Differences NOT Deficits

After a long season of healing, unlearning, and deep transformation, we’re back - and starting with a little honesty about where we’ve been. In this episode, Yolandi shares her personal journey over the past year: the shifts, the letting go, the reconnection with what really matters - and how it’s shaped the podcast moving forward.

After a long season of healing, unlearning, and deep transformation, we’re back - and starting with a little honesty about where we’ve been. In this episode, Debbie shares her personal journey over the past year: the shifts, the letting go, the reconnection with what really matters - and how it’s shaped the podcast moving forward. Yolandi will be sharing her own story in the next episode. 

After a long break filled with healing and unlearning, Differences NOT Deficits is back — with deeper conversations, broader perspectives, and way more realness. This season, we’re expanding beyond neurodivergence to explore all the ways people feel “different” — and the harm in trying to make everyone “normal.” Join Debbie and Yolandi as they unmask old labels, share personal truths, and invite you into messy, meaningful conversations about what it really means to be seen, supported, and fully yourself. Interested in learning more about Debbie and her work...go to https://www.thetruthofyou.net/. Connect with Debbie or Yolandi at https://www.thetruthofyou.net/contact. 

In this episode we give a little update on what is happening with our podcast since it's been a while since we have published an episode.  We also have a discussion about the gifts, talents, contributions we see in neurodivergent people. The world is missing so much when the focus is on trying to "fix" people instead of looking at he unique gifts they have to offer. 

In this episode (part 2 of 2) I continue with an interview with Caroline Gaddy. If you haven’t listened to Part 1, please start there. Caroline is an Autistic SLP and AAC Solutions Consultant based in Virginia. She is also a disability advocate and neurodiversity educator who has presented at state and national conferences. She has worked in clinical and school-based settings as an SLP and teacher, and is passionate about communication access, disability justice, and inclusion. Caroline is also a mom to two spectacular neurodivergent kids. Listen on Podbean Listen on Apple Facebook: Mindsight Therapies Instagram: Mindsight Therapies

In this episode (part 1 of 2) Debbie interviews Caroline Gaddy. Caroline is an Autistic SLP and AAC Solutions Consultant based in Virginia. She is also a disability advocate and neurodiversity educator who has presented at state and national conferences. She has worked in clinical and school-based settings as an SLP and teacher, and is passionate about communication access, disability justice, and inclusion. Caroline is also a mom to two spectacular neurodivergent kids. Listen on Podbean Listen on Apple Facebook: Mindsight Therapies Instagram: Mindsight Therapies

**Trigger Warning: Content Might be Sensitive to Some** In this episode (part 2 of 2) we continue with our interview with Matt Lowry. If you haven’t listened to Part 1, please start there. Matt is an autistic licensed psychological practitioner in Louisville, KY. He provides evaluations and therapy for children, teens and adults using a strengths-based approach to help autistic people in ways best suited for their individual needs. He also provides educational trainings and co-hosts the Autistic Culture Podcast where they discuss autistic contributions to society and culture. In this episode Matt will share his thoughts about special interests - SPINs, his opinion on the DSM 5, and some advice for PARENTS. Take a listen Listen on Podbean Listen on Apple Facebook: Mindsight Therapies Instagram: Mindsight Therapies  

**Trigger Warning - May Contain Sensitive Material for Some**  Today we are excited to share an interview we had with Matt Lowry. This will be part one of two episodes with Matt.  Matt is an autistic licensed psychological practitioner in Louisville, KY. He provides evaluations and therapy for children, teens and adults using a strengths-based approach to help autistic people in ways best suited for their individual needs. He also provides educational trainings and co-hosts the Autistic Culture Podcast where they discuss autistic contributions to society and culture. He has a passion to make the world a better place for autistic people. Listen on Podbean Listen on Apple Facebook: Mindsight Therapies Instagram: Mindsight Therapies  

In this episode (part 2 of 2) we continue with our interview with Martin Moxness. If you haven’t listened to Part 1, please start there. Martin is an autistic adult who lives in Denmark and is a successful Instagram and TikTok influencer - you can find him by searching A_Different_Spectrum. He uses his personal journey and unique perspective to educate people nationwide about Autism, Tourettes as well as ADHD.  In this episode Martin will share about his personal journey with Interoception, breaking certain stereotypes by offering a unique perspective and his future plans as an influencer. Listen on Podbean Listen on Apple Facebook: Mindsight Therapies Instagram: Mindsight Therapies

In this episode (part 1 of 2) we had the pleasure of interviewing Martin Moxness and we are so excited to share it with you. Martin is an autistic adult who lives in Denmark and is a successful Instagram and TikTok influencer. He also has a gift for music and photography. Martin is autistic and uses his platform to raise awareness of Autism, as well as Tourette syndrome and ADHD. During this conversation we discuss his life, his husband, the struggles he had growing up and what socialization means to him and more! Listen on Podbean Listen on Apple Facebook: Mindsight Therapies Instagram: Mindsight Therapies

In this episode we give you a few examples from episode 8 where we talk about the new ideas that we have been discussing on this podcast so far and how difficult it can be to embrace doing something different than what has been done for so many years.   Listen on Podbean Listen on Apple Facebook: Mindsight Therapies Instagram: Mindsight Therapies

In this episode we talk about the new ideas that we have been discussing on this podcast so far and how difficult it can be to embrace doing something different than what has been done for so many years. Listen on Podbean Listen on Apple Facebook: Mindsight Therapies Instagram: Mindsight Therapies

In this episode (Part 2 of 2) we continue our interview with Kim and her husband William. If you haven’t listened to Part 1, start there. Kim is an autistic occupational therapist. She has a passion for educating clinicians and challenging them to look outside the box when working with clients. She uses her personal journey and unique perspective to teach clinicians nationwide about autism, sensory processing disorder, and eating disorders.  In this episode Kim shares how William supported her in learning about social cues. She also talks about her journey with interoception which helped her to understand herself and her emotions and what she needed in order to learn. She sees it as a foundational skill that needs to be explored by all individuals.   We also hear about her views on adult autistic people only using “age-appropriate” items or watching “age-appropriate” shows and movies.   Listen on Podbean Listen on Apple Facebook: Mindsight Therapies Instagram: Mindsight Therapies

In this episode (Part 1 of 2) we had the pleasure of interviewing Kim and her husband William. Kim is an autistic occupational therapist. She has a passion for educating clinicians and challenging them to look outside the box when working with clients. She uses her personal journey and unique perspective to teach clinicians nationwide about autism, sensory processing disorder, and eating disorders.  Kim and William have a beautiful relationship. In this episode they discuss Kim’s journey discovering her strengths and challenges and eventually receiving a diagnosis of Autism later in life. Kim and William share how they met and how they support each other in their daily lives.  We also hear about what socializing means to Kim and thinking about “social” from an autistic perspective.     Listen on Podbean Listen on Apple Facebook: Mindsight Therapies Instagram: Mindsight Therapies

This episode is Part 2 of 2. In these 2 episodes we discuss how individuals developing body awareness through interoception may discover some trauma responses or adaptations that they have. These may be completely unconscious body responses that were created to protect themselves. We continue our trauma or "distress" discussion and talk about the importance of always "seeing" behavior as communication. We share stories of past clients so our listeners have an idea of how autistic individuals can develop trauma responses that look very much like "behaviors".  Listen on Podbean Listen on Apple Also available on: Google Podcast, Spotify, Amazon Music, Alexa, iHeartRadio, FM player, ListenNotes, Samsung Podcast, Podchaser and BoomPlay.   

This episode is Part 1 of 2. In these 2 episodes we discuss how individuals developing body awareness through interoception may discover some trauma responses or adaptations that they have. These may be completely unconscious body responses that were created to protect themselves. We define what we mean by "trauma" and the importance of understanding it when learning about oneself. Yolandi shares more about her journey with interoception and what she is discovering!    Listen on Podbean Listen on Apple Also available on: Google Podcast, Spotify, Amazon Music, Alexa, iHeartRadio, FM player, ListenNotes, Samsung Podcast, Podchaser and BoomPlay. 

Chloe is a passionate advocate for autism, bringing her unique perspective to the forefront as an Autistic Self-Advocate, Public Speaker, Co-Author, Board Member, and Teacher's Aide. Her mission is clear: to foster understanding and awareness about autism through her experiences and insights. As a co-author of the "My Interoception Workbook for Teens, Adolescents, and Adults," Chloe has played a pivotal role in providing resources that support those on the autism spectrum. In addition to her writing, Chloe actively contributes to the autism community by serving on the national board of The Arc of the United States and the advisory board of the Ohio Center for Autism and Low Incidence (OCALI). Through her multifaceted contributions and experiences, Chloe strives to make the world a more inclusive and understanding place for individuals on the autism spectrum. Find out more information about Chloe Rothschild at https://www.chloerothschildasd.com/. To find out more about The Premier Autism and Disability Conference that Chloe will be presenting at in November, please visit https://conference.ocali.org/   Listen on Podbean Listen on Apple Also available on: Google Podcast, Spotify, Amazon Music, Alexa, iHeartRadio, FM player, ListenNotes, Samsung Podcast, Podchaser and BoomPlay. 

Welcome to the 2nd Episode of the Differences Not Deficits podcast! This episode focuses on explaining why Debbie and Yolandi's favorite subject includes Interoception, as told through Debbie's own personal journey.  Listen on Podbean Listen on Apple Also available on: Google Podcast, Spotify, Amazon Music, Alexa, iHeartRadio, FM player, ListenNotes, Samsung Podcast, Podchaser and BoomPlay. 

Meet your hosts of this Podcast. Learn why Differences NOT Deficits Podcast was created. Listen on Podbean Listen on Apple Also available on: Google Podcast, Spotify, Amazon Music, Alexa, iHeartRadio, FM player, ListenNotes, Samsung Podcast, Podchaser and BoomPlay. 

 As a speech language pathologist and a behaviorist we have realized that what we have been taught are “deficits” are often just “differences” in neurology. When we approach therapy in this light we learn from our neurodiverse clients every day. We want to empower neurodivergent people and those you care for them by discussing what we are learning and changing in our own therapy. The Differences Not Deficits podcast aims to be an accepting space to provide education and support to neurodivergent individuals and their support systems. We’re so excited to share this with you!

The Differences Not Deficits podcast aims to be an accepting space to provide education and support to neurodivergent individuals and their support systems.