How to Be an Ally to Parents of Neurodiverse Kids (Ep. 111)

How do you help a child thrive, especially when traditional methods fall short? In this heartfelt episode, Iván Watanabe sits down with Mindy Coolidge and Meredith Greenwald, co-founders of Up, Up & Away, to talk about Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), building trust with neurodiverse children, and how true progress happens when empathy leads the way. As behavior analysts with decades of experience, they share why “happy, relaxed, and engaged” is the gold standard and how their relationship-first model is changing lives, one child at a time. What to expect: The difference between reinforcement and bribery (and why it matters) Why ABA isn’t “compliance training”, it’s empowerment How parents and bystanders can support children with autism Practical takeaways any parent can use today And so much more! Connect with Iván Watanabe: Opus Private Client, LLC  [email protected] LinkedIn: Iván Watanabe YouTube: OPUS Private Client, LLC Connect with Up Up and Away: Up Up And Away [email protected]  LinkedIn: Meredith Greenwald, MA, BCBA, LBA (CT and NY) LinkedIn: Mindy Coolidge Facebook: Up Up And Away Instagram: @up_up_and_away_nyc About Our Guests: Meredith Greenwald is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, New York State Licensed Behavior Analyst, New York State Certified Special Education Teacher, and co-founder of Up Up and Away Behavior Analyst PC. She received her BA in Psychology at Lafayette College in 1998 and her MA in Special Education from New York University in 2000. Meredith has 18 years of experience using the principles and practices of Applied Behavior Analysis, working with children diagnosed with Autism and other developmental delays. She excels at developing and implementing programs, social skills training, relationship development, and family training. Meredith lives in Stamford, CT with her husband and two children. She has four dogs – Mabel, George, Pixel, and Cookie. Mindy Lee Coolidge is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, New York State Licensed Behavior Analyst, New York State Certified Special Education and General Education Teacher, and co-founder of Up Up and Away Behavior Analyst PC. Mindy has 11 years of experience working with children who have the diagnosis of Autism, have other developmental delays, cognitive impairments, and/or problem behavior. Mindy excels in the areas of: building meaningful relationships with students and their families, speaking as an expert witness/ advocating for a student, administering assessments and creating programming based on the results, collaborating with families and teams for best outcomes, and using the science of ABA to help every child learn in an individualized way that is meaningful, fun, and effective.