Non Linear Learning - Rethinking Education for Neurodivergent Learners

What if your autistic / non-speaking learner's most overwhelming traits e.g., sensory sensitivity, pattern obsession, emotional upheavals are the exact same features that make their brain extraordinary? Dr. Andrew Hill is a cognitive neuroscientist, founder of Peak Brain Institute, and author of Gifted and Tortured. He has spent decades mapping real human brains and has worked with CEOs, athletes and people with disabilities.  In this episode, we talk about what the neuroscience of dysregulation actually looks like, why standard IQ tests are built to miss your child, and what parents of non-speaking and autistic learners can do right now to support regulation and reveal the intelligence that's already there. What we cover: Why gifted brains and dysregulated brains are often the same brain — and what that means for your child Brain mapping (quantitative EEG): what it measures, what it reveals, and how to access it affordably Why IQ tests fail non-speaking autistic learners and kids with Down syndrome — and the three physiological factors that actually predict intelligence Neurofeedback for autistic and non-speaking kids: how it works and why it requires almost no active participation The single most important thing you can do for your child's regulation (hint: it starts the night before) and more… Resources mentioned: Get Dr. Hill's Book here: giftedandtortured.com Peak Brain Institute (brain mapping + neurofeedback): peakbraininstitute.com Work with Vaish: Non Linear Education — teaching, courses, and support for parents of autistic and non-speaking learners:Non Linear Education RPM lessons and consultation: drvaishsarathy.com/rpm

Did you know that there are almost 120,000 published papers studying Magnesium in Pubmed, and 150 of them just study Magnesium supporting hyperactivity.  Over 300 study the effects of Magnesium and sleep and over 2000 publications study Magnesium and depression and it goes on. In fact last I looked, you could type in Magnesium and ANYTHING and you’d find a study for it. But should you do Magnesium Glycinate or Magnesium Sulfate or Magnesium Citrate  Today’s guest Laura Collinwood, Registered Nurse and Holistic Health Coach, talks to us about the importance and all-pervasiveness of Magnesium - the different types and when and why they are important. Magnesium can be a phenomenal support for Autistic people in that it supports anxiety, hyperactivity, constipation and sleep - symptoms that often co-exist.  To know exactly what forms to use and where (a sort of bullet-point summary of this podcast) get your Magnesium Toolkit here:  https://www.functionalnutritionforkids.com/magnesium You can also reach Laura and her fantastic Magnesium Products at https://www.health-and-wisdom.com/ - Coupon MAG10 will give you 10% off. Disclaimer: The information in this Podcast is for educational purposes only. Vaishnavi Sarathy, Ph.D. is an educator, not a doctor, specifically not your child’s doctor. Please consult your physician before implementing any supplement or diet recommendations.

I am chatting with experienced Special Educator Ange Anderson. And this is a unique episode in that it ended up being a pretty exhaustive list of various sound therapies that Ange has used over the years and has found to be impactful in improving her students’ regulation.  Among other things we talk about: Sound Baths Music Therapy Auditory Integration Therapy, etc.  I often talk about 6 things you can do to start impacting learning right away - and these are in my free ebook - www.functionalnutritionforkids.com/learning. To this, I would add Auditory Integration Therapy as a 7th. Here’s a link to Ange’s book If you enjoyed this podcast, please do drop a review!  Disclaimer: The information in this Podcast is for educational purposes only. Vaishnavi Sarathy, Ph.D. is an educator, not a doctor, specifically not your child’s doctor. Please consult your physician before implementing any supplement or diet recommendations.

What’s common between Salads, cold milk, and lack of sleep? Nidhi Pandya, Ayurvedic Practitioner explains that every one of these can lead to increased Vata which is a common core of most neurological issues.  Join me as I discuss how and why thousand year old Ayurvedic frameworks are still relevant today in treating diseases and dysfunction, that may never have been discussed in ancient times. We discuss: Why Ayurvedic principles still work today Gut Health per Ayurvedic dosha type Why today’s kids are a Vata generation 8 steps for an Ayurvedic lifestyle that can help kids with Autism, ADHD or neurological issues. You can reach Nidhi at  https://www.instagram.com/my_ayurvedic_life/ https://nidhipandya.podia.com/decode-digestive-disorders Nidhi talks about gut health in this podcast. If you want to get started on Gut Health basics for your child with Down syndrome or Autism, hop on to www.functionalnutritionforkids.com/guthealth and get your free guide. Disclaimer: The information in this Podcast is for educational purposes only. Vaishnavi Sarathy, Ph.D. is an educator, not a doctor, specifically not your child’s doctor. Please consult your physician before implementing any supplement or diet recommendations.

“When we have trauma patterns in our nervous system, the only possible outcome are behaviors that come from a trauma place.” Today’s episode is all about TRAUMA and the NERVOUS SYSTEM. Until this episode, I freely admit that I might have had a misunderstanding of trauma as an event, as opposed to an experience. Dr. Aimie calls it as anything that leaves a lasting effect on the body. Whether you have experienced Trauma, or care for someone who may have experienced Trauma, I hope this episode steers toward an understanding of Trauma and How to Unravel it.  You can reach Dr. Aimie at https://www.traumahealingaccelerated.com/ and find the 21-day Journey she recommends.  If you are finding this podcast valuable, I would deeply appreciate a review at https://ratethispodcast.com/vaish Disclaimer: The information in this Podcast is for educational purposes only. Vaishnavi Sarathy, Ph.D. is an educator, not a doctor, specifically not your child’s doctor. Please consult your physician before implementing any supplement or diet recommendations.

Do traditional systems of medicine align with modern understanding of disease? The one question on my mind has always been that a lot of the disorders and dysfunctions we see today are rather new, at least in their extent and prevalence. How do Ayurveda or Chinese Medicine provide us with answers? Also, how far do we feel comfortable veering from traditional food practices, and moving away from foods like wheat and dairy, that were once considered nourishing? KP Khalsa, herbalist, nutritionist, yoga teacher and educator answers these questions in this episode. KP has an exclusive free gift for our listeners at https://go.internationalintegrative.com/natural-solutions-for-autism/ Disclaimer: The information in this Podcast is for educational purposes only. Vaishnavi Sarathy, Ph.D. is an educator, not a doctor, specifically not your child’s doctor. Please consult your physician before implementing any supplement or diet recommendations.

Did you know I taught the binary system of numbers to my son when he was maybe 9 years old. Not only that - at the time he could go back and forth between the binary and decimal system for small numbers.  The twist is that my son has Down Syndrome, is Autistic and non-speaking. But I wouldn’t classify him as a genius. Over years I have worked on and refined a process that I call Non-Linear Education - that I have used to help my son overcome barriers - both imposed by society and sometimes by his multiple diagnoses.  In this podcast, I talk you through the 7 steps involved in teaching complex math (or science) to your child with Autism or Down Syndrome or other disability.  Download / Print the 7 steps at www.functionalnutritionforkids.com/binary If you have enjoyed this podcast, I would love it if you could leave a review wherever you are listening! Disclaimer: The information in this Podcast is for educational purposes only. Vaishnavi Sarathy, Ph.D. is an educator, not a doctor, specifically not your child’s doctor. Please consult your physician before implementing any supplement or diet recommendations.

There is often a correlation between how a child eats and how they learn. Dr. Bill Sears in this podcast talks about 4 points that he teaches kids and parents to focus on: Go Fish Go Green Go Nuts, and  Go Blue I am so excited to interview someone whose work I have followed so closely when my kids were younger. I am pretty sure I was on the “askdrsears.com" website all the time. In this episode Dr. Bill Sears talks about how he addresses growth issues in his practice, and does a special segment just for us on how to further help children with Down syndrome who have growth issues.  Gut Health and Growth Ebook www.functionalnutritionforkids.com/guthealth  Disclaimer: The information in this Podcast is for educational purposes only. Vaishnavi Sarathy, Ph.D. is an educator, not a doctor, specifically not your child’s doctor. Please consult your physician before implementing any supplement or diet recommendations.

How can your child progress beyond purees? Today’s episode is part 2 in the series on Feeding Disorders in Down Syndrome - we are continuing on from Episode 92 with Dr. Kay Toomey who leads us a beautifully detailed explanation on the hierarchy of what feeding should like, especially in children with Down syndrome.  This particular episode comes with several handouts that Dr. Kay Toomey references. I recommend that you have all of these opened while listening to the podcast - to give you the best experience.  You can go to www.functionalnutritionforkids.com/feedingsos to get these handouts and my own set of notes that you can print out. You can find Dr. Toomey at www.sosapproachtofeeding.com CLICK HERE FOR THE HANDOUTS Disclaimer: The information in this Podcast is for educational purposes only. Vaishnavi Sarathy, Ph.D. is an educator, not a doctor, specifically not your child’s doctor. Please consult your physician before implementing any supplement or diet recommendations.

TWO biggest myths in nutritional interventions (and the reason most dietary changes don’t work). Did you know that 10-30% of children with ADHD don’t respond to medication, or worse, experience adverse effects to these medications? It is high time to try easier and more effective strategies such as dietary changes for brain health. If Food is Medicine, there should be nothing that can go wrong when you enter the area of Nutritional Interventions, right? No, there are two huge areas where people slip up over and over again, and this is the reason "healing" diets don't work for many many people.  MYTH 1: Everything is OK in moderation. If you are trying to make active change, it is important that the areas that are healing are significantly higher than the areas that are inflammatory. In fact, at least for a short time, you may need to shut off the inflammatory foods. This is of course hard, because inflammatory food is usually addictive. But taking every food that causes inflammation out of the diet is almost impossible.  That is why, in my signature course offering R.O.A.R [Roadmap to Attention and Regulation] - which is open for enrollment now, I take care to not stress the parent with too many factors to control and remove. R.O.A.R.  [Enroll or Waitlist] Psychiatric Times Article Disclaimer: The information in this Podcast is for educational purposes only. Vaishnavi Sarathy, Ph.D. is an educator, not a doctor, specifically not your child’s doctor. Please consult your physician before implementing any supplement or diet recommendations.

What if you had a toolbox that told you exactly where to start with your child’s health? Honestly, if we could all just find a place to start, just that one foothold over the seemingly rocky cliffs of food and nutrition, the next foothold is often apparent. Sometimes after years of a healthy, fantastic diet, you might hit a plateau again, and that is when a handy toolkit, right in place can help you find your foot hold yet again.   In this podcast, Dr. Sachin Patel leads us through a 9 step toolkit of changing your child’s health and energy, starting with my favorite step 1: Taste is important. Find out what your kids love. From there we want to make our foods as healthy as we possibly can.  Don’t give up after the first time.  You can find Dr. Sachin Patel here. To know more about your child's diet and how to get it to do some heavy lifting for their brain health, sign up for my FREE training this week : 3 signs that your child’s diet is NOT working for them Disclaimer: The information in this Podcast is for educational purposes only. Vaishnavi Sarathy, Ph.D. is an educator, not a doctor, specifically not your child’s doctor. Please consult your physician before implementing any supplement or diet recommendations.

If your child has trouble falling asleep, moving from a state of distress to a state of calm, if they have trouble with digestion, they likely have something called low Vagal Tone. The Vagus Nerve is the longest nerve in the body and touches so many aspects of our functioning and is known to be a factor especially in children with digestive, neurological and inflammatory concerns, and I think that accounts for most of us kids with disabilities. Dr. Navaz Habib, the author of “Activate Your Vagus Nerve” and host of “The Health Upgrade Podcast” talks to us about thing you can do, even if your child is apraxic / dyspraxic.  Check out this podcast to get 3 things you can implement right away to upgrade your child’s digestion, sleep and mood. More on Gut Health at www.functionalnutritionforkids.com/guthealth Disclaimer: The information in this Podcast is for educational purposes only. Vaishnavi Sarathy, Ph.D. is an educator, not a doctor, specifically not your child’s doctor. Please consult your physician before implementing any supplement or diet recommendations.

Can you change your genetic expression based on what you eat? Conversely, if you are one of those people that are chronically deficient in say, Iron or Vitamin D, are your genes to blame? And what can you do about it? How can this apply to factors that affect Autism/ADHD symptoms? In this episode, Amanda Archibald, pioneer in genomic nutrition, explains to us how - not only do genes affect how you can process food, but you can actually fine tune the food you eat to optimize your genes? Whether you need help with Omega-3 supplementation, or whether you need to USE Omega-3s to modulate some “slacker” genes, nutrigenomics is the field you have been waiting for. You can find Amanda Archibald at www.genomickitchen.com In the meantime, we are using nutrigenomics practically in our 5-day dosa challenge. Sign up at www.functionalnutritionforkids.com/dosa to find out how to make a dosa over 5 days and why a Dosa is the perfect breakfast for your child. Disclaimer: The information in this Podcast is for educational purposes only. Vaishnavi Sarathy, Ph.D. is an educator, not a doctor, specifically not your child’s doctor. Please consult your physician before implementing any supplement or diet recommendations.

If your child struggles with anxiety, aggression, seizure or even sleep issues, how many times have you had someone advice you - “Have you tried CBD”? Every time I hear this, I wonder how CBD can be the answer to EVERY problem? It turns out, it is quite possible. Dr. Julie Buckley makes her second appearance on Episode 93 of Functional Nutrition and Learning for Kids in this fantastic deep dive into CBD and how to get started for your child! I learned 3 important things: Pure CBD (without terpenes, without THC) is not a sedative or psychoactive It is all about the dose Water soluble CBD is the way to go. You can reach Dr. Buckley at www.HealthyUstore.org If you loved this episode, please share your rating at www.ratethispodcast.com/vaish Disclaimer: This is not medical advice. It is meant for educational purposes only. Please consult your doctor before making supplement changes for your child. Disclaimer: The information in this Podcast is for educational purposes only. Vaishnavi Sarathy, Ph.D. is an educator, not a doctor, specifically not your child’s doctor. Please consult your physician before implementing any supplement or diet recommendations.

Today’s episode is one of a kind - an expert leads us into incredible detail into the physical and physiological principles behind picky eating and other feeding disorders, specially in children and adults with Down syndrome. If that sounds complex, I assure you that while it is complex, it is not complicated. Dr. Kay Toomey, in this episode talks to us about postural stability and breathing and how they relate to Feeding Delays.  I love it when an expert takes us back to the basics. We are often so busy looking for hacks to a particular issue that we lose track of the fundamentals. This episode is just that - a journey back to the very basics, so we can pick up what we missed and address the root cause of picky eating. You can find Dr. Toomey at www.sosapproachtofeeding.com and you can find her freebie made just for you - a collection of Low Oral Motor Demand Foods at www.functionalnutritionforkids.com/feedingsos Clicking on the above link will also give you an ACTION handout of this podcast.  Disclaimer: The information in this Podcast is for educational purposes only. Vaishnavi Sarathy, Ph.D. is an educator, not a doctor, specifically not your child’s doctor. Please consult your physician before implementing any supplement or diet recommendations.

What information does LIGHT bring to your child? Can artificial sources of light actually lower attention and cause dysregulation? Can you hear a light?  Roudy Nassif, founder of VivaRays, and all-round light wiz leaves us with a lot of really new information about how light influences every body system we have and leaves us with 3 tips to use light to our benefit (and our kids’ benefit) Go outside and witness the sunrise for at least 15 mins.  I just started doing this, and I can attest that I feel a lot more energetic in the mornings. Listen on for more of Roudy’s insights on attention, light, sensory overwhelm and regulation! You can find more information at http://www.vivarays.com/ Disclaimer: The information in this Podcast is for educational purposes only. Vaishnavi Sarathy, Ph.D. is an educator, not a doctor, specifically not your child’s doctor. Please consult your physician before implementing any supplement or diet recommendations.

Is school the right place for Education? Today we discuss this age-old question with some interesting twists. If you are the parent of a child with Autism / Down Syndrome / Cerebral Palsy / Other hidden disabilities, you might find that the questions about school are very different for you.  I provide an decision / question framework to help you decide for yourself. Disclaimer: The information in this Podcast is for educational purposes only. Vaishnavi Sarathy, Ph.D. is an educator, not a doctor, specifically not your child’s doctor. Please consult your physician before implementing any supplement or diet recommendations.

Wouldn’t you love it if there were natural, plant-sourced, HERBAL alternatives to everything chronic you have been struggling with for your or your child, whether that be attention or digestive issues or immune support? Today’s guest Dr. Mary Bove is a herbal medicine expert and takes us through the ins and outs of herbal medicine, when it works and what is often missed in application for kids. Here’s a spoiler: Dr. Bove’s favorite herbs for kids under 5 are: Fennel Seed Chamomile Flowers Lemon Balm You can use these in teas / extracts / baths / glycerin extracts / add them to water or juices, and so on…. You can read Dr. Mary Love at [email protected] And make sure to get your free Gut Health Kit at www.functionalnutritionforkids.com/guthealth Disclaimer: The information in this Podcast is for educational purposes only. Vaishnavi Sarathy, Ph.D. is an educator, not a doctor, specifically not your child’s doctor. Please consult your physician before implementing any supplement or diet recommendations.

NOTE: This Episode is Available on YOUTUBE at https://youtu.be/aGRTnqxvsqg Danny Whitty is a nonspeaking Autistic and Apraxic man, who was unable to communicate his thoughts for 30 years of his life. He now uses S2C (Spelling to Communicate) to share his deep insight, advocacy, writing and poetry with the world. In this episode, Danny shares about the people that have made a difference in his life, about how access to communication has completely transformed the way he shares, and the immense importance of communication and respect in the world of Non-Speaking Autistic people. If you have an Autistic child who is either non-speaking or minimally speaking or “unreliably” speaking (which means that there is a body-mind disconnect, that older autistics often talk about where what one says isn’t really what one wants to say) - I do hope you consider RPM or S2C to take your child’s communication journey onward. In this episode, Danny speaks about his experience with ABA, and how that might have led to even simple communication being unreliable (saying YES when means NO, for example). You can find Danny at https://dannywithwords.com/ and https://dannywithwords.com/the-ocean-us-podcast/ . Learn more about Assuming Intelligence and Non-Linear Education at www.functionalnutritionforkids.com/nonlineareducation Disclaimer: The information in this Podcast is for educational purposes only. Vaishnavi Sarathy, Ph.D. is an educator, not a doctor, specifically not your child’s doctor. Please consult your physician before implementing any supplement or diet recommendations.

Some studies indicate that up to 50% of preschool aged kids might be considered picky eaters. It also reveals, on a more subtle level that most strategies that are used to help picky eating are behavioral / parenting, though Picky Eating is typically NOT a behavior response, nor a result of poor parenting.  Behavior is communication, what is viewed as negative behavior is an expression of pain / discomfort / frustration or even a lack of security or safety.  We are going to review the 18 most suggested tips for picky eaters and see what’s common between them, what works and what does NOT work! These are not MY tips, I agree with some of them, I actually don’t agree with some of them, but this is what you are likely to hear the most often when you look up picky eating.  Let us sort through 18 of the most common tips! Do check out my picky eating toolkit - for a functional nutrition perspective - at www.functionalnutritionforkids.com/eatwell Disclaimer: The information in this Podcast is for educational purposes only. Vaishnavi Sarathy, Ph.D. is an educator, not a doctor, specifically not your child’s doctor. Please consult your physician before implementing any supplement or diet recommendations.

Laura Fuentes, Author of my favorite cookbook Taco Tuesdays, mom, CEO and Instagram Star talks to us in very clear wisdom about what it takes to work with food struggles, dining table power struggles and mom fatigue.   If you think that in your home, picky eating may be more of a communication - mis-communication issue or a struggle that has less biochemistry and more behavior, this is the podcast for you!   Laura shares 3 tips about how you can manage your mindset right away: Cook One meal Stop micromanaging the eating process Look at nutrition as a big picture - instead of meal to meal I especially liked the last point. But there is a lot more wisdom here. Please listen on…. You can find Laura at www.momables.com Find your Free Picky Eating Toolkit at www.functionalnutritionforkids.com/eatwell Disclaimer: The information in this Podcast is for educational purposes only. Vaishnavi Sarathy, Ph.D. is an educator, not a doctor, specifically not your child’s doctor. Please consult your physician before implementing any supplement or diet recommendations.

For the first time I explore the fascinating world of  Functional Labs. Nichole Herms - a fellow Chemist who is a researcher at Spectracell Labs. In this podcast we explore how Lymphocyte Proliferation Assays (which is the technology Spectracell uses) can go beyond testing your child's current blood levels of nutrients to truly understanding: - Bioavailability of the nutrient - Accessibility (can your child use it) - Functional Need for the nutrient Which means two people that eat the same diet and have similar lifestyles - may now show up with completely *functional need* values.  This discussion is phenomenal in its detail. You might just go running out to order a Spectracell test.  www.spectracell.com Note: Doors to Roadmap to Attention and Regulation are open for the next 10 days only. To learn how to use Food as Medicine to Increase Attention and Reduce Hyperactivity, ENROLL TODAY!   Disclaimer: The information in this Podcast is for educational purposes only. Vaishnavi Sarathy, Ph.D. is an educator, not a doctor, specifically not your child’s doctor. Please consult your physician before implementing any supplement or diet recommendations.

Clinical Nutritionist: Jennifer Caryn Brand, an expert on skin health for kids, talks to us about why elimination diets don't often work for eczema. If you know someone with eczema, the chances are they have been put through the diet ring-around a few times.  Jennifer argues that gut health can be a much more significant factor. Tune in to understand what gut health means and when you should and when you shouldn't eliminate foods.  Grab your Gut Health Tool Kit here. Jennifer's Website is www.jennifercarynbrand.com and you can find her on Instagram at www.instagram.com/jennifercarynbrand Disclaimer: The information in this Podcast is for educational purposes only. Vaishnavi Sarathy, Ph.D. is an educator, not a doctor, specifically not your child’s doctor. Please consult your physician before implementing any supplement or diet recommendations.

My colleague Loren Edelson, Functional Nutrition Pracitioner, mother and Canoe Instructor (I love her multi-passionate life) has unique expertise on navigating the challenges of an anti-inflammatory diet socially. Here she shares her story - her struggles, and the tools she uses to navigate stressful social situations. Loren blogs about her experiences - you can follow her HERE. . . .In other news, if you are interested in learning more about how sugar can be part of your child's diet, even if they struggle with attention, join my new FREE workshop next week.  Roadmap to Attention and Regulation - my signature 5 week course - also launches in two weeks. Disclaimer: The information in this Podcast is for educational purposes only. Vaishnavi Sarathy, Ph.D. is an educator, not a doctor, specifically not your child’s doctor. Please consult your physician before implementing any supplement or diet recommendations.

What do learning disabilities, attention, focus and behavior have to do with vision? Join me as I discuss this topic with Trent McEntire, founder of www.fireupyourbrain.com as he leads us through different ways that vision can be impacted misunderstood as learning disabilities.  Also if exploring Learning Hacks is your thing, check out my free ebook at www.functionalnutritionforkids.com/learning Disclaimer: The information in this Podcast is for educational purposes only. Vaishnavi Sarathy, Ph.D. is an educator, not a doctor, specifically not your child’s doctor. Please consult your physician before implementing any supplement or diet recommendations.

In this episode, Tiffany, AAC user and Autistic Parent of neurodivergent kids talks to us about the myth of supremacy of speech. Have you been waiting to use AAC, so your child's speech doesn't get pushed to the side? Have you been waiting with bated breath for every word your child is saying? Have you been worried that AAC is a crutch that you don't want to use? Tiffany, in her crystal clear way, tells us that there is nothing wrong with a crutch! This is one of the most clear interviews you are ever going to hear about the use of AAC. Don't miss this one.  Listen on... Disclaimer: The information in this Podcast is for educational purposes only. Vaishnavi Sarathy, Ph.D. is an educator, not a doctor, specifically not your child’s doctor. Please consult your physician before implementing any supplement or diet recommendations.

In part 2 of my conversation with Dr. Jill Crista, she talks about how neuroinflammation is triggered in PANS and PANDAS and autoimmune encephalitis by seemingly trivial phenomena. If you have a child triggered into behavioral "regression" by a seemingly trivial situation, this podcast can help you understand why.  Dr. Crista emphasizes that Gut Health is the place to start. If you are struggling to understand where to start when healing your child's gut, be sure to download my free ebook here: www.functionalnutritionforkids.com/guthealth Disclaimer: The information in this Podcast is for educational purposes only. Vaishnavi Sarathy, Ph.D. is an educator, not a doctor, specifically not your child’s doctor. Please consult your physician before implementing any supplement or diet recommendations.

I wish today that today’s guest Ethan Nagy was my very first guest not just because of the gems of insight he gifts to us in this podcast but because his perspective is unique and mindset shifting. Ethan Nagy is a non speaking autistic who uses a letter-board to communicate. He learned to spell using a method called S2C (please see I-ASC.org for more info). Ethan is a disabilities advocate and author who contributed an essay to the book “Underestimated: An Autism Miracle.” He is completing his high school diploma and plans to attend college. Ethan is currently writing a book. He resides in Oregon with his family. In this podcast Ethan talks about his relationship with food, interspersed with wisdom about how therapists and medical practitioners can work with and respect people with disability.  If you have never heard a podcast from this perspective before, Join me as I soak in the freshness and wisdom. For more discussion and support, visit www.facebook.com/functionalnutritionforkids Disclaimer: The information in this Podcast is for educational purposes only. Vaishnavi Sarathy, Ph.D. is an educator, not a doctor, specifically not your child’s doctor. Please consult your physician before implementing any supplement or diet recommendations.

The diet to support hyperactivity or disregulation can include many things. BUT The number 1 thing to do if your child is hyperactive is Balance Blood Sugar. Did you know that the symptoms of hyperactivity are close to identical to symptoms of high and low blood sugar in many kids? Disclaimer: The information in this Podcast is for educational purposes only. Vaishnavi Sarathy, Ph.D. is an educator, not a doctor, specifically not your child’s doctor. Please consult your physician before implementing any supplement or diet recommendations.

Octavia Walker leads us through the murky world of self- and society- imposed expectations on moms of children with disabilities. Expect to hear terms like self-care smashed to smithereens (I hope you are as tired of being asked to self-care as I am)...  Expect to be held accountable and have hard insights ....  Happy listening! Disclaimer: The information in this Podcast is for educational purposes only. Vaishnavi Sarathy, Ph.D. is an educator, not a doctor, specifically not your child’s doctor. Please consult your physician before implementing any supplement or diet recommendations.  

This short podcast is for parents who want actionable strategies to conquer picky eating disorder.  Picky eating or self-restricted eating can be a vicious cycle of nutrient deficiency, inflammation, gut issues and more restricted eating.  Follow this 5 step technique to break this cycle and shift from inflammation to diverstiy.  You can find more actionable strategies in my free ebook that you can download at: www.functionalnutritionforkids.com/eatwell Disclaimer: The information in this Podcast is for educational purposes only. Vaishnavi Sarathy, Ph.D. is an educator, not a doctor, specifically not your child’s doctor. Please consult your physician before implementing any supplement or diet recommendations.

Tamar is one of the most experienced and respected OTs I know and one of the few people I know that truly thinks outside the box.  In this episode Tamar talks about the value of  -looking at motor first -what parents of young children should keep in mind -the value of curiosity and wonder as opposed to a "fix-it" mindset, and -what a new OT can keep in mind. You will find this podcast to be invaluable in choosing an OT to work with your child. Disclaimer: The information in this Podcast is for educational purposes only. Vaishnavi Sarathy, Ph.D. is an educator, not a doctor, specifically not your child’s doctor. Please consult your physician before implementing any supplement or diet recommendations.

In this episode Vaish and Jodi Cohen talk about how essential oils can be that "bypass" or "magic bullet" that can stimulate the vagus nerve, calm fight-or-flight, and bring children (and adults) into a parasympathetic state. Essential Oils can work when more traditional foods and supplements don't, because they can diffuse through the skin, and reach the brain quicker through the olfactory system.  If you have a child that is a resistant eater, or with significant GI inflammation, this podcast may be of use to you. Disclaimer: The information in this Podcast is for educational purposes only. Vaishnavi Sarathy, Ph.D. is an educator, not a doctor, specifically not your child’s doctor. Please consult your physician before implementing any supplement or diet recommendations.

Nutritionist Jess Sherman brings back simplicity to the sometimes very complicated world of dietary interventions for "picky" eaters. She asks us as parents to: Get Curious and Ask What is going on in the body with her 3-pillar framework: 1 Address Nutrient Deficiencies 2 Resolve Stress / Digestion 3 Deep dive into Digestive imbalance and dysbiosis.  Disclaimer: The information in this Podcast is for educational purposes only. Vaishnavi Sarathy, Ph.D. is an educator, not a doctor, specifically not your child’s doctor. Please consult your physician before implementing any supplement or diet recommendations.

In this podcast for parents facing anxiety and sometimes delayed trauma like symptoms, Dana Frost leads us through the 4 qualities of a healthy breath. heart rate variability heart-centered breathing how to change your default trigger state. All of these techniques can be used also by children that have some control over their breathing.  Listen on... Disclaimer: The information in this Podcast is for educational purposes only. Vaishnavi Sarathy, Ph.D. is an educator, not a doctor, specifically not your child’s doctor. Please consult your physician before implementing any supplement or diet recommendations.  

Danille Ryan Broida is a mycologist, the National Educator of FOUR SIGMATIC and is teaching the world about a life on Functional Mushrooms.  We discuss: -MUSHROOMS AND CONNECTIVITY -WHEN DANIELLE USES MUSHROOMS THEREPEUTICALLY -MUSHROOMS FOR COGNITION AND FOCUS -HOW ARE CULINARY MUSHROOMS DIFFERENT FROM FUNCTIONAL EXTRACTS? -HOW TO CHOOSE MUSHROOMS? Disclaimer: The information in this Podcast is for educational purposes only. Vaishnavi Sarathy, Ph.D. is an educator, not a doctor, specifically not your child’s doctor. Please consult your physician before implementing any supplement or diet recommendations.

Functional Medicine, unlike conventional medicine, treats psychiatric and neurological issues as not just silo-ed conditions associated with the brain but as whole body conditions.  Dr. Stein in her podcast breaking analogy talks about chronic inflammation affecting the body and the brain as the continual war between India and Pakistan! Conventional Medicine addresses acute infection. Dr. Stein brings in her comprehensive SHIFT model to describe how functional medicine addresses chronic infection and inflammation.  Stress Hormones Infections Food Toxins make up the SHIFT model. Dr. Stein gives us a peek into how puberty might shift the immune system.  Disclaimer: The information in this Podcast is for educational purposes only. Vaishnavi Sarathy, Ph.D. is an educator, not a doctor, specifically not your child’s doctor. Please consult your physician before implementing any supplement or diet recommendations.  

Neurodevelopmental therapist Kay Ness talks about -the fundamental principles behind this technique: heirarchichal model of brain development and neuroplasticity.  -how lack of stimulation at appropriate age can interefere with brain development -the number 1 thing to address in a child with Down Syndrome is Auditory Processing.  Disclaimer: The information in this Podcast is for educational purposes only. Vaishnavi Sarathy, Ph.D. is an educator, not a doctor, specifically not your child’s doctor. Please consult your physician before implementing any supplement or diet recommendations.

Dr Julie Buckley wows us with revelations about GABA levels and ways to address GABA and anxiety puberty and beyond, especially in autistic teens.  Listen on to hear about: -GABA supplementation -CBD -Diet and  -Presumption of Competence (isn't it amazing how this finds its way in the most seemingly unlikely of places) Disclaimer: The information in this Podcast is for educational purposes only. Vaishnavi Sarathy, Ph.D. is an educator, not a doctor, specifically not your child’s doctor. Please consult your physician before implementing any supplement or diet recommendations.

Dysbiosis (sometimes overgrowth of pathogens or the wrong microbes) can often result in symptoms of Dysregulation. It is important to understand that this is not "behavior" and it is a physiological effect.  A 2017 study found that Candida abundance in guts of children with autism was more than double when compared to neurotypical controls.  This podcast explores long term strategies to impact dysregulation due to infections or dysbiosis.  Disclaimer: The information in this Podcast is for educational purposes only. Vaishnavi Sarathy, Ph.D. is an educator, not a doctor, specifically not your child’s doctor. Please consult your physician before implementing any supplement or diet recommendations.

Dr. Wendy Neal, osteopath extraordinaire, talks us through the basic influences of cranial osteopathy: -mobility of bones in the head -mobility of sacrum -movement of CerebroSpinal fluid -movement of membranes around the brain and how gentle and subtle support to these movements can help support and calm conditions from seizures to headaches to pain, sleep and even constipation.  Disclaimer: The information in this Podcast is for educational purposes only. Vaishnavi Sarathy, Ph.D. is an educator, not a doctor, specifically not your child’s doctor. Please consult your physician before implementing any supplement or diet recommendations.

Giving a summary would ruin the suspense of this podcast, but let me say that the 3 food groups are: 1. Bitter foods But I will let you listen to this super short podcast to find 2 and 3.  Disclaimer: The information in this Podcast is for educational purposes only. Vaishnavi Sarathy, Ph.D. is an educator, not a doctor, specifically not your child’s doctor. Please consult your physician before implementing any supplement or diet recommendations.

Dr. Carol Brown, founder of the Equipping Minds foundation takes us through the factors involved in cognitive development: 1. Processing 2. Working Memory 3. Comprehension and Visualization 4. Reasoning abilities and more ... while describing why it is important for learning to happen in a joyful manner and how IQ and academics are not at all the same thing as ability.  Disclaimer: The information in this Podcast is for educational purposes only. Vaishnavi Sarathy, Ph.D. is an educator, not a doctor, specifically not your child’s doctor. Please consult your physician before implementing any supplement or diet recommendations.

Robin Ray Green joins Vaish Sarathy for this enlightening podcast about how acupuncture helps with: -chronic inflammatory dysfunciton -immunity -gut health and more, and this is sometimes possible WITHOUT NEEDLES, through a remarkable technique called Acupatching.  Disclaimer: The information in this Podcast is for educational purposes only. Vaishnavi Sarathy, Ph.D. is an educator, not a doctor, specifically not your child’s doctor. Please consult your physician before implementing any supplement or diet recommendations.

In the 50th episode of Functional Nutrition and Learning for Kids, one of my favorite thought leaders, Soma Mukhopadhyay, talks to us about: -how learning channels determine teaching -the 4 goals of RPM - not just information download - but cognition, sensory, tolerance and communication goals.  -the importance of a sensory map when working with a child (as opposed to a label) If you are interested in helping your child jump start their learning and sensory goals, I highly recommend checking out RPM. Disclaimer: The information in this Podcast is for educational purposes only. Vaishnavi Sarathy, Ph.D. is an educator, not a doctor, specifically not your child’s doctor. Please consult your physician before implementing any supplement or diet recommendations.

If there is ONE thing you are likely not doing with your child with Autism or Down Syndrome, it is THIS strategy.  Doing this will make the difference from teaching repeated ABCs and moving to writing poetry and studying advanced literature. I call this non-linear education! Disclaimer: The information in this Podcast is for educational purposes only. Vaishnavi Sarathy, Ph.D. is an educator, not a doctor, specifically not your child’s doctor. Please consult your physician before implementing any supplement or diet recommendations.

"There is a direct causal link between mental health issues and neuroinflammation."  With this powerful statement, Dr. Rosann Capanna-Hodge leads us into the steadily increasing world of brain -inflammatory conditions in children: PANS, PANDAS and Autoimmune Encephalitis.  Listen to understand key identifying features of each of these labels, and how to navigate your way through this condition as a parent. Disclaimer: The information in this Podcast is for educational purposes only. Vaishnavi Sarathy, Ph.D. is an educator, not a doctor, specifically not your child’s doctor. Please consult your physician before implementing any supplement or diet recommendations.

Did you know that ancestral trauma has been found to have epigenetic implications that can impact physiology all the way down to digestion and metabolism? Lee Ann Foster guides us through the concept of epigenetics, of the various tools she uses including neurofeedback, and how healing is always multimodal.  Disclaimer: The information in this Podcast is for educational purposes only. Vaishnavi Sarathy, Ph.D. is an educator, not a doctor, specifically not your child’s doctor. Please consult your physician before implementing any supplement or diet recommendations.

Every child has a right to experience a pain-free life. Dr. Jim Adams's group has found through years of research that a vast majority of autistic children (by some estimates, over 80%) have Gastro Intestinal (GI) symptoms.  This pain can manifest as behaviors and can unfortunately be treated as behaviors.  In this podcast, Dr. Adams talks about his path-breaking research on MTT. Amazingly, in this trial, he worked with a group of children 80% of whom had a diagnosis of "severe autism". By the end of the trial, less than 20% were still diagnosed with "severe autism". To me this indicates the enormity of GI issues that are misdiagnosed as, and underdiagnosed in Autism.  Take this podcast, print out Dr. Adams's work, and take it to your PCP. Ask to see a GI doctor if your child is Autistic.  Disclaimer: The information in this Podcast is for educational purposes only. Vaishnavi Sarathy, Ph.D. is an educator, not a doctor, specifically not your child’s doctor. Please consult your physician before implementing any supplement or diet recommendations.

Have you given thought to  -Nutrient deficiencies -Pain, or -Expression as conditions that could disturb sleep.  What about:  -Omega 3 Status, Blood Sugar Balance and Core body temperature as variables in allowing your child to stay asleep. Sleep Whisperer Deepa Kannan talks to us about 15 factors that can affect a child's sleep. Bring a notebook and take notes.  Disclaimer: The information in this Podcast is for educational purposes only. Vaishnavi Sarathy, Ph.D. is an educator, not a doctor, specifically not your child’s doctor. Please consult your physician before implementing any supplement or diet recommendations.