S2.E3: Does Tylenol Cause Autism?

October 15th marks what would be my 15th wedding anniversary. In this unscripted episode, I offer my experience on the other side of separation, for any woman who is considering ending her marriage. The truth about feeling both relief and grief, compassion for my younger self, and the pain of realizing I have to heal from my former partner, while holding no regret about leaving. I reflect on why I chose the hard and painful path of divorce, what it gave back to me and my children, and why I would choose it again.

It's back to school season and in this episode, Phyllis shares a simple two-page “quick guide” she created to quickly help teachers and other adults better support her neurodivergent child. After years of trying different schooling options, she designed a visual, high-impact handout that’s easy for busy educators to read and remember. It can even be used beyond school with therapists, caregivers, babysitters, and family. Link to Quick Guide template in Canva  Send Phyllis a DM

It's been almost a year since our last episode-- today, we get a quick look into the podcast's pivot from Neuropositive to Also, Everything including Phyllis' big life updates that inspired the change and what to expect from the show going forward. 

In this Hotline episode, Phyllis answers a listener question about how we can prevent neurodivergent girls from falling through the cracks, emphasizing: Why we understand so little about neurodivergence in girls in the first place How neurodivergence presents differently in boys vs. girls What happens to our girls when they grow up undiagnosed Practical insights on how to support neurodivergent girls in accessing the necessary resources and accommodations for a fulfilling life This episode will increase your awareness of the signs of different forms of neurodivergence in girls so you can better advocate on their behalf when seeking a diagnosis and support.   Have a question you'd like answered on an upcoming Hotline episode? Email [email protected] or visit the Neuropositive website to submit your question!

In September, Secretary of Health & Human Services, RFK Jr., made the claim that Tylenol use during pregnancy shows a strong link to increased rates of autism. But is this true? In this deep-dive episode we look at the link between Tylenol and autism including: What the data from the study of Tylenol use during pregnancy *actually* revealed  Why shifting the narrative from accommodation & support to prevention & cure is harmful for autistic people and their families The dangers and real impact of undermining credible science and the medical community Have an idea for an upcoming episode? Go to the Neuropositive Website to submit your request!  

What's the difference between equality and equity and why does it matter? In this episode, Phyllis discusses why precision in our language around advocacy and disability rights is so important. You'll learn: What equality is and how, though well intentioned, it can actually create unfair outcomes What equity is and why it's the foundation for all humans to be successful and thrive A simple analogy to illustrate the difference between equality and equity and why accommodations are not the same thing as special treatment We hope this overview gives you confidence to advocate for yourself and those you love, plus tools to better understand the importance of equitable learning and work environments.   To learn more about the show, visit the Neuropositive website. And if you loved this episode, please leave us a positive review!

Are you an ADHDer who's used every productivity trick in the book but still can't get yourself to start uninteresting tasks or finish what you've started? It's not you, it's your brain!  In this fun and relatable conversation Phyllis talks with Kendall Delamont of the ADHD Toolkit. Kendall shares her journey from classroom teacher to late-diagnosed ADHDer to ADHD educator and advocate. We discuss the unique challenges and strengths of our ADHD brains including: Why typical productivity advice doesn't work for ADHDers What actually *does* work to motivate an ADHD brain The importance of rest & play for ADHDers (kids and adults!) ...and plenty more! This is a must listen for adult ADHDers as well as teachers, parents, and therapists of ADHD kids. We hope you love this conversation as much as we enjoyed having it! You can find Kendall online: The ADHD Toolkit Website Instagram | Facebook | TikTok

That's a wrap! In this short episode Phyllis checks-in about wrapping up Season 1 of Neuropositive for the summer and what to look forward to in Season 2... Stay tuned for episode 1 of season 2 dropping on Tuesday, September 2nd!   Neuropositive Website | Instagram

Are you trying traditional parenting advice and rules only to feel like nothing works and you're somehow getting it wrong? You're not alone. If you're raising a child with a PDA profile you can feel like you're living in perpetual Opposite Day because most of what we're told "works" totally backfires. Amanda Diekman is an autistic PDA mother to three neurodivergent children and the author of the groundbreaking book, "Low Demand Parenting."  In our conversation we discuss: What exactly a PDA profile is and how it might show up in our kids (or ourselves!) How to navigate the challenges and complexities of parenting a child with a highly sensitive nervous system Why reducing demands leads to more trusting, harmonious relationships within the family Practical strategies for lowering demands and advocating for your PDA child outside the home You can find Amanda at:  @lowdemandamanda on Instagram | www.amandadiekman.com/ Click here to get Amanda's free resource, the Drop or Not Framework

Let's address the recent controversial comments made by RFK about autism. Besides his speech being factually incorrect and laced with scientific inaccuracies, RFK positing autism as an epidemic that is destroying children and families is harmful for a number of reasons: Distracts us from advocating for systemic change, better support, and accommodations for autistic individuals Divides parents of low and medium support needs against parents of high support needs children, when we should be uniting together to fight for better resources for autistic people and their families Reinforces the harmful rhetoric that humans are only valuable based on their ability to produce and contribute to capitalism