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.

Is your child’s tics, anxiety, or rigid behaviors “just a phase” – or something more? In this episode of the Autism Roundtable, Leah sits down with Dr. Meir Flancbaum, a clinical psychologist and CBT expert, to unpack tics, Tourette’s, anxiety, and OCD, and what all of this really means for your child, your family, and for you as a parent.

Dr. Meir Flancbaum introduces his background as a psychologist and founder of the Center for Cognitive Behavior Therapy, explaining how CBT helps children, teens, and families through structured, research-based strategies. He outlines the CBT triangle of thoughts, feelings, and actions, and shows how this framework applies to conditions like anxiety, OCD, and Tourette’s.

He then breaks down tics and Tourette’s syndrome, clarifying the difference between motor and vocal tics, and why Tourette’s is often misunderstood. Dr. Flancbaum explains the biological and hereditary roots of tics, the factors that intensify them, and how Habit Reversal Training teaches children awareness and alternative responses. He contrasts tics with autistic stimming, emphasizing that tics relieve discomfort, while stims provide soothing reinforcement. This leads to a broader discussion about acceptance, perspective-taking, and supporting children without increasing stress or pressure.

The conversation continues with anxiety and OCD, both framed as cycles fueled by avoidance and short-term relief. Dr. Flancbaum explains anxiety as a “false alarm,” discusses why rates may be increasing, and outlines CBT and medication options. He also describes OCD as intrusive thoughts paired with compulsive behaviors, treated through exposure and response prevention. The episode closes with guidance for parents: focus on progress, embrace “golden nugget” moments, and remember that raising a neurodivergent child may require more care—but the “roses in a tulip garden” are often the most meaningful gifts.

• 00:00 – 06:30 | What is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)? The CBT triangle and real-life examples
• 06:30 – 12:30 | Tics and Tourette’s explained: motor vs. vocal tics, common misconceptions, and heredity
• 12:30 – 15:40 | Treatment for tics: Habit Reversal Training, awareness, social support, and “tic busters”
• 15:40 – 21:40 | Stimming vs. tics: reinforcement, the mosquito-bite analogy, and why blocking tics can be helpful
• 21:40 – 28:30 | Acceptance, perspective, and parenting: education, expectations, and understanding your child
• 28:30 – 37:50 | Anxiety as a “false alarm”: what anxiety is, why it’s on the rise, and how society has changed
• 37:50 – 46:30 | Treating anxiety: pills, skills, or both? CBT tools, cognitive restructuring, and exposure therapy
• 48:50 – 55:30 | OCD 101: obsessions, compulsions, contamination fears, mental loops, and the “thought filter”
• 55:30 – 59:30 | Comorbidities: Tourette’s, ADHD, anxiety, OCD together – what to treat first and why
• 59:30 – 1:02:30 | Final message to parents: golden nugget moments, roses in a tulip garden, and being kind to yourself

What if your child’s “behaviors” are actually their nervous system asking for help?

In this episode, Lauren Davis, an osteopathic physician, functional medicine practitioner, and proud neurodivergent mom, explains how hands-on medicine, nutrition, movement, and vision can radically change the quality of life for autistic and ADHD kids (and their parents).

Key Questions Explored in the Episode:

• What is cranial osteopathy and how is it different from craniosacral therapy?
• How can hands-on osteopathic treatment support autistic and ADHD children (and their parents)?
• What role do primitive reflexes, gait, and toe-walking play in behavior and regulation?
• How do nutrition and micronutrients impact attention, mood, and overall functioning?
• Why is vision so often a “missing link” in fine motor, balance, and behavioral challenges?
• How much can regular exercise really do for neurodivergent children compared to medication?
• What does it look like to parent as a neurodivergent physician and mom in a neurodivergent family?

Dr. Lauren Davis, an osteopathic physician double board-certified in family medicine and neuromusculoskeletal medicine, who also practices integrative and functional medicine. Dr. Davis explains cranial osteopathy, how tiny motions in the skull and cerebral spinal fluid affect lymphatic drainage and brain function, and how this can support autistic and ADHD individuals. She shares how birth compressions, fascial restrictions, and skull dysfunctions may contribute to irritability, impulse control challenges, and executive function struggles, and how hands-on treatment can optimize—not “cure”—a neurodivergent brain.

They dive into primitive reflexes, toe-walking, gait, and the importance of a thorough physical and neurologic exam. Dr. Davis highlights how retained reflexes and structural issues can present as “behaviors” and how simple home exercises can support integration. The conversation then shifts to nutrition: high sugar intake, micronutrient deficiencies, and Dr. Davis’s practical strategies like “color nights” and creative gluten-free, protein-rich meals for picky eaters.

They also explore vision as a huge but often overlooked piece of the puzzle, including tracking, convergence, binocular vision disorder, and specialized approaches like cranial vision osteopathy. Dr. Davis emphasizes exercise as a powerful intervention, citing evidence that 30 minutes of moderate aerobic movement can improve frontal lobe blood flow similarly to stimulant medication. Finally, she shares her personal story as an AuDHD physician, her neurodivergent family life, burnout in medical training, and how understanding her own neurology reshaped both her practice and parenting. She closes with a powerful message: your child is perfect as they are, and our job is to support who they are meant to be.

Time Stamps:

00:00 - What is osteopathic neuromusculoskeletal medicine and cranial osteopathy?

03:44 – Cranial osteopathy vs. craniosacral therapy and how fluid movement in the skull affects the brain and lymphatic system

06:16 – Why cranial osteopathy is still relatively unknown and how it helps the autistic community

07:02 – Newborn care, birth compressions, fascia, and early patterns that persist into childhood

09:10 – Hyperactivity, executive function, and improving frontal lobe blood flow through hands-on work

11:15 – What a typical evaluation looks like: history, physical exam, screening, and integrative recommendations

13:14 – Nutrition deep dive: sugar intake, micronutrients, and the impact of processed foods

15:11 – “Colors of the rainbow” eating and creative color-themed meals for kids

18:17 – Raising gluten-free kids with celiac disease and teaching cooking as a lifelong skill

19:57 – Picky and restrictive eating: practical strategies to “hide” nutrients and upgrade

Can a skateboard become a lifeline? In this episode, we meet Ally Rodriguez, founder of Skate Haven, an autism skateboarding nonprofit turning wheels and ramps into regulation, confidence, and community for neurodivergent kids and their families.

Discussion Points

• Ally’s journey from interior design to founding Skate Haven, inspired by her son.
• Sensory and motor benefits of skating: vestibular/proprioceptive input, balance, coordination.
• Safety, skate park etiquette, and coaching strategies for elopers and timid starters.
• Parent involvement, community building, and “finding your tribe.”
• Program design: one-on-one lessons, small groups, staff training, and special interests.
• Addressing bullying and inclusion in schools; Ambassador Program vision.
• Nutrition, ADHD, regulation, and practical takeaways for calmer days.

Leah Gross talks with Ally Rodriguez about launching Skate Haven, a nonprofit delivering one-on-one and small-group skateboarding sessions tailored for autistic kids.

Ally explains how rhythmic motion and repetition help with regulation, while skating naturally builds balance, core strength, and confidence. The program emphasizes safety, park etiquette, and meeting each child where they are—often weaving in special interests to boost motivation. Parents are encouraged to participate, building a supportive community that extends beyond sessions. Ally shares expansion efforts in LA and Vegas, partnerships with adaptive skate organizations, and an upcoming Ambassador Program to foster inclusion and reduce bullying. She also touches on brain-health nutrition and lifestyle changes that have helped her family. The throughline: you’re not alone—there are joyful, strengths-based outlets that work.

About The Guest

Ally Rodriguez is the founder of Skate Haven, an autism skateboarding nonprofit offering social-recreation and therapeutic-adjacent skate sessions. A single mom to an autistic son, Ally draws on lived experience, community partnerships, and a background in health/nutrition to create safe, motivating environments for neurodivergent kids.

Time Stamps

00:00 Origin story: mom, nonprofit founder, and the spark for Skate Haven

01:11 From “other clinics” to skate: pushing for social-rec approval

02:58 Why skating helps: rhythm, repetition, regulation

03:41 OT crossover: balance, core, coordination

05:13 Onboarding timid learners; matching coach to child

06:55 Ally’s parenting journey as a single autism mom

08:37 Juggling therapies and work without sacrificing services

09:31 ADHD, energy outlets, and why skating fits

10:31 Parents as community; support beyond sessions

12:50 Environmental tweaks: quieter parks, interest-based games

15:08 Success story: Carter’s confidence and progression

19:20 What’s missing: parent outlets and connection

21:56 Training coaches: patience, safety, flexibility, ABA-savvy staff

25:29 School inclusion, bus challenges, and advocacy

30:52 Brain-health nutrition and practical shifts at home

Ready to explore strength-based recreation for your child?

Tune in to the full episode for practical strategies, uplifting stories, and next steps you can try this week.

How can we support autistic children with more compassion and less control? In this episode of The Autism Round Table, host Leah Gross sits down with behavior analyst and life coach Kaitlin Wilder to explore a new, heart-centered approach to working with autistic individuals. From challenging outdated models of behavior therapy to introducing tools from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Kaitlin offers a refreshing and deeply empathetic perspective on what it means to truly connect with and understand autistic children.

Key Questions Explored in the Episode:

• What is Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA), and how does it shape the behavior of autistic children?
• How can therapists and parents balance structure with compassion?
• What role does Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) play in behavior support?
• How can we validate a child’s emotions while still encouraging growth?
• Why is it essential to challenge traditional ideas of “normal” in autism therapy?

Kaitlin Wilder shares her transformation from traditional behavioral frameworks to a more holistic, human-centered practice. Drawing from her 15 years of experience, she explains how compassion and flexibility can make therapy more effective and sustainable. The conversation touches on the growing awareness of PDA, the integration of ACT to promote emotional awareness and value-based motivation, and the importance of meeting children where they are—without judgment or force. Together, Leah and Kaitlin explore how turning toward pain and discomfort can lead to greater freedom, both for parents and children, in their shared journey of growth.

Time Stamps:

00:00 Kaitlin’s Journey into Autism Coaching

04:29 Understanding Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA)

12:54 Compassion and Validation in ABA

25:29 Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

32:48 Motivating Through Values

33:16 Understanding Human Emotions with ACT

34:40 Challenging the Concept of Normal

37:23 The Role of Authority in Therapy

39:11 Empowering Parents and Children

44:16 Turning Towards Pain for Freedom

49:40 Connecting with Children on Their Level

Ready to reimagine what compassionate support looks like for autistic children?

Tune in to the full episode for practical tools, heartfelt stories, and expert insights from Kaitlin Wilder.

What happens when a mom discovers her own neurodivergence while advocating for her kids and turns it into a mission to help other families and business owners thrive?

In this episode, neurodivergent coach Talia Zamora joins Leah Gross to share a real-world roadmap for calmer homes, stronger self-advocacy, and businesses that fit real life.

Summary of the Conversation:

Talia traces how her sons’ late-recognized autistic traits opened her eyes to a broader, more accurate picture of neurodivergence within her family—and herself. She explains her shift from industry process improvement to coaching neurodivergent women and families, translating Lean-style clarity into humane routines, boundaries, and supports. With concrete examples (adjusting classroom seating, planning gentler transitions, scheduling recovery time after social events), she shows how small, consistent tweaks reduce dysregulation. Talia reframes dyslexia as a memory and processing profile, sharing tools like detailed digital calendars, voice notes, and “WhatsApp-to-self” to stay organized. She discusses AuDHD patterns, special interests, and the power of self-advocacy at work: flexible start windows, sensory-friendly clothing, and choosing meeting cadence that sustains performance. The throughline is permission, building environments that fit people, not the other way around.

About The Guest:

Talia Zamora is a UK-based neurodivergent coach who supports businesswomen and families navigating autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and related profiles. With a background in business improvement and Lean methods, she blends systems thinking with compassionate, lived understanding to create practical plans that actually work at home, at school, and at work.

Key Takeaways:

• Spot the subtle signs: Neurodivergence is diverse; look beyond stereotypes to sensory sensitivities, social recovery needs, and communication patterns.
• Plan for regulation, not perfection: Use predictable routines, strategic seating, quiet transitions, and next-day downtime after big social events.
• Tool up your brain: Externalize memory with detailed calendar entries, reminder prompts, and simple “notes to self” systems.
• Do what works for you: Do not copy other families’ routines. If restaurants are overwhelming, make picnics your norm.
• Advocate clearly at work: Propose concrete supports—arrival windows, task batching, quiet work blocks—that let you deliver your best.

Time Stamps:

• 00:00From business coaching to neurodivergent coaching
• 04:24 Coaching outcomes: calmer routines, clearer boundaries
• 08:25 Case study: launching a mindfulness business with ND-aligned branding and outreach
• 10:21 Case study: twins, school supports, and everyday classroom tweaks
• 11:57 The “Coke bottle effect” and after-school meltdowns
• 12:35 Nervous system regulation and recovery time
• 13:59 Parenting courses, NHS pathway, and giving back through a local charity
• 18:44 Dyslexia redefined: memory, processing, and mapping challenges
• 22:52 Audiobooks and other accessible alternatives
• 23:14 Practical memory systems: calendars, WhatsApp self-notes, kitchen board
• 25:23 Younger son’s signs and nonstop talk as a data point
• 27:13 “Normal is relative” and family culture
• 28:26 Reading the room: choosing supportive environments (outdoors, noise, smells)
• 31:00 Travel story: planning stops to prevent dysregulation
• 33:16 Pre-planning and sensory fit beat rushing
• 33:33 Stop conforming: build the life that works for your family
• 37:38 AuDHD landscape and “different days, different needs”
• 39:33 Workplace self-advocacy: flexible hours, meeting cadence, attire
• 42:38 Companies seeking ND problem solvers; strengths in rapid ideation
• 44:28 Special interests as career fuel

Ready to build...