What happens after early intervention ends? In this hopeful and practical conversation, Laura McKenna shares her journey from autism diagnosis to college acceptance, offering parents a powerful roadmap for raising confident, capable young adults on the spectrum.

Key Questions Explored in the Episode:

1. How can an autism diagnosis become a tool rather than just an emotional milestone?
2. What should parents focus on during the early years that impacts long-term independence?
3. What changes during the teenage years, and why do supports need to shift?
4. What are transition programs and how do families access them?
5. What resources exist for young adults over 18, including SSI and state support programs?
6. How can parents plan earlier for independence and adulthood?

Laura McKenna shares her 18-year journey as an autism mom, beginning with her son’s diagnosis at age five and progressing through adolescence, transition programming, and ultimately college. She emphasizes that while the diagnosis can be emotionally overwhelming, it opens doors to meaningful services and understanding.

The conversation highlights the importance of early intervention, consistency, compassion, and long-term planning. Laura discusses how teenage years bring new challenges, particularly anxiety and social expectations, requiring renewed therapeutic support. She explains transition programs available through public education until age 21, the process of gradually introducing college expectations, and the importance of functional life skills.

Laura also sheds light on critical but often overlooked resources like Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and state disability services, encouraging all eligible families to explore them. The episode concludes with hope: with baby steps, education, and sustained support, meaningful independence is possible.

Laura McKenna is an autism mom, former college professor, writer, consultant, and parent support specialist at the COPE Center for Autism. After navigating her own son’s autism journey, she now supports families through diagnosis, IEP guidance, transition planning, and government benefit applications. Her work focuses on empowering parents with knowledge and practical tools for every stage of development.

Key Takeaways:

1. An autism diagnosis, while emotional, is a powerful gateway to services and understanding.
2. Early intervention builds a foundation, but support must evolve during adolescence.
3. Transition programs (18–21) can provide critical life and vocational skill development.
4. SSI and state disability services can offer long-term financial and structural support.
5. Independence happens in baby steps—and consistent effort pays off over time.

Time Stamps:

1. 00:02 Early Intervention Reflections and Lessons Learned
2. 09:17 Navigating the Teenage Years
3. 14:50 Transition Programs (18–21)...

What if one of the biggest “levers” for behavior, mood, sleep, and regulation isn’t another strategy or program — but what’s happening inside the gut and inside the cell?

Key Questions Explored in the Episode:

1. How do gut health, inflammation, and cellular function connect to autism-related symptoms and behavior?
2. When is it worth trying gluten-free/casein-free changes — and how do you make it sustainable?
3. Why do many supplements “not work,” and how can families evaluate what’s actually effective?
4. What role do omega-3s, polyphenols, prebiotic fibers, and sleep support play in regulation and development?
5. How can parents take practical steps without getting overwhelmed?

Michaela Morrell explains her work in cellular health, gut health, and inflammation — and why families dealing with autism often seek her out. She shares how her interest began with her own son’s early gut issues and hyperactivity, which led her deep into research on gut health, nutrition, and brain development.

She then describes noticing signs of atypical development in her nephew (reduced eye contact, limited social engagement, motor differences) and emphasizes how critical early timing can be. They implemented gluten-free and casein-free changes quickly and observed improvements, while also seeing that gluten exposure could trigger dramatic shifts in behavior and communication.

Later, Michaela describes using an at-home blood test focused on cellular inflammation and fatty acid status. She attributes her nephew’s rapid gains (eye contact, speech, social interaction, affection, classroom functioning) to targeted supplementation — especially omega-3 paired with polyphenols, plus prebiotic fiber support, and a saffron-based sleep supplement (with iodine, magnesium, and vitamin C). Throughout, she stresses individualized factors like absorption, gut activation of nutrients, and sustainability, encouraging parents to learn, test, measure, and take manageable steps.

About The Guest:

Michaela Morrell is a cellular health and gut health practitioner who focuses on inflammation, nutrient absorption, and the role of essential fatty acids in brain and body function. She shares both professional insights and personal family experience, and hosts a podcast aimed at empowering people to improve health without needing expensive, ongoing care.

Time Stamps:

00:01 – Michaela introduces her focus: cellular health, gut health, inflammation

01:41 – Her first son’s gut issues and hyperactivity

05:54 – Early interventions: whole foods, bone broth, and omega-3 emphasis

09:10 – Why “omega levels” can still be low even with fish + supplements

12:17 – Noticing developmental differences in her nephew (comparison helped)

14:30 – Early warning signs and pushing for timely evaluation

17:21 – Gluten-free/casein-free: quick implementation and behavior shifts

18:16 – What gluten exposure can look like in behavior + communication

21:56 – New testing approach: cellular inflammation and cell membrane function

26:03 – Rapid progress after targeted supplementation begins

29:53 – What they added: omega-3 + polyphenols + prebiotic fiber support

31:30 – Constipation, fiber challenges, and gut lining repair (butyric acid)

32:19 – Sleep support: saffron-based supplement + nutrients for myelin support

35:35 – How to make changes sustainable (steps, habits, long-term view)

42:11 – Start with testing: measuring to know what to do first

45:17 – Why many supplements...

What does it take to advocate for yourself in systems not built to accommodate you and then turn that struggle into a path of healing for others? In this powerful episode of The Autism Roundtable, we explore resilience, rights, and holistic care through one remarkable journey.

Discussion Points:

1. Overcoming systemic barriers in higher education and professional environments
2. Navigating discrimination and advocating for accommodations
3. Clinical work with anxiety, gender dysphoria, and adjustment to disability
4. Understanding neurodivergent culture through research and lived experience
5. Integrating yoga therapy, diet, breathwork, and nature into therapeutic practice

In this episode, Matthew Lunsford shares his deeply personal journey of navigating academia and professional life while living with visual impairment, hearing loss, and cerebral palsy. He reflects on the discrimination he faced, the legal battles he fought for accommodations, and the resilience required to persist.

Matthew also discusses his current private practice, where he works with neurodivergent individuals experiencing anxiety disorders, gender dysphoria, and life transitions related to disability. His approach blends evidence-based behavioral work with holistic and somatic modalities.

The conversation concludes with a broader reflection on healing, emphasizing the nervous system, self-acceptance, and the power of integrating Western and Eastern perspectives on health.

Matthew Lunsford is a board-certified behavior analyst, licensed special education teacher, and certified yoga therapist. Drawing from both professional training and lived experience, Matthew focuses on holistic, affirming care for neurodivergent individuals, with particular expertise in anxiety, identity, and adjustment to disability.

Time Stamps:

00:00 Overcoming Barriers in Academia

02:02 Facing Discrimination in the Professional World

03:36 Advice for Navigating Discrimination

07:10 Current Social Work Practice

09:40 Addressing Anxiety Disorders

17:36 Exploring Neurodivergent Culture

30:26 Living with Visual Impairment

34:27 Growing Up Visually Impaired

35:34 Advice for Parents of Visually Impaired Children

36:43 Emotional Challenges and Acceptance

39:13 Navigating Life with Hearing Loss

41:34 Living with Cerebral Palsy

46:16 The Journey to Becoming a Yoga Therapist

48:33 The Holistic Benefits of Yoga Therapy

55:21 Breath Work and the Nervous System

59:49 Western vs. Eastern Approaches to Medicine

Ready to rethink advocacy, healing, and what holistic support can look like?

Tune in to the full episode for an honest, inspiring conversation on resilience and neurodivergent well-being.