EPISODE · Jun 30, 2021 · 55 MIN
Am I neurotypical? I'm not sure.
from De Facto Leaders · host Dr. Karen Dudek-Brannan
When I was growing up, the idea of being diagnosed with a mental health condition or a disability had a certain negative stigma associated with it.To be honest, my choice to become a pediatric speech pathologist and eventually get a doctorate in special education didn’t initially have to do with my own personal struggles. I was too deep in to denial to think of that.There were certain sensory needs I had…and when I found ways to meet them through what I now realize was stimming, I’d find myself wondering, “Is this weird???”When I found myself triggered, agitated, or overwhelmed by certain situations…I’d think, “Come on Karen…suck it up. This is what all the normal people are doing.”That’s why in episode 014 of the Are They 18 Yet?™ Podcast, I talk about my own sensory and neurological profile and why I don’t identify as neurotypical.Specifically, I share:How my sensory needs presented when I was a child and how I’ve found ways to meet my sensory needs as an adult with different hobbies.What kind of stimming I still engage in, and how those have behaviors evolved from childhood to the present time.My productive and not-so-productive self-soothing behaviors, including the ones I’m still working through.Sensory triggers I had as a child and how I gradually increased my sensory tolerance (including why I went through a phase where spandex was the only thing I would wear).Triggering situations that made me feel dysregulated and distracted, and how I perceived them as a child.How I internalized my own attending difficulties (and how they impacted my physical health).I could go on with a million bullet points here…but to sum it all up…this is my story. I hope hearing it helps you if you’re working through some of these things yourself or with your child. If you want a SIMPLE tool that will help you get through daily routines (like homework) with ease, WITHOUT bribery, arguments, or constant hand-holding, then checkout the Time Tracking Journal.The Time Tracking Journal walks you through a strategy you can do in just 10-15 minutes a day that will help kids get tasks done effectively and efficiently, and critical thinking skills and self-confidence at the same time. You can learn how to get instant access here: https://drkarenspeech.lpages.co/time-tracking-journal-37-1/ The De Facto Leaders podcast was formerly the “Are they 18 yet?®” podcast. As of November 2022, the name of the show has changed, and we’ve shifted from a focus on parenting to a focus on supporting clinicians and educators to design effective services for kids (but parents are still welcome to listen). Episodes published before November 24, 2022 will still contain some of our old branding. Learn more about today's sponsors, Playworks, IXL and Renaissance:Learn more about Renaissance:As a global leader in education technology operating in more than 110 countries, Renaissance is committed to providing educators with insights and resources to accelerate growth and help all students build a strong foundation for success. We believe that technology can unlock a more effective learning experience, ensure that students get the personalized teaching they need to thrive, and help educators and administrators to truly, fully, See Every Student. Learn more at renaissance.com.We’re proud to be sponsored by Playworks, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with evidence-based practices that help schools improve the health and well-being of children by increasing opportunities for physical activity and safe, meaningful play.If you’re a school or district leader struggling with the challenge of chronic absenteeism, as so many are across the U.S., you may not realize that structured recess is a research-backed approach to keep kids in school. In fact, a UC Berkeley study of Title I schools found that those partnering with Playworks had significantly lower chronic absenteeism rates. Further, Mathematica research demonstrated that Playworks schools spent 27% less time transitioning from recess back to learning, saving teachers valuable instructional time. These results are possible for your students, too. Learn how Playworks can help you improve student-educator relationships, belonging, and attendance by signing up for a quick no-obligation conversation. We’re also 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🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.
What this episode covers
When I was growing up, the idea of being diagnosed with a mental health condition or a disability had a certain negative stigma associated with it. To be honest, my choice to become a pediatric speech pathologist and eventually get a doctorate in special education didn’t initially have to do with my own personal struggles. I was too deep in to denial to think of that. There were certain sensory needs I had…and when I found ways to meet them through what I now realize was stimming, I’d find myself wondering, “Is this weird???” When I found myself triggered, agitated, or overwhelmed by certain situations…I’d think, “Come on Karen…suck it up. This is what all the normal people are doing.” That’s why in episode 014 of the Are They 18 Yet?™ Podcast, I talk about my own sensory and neurological profile and why I don’t identify as neurotypical. Specifically, I share: How my sensory needs presented when I was a child and how I’ve found ways to meet my sensory needs as an adult with different hobbies. What kind of stimming I still engage in, and how those have behaviors evolved from childhood to the present time. My productive and not-so-productive self-soothing behaviors, including the ones I’m still working through. Sensory triggers I had as a child and how I gradually increased my sensory tolerance (including why I went through a phase where spandex was the only thing I would wear). Triggering situations that made me feel dysregulated and distracted, and how I perceived them as a child. How I internalized my own attending difficulties (and how they impacted my physical health). I could go on with a million bullet points here…but to sum it all up…this is my story. I hope hearing it helps you if you’re working through some of these things yourself or with your child. If you want a SIMPLE tool that will help you get through daily routines (like homework) with ease, WITHOUT bribery, arguments, or constant hand-holding, then checkout the Time Tracking Journal. The Time Tracking Journal walks you through a strategy you can do in just 10-15 minutes a day that will help kids get tasks done effectively and efficiently, and critical thinking skills and self-confidence at the same time. You can learn how to get instant access here: https://drkarenspeech.lpages.co/time-tracking-journal-37-1/ The De Facto Leaders podcast was formerly the “Are they 18 yet?®” podcast. As of November 2022, the name of the show has changed, and we’ve shifted from a focus on parenting to a focus on supporting clinicians and educators to design effective services for kids (but parents are still welcome to listen). Episodes published before November 24, 2022 will still contain some of our old branding.
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Am I neurotypical? I'm not sure.
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