Today we talk to Liv Gilbert, Debbie’s oldest daughter about what it’s like when a sibling gets an autism diagnosis. She recalls her emotions at the time and how she feels about her brother.

Today we talk to Liv Gilbert, Debbie’s oldest daughter about what it’s like when a sibling gets an autism diagnosis. She recalls her emotions at the time and how she feels about her brother.

I’m Just Living in the Moment!

This week we will revisit some of our favorite interviews. Don’t get us wrong, we have loved all our guests and we will likely do this more often because it was so much fun going back to some of our first interviews.

This week we will revisit some of our favorite interviews. Don’t get us wrong, we have loved all our guests and we will likely do this more often because it was so much fun going back to some of our first interviews.

Some of Favorite Moments So Far

Charlotte Deleste is a journalist in Wisconsin. Her son, Giovanni, was born with a rare genetic condition that caused him to have up to 80 seizures a day. Despite his disabilities, Gio was declared “not disabled enough” to get home nursing care. She couldn’t believe it. Instead of accepting a system that felt broken, she and her husband created what has turned into a non-profit helping hundreds of families with respite care, therapy, and family support. You will be inspired by her drive to get her son, and other families, the help they need.



“That’s all we want to do, just make a difference, make a positive difference and hope that it just keeps going and somebody else will do the same down the road.”

-Charlotte Deleste, Founder of Gio’s Garden

Charlotte Deleste is a journalist in Wisconsin. Her son, Giovanni, was born with a rare genetic condition that caused him to have up to 80 seizures a day. Despite his disabilities, Gio was declared “not disabled enough” to get home nursing care. She couldn’t believe it. Instead of accepting a system that felt broken, she and her husband created what has turned into a non-profit helping hundreds of families with respite care, therapy, and family support. You will be inspired by her drive to get her son, and other families, the help they need.
 
“That’s all we want to do, just make a difference, make a positive difference and hope that it just keeps going and somebody else will do the same down the road.”
-Charlotte Deleste, Founder of <a href="http://giosgarden.org/">Gio’s Garden</a>

Gio’s Garden Celebrates Ten Years

The Utah Developmental Disabilities Council is entirely dedicated to improving the lives of Utah citizens with autism and other developmental disabilities. Erik Stoker is their Information Specialist and talks about the resources available and how he got involved.

“I believe it’s important for a self-advocate to control what they want to see happen in their life because many adults want to live independently.”

-Erik Stoker



He also has a podcast you can check out.

https://open.spotify.com/show/0vESwMIeQXucVfHKliYirY

The Utah Developmental Disabilities Council is entirely dedicated to improving the lives of Utah citizens with autism and other developmental disabilities. Erik Stoker is their Information Specialist and talks about the resources available and how he got involved.
“I believe it’s important for a self-advocate to control what they want to see happen in their life because many adults want to live independently.”
-Erik Stoker
 
He also has a podcast you can check out.
<a href="https://protect-us.mimecast.com/s/j2s9C5y1RKFWRBPMiOyUZu?domain=open.spotify.com" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-safelink="true" data-linkindex="0">https://open.spotify.com/show/0vESwMIeQXucVfHKliYirY</a>

Develop Abilities

The Utah Parent Center’s mission is to help parents help their children, youth and young adults with all disabilities to live included, productive lives as members of the community. They strive to accomplish that by providing accurate information, empathetic peer support, valuable training and effective advocacy based on the concept of parents helping parents.

In this episode, we dig into the Individualized Education Program. We learn all kinds of new acronyms and get you ready for your first meeting. Jennie Dopp is a parent advocate at the Utah Parent Center. She gives us the basics in a very authentic way of understanding and utilizing the IEP.

“Working for a nonprofit, it’s about mission, none of us are in it for the money. We love what we do.”

The Utah Parent Center’s mission is to help parents help their children, youth and young adults with all disabilities to live included, productive lives as members of the community. They strive to accomplish that by providing accurate information, empathetic peer support, valuable training and effective advocacy based on the concept of parents helping parents.
In this episode, we dig into the Individualized Education Program. We learn all kinds of new acronyms and get you ready for your first meeting. Jennie Dopp is a parent advocate at the Utah Parent Center. She gives us the basics in a very authentic way of understanding and utilizing the IEP.
“Working for a nonprofit, it’s about mission, none of us are in it for the money. We love what we do.”

An Introduction to the IEP with The Utah Parent Center

A valuable conversation today with Lacey Anderson who founded an autism school and therapy center. The questions you should ask and the things you should look at to determine what place is right for your autistic child. She shares how she fell in love with autistic children. She also addresses the controversy surrounding ABA therapy.

“You'll see miracles. Because if you do something out of love, you're going to tap into different things that that kid needs, and you're going to figure out how to help them.”

Link to videos: Autism Solutions Academy - YouTube

A valuable conversation today with Lacey Anderson who founded an autism school and therapy center. The questions you should ask and the things you should look at to determine what place is right for your autistic child. She shares how she fell in love with autistic children. She also addresses the controversy surrounding ABA therapy.
“You'll see miracles. Because if you do something out of love, you're going to tap into different things that that kid needs, and you're going to figure out how to help them.”
Link to videos: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6Nu6m95OhlU9YNdYb10D_A/videos" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-safelink="true" data-linkindex="0">Autism Solutions Academy - YouTube</a>

Questions you should ask while looking at an autism school and therapy center.

Jessie Hewitson is an award-winning journalist in the UK. In this book, she combines her own experiences with tips from autistic adults, other parents, as well as advice from autism professionals and academics. She is a mother of two; her 12-year-old son is autistic.

“I realized, when I was writing this book that I wasn’t scared about autism, per se, I was scared about having a really unhappy child. And, by extension, being really unhappy myself because, I don’t know if you’ve got the saying in the US, but you know, it is true that you’re as happy as your unhappiest child.”

Jessie Hewitson is an award-winning journalist in the UK. In this book, she combines her own experiences with tips from autistic adults, other parents, as well as advice from autism professionals and academics. She is a mother of two; her 12-year-old son is autistic.
“I realized, when I was writing this book that I wasn’t scared about autism, per se, I was scared about having a really unhappy child. And, by extension, being really unhappy myself because, I don’t know if you’ve got the saying in the US, but you know, it is true that you’re as happy as your unhappiest child.”

Jessie Hewitson, Author of: Autism; How to raise a happy autistic child

“We all could use a little more kindness and understanding and neuro inclusion.”

Candice Christiansen is best known as a licensed clinician. Candice’s expertise is providing neuro-inclusive counseling and coaching to neurodifferent individuals and mixed neurotype couples healing from a trauma and a variety of relationship, sex, and intimacy issues. She’s also a late-diagnosed autistic female. She tells us about her journey, her diagnosis and what she’s learned along the way. She’s also the host of Fabulously Candice: The Sexiest Podcast About Neurodivergence.

“We all could use a little more kindness and understanding and neuro inclusion.”
Candice Christiansen is best known as a licensed clinician. Candice’s expertise is providing neuro-inclusive counseling and coaching to neurodifferent individuals and mixed neurotype couples healing from a trauma and a variety of relationship, sex, and intimacy issues. She’s also a late-diagnosed autistic female. She tells us about her journey, her diagnosis and what she’s learned along the way. She’s also the host of <a href="https://directory.libsyn.com/shows/view/id/autismandintimacy#:~:text=%22Fabulously%20Candice%22%20is%20the%20sexiest%20podcast%20about%20Neurodivergence!">Fabulously Candice: The Sexiest Podcast About Neurodivergence.</a>

The Sex Therapist is Autistic

A raw, candid conversation Lincoln Bentley’s mom, Marisa. Marisa is a hands-on mom who would not accept the sobering statistics of autistic adults’ lack of employment. She got creative with her son’s creativity and came up with www.Linc-d.com - an online marketplace featuring independently owned and operated shops. The shop now has dozens of neurodiverse artists who keep 70% of the profits from each sale. Marisa shares her journey of helping the world see the amazing things her son is doing.

A raw, candid conversation Lincoln Bentley’s mom, Marisa. Marisa is a hands-on mom who would not accept the sobering statistics of autistic adults’ lack of employment. She got creative with her son’s creativity and came up with <a href="http://www.linc-d.com/" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-safelink="true" data-linkindex="0">www.Linc-d.com</a> - an online marketplace featuring independently owned and operated shops. The shop now has dozens of neurodiverse artists who keep 70% of the profits from each sale. Marisa shares her journey of helping the world see the amazing things her son is doing.

Unique Products by Neurodiverse Artists

In this week’s episode, we get to hear all about a comprehensive study completed by BYU researchers. Dr. Timothy B. Smith and Dr. Tina M. Taylor have spent decades in their respective fields. Their latest research with Linda Cheng gives an optimistic look at the future for individuals with autism spectrum disorder and their families. This candid discussion touches on key points of the research along with some personal stories you don’t want to miss.  

https://news.byu.edu/intellect/children-with-autism-benefit-when-parents-are-trained-to-provide-at-home-interventions

In this week’s episode, we get to hear all about a comprehensive study completed by BYU researchers. Dr. Timothy B. Smith and Dr. Tina M. Taylor have spent decades in their respective fields. Their latest research with Linda Cheng gives an optimistic look at the future for individuals with autism spectrum disorder and their families. This candid discussion touches on key points of the research along with some personal stories you don’t want to miss.  
<a href="https://news.byu.edu/intellect/children-with-autism-benefit-when-parents-are-trained-to-provide-at-home-interventions">https://news.byu.edu/intellect/children-with-autism-benefit-when-parents-are-trained-to-provide-at-home-interventions</a>

Brigham Young University study shows children with autism benefit when parents are trained to provide at-home interventions

On "Celebrating the Spectrum," KSL's Debbie Worthen delights in the joy and happiness her son, a child with autism, has brought into her world. Each week Debbie consults the experts and connects with others who are also learning to navigate life with a child who has special needs. This is a place where we find hope, look for solutions and connect with those working to create a better world of inclusion.

On "Celebrating the Spectrum," KSL's Debbie Worthen delights in the joy and happiness her son, a child with autism, has brought into her world. Each week Debbie consults the experts and connects with others who are also learning to navigate life with a child who has special needs. This is a place where we find hope, look for solutions and connect with those working to create a better world of inclusion.

Celebrating the Spectrum

Follow the podcast:

19 clip(s)