about the complex emotions many parents face when their child can't or doesn't express love in typical ways.Maybe your child doesn't say “I love you.” Maybe they don't come to you for comfort or push you away during meltdowns. Maybe you've quietly wondered, "Why does this feel so one-sided?" or "Am I the only one who feels this way?"You are not alone.As summer begins — a time that can feel overwhelming for families like ours — this episode is a soft place to land. It offers you an alternative perspective for those long, unstructured days when everything feels harder than it should. Come back to it whenever you need a reminder that you're not alone, and your love still matters — more than you know.You'll hear stories, strategies, and compassionate insights about what it means to love your child through their hardest moments — not despite them. You'll learn why their love may look different (but is still real), why grief and love can exist side by side, and how to hold space for both hope and heartache on this unexpected parenting journey.And don't forget — next week kicks off our BEST OF Summer Series! We'll be spotlighting some of our most downloaded episodes to make sure you haven't missed any favorites. With over 230 episodes, there's so much to take in, and what didn't apply when it aired might be exactly what you need today. Be sure to scroll through and find the episodes that speak to where you are now. We'll be back with brand new episodes later this summer!

In this episode, we dive deep with educational consultant and innovator Dr. Kate Anderson Foley, who challenges conventional wisdom about student support systems and offers a fresh perspective on educational leadership. Dr. Anderson Foley's  shares revolutionary ideas about restructuring intervention frameworks and explains why some traditional approaches may be limiting student potential.Episode Highlights:✅ The Double Helix Model - Dr. Anderson Foley introduces her groundbreaking concept comparing educational support systems to DNA's double helix structure, demonstrating how interwoven approaches create stronger outcomes than linear interventions, and why we shouldn't label students according to tiers. ✅ Restructuring RtI Tiers - We explore Dr. Anderson Foley's compelling case for removing the traditional tiered structure of Response to Intervention, discussing how these artificial divisions can create barriers to providing students with appropriate support at critical moments.✅ Cross-Pollination of Services - Dr. Anderson Foley flips conventional thinking by arguing that what's often labeled as "duplication of services" actually represents valuable cross-pollination of educational approaches, creating richer learning environments and multiple pathways for student growth.✅ High-Quality vs. Traditional Tutoring - We distinguish between standard tutoring and "high-quality tutoring," examining the specific elements that transform supplemental instruction into transformative educational experiences.✅ Agile vs. Waterfall Leadership - Dr. Anderson Foley contrasts traditional "waterfall" leadership models with agile approaches, explaining how educational leaders can create more responsive, adaptive systems by implementing initiatives in shorter releases and using data to make adjustments sooner, rather than later. Our conversation challenges listeners to reconsider fundamental assumptions about educational interventions and offers practical strategies for transforming support systems to better serve all students. Dr. Anderson Foley's innovative perspectives provide valuable insights for educators, administrators, and policy makers seeking to create more effective and equitable educational environments.Dr. Anderson Foley is Founder & CEO of the Education Policy & Practice Group, an international keynote speaker, and Harvard Medical School Institute of Coaching Fellow. A transformational leader, she has guided school districts and states toward equitable services for all learners, with a focus on breaking barriers for marginalized children.Beginning as a special education teacher pioneering inclusive practices, Dr. Kate advanced to administration where she advocated for reform at local, state, and federal levels. As a senior educational leader for Illinois, she helped create preventative systems addressing opportunity gaps for all learners regardless of background or circumstance, and contributed to equity-based school funding reform.Dr. Kate partners with organizations worldwide, providing expertise in improvement processes, professional learning communities, and asset-based education policies. She teaches Special Education Law to aspiring educational leaders and authors books including "Ida Finds Her Voice," "Fearless Coaching," and "Radically Excellent School Improvement," which offers a blueprint for comprehensive school improvement that ensures every student thrives.

This week's episode wraps up our teacher burnout series with a powerful collection of real-world advice from real special educators. In Episode 212, we hear from 14 special educators from the special education community who share their own burnout prevention strategies—no fluff, no theory, just real talk and real tools.From setting boundaries and saying no, to reclaiming your time, creating meaningful routines, and finding ways to recharge with movement, mindset, and joy—this episode is filled with practical wisdom you can start using today. Whether you're new to the field or a seasoned teacher in need of encouragement, this episode reminds you that you're never alone in this work.What You'll Hear in This Episode:✅ Setting Boundaries & Saying NoGuests: Nikki from Teaching Autism, Hallie from Speech Time Fun, Jenn from Teach Love Autism, Angela from The SpedTech Teacher, Heather from Full Sped Ahead, Alexis from The Peachy Speducator✅ Time Management & PrioritizationGuests: Ashley from Spedtacular Days, Abby from Mrs. Moe's Modifications, Sam from The Ed Queen✅ Recharging Through Movement & MindsetGuests: Lydia from Exceptional Space, Chaia from All Things Exceptional, Alicia from Delightfully Dedicated, Heather from Full Sped Ahead✅ Simplifying with Systems & RoutinesGuests: Dawn from Cultivating Exceptional Minds & Be the Exception Podcast, Caroline from Celavora.com & Sped Up Paperwork

Hey everyone, welcome back to the Autism Little Learners Podcast! Today's episode is such a special one. I'm joined by Megan Griffith, an autistic and ADHD life coach who shares powerful insights from her own lived experience. We talk about what it's like to be diagnosed later in life, sensory sensitivities, masking, and the importance of honoring neurodivergent play. Megan's stories and metaphors bring so much clarity and compassion to topics many of us are still learning about. She also shares a peek at her upcoming book Welcome to AudHD and a free resource for parents and educators. You're going to love this conversation! Bio Megan Griffith (she/her) is an auDHD life coach, and she's autistic & ADHD (auDHD) herself. She loves helping adults learn more about their brains and better understand & meet their needs, especially around executive dysfunction, emotional dysregulation, and internalized shame. When she's not working, you can usually find her dying her hair, or writing her novel. Links  Megan's New Book (coming out in the fall of 2025): https://www.theneurocuriosityclub.com/book-waitlist 11 Types of Neurodivergence:  https://www.theneurocuriosityclub.com/types-of-nd The Nuerocuriosity Club - You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheNeurocuriosityClub Website: https://www.theneurocuriosityclub.com/ Takeaways Megan identifies as AuDHD, a combination of autism and ADHD. Late diagnoses of autism and ADHD are becoming more common among adults. Sensory sensitivities can significantly impact daily life and social interactions. Masking is a complex behavior that can lead to emotional distress. Children need safe spaces to express themselves without judgment. Play should be enjoyable and not forced into typical norms. Understanding sensory needs is crucial for supporting neurodivergent individuals. Adults should trust and validate the experiences of neurodivergent children. Creating supportive environments can help children thrive. Megan's upcoming book aims to guide neurodivergent adults towards thriving. You may also be interested in these supports Visual Support Starter Set  Visual Supports Facebook Group Autism Little Learners on Instagram Autism Little Learners on Facebook  

En este episodio hablaremos sobre la vida de Helen Keller y como transformar la lástima en potencial para las personas con diversidad funcional.  Deja tu reseña en Apple Podcast, Audible y Spotify con cinco estrellas. Comparte un screen-shot de este episodio en tus redes sociales y tus chats.  Sígueme en:  Instagram: Diversidad Funcional en Acción  Facebook: Diversidad Funcional en Acción  TikTok: Diversidad Funcional en Acción Suscríbete a este podcast en tu plataforma favorita: Apple Podcast, Spotify, Audible y iHeart Radio. Puedes enviarnos tus preguntas y peticiones de temas a diversidadfuncionalenaccion@gmail.com. Se incluye TRANSCRIPCIÓN. Referencias: Alquraini, T., & Gut, D. (2019). Critical components of successful inclusion of students with severe disabilities: Literature review. International Journal of Special Education, 34(1), 35-50. McConnell, D., Savage, A., & Hastings, R. P. (2020). Family attitudes and child outcomes: Pathways to resilience in children with disabilities. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 29(5), 1235-1249. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-019-01648-1 McKenzie, J., & McConkey, R. (2019). Changing parent attitudes through disability training: Effects on family empowerment and inclusive education. Disability & Society, 34(9-10), 1469-1484. Rosenbaum, P., & Gorter, J. W. (2012). The "F-words" in childhood disability: I swear this is how we should think! Child: Care, Health and Development, 38(4), 457–463. Hehir, T., Grindal, T., Freeman, B., Lamoreau, R., Borquaye, Y., & Burke, S. (2016). A Summary of the Evidence on Inclusive Education.

I have had the honor and pleasure to have on the Unstoppable Mindset podcast many healers, thought leaders and practical intelligent people who have generously given their time and insights to all of you and me during this podcast. This episode, our guest Kay Hutchinson adds a great deal to the knowledge base we all have gained from our other guests. Kay's childhood was interesting in that she is half Japanese and half African American. This race mixture provided Kay with many life challenges. However, her parents taught her much about life and understanding so she was able to work through the many times where people treated her in less than an equal manner. Also, Kay being the child of a military father had the opportunity to live in both the United States and Japan. She gained from this experience a great deal of knowledge and experience about life that she willingly shares with us.   After college Kay went into teaching. Just wait until you hear what class she first had to teach, but she persevered. Through all her life she has felt she could assist people in healing others as you will hear. After teaching for a few years, she decided to make energy healing a full-time profession.   Along the way she fell in love and married. Unfortunately, as she will tell us, she discovered that her husband exhibited extreme narcissistic behaviors which eventually lead to a divorce. I leave it to Kay to tell the story.   Kay offers some pretty great insights and lessons we all can use to center ourselves. I very much hope you like what she has to say.       About the Guest:   Imagine the exhaustion, anxiety and utter soul depletion that results when you are in a narcissistic relationship.  Then, imagine being told that you have to go through years of counseling and perhaps even take anti-depressants to begin reclaiming your identity, health, emotional and financial stability, and restore your ability to experience God' joyousness. That's the journey that Kay Hutchinson was on in 2019 when she divorced a narcissist who dragged her through a nearly year-long court battle that almost destroyed her 15-year energy medicine practice where she specialized in helping empathic women make their sensitivities their super powers and left her with relentless shingles outbreaks and collapsed immunity. Through the journey of rebuilding her health and life, she discovered  the one thing that no one was talking about in terms of the recovery from narcissistic abuse…that narcissists damage the five energy tanks that rule our physical, emotional, financial and soul health. Yet no one was showing women how to repair themselves energetically.  But,  without repairing those tanks, women suffer for years with anxiety, depression, exhaustion and a multitude of debilitating physical health challenges. So, Kay created the first medical qi gong recovery program for narcissistic abuse survivors that use 5 minute energy resets to help women effortlessly re-ignite their body, mind and soul potential. For example, Kay's client Donna, whose health was devastated by the stress of a narcissistic marriage, was able to use the resets to reverse stage 5 kidney damage in only 90 days, preventing Donna from going on dialysis and empowering her to reclaim her life. With newfound health, Donna was able to rebuild her realty business and remarry. Her pastor husband and her are now building a successful ministry helping others. Kay is here today to share more inspirational stories like this and delve into the topic of energy vampirism –how we lose energy to toxic people and more importantly—what we can to stop the drain and become unstoppable in reclaiming our body, mind and soul potential when our energy has been decimated by a narcissist.  Ways to connect Kay:   Get Your Mojo Back Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/get-your-mojo-back-quick-resets-to-help-empathic-women/id1699115489 Website: https://www.aikihealing.com/ Free Healing Session: https://www.aikihealing.com/free-healing-for-narcissistic-abuse-priority-list Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aikihealingresets/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AikiHealingResets/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@aikihealing   About the Host:   Michael Hingson is a New York Times best-selling author, international lecturer, and Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe. Michael, blind since birth, survived the 9/11 attacks with the help of his guide dog Roselle. This story is the subject of his best-selling book, Thunder Dog.   Michael gives over 100 presentations around the world each year speaking to influential groups such as Exxon Mobile, AT&T, Federal Express, Scripps College, Rutgers University, Children's Hospital, and the American Red Cross just to name a few. He is Ambassador for the National Braille Literacy Campaign for the National Federation of the Blind and also serves as Ambassador for the American Humane Association's 2012 Hero Dog Awards.   https://michaelhingson.com https://www.facebook.com/michael.hingson.author.speaker/ https://twitter.com/mhingson https://www.youtube.com/user/mhingson https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelhingson/   accessiBe Links https://accessibe.com/ https://www.youtube.com/c/accessiBe https://www.linkedin.com/company/accessibe/mycompany/   https://www.facebook.com/accessibe/       Thanks for listening!   Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!   Subscribe to the podcast   If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can subscribe in your favorite podcast app. You can also support our podcast through our tip jar https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/unstoppable-mindset .   Leave us an Apple Podcasts review   Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts.       Transcription Notes:   Michael Hingson ** 00:00 Access Cast and accessiBe Initiative presents Unstoppable Mindset. The podcast where inclusion, diversity and the unexpected meet. Hi, I'm Michael Hingson, Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe and the author of the number one New York Times bestselling book, Thunder dog, the story of a blind man, his guide dog and the triumph of trust. Thanks for joining me on my podcast as we explore our own blinding fears of inclusion unacceptance and our resistance to change. We will discover the idea that no matter the situation, or the people we encounter, our own fears, and prejudices often are our strongest barriers to moving forward. The unstoppable mindset podcast is sponsored by accessiBe, that's a c c e s s i capital B e. Visit www.accessibe.com to learn how you can make your website accessible for persons with disabilities. And to help make the internet fully inclusive by the year 2025. Glad you dropped by we're happy to meet you and to have you here with us.   Michael Hingson ** 01:20 Well, hi everyone, and welcome to another episode of unstoppable mindset where inclusion, diversity and the unexpected meet. And as I've explained, the reason we word it that way is that diversity typically doesn't tend to involve disabilities, so inclusion comes first, because we don't allow people to be inclusive unless they're going to make sure that they include disabilities in the conversation, but mostly on the on the unstoppable mindset podcast, we don't deal as much with inclusion or diversity. We get to deal with the unexpected, which is anything that doesn't have to do directly with inclusion or diversity. And so today, in talking to Kay Hutchinson, we have a situation where we are going to talk about unexpected kinds of things, and that's what we're really all about. So Kay Hutchinson is our guest today. She has quite a story about, well, I'm not going to tell you all about it, other than just to say it's going to involve narcissism and it's going to involve a whole bunch of things. Kay is a podcaster. She's a coach, and she does a number of things that I think are really well worth talking about. So without further ado, Kay, welcome to unstoppable mindset.   Kay Hutchinson ** 02:40 Oh, Michael, every cell in my body is happy to be here today. I'm so thrilled. Oh,   Michael Hingson ** 02:47 good. I just want to make sure all the cells are communicating with you, and they're all saying good things they   Kay Hutchinson ** 02:52 are. Oh, good, absolutely.   Michael Hingson ** 02:56 Sell by cell. Let's, let's do a roll call and see how long that takes. But there we go. Well, I'm really glad that you are here. I'd like to start by kind of learning about the early K, growing up and all that sort of stuff. It's always fun to start that way, sort of like Lewis Carroll, you know, you start at the beginning. But anyway, tell us about the early k, if you would.   Kay Hutchinson ** 03:19 Oh my gosh, I'd love to and Michael, what's exciting to me about that, you know, with your show really focusing on diversity, when I look back to my childhood and I think about the various experiences that I had growing up as a biracial child in the 1960s I am half Japanese and half African American, against the backdrop of Malcolm X and at the time Martin Luther King, and all of this different flow of change was happening as I came into the world, and I was born on the island of Honolulu, Hawaii, feeling very much connected to the vibrancy of that space and those islands and that war of the power of the volcanoes, and I found myself just this really hyper sensitive young child where the world came in at me through all of my five senses, to the point where often I was very overwhelmed, but I was really blessed to have parents that understood this child's going to have a lot coming at her in the world, being what the world is at the time, and coming from different two different cultures that I was really well nourished and really was taught by parents who had embraced meditation and mindfulness as a way of really helping me calm my nervous system when I was little. So I really had this beautiful childhood of being able to bounce between different cultures, the US culture, and also living in Asia, but also coming face to face with things like racism face. Things like messages on a very large societal level that I did not belong anywhere, that I didn't fit, and so often I felt that the world outside of the safe space of my immediate family was a world that was very much overwhelming, and felt as if it was not for me, that it was not very nourishing. So very early on, I had to learn how to kind of begin regulating and begin navigating a world that wasn't necessarily set up for someone like myself. Well,   Michael Hingson ** 05:35 yeah, it's it's interesting when you and you certainly have an interesting combination of parents, half African American and half Japanese, definitely, two different cultures in a lot of ways, but at the same time, they both recognize the whole concept of mindfulness. They recognize the value of meditation and finding a calming center, I gather is what you're saying.   Kay Hutchinson ** 06:00 Absolutely, my father was one of the soldiers that right after he came into the service in the 1950s that got assigned to Japan and was in one of the first all African American military police units. It had never existed before. And so through his journey there, he actually ended up studying a lot of different forms of martial arts, as well as some of the healing arts like acupressure. So a lot of times people say, Okay, you practice Chinese energy medicine. Oh, that must have come from your mother's side of the heritage. But actually, the first exposure to healing and energy came from my dad, because he taught us martial arts, and he taught us actually some of the flows of energy on how to heal the body, because it's that idea that if you spar with a person, you're responsible for having to heal them if you injure them through the sparring. So that was like my first exposure to really learning the system of energy medicine. And then on my mom's side, it's interesting, she grew up with parents that were Buddhist and Taoist in their philosophy as well. So but at a very young age, in her late teens and early 20s, she was very curious about Christianity, and began attending churches that were of a Christian nature, and that's how she ended up meeting my father. And so this beautiful path of spirituality, learning about energy and understanding how to navigate through a world that wasn't necessarily built for me, was really at core of how we moved as a family, and I think that really formed the basis for developing a certain type of sensitivity to the nuances of differences and making those differences into superpowers. And that's really at the heart of what I do, not only as a healer, but and in my early career as a special education teacher, that really was one of the things that allowed me to recognize the value and power of children and help them to optimize their growth and   Michael Hingson ** 08:11 development. So where did you grow up? Where did you live? So   Kay Hutchinson ** 08:15 I lived in both countries. My father was Army, so we would spend some time in the US, primarily Texas, but we also lived part time in California, and then we would bounce back over, over the pond to Okinawa, Japan. So I had a lot of fond memories of both countries growing up.   Michael Hingson ** 08:33 That's, that's pretty cool. And it's, you know, I find that people who come on this podcast, who have had the joy of having the ability to live or having lived in different kinds of environments, do bring some very interesting perspectives on, on each of those countries and just on, on life in general. And they tend to, I think, have a overall better perspective on what life is all about, because they've seen more of it. And if they take the time to really think about life and all the things that they've seen, they come to value all of that a lot more   Kay Hutchinson ** 09:18 Absolutely it is that process of being able to really delve deep into the subtle uniqueness of life through different lenses. And when you travel, and when you get that opportunity to experience cultures directly, and you also have, you know, a heritage that's very rich on an ethnic level, you know, it really does allow the brain to see the world through many different facets. And I think that that really is what's needed in a world where, when we look at what's happening globally, there's rapid, rapid change. So those of us who have that experience of being able to bounce through all of these different experiences and take multiple facets. Because we end up being able to digest and are able to move through those experiences without becoming so overwhelmed, as so many people are experiencing today, with all of the quantum leap changes that are happening, changes happening so rapidly in our world.   Michael Hingson ** 10:16 Oh, we are, and we're we're exhibiting, of course, in this country, with a new president or a new old President, we're seeing a lot of changes, and I think history is going to, at some point, decide whether those changes or the things that that he's bringing about are good or not. And I think it's you can take a lot of different viewpoints on it. Oh, it's bad because he's doing this and he's doing that, and it's good because he's doing this and he's doing that, but I think ultimately, we're going to see, and I'm I think he's made some choices that are interesting, and we and we'll see how it all goes. But I wish that he had had more of a worldview. I think that's the one thing that I see, that he has not had as much of a true worldview as would probably be valuable,   Kay Hutchinson ** 11:11 absolutely, and that's, excuse me, that's really a concern in leadership, right? And how do we support when someone hasn't had that vastness, right? It then comes to us to really bring to the table the perspectives that hopefully will trickle over into influencing and supporting energetically. And here's that thing, because sometimes we can think, Oh, well, you know, the President's way up here, and what can I as an ordinary person, do to help bring more balance to that leadership. Well, I truly believe that energetically, we're all connected, so that when each of us is embracing this more multifaceted perspective, and we're not just embracing it in our brains, but actually living that, integrating that into how we move. We create a energy that ripples out, that absolutely touches every other person on the planet. And why would it not also touch, you know, people in positions of political leadership. So I believe that when we band together in that way, we do create change.   Michael Hingson ** 12:15 Well, I think we all are connected, and I think that is something that most people haven't recognized, and the more they don't and the more they decide they're an entity in of themselves, and there isn't that kind of interconnectionalism, the more it's going to hurt them more than anything else. But hopefully, over time, people will realize that we are all interrelated. Gandhi once said that interdependence is and ought to be as much the ideal of man, I guess, and woman, we should say. But, you know, he was, he was quoting back in the day, much as much the ideal of man as a self sufficiency. And I think that interdependence is all around us, and interdependence is something that we truly do need to recognize. And embrace, because no one really is an island into themselves,   Kay Hutchinson ** 13:08 and that's true, and this is where the challenge is. When we begin to start looking at energy, vampirism and narcissism, we're dealing with individuals who do not have that capacity to really embrace the fact that they are energetically and importantly connected to other people. They're disconnected from that. So how they're moving through life becomes very centered, focused on only their perspectives and their experiences. And that's where it can be really dangerous, because when we're in the midst of people that are moving like that, we may not realize that we're actually losing energy to them. And so it's really important to take a look more than ever, who is in your world? Are you surrounded by people that have an understanding of the value of connecting in with one another and truly having a fair exchange of energy. Or are you amid people that may be pulling energy from you in a one sided way because they have wounds that are preventing them from really being full in their own perspectives and in their own energy fields.   Michael Hingson ** 14:24 Well, and when you mentioned people who don't have the capacity, I wonder if it's true that they don't have the capacity, or they've chosen to reject it.   Kay Hutchinson ** 14:35 Well, I think that's the difference, right there. Michael, when they've chosen to reject it. That's not pathological in terms of the clinical definition of narcissism, that could apply to anyone that has simply made that choice. But part of the clinical definition of narcissism is it is a person who doesn't have the choice they're not capable because of early trauma in their life. During the period of time when they were attaching and beginning energetically to form bonds with other people, as well as psychologically and cognitively, disruption happened or is no longer a choice for them. They're no longer able to say, I want to be connected or not connected. There is a disruption on a trauma level that prevents them from being connected.   Michael Hingson ** 15:21 Is there a cure for that? Though, can people reverse that process?   Kay Hutchinson ** 15:26 So as far as I know, in Searching the Literature and working with colleagues, and I also have background in psychotherapy too, there is not, quote, unquote, a cure for that, but the damage is fairly deep. It's a matter of helping those individuals to manage the facets of their narcissism to minimize the damage. But are they ever disconnected from the intimacy that we have energetically with other human beings that tends to still be pervasive, even with long term therapy, psychotherapy, yeah, well,   Michael Hingson ** 16:03 you, I know, and we'll get to it. Have had some direct exposure and involvement with narcissism, but let's go back a little bit talking about you. Where did you go to college? I assume you did go to college.   Kay Hutchinson ** 16:17 Yeah, absolutely. I went to the University of Texas, at Austin, okay. And then later, for graduate school, I went to the California Institute of integral studies for counseling, psychotherapy, but also longevity Institute for all the energy medicine training. And I loved, I loved that they were the only program at the time in energy medicine, medical Qigong. They had a relationship with the head of the school. Was the head of Stanford's Integrative Medicine Department, and they were doing lots of things with looking at how energy healing impacts cancer and also how it affects the role of fertility. There was a famous Stanford IVF program, and what they were looking at was the idea that when women partook of Qigong and mindfulness techniques, they were able to successfully get pregnant at a higher level than if they did not. So it was a school that really embraced not only the science of energy, but also the spirituality of it as well. How do we develop and grow as beings that are souls in the world   Michael Hingson ** 17:27 and dealing with the practical application of it? Absolutely,   Kay Hutchinson ** 17:30 absolutely. So I often say that it was the place where shamanism met hardcore science and together, and that's kind of a little bit of what people experience, Michael, when they work with me, because I'm one of the few holistic practitioners that says, come in the door and bring me your actual medical data. I want to see the scans. I want to see your blood work data before we ever do an herbal formula, before I ever prescribe a set of medical Qigong resets. I really kind of want to see what we're looking at and what's happening with you on a quantifiable level, so that we can measure changes as we go along and process a few Sure   Michael Hingson ** 18:08 well. So you mentioned earlier Special Education song. What did you do after college?   Kay Hutchinson ** 18:14 So, in college, you know, I was studying cognitive science as well as special education. I was fascinated by how people learn, and so my career began as a special education teacher. The first assignment I had, though as a teacher, was teaching third grade math because I began working for a district mid season, and they didn't have a lot of different openings, and they said, well, Kay, we would love to have you in the school, but the special ed position will not be available till later. Would you come aboard teaching math? Now, little did anyone know, Michael, that I was actually math phobic. I was that kid that when I had to take math and calculus and things in college, had my head in my lap. Oh, I can't do this. This is just not my thing. And so to be asked to teach third grade, it was horrifying to me on one level, but then I said, you know, everything happens for a reason to start my teaching career, and the thing that I'm most fearful of could be a really good learning opportunity for me. What   Michael Hingson ** 19:14 did you learn from that? Oh my gosh, I learned that   Kay Hutchinson ** 19:17 the most important thing is creativity, because I had to say, okay, where, where am I starting? These kids were behind. They were third graders. They were behind in learning multiplication. And so I said, You know what? There's a method to teach multiplication with cubes and blocks and manipulatives that actually leads them to being able to do algebra. So I'm going to be creative and use these different tools to not only teach basic multiplication, but my goal for them is, when they leave me, they will have the basis for being able to do simple algebra problems in third grade. And the fact, Michael, that these kids, when we talk about diversity, inclusion, we. In a community where they were drive by shootings were in a community where other teachers did not believe that just because these children were children of color, that they did not have the same abilities and capabilities and potential to be able to go on to school at Harvard or Yale. It made me even more determined to say, I'm going to teach them a really higher level skill that everybody else will say is beyond their developmental level to prove that these children are just as capable as anybody else. Yeah,   Michael Hingson ** 20:31 and, and the reality is, they are. They have the capability, and it is something that just has to be encouraged. I know that when I was doing my student teaching. I was getting a master's degree in physics, so I did a little bit with math now and then, needless to say, and I was in the class one day, I was teaching eighth graders. I'm sorry, I was actually teaching high school freshman, but there was an eighth grader in the class, and he asked a question. It wasn't, I don't even remember what the question was, but it wasn't a hard question. But for some reason, I blanked out and didn't know what the answer was. But what I said to him was, I don't know the answer. I should, but I don't. I'm going to look it up and I'll come back tomorrow and tell you what the answer is. Is that okay? And he said, Yeah. When the class was over, my master teacher, who was the football coach, also came up, and he said, that was the most wonderful thing you could do. He said, kids will always know it if you're blowing smoke, if you're honest with them, and if you tell them the truth, you're going to gain a lot more respect. He said, That was the best thing that you could have possibly done with Marty's question. Well, the next day, I came back in with the answer. I went and looked it up, and it was as easy as it should have been, and I should have known. But I came in and I and when the class was all seated, I said, All right, Marty, I got the answer, and he said, so do i Mr. Hinkson? I said, well, then come up here and write it on the board. One of the things that I did not being a good writer, being blind. I just have never learned to have that great of handwriting. I would always have a student write on the board. And everyone competed for that job every day. So that day Marty got to do the job, Kenny came up and described it and said the answer. And I said, that's the same answer I got. And does everybody understand it? But it was so great to be able to interact with him. And it all started with being honest. And I think that's one of the best life lessons I ever learned, not only from being a student teacher, but just in general, that people know it when you're not being dishonest, they can sense it, whether they can articulate it, whether they know it consciously, they'll at least know it subconsciously. If you're not being honest and direct with them, and so it's important if you're going to truly earn trust, to have an honest relationship and and as I, as I put it, don't blow smoke at people.   Kay Hutchinson ** 23:12 That's so true. I mean authenticity as an energy is so very transformative, you know. And I love your story, Michael, because it reminds me too. When I was teaching, you know, I too, was honest with my kids. I just said, you guys feel scared of these problems that we have on our page. Your teacher was scared this morning and had her head in her lap crying like, how am I going to teach this to you? All you know, when they when we can be human with each other. When we are able to really just say what is real and in our hearts, it completely transforms the journey, because suddenly we recognize that we're all in the same space, and then we can lock arms to really move through it together. But if the energy is not even, there's not a fairness there, and part of the fairness is transparency, then it creates a completely different flow. It isn't necessarily transformative, and it can create obstacles and blocks versus being that wonderful thing where your student got to bloom, you got to bloom, and I'm sure the entire class benefited from the authenticity of both of you bouncing off of each other saying, this is the problem that I found, and this is Mike says, here's how I solved it. And together, you guys were able to really get that information across, I'm sure, in a way, that got everybody inspired to think about, how can they come about solving the problems too   Michael Hingson ** 24:35 well, something like 15 years later, we were at the Orange County Fair in July, and this guy with a deep voice comes up to me and he says, Hey, Mr. Hinkson, do you know recognize my voice? Well, there was no way. He says, I'm Marty, the guy from your algebra class 15 years later. And you know it was, it was really cool, yeah, and it was, it was so. To have that opportunity to, you know, to talk with him again. And, you know, we both, of course, had that, that same memory. But it's, it is so true in general, that honesty and connectionalism are so important, it's all about building trust. In my new book, live like a guide dog. We talk a lot about trust as one of the things that you can use to help learn to control fear, and specifically I talk about in the book lessons I've learned from all of my dogs, my guide dogs, and so on. And one of the lessons that we talk about is that dogs may very well, love unconditionally, but they don't trust unconditionally, and you do still have to earn their trust. They may love you, but they won't necessarily trust you until they get to know you. And so with every guide dog, I have to start all over and develop a new relationship and learn their quirks. But the reality is they're learning mind quirks as well, and what we do is we figure out how to interact and work together, and when we are both open to trust, and that's the other part of it, I have to be as much open to trust as the dog, because the way a previous guide dog worked and the things that a previous guide dog did don't necessarily apply with a new dog, and so it's important to really be open to developing that trusting relationship, but it takes a while to develop, but when the relationship develops, it is second to none, and and I wish it were more true with people, but we're always worried about so many things, and we think about what's this person's hidden agenda? We tend not to be open to trust. And the reality is, we can be just as much open to trust as we ever would need to be. That doesn't mean that we're always going to trust, because the other person has to earn our trust too, but we can be open to it absolutely.   Kay Hutchinson ** 27:01 And you know, animals are such an amazing teacher to that process of developing trust. I love what you said that they love unconditionally, but that not necessarily trust unconditionally. To me that is such balance, because I often notice in my work, there's a tendency, especially with empathic women, to over trust, to trust too soon, to not require that others earn that trust. And so I think it's really an important piece to find that balance in being able and being open to trust, but not rushing the process to the point where we lose our boundaries in that and when you interact with animals, you really learn how to do that. Well,   Michael Hingson ** 27:47 why do you think so many women are too eager to trust and do trust too quickly?   Kay Hutchinson ** 27:55 I think in the population of women that I work with in my groups, that they refer to themselves often as women empaths or empathic women. I think some of that can come from the over care taking syndrome that some of them may be exhibiting as a way of working through old wounds, that idea that it's my job to kind of just be this wide open radar and take care of others and be open, and they don't understand that it is absolutely part of self care to regulate that openness, to have a filter and to be able to give that piece of time to really see who people are, because narcissists oftentimes are wearing a facade. May not necessarily see who they are in the early stages of an engagement. So by being open, but still having boundaries, which kind of when your boundaries are respected over time, I think that's where trust really blooms. And by taking that time, then we are able to really make sure that we're in relationship with people where there is a fair exchange of trust, because that's part of the fair energy exchange, as I often say, is trust has to go both ways, and in a narcissistic relationship, it's usually just one way. It's the person you know who's non narcissistic, trusting fully and the narcissist withholding trust. Yeah,   Michael Hingson ** 29:17 and you think that men are much more not open to the whole concept of trust, than than women? Not   Kay Hutchinson ** 29:29 at all. I think men are beautiful in their heart spaces, just as open too. So I see men in paths exactly in that same space as well, men that are natural givers who want to connect. They can often also get in that space of trusting too soon. So when my practicing encompassed working with both men and women, that would be something that I would often kind of give guidance to in the dating process of Give it time. And allow somebody to earn that beautiful jewel of trust that is your heart, and allow yourself to also be discovered by the other person as someone who's trustworthy. Give it the space, because I've had beautiful men that were clients that absolutely got their hearts trampled, and also got their energy siphoned by energy vampires, just because they jumped in, just so wholeheartedly, so soon, so having that balance being aware of the pacing of a relationship, and then again, going back to animals, because that was part of the thing that I did. Michael straight out of energy school, I worked with animals first and human second. And I think that dance that we do with animals is really can be a framework or a model for how to move with humans too, because animals don't rush it. You know, they're going to take their time and trusting you. They're going to check you out and notice what your Kirks are and notice how you respond to them. It's not something to give right away. And so when you do earn the trust of an animal, whether it's a cat or dog or in my case, I also worked with wild animals, it is really such a treasure, and it's cherished when it happens.   Michael Hingson ** 31:15 Yeah, but then even wild animals are open to trust there. There are a lot of other things that you have to work through, but still, the the the opportunity to develop a trusting relationship is certainly there. Now I think that cats are more cautious than dogs about a lot of things, but they're but they're open to trust. I know that that stitch my cat does trust me, but she is much more cautious and tends to react to noises and other things a lot more than Alamo the guide dog does. So they're there. There are issues, but there's a lot of love there, and there is a lot of trust, and that is as it should be. But again, I've had to earn that trust, which is the real important part about it. Yeah, that's definitely   Kay Hutchinson ** 32:07 and, you know, you speak about, like, the differences of dogs and cats too. There's a difference in the neurological sensitivity, of course, with dogs too, it depends on the breed. You know, like, for example, chihuahuas can be very neurologically sensitive, so they react to many things, versus, say, like Labradors or other larger breeds of dogs, shepherds and so forth, they tend to have a more steady neurological response to the world. So they make wonderful emotional support and other helper roles in our lives. But cats, they tend to, across the board, be pretty high strung neurologically, which means that's why they would be a little bit more skittish about why   Michael Hingson ** 32:47 they're cats. Yeah, absolutely, it works. Well, how long? How long did you teach?   Kay Hutchinson ** 32:55 Well, I taught in public school. I think it was three years. I'm still a teacher. I never I just left the forum from a public school into I became a writer for textbook publishers. So I created Teacher Guides. There was a lot of teaching in that. And then I also ran the only medical Qigong professional certification certification program that is a one on one apprenticeship program, and I ran that program up until the pandemic, from 2008 or nine until the pandemic, before I slowly shifted into just this really super niche of working with women on the journey of recovering from narcissistic abuse, and really putting my full energy into that, I still get calls for people who want to certify with me, and so I'm I'm still thinking about reopening the school, but it's been such a pleasure going down this road and journey of developing virtual journeys for women online and watching them bloom and seeing the transformation. So I always say that I'm ever the teacher. I never really left the profession. Everything that I do involves education and really helping people to optimize the way they learn as souls and as whole beings in the world   Michael Hingson ** 34:17 well, and I think in reality, and I wish more people understood it. But I think we're all teachers, and I know one of the things that I learned when I first was put in a position where I had to start selling professionally, I took a Dale Carnegie sales course, and one of the things that they talked about in that course was sales people. The best sales people are counselors, they guide, they teach, because you'll get a better understanding of your prospects and your customers, but that's what you really should be doing. And again, there's a whole level of honesty that goes with that. But the reality is, I think that all of us teach. I know a lot of. Blind People say I don't I'm blind. I am the way I am. I don't want to be a teacher. I don't want to have to educate people. Well, the reality is, we all do that in one way or another. We're all teaching someone, or bunches of someone's from time to time. And the reality is, teaching is so fun,   Kay Hutchinson ** 35:21 it is, and I love that you said that, because we're always teaching people how to engage ourselves just on that level alone, or engage with ourselves. Yes, absolutely. And when we know that and we bring joyousness to the process, right, it can be so transformative, because when we're enjoying that process, we're going to go into those uncomfortable areas, right that may be challenging or difficult, and often engaging with other people, you come up with new facets and perspectives that you otherwise would not have. So I, I love, I love the dance of learning and also in sharing too.   Michael Hingson ** 36:06 My wife was a teacher for 10 years, and always loved it when she she did do special ed and so on. She was in a wheelchair her whole life, so she was sort of bent that way, but she loved teaching third grade. She thought that third grade was the best, because when you start to get older than that, kids get more set in their ways, and when they're younger than that, they're they're just not there. Yet. She loved third grade, so I'm glad you started with third grade math.   Kay Hutchinson ** 36:35 Third grade was really sweet. I went from there to early childhood so, and then later I was tutoring at the university level, I had an opportunity to work as a tutor to actually doctoral foreign students who needed help with writing skills and things like that. So I really have enjoyed that full spectrum, just as I enjoy working with clients that come from vast differences in their backgrounds, and taking the journey into to learning more about holistic ways and moving so a lot of fun. Oh,   Michael Hingson ** 37:09 it is, you know, and I think life in general is a lot of fun if we would just approach things the right way and not let everything upset us, we we have a much better life in our own world,   Kay Hutchinson ** 37:21 definitely, absolutely. Well, you,   Michael Hingson ** 37:25 you've talked a lot about this whole idea of narcissism and so on, and I know you've had involvement in your life with that. You want to talk about some of that and tell us how you really got into really doing a lot with it, and what motivates you and so on. Or how much of that do you want to talk about? Oh,   Kay Hutchinson ** 37:42 definitely. Well, you know, I would have to go all the way back to, you know, experiences with racism that I experienced as a narcissism. I'm not saying that every person who has racist thoughts or beliefs or or patterns are narcissists, but many narcissists are racist, and so I think the early exposure to what I would call someone that is an energy vampire bent on manipulating or creating a flow that isn't a fair exchange of energy happened to me at a very young age. So I gained a lot of insight into how do you move through that? So it made sense that when I was beginning my career as an energy healer, as a practitioner, and I started noticing the different physical and emotional issues people would come in the door with, they'd come in with, say, like autoimmune issues, thyroid issues, cancer and different things like that. But when we began to really look at the root of all of those conditions, we began to realize that there was a pattern of having been in some sort of prolonged engagement with another person, where there was not a fair energy exchange. And that's when I began to realize, oh, all of my clients have had experiences with narcissism and of having had their energy siphoned in a way that was not beneficial for the entire body, mind and soul, and so in creating these resets for clients for nearly, I think it was about 15 years I was into that career. I never realized, because I'd never encountered it directly in a personal relationship. What it was like to be in a relationship with a covert narcissist, and I fell in love with a person who was very, very clever as far as really hiding those aspects of his personality. And I've come to understand that the reason that I walked that journey was so that I could have first hand lived experience. I knew what overt narcissism was about, but I had never really experienced the covert variety that hidden, that more subtle type. And by being in this marriage and relationship with a person that was exactly that, it gave me a lot of insight. To the subtle ways that we lose energy to people, and what the impact is on that physical level. For me, it left my immunity completely tanked, and I was having reoccurring shingles all over my face. I was having high anxiety, which was not a part of my emotional walk. Previously, I was also very fatigued. I had resolved many years prior to that severe fibromyalgia, and suddenly that came out of remission, and I was in constant pain every day. So you know, in seeing how dramatically my own health changed, it also changed the way that I was showing up on a business level, how available I was on an energy level, to really serve clients. And it also showed up in terms of my spiritual path, where I slowly began to get disconnected from source and not rely on that as my critical way of moving through life, where previously I have so it was a just a journey of really, truly recognizing what it feels like across every level imaginable to get decimated by the person that You love because they are wounded and are narcissistic.   Michael Hingson ** 41:22 What finally happened that made you realize what was occurring and caused you to decide to deal with the whole issue.   Kay Hutchinson ** 41:31 Well, you know, it wasn't just one thing Michael, because if he was a subtle narcissist, my understandings of what was happening came about gradually. But the thing that really stood out in my mind, that made me say, You know what, I absolutely need to get out of this relationship was when I went to caretake an aunt that had stage five stomach cancer, and I had previously was in the role of caretaking his mom, when she had metastatic blood level cancer. It was a form of leukemia, and also his aunt, who had a form of bone cancer. So when his family members were ill, I was there. I dropped everything, not only just as a healer, but as a family member, as someone who loved these Dear ladies, was by their sides and really helped them to transition. But when it came time for me to be at the side of my relative, my husband was completely lacking in empathy, and I'd spend the entire day with her, just helping her to quell nausea, get more comfortable, feel more peaceful. I completely had not eaten the whole day because my whole attention was on her and also on my father. Her brother, wanted to make sure that my dad was okay in being with her, because he was also approaching soon the final days of his life. He had a lot of weakness going on and things. And I returned home, and I was just exhausted, and I said, Honey, let's go out for dinner, and let's go out and do something kind of fun, because that's what I am, and I give a lot on that heavy level, I like to shift over to something light. And I was met with, I don't want to go anywhere. Why do you always want to go out to dinner, and he just started kind of yelling at me, and I realized, oh, wow, just even on a pure nourishment level, I need food because I haven't eaten all day. This is somehow becoming a challenge. And I ended up going out to dinner by myself at a time when I was really super vulnerable about ready to lose my last living aunt in the States, and thinking, what am I doing in a relationship where merely asking to be fed, not even emotionally, is a challenge? And I said, Ah, he can't even literally feed me. And I knew there was no fixing that. Even though we had gone through counseling, it's like, no, no, this is just not going to continue. I have to leave, right? So that was a critical moment in my life of just and that's what I would say to everybody in the audience. Ask yourself, are you being felt fed well? Are you being well nourished by the person that you're in that relationship with? Because narcissists are not capable of nourishing   Michael Hingson ** 44:29 you. Yeah. So what happened? I mean, you made you, you realize what was occurring. What did you do? So   Kay Hutchinson ** 44:35 at that point, we had been in counseling, so I got on the phone with our counselor, and I said, I really need your safe space the next time we come in, because I need to have a conversation about divorcing, and I really need to make sure that I'm moving through this safely and with the proper support around me. And that's really, really important, because if your audience. Are in relationships with narcissists who have never been abusive, they need to understand that there's a high likelihood of them becoming physically abusive when they decide to leave. Mm, hmm. And so it's really important to make sure that that conversation is happening in a safe space and that there's enough support around to keep violence from escalating, even if you've never seen that person in that more physically abusive space, it needs to be considered.   Michael Hingson ** 45:33 So you, you talk to your counselor about that, and then you, you, I assume, had a session where you, you, you dealt with some of those issues, absolutely,   Kay Hutchinson ** 45:44 with the safety of of the counselor there, we were able to map out a strategy. But Silly me, Michael, I thought, well, you know, we have an agreement that we need to go our separate ways. We're two adults. We can do this peacefully. It's not complicated. We lived in the state of Texas. It's not hard to do. And so we said we'll just go to a mediator, and everything will be fine. They'll do up the paperwork, legally, we'll sign we'll go our different ways. Wish each other well, take what we each learn from this and move on with our lives. So it seemed a simple thing, but at the very last moment when we were scheduled to see the mediator, mediator attorney gets a call from a lawyer that I didn't know he even had saying, oh my, my client can't come into this mediation without me being present, because he's represented. And it was a bulldog attorney that was known for just rolling over the other person. And I went, ah, and so I got dragged to nearly a year and a half legal battle that really didn't need to be there, but I was very blessed in connecting with an attorney who specialized in helping people divorce from narcissist, and she was able to say to me, Kay, I know you have important healing to do for yourself, but also for the clients that you serve, let me take this over and you go, do you, and I'll just ting you whenever you need to sign something. And she just completely took it over for me so that I could move on with my life and decide, you know, what did I want to create in the new phase of my life? But not everybody has that ability to kind of really lock arms with attorneys that are highly skilled in dealing with narcissists, because the narcissist will weaponize the legal system if they're allowed to do that, and it can drive up costs. It can be exhausting on many different levels. So it's really important, if you can't afford to have an attorney that has that experience, there are many blogs and many places where you can connect to get that support, even if you're working with an attorney who is less experienced, right? Yeah,   Michael Hingson ** 47:55 but eventually you you were able to to deal with it, and I'm sure that it was incredibly traumatic. How long ago did all this occur?   Kay Hutchinson ** 48:06 Oh, this was occurring. 2018 2019 Okay,   Michael Hingson ** 48:10 so it's not been all that been six years. Yeah, six years,   Kay Hutchinson ** 48:15 absolutely. And you know, I often say that when you're going through an experience, after having been around someone that second guessed your reality, that we will tend to second guess our own reality too. And so one of the things I think that really helped me on a mindset level, was continuing to ask myself, well, what do I really feel? What do I really think? Exactly   Michael Hingson ** 48:40 right, exactly right. Yeah,   Kay Hutchinson ** 48:43 and reconnecting with that because I had been separated or disconnected from things that were really vital and important to me, because he had said that they were not important, or perhaps I was overreacting or being too sensitive that I began to discount those things within myself. So it's really this journey of really allowing myself to truly come back into valuing all of the things that were really important to me   Michael Hingson ** 49:10 to you. Yes, what you know narcissism is an interesting subject. What is maybe one thing that so not Well, let me go back. Narcissism certainly deals a lot with emotional issues, and there can be physical issues and so on. But what's maybe the one thing that you've seen in your work that most people wouldn't associate with a narcissistic person or narcissistic behavior,   Kay Hutchinson ** 49:41 I think the one thing that people don't really put enough of a spotlight on is that they are energy vampires. They create an energetic disruption across the five areas of ourselves that are absolutely critical for our physical health. For. For our emotional stability and our soul growth. So we're talking body, mind and soul disruption. You know, often times the talk is on the psychological or the emotional disruptions, or if there's a physical abuse component, it might be on that level. But it's really very rare that we are really associating that idea of energy, vampirism, of energy, of being a predator on an energetic level, with narcissists and so that is really core. Because until we start to heal the energetic damage that has occurred, we end up staying in a state of struggling for years with emotions that may be all over the place. I see felt it in myself. I see it in my clients, anxiety, depression, that feeling of being on an emotion, emotional roller coaster, and then all of the physical health issues that go along with it, whether someone experienced physical abuse or not, and then that soul disconnect. You know, energetically, we have to have, I often say, Energy Tanks. We need to have all five of our energy tanks full in order to have a relationship with source that is evolving that allows us to transform and elevate ourselves on that spiritual level. And so if we're damaged across our five Energy Tanks, we will find it difficult to really connect in with the power that is higher than ourselves. Tell me a little more   Michael Hingson ** 51:27 about this concept of the five Energy Tanks, if you would. Absolutely   Kay Hutchinson ** 51:31 that's my own wording, but really it's the language of Chinese energy medicine that's over 2000 years old, built on the idea of the five elements, whether you're an acupuncturist, an acupressurist, whether you are a martial artist, everything flows along the five elements, in terms of Chinese energy, medicine and the five elements are a system that helps to explain the relationship between our emotions, the different states of our emotions, our physical selves, and the way that we grow in souls. So I often say, you know that there's five tanks. John Gray made that comparison back I think it was in the 80s when he wrote about the different tanks that people need to have filled in their lives, like relationship tanks and the self care tank and all of these different things. It's kind of similar to that idea, but each one of these areas has a very critical role in our development. So like, say, the water element, this is essence, and then DNA level. So often times when we've been in traumatic situations, we may start to see some DNA level disruptions, and often that will appear as cellular abnormalities. Cancer would be a very good example of that, that when we're under immense stress, on a trauma level, the water element, which rules our DNA, on an element level becomes disrupted. So I see that a lot in my practice, where women have metastatic breast cancer and other forms of cancer as a result of the long term chronic stress of being in a narcissistic relationship, or their nervous systems, like my nervous system was completely damaged and I was hyper vigilant all the time. Had insomnia, had difficulty processing information. My natural dyslexia and learning disabilities that I came into the world with became exacerbated when I was in that narcissistic relationship. That's the wood energy tank that rules our nervous systems. So there's a take for each aspect of ourselves that gets impacted by the experience of being in a relationship where the energy exchange is not mutual and fair.   Michael Hingson ** 53:50 When you're talking about this whole concept of energy vampires and and the whole issue of having to face or deal with a narcissist. One of the things that seems to me happens is that your ability to have creative thinking and to be creative in your thinking goes down, and the result is that you, you you're again, you're you're sucked into something that you really shouldn't be sucked into, but you've lost some of the clearer thinking that you would normally have. How do you deal with that, and how do you get that back absolutely   Kay Hutchinson ** 54:34 but when we start to look again at the elements and how that shows up for creativity, our metal element has to do with our ability to feel safe and shielded. We can't be creative and stretch into areas that are unknown if we're not feeling safe. So beginning to do resets, where we begin to visualize the shielding around ourselves being restored, can be very helpful to begin to settle that. Sense of, oh, I'm not safe. And so there's specific breath work and energy resets that we do to really help to get that foundation of safety before we even begin to restore other aspects that affect creativity. The next thing that we have to do, Michael is really, once we're feeling safe, we need to be able to center ourselves, because if our thoughts are scattered all over the place, our energy is all over the place, it's hard to get centered, to bring the focus that is also a part of being creative. So the earth element is what allows us to begin to ground and calm ourselves, begin to focus and collect all of these different thoughts that we may be having and feeling so that we can harness them in a creative way to go forward. Similarly, we have to calm our nervous system so that our brains are able to create the rhythms on a brain wave frequency level that is conducive to creativity again, if our brain waves, if we were to look at an EEG right before hitting a moment of creativity, there might be a lot of bouncing activity going on, and it's only when that activity begins to settle and calm that we then are able to implement and bring forth something that is creative. So being able to regulate that becomes very important, as well as getting into the space of reconnecting with a fire element, which is joy. Because I often say creativity is just the expression of joy, right when we are in that joyous state, it's amazing how many different ways our brains can move to come up with something that is unusual, innovative out of the box. And so the restoration of the fire element, take passion, joy, all of that feeds in to the creative cycle. And then last on that water element, that essence level, right? Creativity comes from a deep well that we have as humans. When we're able to tap into that, we not only tap into a level of creativity that is not only unique to us as individuals, but we tap into the collective of the human creativity and consciousness, and so that allows us to ignite what we're doing in many creative ways. And this is why, as women heal these areas. Michael, they go out and do incredible things. They're able to go out and start new businesses. They start new careers at the age of 50 in their passion areas that they never thought that they would have done. They're able to take trips and go and pursue things that once they were fearful of, but now they are excited to open up themselves, up to trying new things in new ways. And so, you know, the restoration of creativity is very much a part of core of recovering from narcissistic abuse, because that's the one area that most people don't think about too going back to your earlier question, that truly gets impacted when we go through a narcissistic relationship, yeah,   Michael Hingson ** 58:13 well, you have obviously been through a whole lot. What allowed you, or how were you able to keep I guess, what we would call an unstoppable mindset, through all of the things that that you went through, what, what drove you, if you will, to be able to succeed. I   Kay Hutchinson ** 58:33 think it's exactly what we've been talking about, having the practices that allowed me to refuel those five takes allow the highest level of energy to kind of flow through my brain, to keep that mindset in that positive area, to keep me motivated and passionate when you're working energetically, to restore yourself the mind comes along. It's not the thing you know. A lot of people say, Well, you got to change your mindset first, and I believe there's value in that. But guess what? When you change your energy first, there is no possibility of the mind flowing into negative spaces to hold you back, because your energy is creating this vibration that then fuels the thoughts that keeps you moving, and that's really the life that I've led. And when I find in moments that I may be falling into a place that is challenged on that mental thought level, I do my energetic practices, and boom, immediately, there's a shift from either a sad state to a state of feeling resilient, from a fearful state to being brave and courageous, to say, Hey, I just jump into this deep end of the pool because that's what I'm afraid of, and that's what I need to do, and trusting going back to trust that there's going to be tremendous growth and benefit. So. The more it's not that hard,   Michael Hingson ** 1:00:01 no. But the other part of it is, the more of that that you do, the more you do the introspection, the more you analyze yourself, you think about what we're talking about here, the more that you actually go through the process, in a sense, the more you do, the easier it becomes, or the more efficient you are at doing it. And the result of that is that you become better at it, and so you're able to gain that control. It's it. The whole issue of resilience is is something to practice, but, but it is something that you have to work at I made a video recently where I talked about emergency preparedness, and I said most all of us don't prepare for emergencies, because what we don't do is we don't prepare our minds. Oh, we can create a plan so that there's a fire, we can grab a go bag or whatever. But how do we really prepare our minds? And that is something that we need to do a lot more of than we do today.   Kay Hutchinson ** 1:01:03 Absolutely. And the idea, Michael, that it doesn't take like long stretches of meditation, people have that myth in their minds to prepare yourself and be mindful when there are circumstances unfolding that maybe crisis by taking bite sized moments, I teach five minute resets to reset the brain and reset the mind, and you do enough of those over time, then when crisis hits, you have a whole well of cultivation to draw from and that that really ends up carrying you through whatever that crisis is. And I love that it's not enough just to prepare our minds cognitively for things, we must prepare ourselves from that deeper space energetically, so that when we're in the middle of things, we're not pulled so far off of our center that we forget that beautiful plan that we made,   Michael Hingson ** 1:01:57 right, exactly right. And the reality is, it all does work together. Well, what's the one thing? Maybe that would surprise people if they knew it about you? Oh, gosh, how's that for a good question.   Kay Hutchinson ** 1:02:14 I think the one thing that that most people don't realize about me is that I am a martial artist, because most people think of me as just that healer that brings that comfort in and that level of soothing that I'm known for, and most people don't realize that there's a really strong warrior inside of K and I think we need to be able to embrace the warrior within ourselves and marry that to our peaceful, meditative selves. That the joining of both of them, I think, is really what makes me one of the strongest beings on this planet,   Michael Hingson ** 1:02:55 and that is as good as it gets. So have you written any books? So   Kay Hutchinson ** 1:03:02 my book, the five elements healing, a practical guide for reclaiming your essential power, is currently being reworked. So you will not find it on Amazon at this time, but watch for it in a few months, because we're completely redoing that. And then also, I've contributed to redesign your nine to five advice and strategies from 50 of the world's most ambitious business owners and entrepreneurs. It was compiled by Bridget McGowan, and that one you can find on Amazon, and I was so blessed to create the chapter on how to create a soul based business, one that really allows you to develop what Michael and I are talking about, the unstoppable mindset as a critical way of moving through what you put out into the world. As a business owner,   Michael Hingson ** 1:03:51 well, I definitely want to hear about the new book when it nor the reworked book when it comes out. So you have to let us know. Oh, absolutely. How do people reach out and get in touch with you, if they'd like to to learn from you, use your services and so on. How does that work?   Kay Hutchinson ** 1:04:07 Absolutely on your show notes, people can get in touch with me through the website that's listed in the link, and they can find out about the latest healing journeys, which I'm so excited Michael, because we have a live, free healing session coming up on February the ninth, at noon, Central Standard Time. I do these regularly to allow people that opportunity to begin to experience healing, the five Energy Tanks that narcissist destroying through a soothing distance healing to see if they are ready to take other journeys with me. So that's probably the best way, is to visit the website. And I know it's right here   Michael Hingson ** 1:04:48 on your show. It is in the notes, but go ahead and say the website, if you would absolutely   Kay Hutchinson ** 1:04:52 and the website is a, I K I healing.com Easy to remember, A, I K I healing.com   Michael Hingson ** 1:05:00 Um,

On this episode of the Every Student Every Day Podcast Superintendent Dr. James Franchini welcomes Heath Quiles (High School Principal) and Sarah Flannery (Director of Special Education) to discuss the new business program at APHS and the co-taught model of teaching. Find us wherever you listen to podcasts, including Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and more. Just search for "Every Student Every Day".

Welcome, John Irwin, a Tiverton, Rhode Island, artist. His studio is in The Handkerchief Factory, which is located in Warren, Rhode Island. Tiverton, by the way, is a part of the South Coast.  John has been painting for almost 50 years. He is a Special Education teacher at East Providence High School and teaches art at his studio and several other venues. John Irwin paints landscapes and portraits in oil and acrylic. He enjoys painting from life but, increasingly, also from memory. For the last half a dozen years, he has been teaching art, and he says, "I think it has made me a much better artist." John Irwin emphasizes drawing and experimentation with his students. He is interested in depicting emotion and feelings in his private work.  John spoke with The Artists Index's cofounder, documentarian, and podcast host, Ron Fortier, recently about his passion, his life, and his journey as an artist. This episode was recorded at our recording studio at Spectrum Marketing Group at Howland Place in New Bedford.   John Crawford Irwin Studio Address: The Hankerchief Factory 569 Main Street. #121 Warren, Rhode Island 02885 401-639-2037   Email | Website | Facebook | Instagram | Linktree | Other   Please consider donating whatever you can to help and assure us in our mission to continue documenting the legacies of South Coast Artists. If you would like to be a guest on The Artists Index or have a suggestion, please let us know!    

7 million children have been diagnosed with ADHD, with over half of those children taking prescription medications.  But Dr. Prather says that the Structure-Function approach gets to the actual root cause of the symptoms instead of just masking the symptoms with prescriptions.  In this episode, we talk about:—How ADHD is caused by a neurotransmitter abnormality that's going on, where the brain does not work as it should.—Why Dr. Prather believes there is an actual increase in ADHD, not just more cases due to heightened awareness. —The diagnostics Dr. Prather recommends to get to the root cause of ADHD symptoms, including a Hair Analysis and a G.I. Stool Kit.  And the Neurotransmitter and Neural Zoomer Tests that reveal exactly what is going on in the brain and how to correct it.—The role of parasites in causing mental health issues.  And the amazing story of how Dr. Prather helped a boy go from being recommended for Special Education class to being accepted into a Gifted program after his parasites were cleared up. —How boys are more likely to be affected by Heavy Metal Toxicities, which are well-known to change the brain chemistry.  And how girls are more likely to have Copper toxicities and Iron deficiencies that will result in changes in personality and academic performance.—Why the diet is a huge factor in ADHD and the dietary recommendations for the best results.—The list of Vitamins, Minerals, Natural Supplements and Homeopathics that improve focus and attention.  And how Chiropractic and Acupuncture are important treatments that "make an immediate, quick, and long-term change in a child's performance".—The well-known evidence for how taking ADHD medication as children can lead to drug addiction when they become adults.  And why researchers said that ADHD drugs were more for the benefit of parents and teachers, not the children.—The dangerous side-effects of ADHD medications, including:  weight loss, loss of appetite, stunted growth, difficulty sleeping, drowsiness, anxiety, abdominal problems, fatigue, heart problems, hypertension, skin issues, involuntary tics, and psychosis. —Plus, learn how you can get 20% off our Neurotransmitter and Neural Zoomer Test that measures brain chemicals and imbalances by attending our upcoming free educational seminar with Dr. Prather this Wednesday, May 28th at 6:30 p.m.http://www.TheVoiceOfHealthRadio.com

In this episode, I answer a question from Robin in New York, a school-based counselor who's navigating how to implement Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT) in an academic setting. From managing large caseloads and working in group formats to responding to teacher perceptions and supporting special education students, Robin's questions reflect the real-world tension between clinical best practices and the demands of the school environment. I share how CCPT can be delivered effectively in small groups, how to build relationships with faculty and leadership to gain trust and buy-in, and why setting expectations early is key to avoiding misinterpretation of the model. I also discuss how CCPT aligns beautifully with the needs of children in special education—because it's not about cognitive ability, it's about relationship, regulation, and unconditional acceptance. This episode is encouragement and practical guidance for anyone working to bring CCPT into schools with confidence and clarity. PlayTherapyNow.com is my HUB for everything I do! playtherapynow.com. Sign up for my email newsletter, stay ahead with the latest CCPT CEU courses, personalized coaching opportunities and other opportunities you need to thrive in your CCPT practice. If you click one link in these show notes, this is the one to click! If you would like to ask me questions directly, check out www.ccptcollective.com, where I host two weekly Zoom calls filled with advanced CCPT case studies and session reviews, as well as member Q&A. You can take advantage of the two-week free trial to see if the CCPT Collective is right for you. Ask Me Questions: Call ‪(813) 812-5525‬, or email: brenna@thekidcounselor.com Brenna's CCPT Hub: https://www.playtherapynow.com CCPT Collective (online community exclusively for CCPTs): https://www.ccptcollective.com Podcast HQ: https://www.playtherapypodcast.com APT Approved Play Therapy CE courses: https://childcenteredtraining.com Twitter: @thekidcounselor https://twitter.com/thekidcounselor Facebook: https://facebook.com/playtherapypodcast Common References: Cochran, N., Nordling, W., & Cochran, J. (2010). Child-Centered Play Therapy (1st ed.). Wiley. VanFleet, R., Sywulak, A. E., & Sniscak, C. C. (2010). Child-centered play therapy. Guilford Press. Landreth, G.L. (2023). Play Therapy: The Art of the Relationship (4th ed.). Routledge. Bratton, S. C., Landreth, G. L., Kellam, T., & Blackard, S. R. (2006). Child parent relationship therapy (CPRT) treatment manual: A 10-session filial therapy model for training parents. Routledge/Taylor & Francis Group. Benedict, Helen. Themes in Play Therapy. Used with permission to Heartland Play Therapy Institute.

In this episode, I'm excited to announce the release of my new compression course, “The School Leader's Guide to Executive Functioning Support.” You can learn more about the course here: https://drkarenspeech.lpages.co/school-leaders-guide-to-executive-functioning-support/In this session, I'll be sharing why I created this program, what parents and professionals have shared with me when I talk about executive functioning, and how I approach educating professionals about this important and relevant topic.*Plus I share things school communities and staff WISH their administration knew

In this episode of Special Education for Beginners, we're continuing our focus on teacher burnout—and today's topic might be the most practical yet.As special educators, we often pour from an empty cup. We overcommit, stay late, skip lunch, and carry the emotional weight of the work home with us. But burnout doesn't just happen because of how much we're doing—it happens when we don't have boundaries in place to protect our time, energy, and mental health.In this episode, I'm sharing 5 realistic boundaries you can start using right now to prevent burnout and bring more balance back into your school year. 

Michigan State University President Kevin M. Guskiewicz, Ph.D. has selected Laura Lee McIntyre as MSU's next provost and executive vice president for academic affairs following a comprehensive, national search. As provost, McIntyre will be the chief academic officer for the university, providing leadership for academic programs and research and outreach involving faculty, students and staff. Her planned start date is August 4, 2025, and she will also serve as MSU Research Foundation Professor in the Department ofCounseling, Educational Psychology and Special Education.Laura Lee currently serves as dean of the college of education and the Castle-McIntosh-Knight Professor in the School of Psychology at the University of Oregon.She is an accomplished scholar, a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst, and a certified school and board licensed psychologist. Her research focuses on children's mental and behavioral health, special education, and prevention and intervention to promote child and family well-being in vulnerable and underserved populations.  McIntyre is known for her work in early childhood, autism, family-centered interventions and family-school partnerships for children with disabilities. Conversation Highlights:(1:50) - Give us some of the highlights from your background.(4:46) - Do you have any experience with MSU and/or the state of Michigan? (5:26) - Many outside of academia aren't entirely clear on what a provost is and does. Can you expound a bit on a provost's role in higher education at a university like MSU?(6:38) - What attracted you to the position? Why do you want to be provost at MSU?(9:12) - What do you see as some of the challenges and opportunities ahead for MSU and all of higher education as you lead the academic enterprise at America's pioneer land-grant university?  (13:40) - Talk about your research interests and why those are your interests. And what research do you plan to pursue at MSU?(18:16) - What are some of your short- and long-term goals as you prepare to get started in August?(20:47) - How would you describe your leadership and management style?(22:59) - Summarize what you would like Spartan Nation to know about you as the summer progresses, and you prepare to join MSU in August.Listen to “MSU Today with Russ White” on the radio and through Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your shows. 

Today we're going to be chatting with one of my lovely Quarterly Data Analysis clients Heather Cacioppo all about how she is using her Instagram Data to create strategic social media content. Heather has taught in self-contained classroom settings for middle school and high school students for 8 years. She is a Special Education Curriculum and Assessment Coordinator. She has a Bachelor's degree in Special Education and a Masters degree in Curriculum and Instruction with a specialization in Teacher Leadership. Heather is also a special education teacher mentor. She helps self-contained special education teachers with individualized and personalized support to make self-assured educational decisions so that you can avoid the stress, overwhelm and burnout in this field. She knows that special education teachers are better together!Episode HighlightsHow Heather knew it was time to start looking at her Instagram data more closely to help reach her business goalsHow having an analysis of data supported marketing efforts on social mediaOne thing from the data that was surprisingOne thing that has been a bit difficult when it comes to analyzing dataHeather's favorite thing about using social media for her teacherpreneur businessResources MentionedLearn more about Quarterly Data Analysis Support HEREConnect with today's guest:TPT: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/full-sped-ahead-heather-cacioppoFacebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/fullSPEDaheadFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/910794309732258/Website: https://fullspedahead.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/full_sped_ahead/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx8px8BJ9cKQwalq34mnnIATikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@full_sped_aheadIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts so we can help as many teacher business owners as possible:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/schooled-in-socials/id1675566649Connect with host:Kassaundra is a teacher-turned-social media manager with a passion for helping educators reach their goals and dreams using the power of social media. You can follow her on Instagram @fostercontentsolutionsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/fostercontentsolutions/Join the Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/schooledinsocialsNote: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. There is no additional cost to you for shopping through my link but your support helps keep this podcast...

MY 1,000TH EPISODE!!!Good Morning! Today's Witness is about me and my journey with this podcast. Today is my 1,000th episode. I can hardly believe it! Back in 2019, I decided I wanted to change my career. I had my undergraduate degree in psychology and my Master's degree in Special Education. I was a teacher at a DoD school in Turkey for 2 years when our son Sam was born. Tony and I had both decided before having kids that I would stay home with them when we did have them. So, from Turkey we moved to New Jersey, where we stayed for 5 years, and we had two more boys, Noah & Ryan. I stayed home with the boys through our stay in New Jersey, our move to Germany, and our move to England. When we moved back to Massachusetts, our boys were in 6th grade, 4th grade, and 2nd grade. I decided to try to go back to work.I was a licensed teacher in NJ, but needed to take the tests in MA to get my license. While I studied for the tests, I decided to substitute teach. Once I got my license, I applied for a few jobs, but all of my teaching experience was now at least 10 years old. I also realized that although our boys were in school they were struggling with things and I couldn't really get a traditional teaching job because I never knew when I would have to go to school to pick our son up from school, or when one of our kids would refuse to go to school and I would need to stay home to watch him.I started trying to figure out what I wanted to do. I had done a lot of personal development stuff in the years from 2015, when we moved back to the states, to 2019, when I decided what I wanted to do besides being a wife and mother. I had been talking to a lot of people who were unhappy with some aspects of their lives, and yet they felt stuck. They felt like there was nothing they could do about it. I knew this wasn't true. I knew there was always something you could do to either change the situation you are in or change who you are in the situation. I decided to become a life coach so I could help people get unstuck. I wanted to help them overcome their challenges so they could live a happy and fulfilling life.I looked through several programs. One day, I found the Life Purpose Institute. They had a program where you could become a life coach and a spiritual coach. This was perfect for me as my heart really lies in the spiritual coaching, but I also still wanted to help people who were stuck with life issues as well. The program consisted of 60 hours of training. I took the 5-day intensive with four follow-up classes. After doing peer coaching, practice coaching, and taking a final exam, I was finally certified in December of 2019. I made my marketing plan and I was all set to go out and do workshops at local churches and local libraries. I was all set to build this business, and then three months later Covid happened and we were all stuck inside. No workshops, not speaking engagements, my marketing plan went out the window.It was also difficult because as I was learning how to have my own business and work from home, I also had my husband and three kids at home with me. I figured it out, I got some clients, and I was on my way. In June of 2020, I started a blog. Each week, I would write an article, sometimes about life coaching, but they mostly turned out to be Spiritual in content. I found out that writing about Jesus and my faith came pretty easily to me, much to my surprise. I say I was surprised because just a few years earlier, I was asking the Lord why I was the only person in my family who couldn't write. My siblings are all great writers. I have two siblings who have published books. My younger siblings are all really good at writing poems. It was just me who felt like I couldn't write. Either God changed that, or I just hadn't found what I liked to write about yet.In 2020, in the month of May, I decided to go on Facebook Live every day. I thought if I can't go out and get the word out about my business, maybe I could do it on Facebook. At this time, my brother Danny reached out to me and said if I wanted to speak in Public, I should join the Toastmasters Club, which teaches people how to do public speaking and also gives you lots of opportunities to practice. I was nervous, but I decided to give it a try and found out I really liked it. I even won awards in their annual speech contest three years in a row.For Christmas in 2020, my brother Danny and his wife Jess gave me a Blue Snowball iCE microphone so that I could have it if I wanted to go online or if I wanted to do a podcast. I was so excited. I spent the next few months trying to figure out what to call my podcast, what type of podcast it would be, and so on. My friend Kim helped me come up with the logo for it. I was so excited to see that it was actually happening. At this point, I have been listening to the Big Life Podcast with Pamela Crim for over 3 years now. She does a daily devotional podcast, and it is amazing. You should definitely check it out. I decided that I wanted to do this too. I decided each day  I would take a scripture verse and relate it to real life somehow. I was all set to go.Except for the fact that I had no idea how to start a podcast. I didn't know what website to use, what program to use to record it or edit it, how to upload it, or get it out to all the podcasting websites. Luckily, my brother John and his wife Rebecca had been doing a League of Legends podcast for about a year at this point. They actually had another podcast about movie reviews. So, I asked if they could get on a Zoom call with me and teach me. They were happy to help. So, after some help from them, I was able to find some free music on the internet to use to begin and end my podcasts. I wrote my intro and outro, and I was ready to go.My first episode was released on June 16, 2021. That was a Wednesday. It is funny looking back because I remember thinking I should start on a Monday, but at the same time, I didn't want to wait any longer. I just wanted to start. Now, almost four years later, I have reached my 1,000th episode. It has been such a fun journey. The podcast has evolved over time. During February 2022, my prayer group decided to do an online Life in the Spirit Seminar. The people who attended said that what they liked best about the seminar was listening to everyone's experiences about certain topics.This is when I decided to add “Witness Wednesdays” to the podcast lineup. Every Wednesday, I was hoping to get a different person who would talk about how God was working in their lives. At the beginning, I got a lot of different people. I have also given a lot of the witnesses myself, which was great because it helped me to look at the various events in my life and see how God was working in all of them! Then I discovered the PopWe website from Matthew West and his Father, along with the Global Awakening website and the Encounter Ministry's website. God is definitely still working powerfully in this world, and so there is no shortage of testimonies out there talking about it.The next change came when I felt the Holy Spirit prompting me to add the words of prophecy that we receive in my prayer group to the end of each episode. I felt like the Lord wanted me to get His word out to more than just those in our prayer group. I also hope that if we get used to hearing what the Lord's voice sounds like and the types of things he usually says, we can better discern when it is not the Lord's voice speaking to us. We will hopefully be able to block out or ignore the enemy's voice more easily. If you want to receive a daily email with these Words from the Lord, email me at Catherine@findingtruenorthcoaching.com. They really are amazing. It really helps us to get to know the Lord in a different way. It helps us to see him in another light. It also usually happens to be just what you needed to hear that day.I want to take this time to thank every single person who has listened to even just one of my episodes. It means the world to me that you would take the time out of your day to listen. Thank you to those who have reached out over the years to share your testimony for Witness Wednesday or have just reached out to encourage me and let me know you like the podcast. I am so grateful to God for each and every one of you. Sometimes I will write a podcast, and I think it doesn't even make any sense, and then someone will reach out and say that the podcast really spoke to them. The Holy Spirit is good like that. He knows what people need to hear and speaks through me. I am well aware that it is not I writing these podcasts alone. I am aware that the Holy Spirit is working through me, and I am so grateful that God is willing to use me.My goal when starting this podcast was that I could help those who listen walk more boldly in their faith. My goal is to help everyone learn more about what it means to have the Holy Spirit living inside of you. I want everyone to discover the power they have living inside of them. The devil doesn't want you to know. He wants you to feel alone and weak. This is not the case. You are never alone as God never leaves your side and you are not weak. You have the same Holy Spirit that Jesus had living inside of you. The same one that empowered Jesus to do all of the miracles. The same one that raised Jesus from the dead.Did you know that Jesus didn't do any miracles before He was baptized? That is because He chose to only use the human part of himself, along with the Holy Spirit to do miracles. That means that you have that same power living inside of you! What are you doing with it? How are you using it? How could you be using it? John 14:12-14, “Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.  And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.”Did you hear that? “Whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.” Think of the most amazing thing that Jesus did. That thing that you just can't believe He could do. Then reread that verse. Do you believe in Jesus? Yes, then you can do the things he did and even greater things. This is the whole point of this podcast. I hope that if you have been with me for a while now, you are starting to realize this to be true. I hope you are starting to understand how powerful you really are. The enemy doesn't want you to know this, and I am hoping that enough of us start using the power the Lord has given us, and then others see us and they join in, and before we know it, we are all living in the power of the Holy Spirit. Can you imagine how different this world would be if we were all aware and living in the power that the Lord gave us?I love each and every one of you. I am beyond grateful for your support. If you are listening and I don't know you, I would love to get to know you. Please reach out to me through email at catherine@findingtruenorthcoaching.com. If you would like to give your testimony, send me an email. It really doesn't take a lot of time and could really help someone else out. If you would like prayers, send me an email. It would be my pleasure to pray with you over the phone or add your prayers to my list of prayer requests. Thank you again for listening and for celebrating this momentous occasion with me!! www.findingtruenorthcoaching.comCLICK HERE TO DONATECLICK HERE to sign up for Mentoring CLICK HERE to sign up for Daily "Word from the Lord" emailsCLICK HERE to sign up for my newsletter & receive a free audio training about inviting Jesus into your daily lifeCLICK HERE to buy my book Total Trust in God's Safe Embrace

In this episode, I sit down with Jordan Garrett, a special education teacher from the UK and the creator behind Sensory Classroom. We talk about what it really takes to support autistic students with high support needs—especially during group time. Jordan shares how success isn't about getting everyone to sit and comply, but about building trust, meeting sensory needs, and creating a safe, engaging space where students can come and go as they're ready. From empowering teaching assistants to embracing the messy, beautiful moments of connection, this conversation is full of encouragement for anyone supporting young autistic learners. Bio Jordan is a Specialist Education Teacher in the UK. She works with minimally speaking autistic and PMLD pupils aged 3-11. She has been teaching SEND for over 15 years and has a passion for teaching through sensory-based practices. Links Website: https://www.sensoryclassroom.org/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/sensoryclass FB: https://www.facebook.com/share/12GJEC6CtKK/?mibextid=wwXIfr YouTube: https://youtube.com/@sensoryclassroom?si=8m3kfc5KrsElJB3n TIkTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sensoryclass?_t=ZN-8ufHEg4949W&_r=1 Podcast: https://sensoryclassroom.org/pages/podcast Takeaways Micro-trainings are effective for paraprofessionals and teaching assistants Sensory regulation is crucial for effective communication and learning. Success in special education is not about compliance but about connection and engagement. Lessons should be flexible and responsive to students' needs. Modeling behaviors and strategies is essential for teaching assistants. Creating a safe and engaging environment fosters better learning outcomes. Intuitive teaching can lead to more meaningful connections with students. Patience is key and results may take time. Building relationships with students is fundamental to their success.  Creating a safe space fosters trust and engagement. Engagement can be measured through moments of connection. Songs and music can enhance predictability and comfort in learning. Predictability helps reduce anxiety in new environments. Group sessions should be short and engaging to maintain interest. Every child is unique, requiring tailored approaches to learning. You may also be interested in these supports: Visual Support Starter Set  Visual Supports Facebook Group Autism Little Learners on Instagram Autism Little Learners on Facebook

Lisa Flores joins Sharyn and Cuitlahuac to discuss the impact of Lone Star Governance (LSG) on the Austin ISD Board's efforts to discuss district turn around plans and school closures. They also focus on the current state of Special Education as well as recent community meetings at Webb and Burnet Middle Schools.

In this episode of Digital Learning Today, Chelsea Lopez, a former special education teacher and current Director of Education Advancement at the Social Institute, discusses the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in education. If you are a new listener to TeacherCast, we would love to hear from you.  Please visit our Contact Page and let us know how we can help you today! Subscribe to Our Weekly Newsletter To get our weekly Instructional Coaching Tips sent right to your inbox, please subscribe to our weekly newsletter. Conversation Takeaways AI is any technology that can perform tasks requiring human intelligence. Educators need to understand AI to effectively teach students about it. AI is already embedded in our daily lives, often without us realizing it. Policies should focus on how to use AI, not just how not to use it. AI can enhance productivity and support educators in their roles. Professional development on AI is crucial for educators. AI literacy will become a key component of digital literacy in schools. Collaboration between curriculum and technology departments is essential. AI can help create lesson plans and teaching materials efficiently. The future of education will increasingly integrate AI across various subjects. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to AI in Education 03:02 Understanding AI: Definitions and Applications 06:00 AI in Daily Life: Demystifying Technology 09:03 Navigating AI in Schools: Policies and Practices 11:47 The Role of Educators in AI Literacy 15:10 AI as a Teaching Assistant: Enhancing Productivity 17:52 Addressing Concerns: Control and Curriculum 21:01 Future of AI in Education: Trends and Predictions About our Guest: Chelsea Lopez Chelsea Lopez is a passionate and dedicated leader at The Social Institute, where she serves as the Director of Educator Advancement. In this role, Chelsea is responsible for creating and delivering innovative professional development for educators, focusing on social media and technology. She works in developing comprehensive teacher resources, asynchronous and synchronous courses, educational materials, and webinars. Before joining The Social Institute, Chelsea spent time as an educator, having taught K-5th Special Education and 6th-8th Special Education. In her most recent teaching role, Chelsea served as the 6th-8th grade Intervention Coordinator, where she supported students and teachers in meeting academic and behavioral goals. Her diverse teaching experiences provide her with a deep understanding of the challenges educators face and the strategies needed to support student success. Chelsea's commitment to supporting educators and students extends beyond her professional work. She is actively involved in coaching middle school cheerleading as well as high school softball and has a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities that educators, students, and families face today. Links of Interest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chelsea-lopez-4462ba59/ About The Social Institute The Social Institute (TSI) is the leader in equipping students to navigate learning & well-being in a tech-fueled world. Through #WinAtSocial, our interactive, peer-to-peer learning platform, we empower students, educators, and families to make high-character choices online and offline. #WinAtSocial Lessons teach essential skills while capturing student voice and actionable insights for educators. These insights help educators maintain

Dr. Alisha LynA proud graduate of Warren G. Harding High School, Class of 2004, Alisha began her educational journey at Kent State University before earning her undergraduate degree from Youngstown State University. She later obtained a Master's in Special Education from Grand Canyon University and completed her Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership with an emphasis in K–12 education in 2022.Alisha's path to success was far from linear. She worked as a lunch aide, in banking, and as a substitute teacher while continuing her education. Her life and career have been defined by resilience and transformation.She is the author of Overcome, Transform, Soar: The Process of Breaking Barriers and Soaring to New Heights, a powerful testament to her personal journey. Alisha is a three-time traumatic brain injury survivor, a two-time cardiac arrest survivor, and a survivor and advocate of domestic violence. Her first major brain injury occurred while playing basketball at Warren G. Harding—an incident that nearly claimed her life and left doctors fearing she would not recover.Today, Alisha serves as a member of the Warren City Schools Board of Education and works as a Senior Admissions Counselor at Kent State University. She remains a vocal supporter of Warren G. Harding and the Warren City School District, highlighting the district's strong academic opportunities for high-achieving students and the new Wellness Center—which goes beyond athletics to support overall student well-being.In 2009, she launched Alisha Lyn LLC (www.alishalynllc.com), a company built to inspire and empower others. She has also started a business venture for her daughters, continuing her legacy of leadership, education, and empowerment.Link for her book: https://www.amazon.com/Overcome-Transform-Soar-Breaking-Barriers-ebook/dp/B0CBL3X7BGwww.thelynneetwins.comwww.alishalynnllc.comwww.dralishaalls.com

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Youth with special responsibility for Special Education and Inclusion, Michael Moynihan paid a visit to Clare last Friday. During his trip, Minister Moynihan visited schools in Killaloe, Shannon and Ennis. As part of the stop in St. Anne's in the county town, an extensive meeting was held between the minister, the school's administration and this county's TDs. Principal, Rose Marie Flanagan outlined the reason behind the visit and the details of the meeting to Clare FM's Darragh O'Grady.

It's hoped staffing deficiencies in special education settings in Clare will begin to be addressed following a ministerial visit. As part of his visit to Clare, Minister of State with Special Responsibility for Special Education and Inclusion, Michael Moynihan, has met with management of St Anne's School in Ennis. Concerns around the lack of therapists and a general shortfall in staffing levels were highlighted over the course of the extensive meeting. Principal of St Anne's, Rose-Marie Flanagan, says children's needs aren't being met.

Mary J. Goodwin-Oquendo, Esq., discusses how the dismantling of the U.S. Department of Education (DoE) may impact students with ADHD and learning disabilities who receive special education services and accommodations through IEPs and 504 Plans. ADHD Accommodations and Educational Rights: Additional Resources Free Download: Your Child's Legal Rights at School Read: “Is My Child's IEP in Danger?” Read: When Schools Resist Evaluating & Addressing Learning Disabilities eBook: The Complete IEP/504 Guide Access the video and slides for podcast episode #554 here: https://www.additudemag.com/webinar/adhd-accommodations-department-of-education-iep-504/ Thank you for listening to ADDitude's ADHD Experts podcast. Please consider subscribing to the magazine (additu.de/subscribe) to support our mission of providing ADHD education and support.

In this episode, I sit down with Eric Smith from GrowNOW ADHD, to explore innovative approaches to social skills and executive functioning through the lens of a community-based program: Executive Functioning Summer Camp. Eric shares his insights on challenging existing service delivery models and discusses the importance of practical, real-world applications for clients.Eric is a Speech-Language Pathologist, ADHD/Executive Functioning Specialist, and Director GrowNOW ADHD's EF Camp with over 7 years of experience in the field. He has worked in a variety of settings including Private Practice, Early Intervention, and Schools.Key Discussion Points:What are the benefits and limitations of a traditional therapy model and how can we expand the way we do intervention to improve generalization? • How the summer camp model facilitates real-world connections.• How much structure and support should adults be providing, and when does it make sense to use a “lesson plan”? • The concepts of “healthy risk” and “healthy discomfort”.• Why it's crucial to incorporate diverse experiences to better prepare our clients for adult life AND to help clinicians stay engaged in their work.• Using the explicit instruction framework (“I do, We do, You do”) to mentor clinicians and coach parents. You can learn more about GrowNOW Executive Functioning Summer Camp here: https://www.grownowadhd.com/adhd-kids-summer-camp/Connect with Eric at: eric@grownowadhd.comPast episode mentioned in this episode:Failure to launch, screen addiction, and preparing kids for life after high school (with Michael McLeod): https://drkarendudekbrannan.com/ep-207-failure-to-launch-screen-addiction-and-preparing-kids-for-life-after-high-school-with-michael-mcleod/Building accountability, and motivation in kids with ADHD (with Mike McLeod): https://drkarendudekbrannan.com/ep-008-building-accountability-and-motivation-in-kids-with-adhd-with-mike-mcleod/Time management and device use boundaries for kids with ADHD (with Mike McLeod): https://drkarendudekbrannan.com/ep-009-time-management-and-device-use-boundaries-for-kids-with-adhd-with-mike-mcleod/In this episode, I mentioned “The School Leader's Guide to Executive Functioning Support”, a 7-day course to help school leaders launch their executive functioning implementation plan. You can learn more about the course here: https://drkarenspeech.lpages.co/school-leaders-guide-to-executive-functioning-support/ We're thrilled to be sponsored by IXL. IXL's comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers' timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments

Hey there, special educators! This week on Special Education for Beginners, we're continuing our month-long series on teacher burnout with a powerful, honest, and deeply important conversation.In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Jessica Werner, founder of Northshore Learning and a passionate advocate for teacher wellness. Dr. Werner works with schools across the globe to help retain great educators by addressing the real causes of burnout—especially those tied to student needs and behavior—and by providing sustainable support that goes beyond one-off professional development.Together, we unpack:What burnout really looks like in today's schools Why special education teachers are particularly vulnerableHow administrators often don't realize the depth of burnout until it's too latePractical, everyday strategies teachers can use to reset, reconnect, and feel seenWhy self-advocacy, support systems, and subtraction (yes, subtraction!) matter more than everWhether you're feeling slightly overwhelmed or on the edge of walking away, this episode is here to remind you: burnout is not your fault, and you're not alone.

In this episode, I chat with Dr. Hayley Crane about supporting autistic and ADHD learners in ways that are truly affirming and compassionate. We dive into how visual supports and predictable routines can reduce anxiety, ease transitions, and help kids feel more confident and secure throughout their day. We also explore what to do when power struggles pop up, how to better understand the emotional fatigue that can follow a long day of navigating demands, and the importance of flexibility and connection in our interactions. Hayley and I talk about why it's helpful to reduce verbal demands—like asking fewer questions and making more observations—and how honoring each child's deep interests can boost engagement and build trust. This conversation is packed with real-world strategies for educators and parents, along with gentle reminders to care for yourself as you care for your students or children. It's all about creating supportive, responsive environments where autistic kids can thrive. Bio:  Dr. Hayley Crain is a clinical psychologist, adjunct professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and mom of two. She blends personal lived experience with clinical expertise to support neurodivergent kids and their families through inclusive, practical strategies. Dr. Crain holds a doctorate from The Chicago School and a master's from Columbia University. She's worked with top institutions across the U.S., including the CDC's SEED study, the May Institute, Children's Hospital Colorado, and the Waisman Center. Now back in her hometown, she runs Haven Psychology, offering neuroaffirming therapy, coaching, and assessments—always with empathy, real-life tools, and a touch of humor, informed by her own experiences with ADHD, dyslexia, and anxiety. Links:  Dr. Hayley Crain's website:  https://www.drhayleycrain.com/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/drhayleycrain/ Takeaways Power struggles can be minimized by picking battles wisely. Flexibility is crucial in supporting neurodivergent children. Understanding behavior as communication is key to effective support. Using interests can enhance engagement and learning. Transitions can be challenging for neurodivergent children. Visual supports can aid in understanding routines and transitions. Acknowledging a child's protest is important for their communication. Creating a supportive environment can reduce anxiety during transitions. Visual supports can be crucial for helping children transition smoothly. Predictable routines can create a sense of security for kids. An All Done Bucket is a valuable tool for ending activities. Repetition and visual cues are essential for memory retention in children. After school restraint collapse is a common experience for neurodivergent children. Teaching executive functioning skills can start at a young age. Connecting with children can be done without asking questions. Less talking can lead to better engagement with children.    You may also be interested in these supports: Visual Support Starter Set  Visual Supports Facebook Group Autism Little Learners on Instagram Autism Little Learners on Facebook

Dr. Lorenzo A. Watson is joined by Natarsha Sanders to discuss education equity. They reflect on the state of education today, why equity in education is important, and how we can make our communities more equitable. Learn more about CCDA's Education Equity Network, #TransformED, at ccda.org/transformed.Natarsha Prince Sanders is a career educator with over 15 years of professional experience both inside and outside of the classroom. She earned a B.A. in Philosophy and History from Hollins University and a M.A. in Special Education from North Carolina Central University. She is currently completing her doctoral degree at Columbia Theological Seminary.Connect with CCDA on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Follow CCDA on YouTube.

Dr. Kristilynn Turney is the CEO and Founder of Dr. Kristilynn Turney, LLC and the Co-Founder of Charter School Pros. Dr. Kristilynn Turney, LLC is certified as an Ohio Minority Business Enterprise and Ohio Women's Business Enterprise.Dr. Kristilynn Turney, LLC specializes in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Plans, Consulting, and Professional Development, Educational and Organizational Leadership, Coaching, and Mentoring, and School Improvement.Charter School Pros is a full-service partner for charter schools, delivering personalized and impactful support to drive leadership growth, teacher effectiveness, and student success.Dr. Kristilynn Turney has served in public education for 20 years in the Greater Cincinnati and Dayton, Ohio areas. She began her career as an English, Theatre, and Public Speaking Teacher. She was also a School Improvement Consultant and Literacy Coach for Hamilton County Educational Service Center and then Assistant Principal at Winton Woods High School. In 2012, Dr. Turney became the first Black Principal at Fairfield Middle School, and in 2014, she became the first Black Principal and only the third female Principal at Colerain High School. She ended her career in public education as a district-level administrator where she was a curriculum director and human resources/diversity director. She maintains Ohio Education Licenses in-All Communications (7-12), Principal (5-12), and Superintendent ( P-12).Dr. Kristilynn Turney has worked in diversity and leadership for many years.  In these capacities, Dr. Turney has served as a building principal to improve cultural competency among her staff, a professor of “Community of Learners,” a course designed to make students more culturally aware, as a district-level administrator in the areas of curriculum, diversity, and human resources as well as an independent consultant helping individuals and organizations evaluate diversity practices and develop their diversity plans and models. Throughout Dr. Turney's work, she has successfully engaged 1000s of peopleands solicited help and guidance from many stakeholders of diverse backgrounds. While this has not been an easy task, especially when oftentimes she did not know the stakeholders prior to beginning the work, she made it seamless by building quick relationships through engaging activities, tasks, and social, and professional connections. In her “free time”, Dr. Turney enjoys spending time with her husband, Larry, and 4 kids-Kamille, Carson, Lailah, and Lennox. She spends many days and weekends chasing their many activities and sports. Kristilynn is also an active member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. and Quinn Chapel AME Church. She enjoys traveling, reading, exercising, spending time with extended family and friends, and online shopping.  She credits her success to her mother, Joan Burnett, who passed away in 2016. Her mother taught her grace, perseverance, strength, and to believe in God through all things! Currently, Dr. Turney works with public schools, charter schools, and organizations on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Practices and Professional Development, Educational and Organizational Leadership Coaching and Mentoring, and School Improvement. Her work sites have expanded the globe including Illinois, Connecticut, New York, Florida, and the Cayman Islands, just to name a few. She is trained in DEI by the University of South Florida. She is a consultant with the Ohio State Support Team, SST 11, in Continuous Improvement and Special Education. Dr. Kristilynn Turney is also the host of “Elevating with Equity,” an equity-centered education conference, and the author of “Inspiration and Reflections for the School Leader,” and “5 Months to School Improvement.” ______________________________________________________________________ The Edupreneur: Your Blueprint To Jumpstart And Scale Your Education BusinessYou've spent years in the classroom, leading PD, designing curriculum, and transforming how students learn. Now, it's time to leverage that experience and build something for yourself. The Edupreneur isn't just another book—it's the playbook for educators who want to take their knowledge beyond the school walls and into a thriving business.I wrote this book because I've been where you are. I know what it's like to have the skills, the passion, and the drive but not know where to start. I break it all down—the mindset shifts, the business models, the pricing strategies, and the branding moves that will help you position yourself as a leader in this space.Inside, you'll learn how to:✅ Turn your expertise into income streams—without feeling like a sellout✅ Build a personal brand that commands respect (and top dollar)✅ Market your work in a way that feels natural and impactful✅ Navigate the business side of edupreneurship, from pricing to partnershipsWhether you want to consult, create courses, write books, or launch a podcast, this book will help you get there. Stop waiting for permission. Start building your own table.

In this powerful episode, I sit down with Ana Hernandez, a speech pathologist who found herself on the other side of the therapy room after undergoing brain surgery. Ana shares her deeply personal journey through the road of recovery.As someone who has spent her career helping others communicate, Ana opens up about what it was like to struggle with communication herself. She discusses the emotional and physical challenges she faced, the strategies that aided her recovery, and how her experience has changed her approach to her work.Ana Hernandez is a speech-language pathologist, founder of Adult Stuttering Services, P.C., and the creator of Green Social and the Safe Spaces of Stuttering approach. She collaborates with leading stuttering organizations, speaks at international conferences, and provides professional training for schools and businesses. Ana's focus in stuttering support is to foster comfort with speaking and empower people who stutter with care that prioritizes quality and dignity.In This Episode, We Cover:• The unexpected diagnosis that led to brain surgery• The impact of surgery on her speech, cognition, and emotions• Key milestones and setbacks throughout her recovery journey• Practical tips for self-advocacy• How this experience has reshaped her perspective as a therapistWhy Listen?This episode is a testament to resilience, empathy, and the power of communication. Whether you or a loved one are navigating recovery from brain injury, or you simply want to hear an inspiring story of perseverance, this conversation will leave you feeling encouraged and empowered.You can connect with Ana on her Adult Stuttering website here: https://www.adultstuttering.com/therapistOn Instagram here @adultstuttering (https://www.instagram.com/adultstuttering/)On LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ana-hernandez-015b69293/Finally, I also mentioned my free Executive Functioning Implementation Guide for School Teams. You can sign up for the guide here: http://drkarendudekbrannan.com/efguide We're thrilled to be sponsored by IXL. IXL's comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers' timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments

In this episode, I sit down with Polina Shkadron, a speech-language pathologist who specializes in autism, ADHD, and ARFID. We dive into her journey into feeding therapy and explore what's really going on beneath the surface when kids struggle with eating. Polina shares how trust, autonomy, and regulation play a huge role in building positive food experiences. We talk about the impact of fear and anxiety on eating, the importance of honoring a child's identity and sensory needs, and how small, playful routines can make a big difference. If you've ever wondered how to support a child beyond the “just take a bite” approach, this conversation is for you. Bio Today on the podcast, I'm thrilled to be joined by Polina Shkadron. Polina is a trauma-certified speech-language pathologist and an expert in communication and feeding, with a specialization in autism, ADHD, and ARFID. Her therapeutic approach is grounded in compassion and brain-based research, which gives her a unique and powerful perspective on language, learning, and behavior. With over 15 years of experience supporting neurodivergent children, Polina helps families understand the why behind their struggles and gently guides them toward more connected, trusting relationships. She brings play into her sessions not just as an activity, but as a meaningful tool for emotional regulation, communication, and healing. I can't wait for you to hear her insights in this conversation. Takeaways Polina Shkadron specializes in autism, ADHD, and ARFID. ARFID is more than picky eating. Trust and autonomy are crucial in helping children with feeding differences. Children may choose hunger over discomfort from food. Language around food can impact children's willingness to try new things. Therapy should focus on building trust and understanding individual needs. Self-regulation plays a significant role in eating behaviors. Parents' anxieties can affect children's eating experiences. Recognizing readiness is key to successful feeding interventions.  Fear impacts our digestive system and hunger. Shame should be removed from eating habits. Neutral reactions from parents can foster a positive environment. Mealtime should not solely focus on food challenges. Introducing new foods can be done through play. Building trust is essential in food experiences. The experience of food preparation can enhance curiosity. You may also be interested in these supports: Visual Support Starter Set  Visual Supports Facebook Group Autism Little Learners on Instagram Autism Little Learners on Facebook  

This week, I'm sharing an interview I did with another host on the BE podcast network because I think it's something you'll really enjoy. The episode is going live in the De Facto Leaders podcast feed. Dr. Chris Jones has been an educator in Massachusetts for 22 years. His experience in the classroom ranged from 8th – 11th grade working in an urban setting. A portion of this was spent opening a high school division for an expanding charter school. He has just finished his 14th year as a building administrator. Chris is also the Vice President of the Massachusetts State Administrators Association (MSAA). True to his “why” of improving the educational experience for as many people as possible, he is currently the Principal of Whitman-Hanson Regional High School in Whitman, Massachusetts.He is the author of SEEing to Lead, a book that provides strategies for how modern leaders can and must support, engage, and empower their teachers to elevate student success. Chris vlogs weekly about continuous improvement and is also the host of the podcast SEEing to Lead as a way to amplify teachers' voices in an effort to improve education as a whole.In this interview, Dr. Chris Jones and I discuss how to promote effective literacy practices in schools, while still allowing educators and clinicians to have autonomy in their practices. We discuss:The “non-negotiables” when it comes to evidence-based practices vs. where there can be flexibility for the “art” of teaching.Why training and information needs to be paired with change-management strategies.Finding the “joy” of reading can't happen without building foundational skills.You can connect with Dr. Jones on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drcsjones/, and on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/DrCSJones/, and on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/drcsjones/.  You can learn more about his book and podcast at: https://drcsjones.blog/seeing-to-lead-podcast/In this episode, I mentioned Language Therapy Advance Foundations, my program that helps SLPs create a system for language therapy. You can learn more about Language Therapy Advance Foundations here: https://drkarenspeech.com/languagetherapy/ We're thrilled to be sponsored by IXL. IXL's comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers' timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments

In this episode of School Business Insider, host John Brucato is joined by Cindy M. Reilmann, CPA, SFO, Chief Financial Officer, and Dr. Michael Maclin, Superintendent of Schools, from the Special School District (SSD) of St. Louis County.Facing a projected $74 million deficit, SSD launched the Righting the Ship plan—a strategic roadmap designed to stabilize finances while preserving their mission to serve students with excellence. Cindy and Dr. Maclin share how they tackled tough decisions, developed a comprehensive staffing and cost-containment strategy, and fostered transparency and community trust throughout the process.Tune in to hear valuable lessons in financial leadership, collaboration, and resilience that any school business professional can apply.

Fluorescent lights. Constant noise. Rigid schedules. For a lot of kids with special needs, school was less a place to learn and more a daily test of endurance. In this episode, Jenny Kendall—a national leader in special education—joins Kevin to talk about what happens when you take students out of a system that was never designed for them and build something better. Virtual learning isn't a compromise. For many, it's a relief. They get into how online education strips away environmental distractions, how real success hinges on teamwork between families and educators, and why AI and assistive tech might be the biggest breakthroughs in special education—if outdated policy doesn't slow it all down. How do you build an education system that actually fits the student—not the other way around? And what happens when technology moves faster than the rules meant to govern it? This might be what you want to know.   What You'll Learn 03:12 – Why the Classroom Was the Barrier 06:05 – Success = Commitment + Customization 08:30 – Online vs. In-Person: Who Does It Better? 11:35 – How a Virtual School Day Actually Looks 14:10 – Fixing the Special Ed Teacher Shortage (Hint: Go Remote) 16:20 – Autism, Anxiety & The Safety of Learning at Home 19:00 – AI Knows Your Kid Is Struggling Before You Do 21:15 – Outdated Laws vs. Next-Gen Learning Go Deeper with Jenny Kendall

D&P Highlight: Fight club...run by teachers...at a special education school. full 363 Tue, 22 Apr 2025 18:55:00 +0000 RJCxC4acA0puLczvb4n9CHJ7we2CYLIp news The Dana & Parks Podcast news D&P Highlight: Fight club...run by teachers...at a special education school. You wanted it... Now here it is! Listen to each hour of the Dana & Parks Show whenever and wherever you want! 2024 © 2021 Audacy, Inc. News False https://player.a