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Full-Tilt Parenting: Strategies, Insights, and Connection for Parents Raising Neurodivergent Children

TPP 091: A Conversation With Steve Silberman About His Book “Neurotribes”

Full-Tilt Parenting: Strategies, Insights, and Connection for Parents Raising Neurodivergent Children

Debbie Reber

Education, Kids & Family, Parenting

4.81K Ratings

🗓️ 16 January 2018

⏱️ 48 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

My guest this week is Steve Silberman, an award-winning science writer who authored the 2015 book NeuroTribes: The Legacy of Autism and the Future of Neurodiversity, a brilliant book that upends conventional thinking about autism and suggests a broader model for acceptance, understanding, and full participation in society for people who think differently. Steve’s articles have appeared in Wired, the New York Times, the New Yorker, the Financial Times, the Boston Globe, the MIT Technology Review, and more. In our conversation, Steve and I talk about neurodivergence, autism, acceptance, tolerance, changing cultures, systemic change, and so much more. As a science writer who researched the history of autism in writing his book for more than five years, Steve brings an incredible breadth of knowledge, as well as passion for the neurodiversity movement, to the show. By the end of this interview I was inspired and motivated for the changes to come, and grateful there are thought leaders like Steve doing this important work in the world. I hope you enjoy our conversation!   Things you’ll learn from this episode The impetus for Steve’s book NeuroTribes How and why the anti-vaccine movement has negatively affected the autistic community The real impact of language like “epidemic” in relation to neurodifferences like autism How Steve’s book NeuroTribes has been received by members of the autistic community Steve’s thoughts on how parents raising neurodiverse kids can best support the neurodiversity movement The importance of autistic peer mentoring   Resources mentioned for Steve Silberman, autism, and neurodiversity Steve Silberman’s website NeuroTribes: The Legacy of Autism and the Future of Neurodiversity by Steve Silberman Steve Silberman’s TED Talk Autreat The Thinking Person’s Guide to Autism Uniquely Human: A Different Way of Seeing Autism by Barry Prizant Support the show Connect with Tilt Parenting Visit Tilt Parenting Take the free 7-Day Challenge Read a chapter of Differently Wired Follow Tilt on Twitter & Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0

If you're listening to this podcast, it's probably because a child you love and care for is differently wired.

0:07.0

Are they also struggling in their current educational setting, seen only for what they're doing wrong, while longing for positive relationships with peers and

0:14.8

others?

0:15.8

Envision a world where your child's unique abilities are not just recognized but celebrated.

0:21.0

A world where they can connect with others and their true potential is seen and

0:24.9

appreciated. The Strength-based Assessment Lab's mission is to build a world for your child just

0:30.7

like that. Through its innovative approach that aims to empower students, families, educators, and professionals

0:36.3

to create positive, effective, and collaborative learning experiences.

0:40.2

Be a part of shaping a brighter future for your child.

0:43.0

Visit W.

0:45.0

BGS.ed.

0:47.0

to learn more about what a strength-based assessment could mean for your family.

0:51.0

That's BGS.

0:52.0

E.D.U. family. That's BGS. Edu. I no longer think of neurodiversity as like a political stance or even a movement. I think of it as a living fact, like biodiversity.

1:05.0

And we can pathologize it endlessly and say, you know, that all these variations are diseases or syndromes or whatever which was the approach for most of the

1:15.4

20th century or we can celebrate that diversity as a gift to our society that requires us to be responsible and to provide people with whatever

1:29.1

they need to achieve success in whatever form their success would be.

1:34.8

Welcome to the Till Parenting Podcast, a podcast featuring interviews and conversations aimed at inspiring, informing and supporting parents

1:45.2

raising differently wired kids.

1:47.2

I'm your host Debbie Reaver and today's conversation is one I am so excited to share with you.

1:53.0

My guest is Steve Silverman, a science writer who authored the 2015 book Nero Tribes,

1:59.0

The Legacy of autism and the Future of Neurodiversity.

...

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