Across the Desk

This episode explores neurodivergent communication styles, challenges, and strengths within a team. The hosts share personal experiences, practical tips, and insights on fostering understanding and effective collaboration. This episode explores the nuances of communication, neurodivergence, and the importance of understanding implicit cues in both personal and professional contexts. Hosted by Elizabeth, with insights from Maddie and Sydney, it emphasizes practical strategies for clearer interactions and building trust.

This episode explores managing social energy, self-awareness, and boundaries, especially for neurodiverse individuals, with practical tools and personal insights.

This panel explores the complexities of social engagement for neurodivergent individuals, emphasizing the importance of self-awareness, self-care, and strategic social management. Participants share personal experiences, practical tools, and insights on navigating social situations while honoring their neurodivergent needs.

This podcast explores the nuanced differences between being alone and feeling lonely, especially within neurodivergent communities. The hosts share personal experiences, insights on social connection, and practical strategies for managing solitude and loneliness.

This episode explores the intersection of AI and neurodivergence, highlighting practical tools, ethical considerations, and personal experiences. It emphasizes responsible AI use, the importance of data, and how technology can support neurodivergent individuals in productivity and mental health.

In this episode, we explore the nuances of asking for help, self-advocacy, and communication within neurodivergent communities. Our guests share personal stories and insights on navigating support systems, advocating for oneself, and understanding the importance of inclusive spaces. In this episode, we explore the importance of asking for help, how past experiences shape our willingness to seek assistance, and strategies to foster independence and trust in support systems.

In this episode, we explore the nuances of communication, independence, and compliance within neurodivergent communities, emphasizing the importance of autonomy and authentic connection. In this episode, we explore neurodivergence, agency, and advocacy through personal stories and insights, emphasizing the importance of self-awareness and intentionality in building independence.

The Riff Raff crew got together to share about their combined sensory issues, how they impact daily life and what it's like to realize after decades of tags bothering you that you're not SENSITIVE, it's sensory ;)

Cripes we're all over the place today but are we? We're diving in to self care, self love, boundaries and no batteries are involved. We're lucky to be working with the production team on Love on the Spectrum to bring Canadians to the show. This episode we get in to what we found during our first interview event.

Careful about the team you choose because they might be exactly what need ;) Some will be thrust upon you in the best way possible. Highschool is something I know most folks manage with little scarring. Some? Some come out with serious scars.

The Riff Raff team are folks who have all been kids at some point. Most of us still are in most ways. Growing up neurodivergent, whether we knew it or not, presented some challenges. As we became parents of neurotypical or neurodivergent kids, that added its own spiciness. Join us as we talk about letting your kids fail, watching the biases that come with being neurodivergent and how it all comes together whether we like it or not.

Some folks are born knowing they're neurodivergent and some have neurodivergence thrust upon them once their kids are diagnosed. Our little mob of pirates is a combo crew. Some grew up with a diagnosis from the get go and some have come in to spiciness later in life.

What are we kicking off with with? Meet the Riff Raff! Each of us has grown up with those awesome moments of being on the outside. Some knew they were neurospicy, some found out later life. All of us have a lens as neurodivergent individuals, professionals and parents of what life is like as someone who might be ADHD, Autistic or some other form of neurospiciness ;) Join us to find out what we've learned, what we wish we hadn't and how we're helping others.

Once again, we started a conversation, Maddy said something smart and then I said ... Shall we press record? And smart stuff just kept happening! We're into stories, why data is important, show that sharing builds connections and the importance of chocolate rocks.

Ep 24 - Sometimes life rolls us in to chaos. Sometimes we need support. Sometimes we have jerks in our life who create the chaos and create the need for support! Come roll along with us ;)

Ep 23 Betty and I have gotten a bit off track but we're DELIGHTED to pick things up again with this episode! I'm sliding this in for Christmas because who doesn't need a bit of comfortable during the Holidays?

On this episode of the Future Looks Good, we meet Jason Bean. Jason is one of the most resilient people and persistent learners I've ever met. Today we get to peel pack some layers of the onion that is Jason and find out how he made the transition from "you can't do that" to "I'll show you" without completely losing his Ogre in the process ;)

Why does society get to dictate how people express their emotions? Excellent question. Let's discuss ;)

Do you deny your pink? Do you mask to fit in? We're talking embracing the things in life that make you happy vs worrying about what other dingalings think you should be. Someone wants you to fit in? That's a them issue, not a you issue. Are you getting grief about what colors you choose to wear? Also a them issue. We're chatting about our "roles" in life and how sometimes that needs to roll away ...

Ep23 Maddy and I began this podcast talking about coffee. The beans of the gods for some folks. Or is it? Is it the beans or the moment you take for yourself to do something just for you? That moment of comfort. And then I said, Should we press record. Maddy said yes and now you have whole podcast dedicated to why finding what gives you comfort and not letting others judge you out of it is so important!

Ep 21 What if we started looking at change as a pivot? Looking at our existing skills and building on them instead of thinking we have to learn a whole new set of skills? Pivoting isn't just a funny Friends meme - it's a tactic used in business and many other places when what we're doing just isn't working for us anymore.

Ep 20 Have you ever tried something brand spanky new? Something different than anyone else in your network? Something that causes you to feel uncomfortable? Good! The feelings that come along with that are a human response to doing something brave. Unless you are lying your face off, you are not an imposter. You are just kicking ass and taking names ;)

Ep 19 The C word. I'm sure some of you thought cancer. Some thought something I can't type here without getting censored. And some just wondered, what the heck does this mean??? Without context, it's hard to understand ;)

Ep 18 I had a GREAT description written and then Soundcloud messed it up! Now my expertise is in writing and crafting messaging but that doesn't mean I want to rewrite this one ;) Today we're talking about the value of lived experience and owning the title of expert if it fits you. It's a bit of a journey to get there but the other value is that if you can find a way to share your voice and expertise, then you make change happen. People who have no lived experience in some areas should NOT be in charge of creating policy, programs or other opportunities without folks with lived experience being involved. And much like how you can't pay an architect for their experience using gift cards, lived experience experts should also get paid. If you valued someone enough to ask for their opinion / expertise, then it's valuable enough to pay for ;)

Ep 17 Sometimes navigating the world of autism can be a dark and lonely place for many people. Those diagnosed and those along for the ride to support the individual. The ever lovin' Maddy came up with the PERFECT analogy to describe what that wild ride can be like. Today's a shorty podcast but we expand on it next session. Don't miss it!

Ep 16 Once again, Betty and I get in to a non-podcast podcast where Betty starts talking smarticles and all I did was ask a damn question. Jeepers. We talk about the anticipatory energy brought to a conversation which can either go smoothly or become a conflict depending on how we show up. Then we leap to change: who should start? More importantly, why should someone else change when you aren't willing to budge your arse a bit? I'll let Betty explain the smart stuff ;) I just come along for comic relief.

Ep 15 What do we ramble on about on this episode? When I listened back while editing, I had to message Maddy because we covered SOOOO much that all tied back to communication and personal space. We touch on how trauma influences how we engage in certain situations. How our lenses on life can contribute or get in the way of belonging. How personal space, a valuable pandemic lesson, needs to be remembered. And how if you're at a conference and you stop suddenly to check your farking phone that SOME people might view that as an opportunity to go Free Guy on your butt ;) Just sayin'.

Ep 14 One thing I've always struggled with is putting value on lived experience. Not that it doesn't have value but how do you get paid for it? How do you get others to recognize it? If you think I've struggled, I've got nothing on the autism community. Tokenism is not paying someone a fair value in exchange for sharing lived experience. If it's valuable enough to ask for, it's valuable enough to pay for ;)

Ep 13 Socrates, Suzy's, Robert's and more. We get in to the necessity of having variety on a team and particularly so when dealing with the neurodivergent community. If you're a service provider and you've hired yourself a team of Suzy's, that all meet the same hiring criteria and wouldn't know the Socratic method of teaching if the philosopher himself walked up to you and used it, you need to listen to this podcast. Your clients would LOVE you to listen to this podcast. Trust us ;)

Ep 12 Adulting was hard on the day we recorded this podcast. HARD I tell you. But as usually Betty pulled up their socks and dragged me along for an insightful, vulnerable and honest to goodness learning session on setbacks. They do have value as long as you try to learn from them and don't let them keep you mired in the muck for too long. A little pity party? We all have them. Moving in to Pitytown? Well that's just no good for anybody ;)

Ep 11 Do you get sick and tired of people treating your autistic kid or your autistic self as someone who's incapable of doing just about anything? It really grates my cheese when people make assumptions about my son's capabilities and Maddy's cheese is equally grated for themselves and their kids. Sometimes it's just about capacity and understanding the expansiveness of it and the reasonable constraints. And the new profile photos? I got to give Maddy a huge hug at the recent Autism Leadership Summit and we both agree that Drag Queens are the bomb. Since we forgot to get a picture taken together, I'm mixing it up ;)

Ep 10 The word should is one that really grates my cheese. And not in a delicious mac and cheese way but in a ticks me off way. Should implies that what you're doing is wrong and the person who's saying it? Their way is better. Should creates limits when it becomes shouldn't. As the parent of an autistic individual I have banished should and my lovely co-host Maddy has done the same thing for their kids. Find out why should's are shitty and should be banished for good!

Ep 9 Have you ever been sick and then spent weeks catching up from that??? Shortly after we recorded this AMAZING episode, Elizabeth got COVID. She got it goooood. And she's been catching up ever since. So while this Holiday glitterati inspired podcast is late, it can be applied to birthday parties, summer gatherings, graduations and more. Because a party isn't a party until Uncle Jerrycan gets loud and someone has a meltdown ;)

Ep. 8 We all have things we need to work on. For some it's talking to loud or too much (that's a me thing, hence the podcast) for others it's refusing to bathe and for some it's about whether they can rock a tiara. It's all about how we show up in the world and how we communicate our needs around that. Sometimes it's not about not wanting to take a shower - it's that the soap stings our skin. Sometimes it's not about thinking we're better than other people - it's that today we felt like rocking a sparkly tiara. Whatever the situation, it can usually be solved by getting curious, not furious (to quote Stephen Covey).

Meet Whitney Hodgins, an autistic Canadian who is a change maker and policy shaker! Learn more about the inaugural Jim and Jinette Munson Award winner who is absolutely a leader in the autism community and someone I plan to keep an eye for great things ;)

Ep 7 I am a proud Monarchist. I come from a long line of Monarchists. It's not for everybody and I respect that. What caught me unawares was the level of grief I'd feel at the death of Her Majesty. Of course Maddy and I went off on a bit of a tangent instead of our scheduled topic but we both see value in embracing the moment vs strictly adhering to a topic. So here's our chat on grief, the process, embracing your process and getting through the tough times.

Ep 6 Have you ever had to work with a school to develop an IEP for your child? Was your child ever given an opportunity to be a part of the discussion? Mine wasn't and it didn't even occur to me to ask him because the school never said it was an option. But who better to influence how an IEP is developed that the person it's most affecting?? Join us as we discuss how the IEP process can help autistic individuals who need one to also develop leadership skills, advocacy skills and know their place at the table is valued and important.

Ep 5 Did Gene Roddenberry have any idea that when he created Star Trek in 1966 that he'd be influencing technology development, societal relationships, exploration and so much more for generations to come? He definitely boldly went where no one had gone before and has been inspiring people around the world ever since. Today, Maddy and I discuss the creative autistic and how, as the Vulcans say, there is infinite diversity with infinite combinations for how we can be creative, share it with the world and be bold in our own way.

Episode 4 We don't want to should on you but being an ally is part of being a good human. It doesn't have to be a huge action to count. It can be standing up for someone in a meeting. It can be acting through altruism vs ego. It can be shining a light on tokenism. Or any other ism. Being an ally isn't about you - it's about what you can do to make a difference. And if you choose to wear a cape? Well, you know what Edna says about capes ;)

Episode 3 As the Queen of Soul once sang: R-E-S-P-E-C-T. Find out what it means to me. We're back with the indomitable Maddy Dever and a chat about the intersectionality between the autism community and the LGBTQ+ community. Maddy, who is non binary, uses the pronouns they / them. This was not an easy choice but one they felt they needed to live as authentically as themselves as possible. Do I do great with the pronouns? Nope! But I respect Maddy's choice and I make every effort to remember how important it is. That's honestly all that's needed when society needs to shift its perspective: effort. And respect. That Aretha - she was on to something ;)

Episode 2 What could prompt you to get outside? Is the benefit of getting outside enough to prompt some movement or is there something creating a barrier? Today we chat about the benefits of looking after your mental health and your physical health and hopefully at the same time ;)

So what does a rambler do? Well it can drive you from A to B. It can keep you cool in the hot sun. Or it can chat about all kinds of things under the sun which is what this Rambler does. I'm so tickled to introduce you to Maddy Dever who is one of the kindest, sweetest, perceptive, strong, intelligent and best advocate for others I've ever met. In episode one of the Autistic Rambler, we touch on experiential empathy, intersectionality of the ASD and LGBTQ++ communities, what schools could do better and a whole lot more. It's time to ramble on ;)

What are partnership and collaboration such amazing things for a business? Because they open up opportunities that you might not have been able to act on by yourself and they create opportunities that you could never consider. I was fortunate to be introduced to Wayne Lamon from the Work Based Learning Consortium almost 2 years ago. Not only are the staff training programs that WBLC provides for clients in advanced manufacturing exceptional but their willingness to collaborate on one of my crazy ideas is also awesome ;)

This is a Canadian success story across so many levels. It brings together the importance of pursuing an idea, being open to opportunity and the power of being a part of a mentorship. Meet Amanda Craig and Doug Wallbank and hear their story of how mentorship changed their lives and businesses.

Everyone likes a success story. If you are a parent of an autistic person, success stories are extremely important. Meet Courtney Weaver who is a success story on many levels. A strong autistic self-advocate, Courtney's journey to employment has had many stages and phases that all driven people can relate to.

Have you ever had the chance to learn from or be a mentor? It's an amazing opportunity that MentorAbility Ontario is helping to make happen for folks with a disability. Why is that important? When you've already got some barriers up against you for successful employment, support is a very important thing. Meet Brittany Williston from Performance Plus Rehabilitative Care and Kim Cooper from Youth Culture who are part of the MentorAbility program. Hear their success stories in providing on the job learning opportunities and making mentorship a part of their company culture.

There is nothing worse than a situation where a group elects itself the voice of another group. Why? Because how then do we really know whose voice we're listening to? This is what makes the 200th episode on the Across the Desk podcast extra special. It's what the podcast is all about - giving folks a voice who might not otherwise have one. It's my honor to introduce you to some of the editorial team of the Canadian Journal of Autism Equity. Rebekah, Ryan and Mackenzie are all autistic adults who are sharing their voice as part of the editorial team. Their key role? To give a voice to other autistic Canadians who deserve to be heard.

I think we can all agree that COVID has put our mental health to the test. Imagine being in a situation where you are not only dealing with the stress of COVID but suddenly all supports for yourself or someone you care for who is autistic disappear. No warning. No other plan. Just gone. Dr. Carly McMorris and self advocate and parent Rebekah Kintzinger join us today to discuss what that looks like and how we can begin to recover.

I was fortunate to welcome Debbie Irish and Kim Ward to the CASDA podcast and learn more about how the Canadian Autism Leadership Summit got started and the steps in growth its taken to become more diverse and inclusive.

Join Dr. Stephen Gentles, Maddy Dever and Corey Walker as we discuss how the lack of data standardization and linking precludes the necessary complex analyses that could lead to significantly more efficient targeted care, and innovative environmental and policy modifications. As a result, Canada is far from achieving the improvements to quality of life for Autistic individuals and their families, and the benefits to Canada from greater inclusion and realizing individuals’ unique talents and productivity potential, which could be possible with the data that is available.