Ableism is discrimination against disabled people. As we learn more and more about autistic people, those with ADHD, among other populations…this word continues to come up in conversation. Many of the interventions we’ve traditionally done to support children who need different educational and medical interventions are now under scrutiny for having ableist qualities. This has…
Author: kldudek1980
EP 038: Person first vs identity first language: Which one should I use?
When I was going through school back in the late 90s and early 2000s, I was taught that “person-first” language was the most respectful way to refer to my clients. For example, they weren’t “disabled people”, they were “people with disabilities”. Fast forward to the 2020s, and now we’re hearing a different story. Now, there…
EP 037: Building skills for connection (with Miriam Campbell)
How do we hold students accountable for their actions, but acknowledge their unique neurological profiles at the same time? How do we help neurodivergents (e.g., ADHD, Autism) build genuine connections with others and succeed in academic, vocational, and social situations? In this episode, I invited special guest Miriam Campbell, founder of Skills for Connection, to help answer…
EP 036: 3 tips for introducing new foods to your kids
In episode 36 of Are they 18 yet?™, I talk about 3 common “problem” food categories when it comes to kids diets; plus tips for making sustainable changes across eat of these areas. Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need to offer rewards for eating healthy foods. Acquiring a taste for different textures and flavors…
EP 035: How to help picky eaters (without bribing them with dessert)
Most parents know that eating a balanced diet is important for brain development…but making that happen is easier said than done. Especially when they have “picky eaters” who are unsure about venturing out of their comfort zone. It’s tempting to default to the popular method of using dessert as “positive reinforcement” for eating less enticing…
EP 034: Why you shouldn’t assume “laziness” in neurodivergent kids
This is part 3 of a 3-part series on the common problems with interventions for ADHD and autism. When you have some type of neurological variation that causes you to experience the world in a different way, you automatically become an easy target for manipulation. Those who are easily overwhelmed, or who aren’t sure how…
EP 033: A case against “normal” and “appropriate” behavior
As kids go through the school systems and grow up in general, they’re taught a lot about how to act “appropriately” in different situations. There’s a certain set of rules we’ve deemed to be acceptable, “normal” ways to act. On the contrary, certain behaviors are seen as “inappropriate”, “weird”, or “undesirable” in some way. But…
EP 032: When “compliance” does more harm than good (with ADHD and Autism)
“Behavior management” approaches are often used with kids who have diagnoses of ADHD, autism. Usually these approaches focus on giving rewards for good behavior and punishing “bad” behavior. They’re prevalent in therapy settings, schools, and home environments across the nation. I’ve even used some of these approaches in my practice. But in recent years, I’ve…
EP 031: 3 skills kids with ADHD need to overcome procrastination
When kids with ADHD avoid difficult work, it’s easy to assume they have a “behavior problem”, that they don’t care, or that they’re just lazy. But this couldn’t be further from the truth. People with ADHD are wired in a way that makes it hard for them to overcome feelings of overwhelm that lead to…
EP 030: Supporting executive functioning at home and school
If you’re supporting kids who need help with executive functioning, academic skills, and language, it can be hard to figure out exactly how to intervene. For parents, it can be overwhelming; and for professionals (like SLPs, teachers, and other professionals), it can be a challenge to figure out who is working on what skills. That’s…