Navigating the Spectrum with Michele Portlock

Dr David and Laura Palmer are the founders of Inclusion Matters Education Services. With a mission to empower parents as advocates for their neurodivergent children, they bring a unique blend of professional expertise and lived experience to the table. Their journey began years ago when they adopted five siblings, each with their unique neurodivergent traits. This personal experience fueled their passion for advocacy and led to the founding of Inclusion Matters--a platform committed to inclusion, diversity, equity, and access in education. Whether you're a parent, an educator, or someone who believes in equitable access to education, you won't want to miss this conversation. To learn more about their work, visit inclusionmattersed.com or follow them on social media @includionmattersed.

Camille Joy is a devoted wife and mother, with a heart as vast as her roles: entrepreneur, podcaster, advocate, and a beacon of hope. She radiates joy and utilizes her diverse platforms to uplift families navigating the unique challenges of raising children with special needs. in 2018, Camille Joy embarked on an inspiring journey when she launched her podcast, "Moments of Joy." Today, it stands tall as a premier platform, uniting parents raising children with disabilities and providing them with a supportive community. In her weekly podcast episodes, Camille draws from her personal experiences and shares compelling narratives from parents and professionals across the globe. Her mission is crystal clear: to deliver genuine support and absolute transparency to parents in the caregiving journey. This cause holds a special place in her heart, as her youngest son, Maison, was born with congenital heart disease and later diagnosed with Autism. Camille Joy's life is a testament to the power of empathy, resilience, and unwavering determination to make a difference in the lives of families like hers.

Dr. Julie Fraumeni-McBride is the Director of Research and development and Co-Founder at The Steadfast Institute. Julie has overseen the implementation of research focus and development specifically designed to better understand and meet the needs of women, men, LGBT identities, and those with intellectual and mental health impairments such as autism, OCD, bipolar, depression, ADHD, cyclothymia and other conditions who experience problematic pornography use. Together Julie and I discuss the importance of teaching healthy sexual boundaries to those with a disability. What does this look like? Why does it matter? How is teaching sexual boundaries and sexuality different for an individual with a disability as opposed to someone without a disability? Dr. Julie Fraumeni-McBride is knowledgeable, intelligent, and well-spoken and speaks with compassion and knowledge. Podcast Edit: 1 in every 36 individuals is diagnosed as autistic.

Dr. Jennifer Finlayson-Fife is an LDS relationship and sexuality coach with a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology. Her teaching and coaching focus on helping LDS individuals and couples achieve greater satisfaction and passion in their emotional and sexual relationships. Her knowledge, expertise, and resources are meaningful to broader audiences as well. Dr. Jennifer Finlayson-Fife is a parent of a 23-year-old autistic son and together we discuss how raising neurodivergent children may require a shift in the way we think about parenting. Parenting a child with a disability requires us to acknowledge that our child does not exist to reinforce us. The goal is to meet the needs of our individual children and to accept and embrace them for who they are. Dr. Jennifer Finlayson-Fife discusses how truly loving our children may require some internal work on our part as parents. Dr. Jennifer Finlayson-Fife focuses on marriage and intimacy and has worked with hundreds of couples to help them see themselves more clearly as individuals within their marital relationships. If you would like to learn more about Dr. Jennifer Finlayson-Fife and her work, you can find her at: www.finlayson-fife.com @finlaysonfife

Robert Freiri is the Executive Director at Gateway Center of Monterey County, a community that has been serving adults with developmental disabilities for the past 60 years. Together, Robert and I discuss how to meet the needs of adults with disabilities through residential care as well as through community resources. Gateway Center's slogan of Care and Compassion can be seen in all its programs--including the Without Walls program, which is designed to meet the needs of adults transitioning out of the classroom setting. As parents, we often worry about how to care for our adult children with disabilities in the most meaningful way. And this includes their care when we are no longer here to care for them ourselves. Take a listen to Robert as he shares how Gateway Center helps meet the needs of it's clients through care and compassion.

Tyler Bastian is an educator, filmmaker, and founder of Roots Charter High School. Tyler loves to teach and has a passion for discovering and developing potential in everything around him. For four years, Tyler taught Character Education at a local high school and believes positive character is the greatest indicator of success. In 2012, Tyler began to develop the concepts that have become Roots-- Utah's first farm-based charter high school where educators work with students who come from risky environments, helping them find and reach their potential. Spoiler alert, many of the kids that attend Roots Charter High School are neurodivergent. As is Tyler Bastian himself. This is an inspiring listen. Maybe even inspiring enough for you to open a Charter HS that incorporates many of Roots Charter HS's values.

This is one of those episodes you don't want to miss. Liz Feicht works as the Family Caregiver Community Outreach Lead for Solace Pediatric Healthcare and she takes the time to break down the Medicaid waiver process. And she does this in her informative and engaging way. You'll want to have a pen and notepad handy. And to all of those families that don't believe they will qualify for Medicaid services, take a listen and rethink the opportunities that may be afforded to your family. Solace Pediatric Healthcare is the leading provider of family caregiver, occupational, physical, speech, and feeding therapy services. Since 2005, their clinicians have provided pediatric care to children from birth to 21 years of age. At Solace, they've instilled a culture built on trust, communication, teamwork, and accountability. Their mission is to provide pediatric healthcare services to help children and families live their best lives.

Abbey Butcher is an IEP Coach, a parent of children with behavioral needs, a special education teacher and a behavior specialist. She has 11+ years drafting behavior plans for students and her own children's behavioral needs and has helped hundreds of kids be more regulated and successful in school. When addressing a child's behavioral needs, Abbey brings a brain-based approach. Supports she recommends will focus on helping a child to regulate and engage in their classroom setting. She is a proud member of the Master IEP Network and cannot wait to help you on your IEP Journey!

Peter Mann is the CEO and Founder of Virginia-based Oransi, a leading air purification company known for its efficient, intuitive, and reliable products for consumers, schools, organizations, and businesses. He also is the Chair of the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers' Air Cleaner Council. In 2021, Oransi merged with Aviemore Technologies and is now a motor technology company with a clean energy mission. Oransi's new manufacturing facility in Radford, Virginia is making products in the USA with advanced motor technologies. Previously, Peter was the Founder and CEO of the Austin, Texas-based Alen Corp., an air purification company he built, and after 7 years had a successful exit. He went to college on a Navy ROTC scholarship and then served 4 years, including a tour in the Red Sea during the First Gulf War. He was a communications officer and then a gunnery officer on the USS McCandless. Peter is late diagnosed autistic and now advocates for autism awareness in the workplace. You can connect with him on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-mann/

In 2020, Tiffany and her husband, Cyle Feingold, founded Guiding Bright Minds, a community of educators, professionals, non-profits, and parents of neurodivergent children on their journey. Tiffany's motivation and passion for Guiding Bright Minds stem from her journey as a parent of a neurodivergent child and spouse to a neurodivergent husband. Tiffany is passionate about helping build a meaningful community around parents and families raising neurodivergent children. Take a listen to learn more about how she can help you, as a parent, build a community of support and connection.