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

TPP 340: Meghan Ashburn and Jules Edwards on Autistic Adults, Autism Parents, and the Children Who Deserve a Better World

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

Debbie Reber

Education, Kids & Family, Parenting

4.8 • 1K Ratings

🗓️ 22 August 2023

⏱️ 56 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

My guests today are on a mission to show parents that there are different ways of approaching autism beyond what they’re told in doctors or therapists offices. Meghan Ashburn and Jules Edwards, co-authors of the book I Will Die on This Hill: Autistic Adults, Autism Parents, and the Children Who Deserve a Better World, are making it really clear that there is no one size fits all for any families and that there is so much to learn from just listening more.  Meghan Ashburn is a continuous learner, educational consultant, parent mentor, and co-author of I Will Die On This Hill. She's passionate about helping schools create more inclusive, accessible environments. Her online book club has over 10K members, and releases book recommendation lists on autism and neurodiversity. Meghan advocates for communication rights and inclusion at the local, state, and national level. She sits on her school district's Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC) and is a recent graduate of Virginia's Partners in Policymaking. Jules Edwards is a neurodivergent Anishinaabe writer, gardener, accountant, and disability justice advocate. She is the parent of neurodivergent Afro Indigenous people, and care provider to many neurodivergent children throughout the years. Jules is passionate about building community and works to improve child safety and disability policy. Current roles include: care work of disabled youth, co-founder of Minnesota Autistic Alliance, board member for the Minnesota Ombudsman for American Indian Families, board member of The Arc Minnesota. She serves as the elected chairperson of the Minnesota Autism Council, a workgroup of the Senate Human Services Reform Finance and Policy Committee. Things you'll learn from this episode What disability justice is Ways that allistic and autistic parents raising autistic children can work together toward our common goals for our kids The harms of a continual pursuit for “normal” in ways that don’t respect or embrace our kids’ neurodivergence Why self-determination should be the goal over “independence” Ways that allistic parents may be perpetuating ableism without realizing it What an “autism moon” is and why ideal for families who are navigating a new diagnosis of autism  Resources mentioned Meghan Ashburn’s website Not an Autism Mom Meghan Ashburn’s Au-Some Book Club I Will Die on This Hill: Autistic Adults, Autism Parents, and the Children Who Deserve a Better World by Meghan Ashburn and Jules Edwards The Reason I Jump: The Inner Voice of a 13-Year-Old Boy with Autism by Naoki Higashida 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 others?

0:15.6

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. And sometimes we tend to as parents have this view that we know

0:58.9

what's best. And instead of providing children information and allowing them to make decisions for themselves,

1:09.0

sometimes we make those decisions for them, like a simple thing like adding an IEP goal

1:14.8

that a student will learn how to tie their own shoe. What if that person doesn't

1:20.2

want to tie their own shoe? What if they would rather focus their energy

1:24.8

on learning communication skills?

1:28.0

Let's let them decide what they want to do

1:30.2

because there are plenty of adults

1:31.5

who cannot tie their own shoes and there are

1:33.8

adaptive shoes out there who are successful in other areas of their life. So sometimes

...

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