Show Notes:

What happens when an autism diagnosis changes the direction of your family's life? In this heartfelt episode of Why Not Me? Embracing Autism and Mental Health Worldwide, Tony Mantor welcomes Kelly Jensen, co-host of the Refrigerator Moms podcast, autism advocate, and mother of a 26-year-old autistic son.

Kelly shares the emotional realities of recognizing autism in the early 2000s, navigating years of therapies, advocating through the education system, supporting siblings, and discovering practical tools that made a meaningful difference—including the Zones of Regulation, adaptive communication, music therapy, and sensory supports.

The conversation also explores Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), an innovative brain stimulation treatment that Kelly credits with dramatically improving her son's anxiety, communication, independence, and quality of life. She explains how TMS works, who may benefit, current insurance coverage, and why families should stay informed about emerging treatment options.

Kelly also discusses the inspiration behind the Refrigerator Moms podcast, reclaiming a hurtful term from autism's history while providing practical, evidence-based resources for parents navigating similar journeys.

Whether you're a parent, caregiver, clinician, educator, autistic adult, or simply someone wanting to better understand autism, this episode offers hope, practical advice, and a reminder that every person's journey is unique.

Topics include:
Early signs of autism
Speech delays and communication development
Parenting through diagnosis
School advocacy and IEP challenges
Meltdowns and sensory regulation
Zones of Regulation explained
Music therapy and adaptive communication
Autism and OCD
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)
MERT therapy
Anxiety and autism
Building independence
Supporting families
Refrigerator Moms podcast
Hope through lived experience

Show Notes:
What happens when an autism diagnosis changes the direction of your family's life? In this heartfelt episode of Why Not Me? Embracing Autism and Mental Health Worldwide, Tony Mantor welcomes Kelly Jensen, co-host of the Refrigerator Moms podcast, autism advocate, and mother of a 26-year-old autistic son.
Kelly shares the emotional realities of recognizing autism in the early 2000s, navigating years of therapies, advocating through the education system, supporting siblings, and discovering practical tools that made a meaningful difference&mdash;including the Zones of Regulation, adaptive communication, music therapy, and sensory supports.
The conversation also explores Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), an innovative brain stimulation treatment that Kelly credits with dramatically improving her son's anxiety, communication, independence, and quality of life. She explains how TMS works, who may benefit, current insurance coverage, and why families should stay informed about emerging treatment options.
Kelly also discusses the inspiration behind the Refrigerator Moms podcast, reclaiming a hurtful term from autism's history while providing practical, evidence-based resources for parents navigating similar journeys.
Whether you're a parent, caregiver, clinician, educator, autistic adult, or simply someone wanting to better understand autism, this episode offers hope, practical advice, and a reminder that every person's journey is unique.
Topics include:
<ul data-start="1673" data-end="2120">
<li data-section-id="1jppl6d" data-start="1673" data-end="1696">Early signs of autism</li>
<li data-section-id="6yvyv2" data-start="1697" data-end="1742">Speech delays and communication development</li>
<li data-section-id="1iw0g6k" data-start="1743" data-end="1772">Parenting through diagnosis</li>
<li data-section-id="b1tojj" data-start="1773" data-end="1809">School advocacy and IEP challenges</li>
<li data-section-id="1b0d6cp" data-start="1810" data-end="1844">Meltdowns and sensory regulation</li>
<li data-section-id="1fxg04e" data-start="1845" data-end="1876">Zones of Regulation explained</li>
<li data-section-id="aa6lvf" data-start="1877" data-end="1919">Music therapy and adaptive communication</li>
<li data-section-id="1l09y58" data-start="1920" data-end="1936">Autism and OCD</li>
<li data-section-id="163h8m2" data-start="1937" data-end="1978">Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)</li>
<li data-section-id="4zotxh" data-start="1979" data-end="1993">MERT therapy</li>
<li data-section-id="s5rvk2" data-start="1994" data-end="2014">Anxiety and autism</li>
<li data-section-id="1ripgdm" data-start="2015" data-end="2038">Building independence</li>
<li data-section-id="n0pct3" data-start="2039" data-end="2060">Supporting families</li>
<li data-section-id="ns8oqg" data-start="2061" data-end="2088">Refrigerator Moms podcast</li>
<li data-section-id="1yk1bxp" data-start="2089" data-end="2120">Hope through lived experience</li>
</ul>

Autism, Mental Health, Advocacy & Human Stories.

Embracing Autism/Mental Health Worldwide.

Autism is a complex neurodevelopmental condition affecting millions worldwide, characterized by challenges in social interaction, communication, and repetitive behaviors. Despite increasing recognition, there remains a lack of understanding and awareness about the condition. 

Mental health encompasses a range of conditions impacting emotional, psychological, and social well-being, affecting millions globally. It includes disorders like anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and psychosis. Schizophrenia is marked by symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized thinking, while psychosis involves a loss of contact with reality, often presenting with similar symptoms. 

Despite growing awareness, stigma and misconceptions about mental health, particularly schizophrenia and psychosis, persist, underscoring the need for greater understanding and support. 

From celebrating neurodiversity to breaking down stigma, we create a safe space for listeners to learn, grow, and feel seen. 

Whether you're on the spectrum, a caregiver, or an advocate, join our global community for inspiring conversations and empowering resources that uplift and unite. 

Tune in to embrace understanding, healing, and hope worldwide! 

Together, we can create a more informed and compassionate society for individuals with Autism and Mental Illness.

Autism, Mental Health, Advocacy &amp; Human Stories.Embracing Autism/Mental Health Worldwide.Autism is a complex neurodevelopmental condition affecting millions worldwide, characterized by challenges in social interaction, communication, and repetitive behaviors. Despite increasing recognition, there remains a lack of understanding and awareness about the condition.&nbsp;Mental health encompasses a range of conditions impacting emotional, psychological, and social well-being, affecting millions globally. It includes disorders like anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and psychosis. Schizophrenia is marked by symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized thinking, while psychosis involves a loss of contact with reality, often presenting with similar symptoms.&nbsp;Despite growing awareness, stigma and misconceptions about mental health, particularly schizophrenia and psychosis, persist, underscoring the need for greater understanding and support.&nbsp;From celebrating neurodiversity to breaking down stigma, we create a safe space for listeners to learn, grow, and feel seen.&nbsp;Whether you're on the spectrum, a caregiver, or an advocate, join our global community for inspiring conversations and empowering resources that uplift and unite.&nbsp;Tune in to embrace understanding, healing, and hope worldwide!&nbsp;Together, we can create a more informed and compassionate society for individuals with Autism and Mental Illness.

Tony Mantor: Why Not Me ?

 Kelly Jensen on Hope, Advocacy, TMS, and the Autism Journey Beyond Diagnosis

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/7f3ee67e-afef-460e-90ba-b475002153ec/transcript