Autism & Neurodiversity

• Embracing Neurodivergent Affirming Care: Balancing Acceptance and Practical Support with Jason

  If you’ve ever wondered, “How do I support my child’s authentic self while helping them navigate the real world?”—you’re not alone.You’ve heard about neurodivergent affirming care and its emphasis on acceptance, but there’s still a challenge: How do we strike the balance between honoring individuality and addressing the practical demands of life?In this episode, Jason Grygla dives into the complexities of neurodivergent affirming care, exploring both its transformative strengths and potential limitations. You’ll learn:✔ Why affirming care is essential for empowering neurodivergent individuals✔ How trauma-informed and client-centered approaches promote healing and growth✔ Why we need to balance authentic self-expression with real-world life skills✔ Practical considerations in supporting neurodivergent individuals without ignoring necessary social norms and behavioral adaptationsIf you’re ready to move beyond just acceptance and create a balanced approach to supporting neurodivergent individuals, this episode will help you get clear on the next steps.✨ Want to go deeper? 📩 Get more insights & tools—Join our email list for inspiration and updates.👉 Need a supportive community? Join our NDM Circle Community at NDM.Circle.so—a space for parents and professionals mentoring neurodivergent young people.

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• Why You Keep Getting Stuck in the Same Parenting Struggles (And How to Break Free) with Debbie

  If you’ve ever thought, “Why does this keep happening?!”—whether it’s battles over transitions, screen time, or meltdowns—you’re not alone.You try different strategies, set boundaries, offer choices… yet you keep getting stuck in the same frustrating cycles. The truth is, the situation isn’t actually the problem—it’s how we think about the situation that keeps us stuck.You’ll learn:✔ Why shifting your thoughts (not just the situation) is the key to breaking frustrating cycles✔ How lower brain survival patterns—Fight, Flight, Freeze, Fawn—keep parents and kids stuck✔ A simple mindset shift that helps you respond instead of react✔ How to notice and reframe thoughts in the moment for better connection and cooperationIf you’re tired of power struggles and emotional exhaustion, this episode will help you take the first step toward real change.✨ Want to go deeper? Join us for our upcoming workshop:"Mastering the Brain STEARing Model™: From Survival Reactions to Thriving Responses."You'll learn step-by-step how to shift from reacting to responding, helping both you and your child move toward more connection, regulation, and peace.🔗 RSVP for the Workshop here: NDM.Circle.so📩 Get more insights & tools—Join our email list for inspiration and updates.👉 Need a supportive community? Join our NDM Circle Community at NDM.Circle.so—a space for parents and professionals mentoring neurodivergent young people.

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• Decoding the 'I Can't vs. I Won't' Paradox in Neurodivergence with Jason & Debbie

  Is it that they can’t—or that they won’t?In this episode, we break down the common struggle of distinguishing between genuine inability and refusal in neurodivergent kids, teens, and young adults. We explore: • Why challenges can feel insurmountable due to unique brain wiring • How to avoid power struggles and foster autonomy • The neural response to perceived difficulty and how it impacts motivation • The role of resilience and discipline in long-term growthUnderstanding this gray area can help you respond with more clarity and support—without getting stuck in frustration.📩 Want more insights and practical tools? Be sure to join our email list for inspiration and updates.👉 For deeper support, join our NDM Circle Community at NDM.Circle.so—a space for parents and professionals navigating the complexities of parenting neurodivergent young people.

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• Teaching Calm: How to Help Build Emotional Regulation Skills with Debbie

  If you've ever found yourself saying "Calm down!" during your child's meltdown—only to watch it make things worse—you're not alone.The truth is, neurodivergent children, teens, and young adults don't just know how to regulate their emotions... it's a skill that needs to be taught and developed. But here's the kicker: emotional regulation isn't something you teach in the heat of the moment—it's something you build over time.In this episode, I dive into what emotional regulation looks like for neurodivergent (autistic, ADHD, etc.) children, teens, and young adults, why it's often harder for them, and what you can do to help.I share practical tools for teaching calm, not by demanding it, but by modeling it, practicing it, and making it part of everyday life.You'll learn: Why emotional regulation is a skill—not a personality traitThe role of co-regulation and why your calm is the first stepHow to teach regulation tools outside of the meltdown momentSimple, actionable strategies to help your child access calmIf meltdowns, emotional outbursts, or shutdowns feel like a daily struggle, this episode if for you. And if you want to go deeper, join us for our upcoming workshop: "Helping Neurodivergent Children, Teens, and YAs Access Calm." We'll walk you through even more tools, real-life examples, and step-by-step strategies to support emotional regulation at home.✨ RSVP for the Workshop here: NDM.Circle.so📩 Want more insights and practical tools? Be sure to join our email list for inspiration and updates.👉 For deeper support, join our NDM Circle Community at NDM.Circle.so—a space for parents and professionals navigating the complexities of parenting neurodivergent young people.

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• Understanding Rigid Decisiveness with Jason & Debbie

  “Why won’t they just change their mind?”If you’ve ever found yourself frustrated by a neurodivergent loved one’s black-and-white thinking or their refusal to reconsider a decision, you’re not alone. In this episode of Autism & Neurodiversity, we explore the common pattern of what Jason calls "rigid decisiveness." We unpack how this behavior—often misunderstood as stubbornness or immaturity—is rooted in lower brain functions like the need to avoid pain and conserve energy.We share some real-life examples of this pattern and explain how understanding it through a developmental lens can make all the difference. Whether you’re a parent, professional, or someone navigating your own neurodivergence, this episode offers practical tools and a fresh perspective on how to approach rigid decisiveness with patience and support.What You’ll Learn in This Episode: • Why rigid decisiveness is common in neurodivergent individuals • How black-and-white thinking ties to lower brain, survival functions • The pitfalls of labeling this behavior as “stubbornness” or “immaturity” • Developmental strategies to better support and connect📩 Want more insights and practical tools? Be sure to join our email list for inspiration and updates.👉 For deeper support, join our NDM Circle Community at NDM.Circle.so—a space for parents and professionals navigating the complexities of parenting neurodivergent young people.

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