Connect with Samantha:
https://everybrainisdifferent.com/

Connect with Katey:

Website: https://yourdifferentability.com/

Book: https://yourdifferentability.com/book

Book Preview (Katey made this free for this podcast's listeners!): https://yourdifferentability.com/welcome

Instagram: https://instagram.com/kateyfortun

Personal Website: https://kateyfortun.com/

Samantha and Lauren welcome back disability advocate and dyslexic speaker Katey Fortun to discuss her newly published book, "Embracing Your Different Ability," available in standard print, dyslexic-friendly print, and audiobook, along with her "Different Ability Podcast."

Katey shares that she was inspired to write the book after feeling prompted on a walk in late 2023, committed in early 2024 to doing “one new thing,” and self-published through Amazon with support from a book-coaching team, ultimately releasing it on March 26, 2024—the same date she signed up to begin the process.

Written initially for her eight-year-old self, the book aims to help kids feel seen and understood while also supporting parents, guardians, and teachers, including chapters from Katie’s mother to show both child and parent perspectives.

They discuss distinguishing “won’t” vs. “can’t” by defaulting to “can’t” and investigating, the hidden struggles of kids who appear “fine” at school, the trauma of forced reading aloud, and how diagnosis can be validating and unlock resources; Katey also shares a free “welcome package” with sample chapters and resources at her website.

00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro
01:33 Why She Wrote It
04:45 Who the Book Is For
09:21 Won Versus Cant
16:25 School Trauma and Diagnosis
21:43 Dyslexia Strengths and Success
25:24 Closing Questions and Hope
27:16 Where to Find the Book
29:34 Final Advice and Wrap Up

Connect with Samantha Foote!

Website: https://everybrainisdifferent.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everybrainisdifferent

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@everybrainisdifferent

Join the Neurodivergent Parenting Community: https://everybrainisdifferent.com/membership

Connect with Samantha: https://everybrainisdifferent.com/

Samantha and Lauren discuss the third step after a child is diagnosed with autism: building a support system. They recap the first two steps—learning about autism by getting curious about your own child and connecting with autistic adults and other parents, and applying early for resources like Medicaid and therapy waitlists.

They validate how overwhelming ongoing therapies and frequent specialist appointments can be, emphasizing that parenting isn’t meant to be done alone and that some family or friends may not provide the support you expect, making it okay to set boundaries or create distance.

They outline professional supports (pediatricians, therapists, mental health providers) and personal supports (spouses, friends, online communities), encourage learning from parents further along while avoiding comparison, and note research linking parental support to lower stress and improved outcomes.

00:00 Welcome and Recap
00:57 Why Support Matters
01:43 Overwhelm and Appointments
04:08 Finding Your Village
04:56 When Family Isn’t Supportive
07:49 Professional Support Team
10:01 Emotional Support and Community
11:29 Learn From Others Avoid Comparison
14:50 Support Groups and Action Step
16:18 Three Takeaways and Closing

Connect with Samantha Foote!

Website: https://everybrainisdifferent.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everybrainisdifferent

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@everybrainisdifferent

Connect with Samantha: www.everybrainisdifferent.com

Download the Guide to Raising Your Neurodivergent Child: www.everybrainisdifferent.com

Samantha and Lauren continue their discussion on what to do when you suspect or receive an autism diagnosis, revisiting the idea of “being a detective” to learn what makes your child tick while also debating the line between respecting boundaries and pushing kids to get out into the world for social learning and health.

They emphasize acting early to access supports, highlighting Medicaid options like the disability-based Katie Beckett Waiver (which can cover broad healthcare and therapies) and other state-specific waivers for non-traditional therapies, plus early intervention (Zero to Three), developmental preschool requirements, IEPs/504s, respite care, parent training, adaptive equipment, grants, and case management.

They stress that professionals often won’t volunteer these resources, approvals can take months to years, denials are common, and parents should reapply, follow up persistently, join local Facebook groups for area-specific guidance, get on multiple therapy waitlists, keep organized records, and request school assessments in writing.

00:00 Welcome Back Recap
00:40 Boundaries Versus Pushing Growth
03:01 Why Social Practice Matters
05:09 Finding Help After Diagnosis
05:24 Medicaid Katie Beckett Waiver
08:11 Early Intervention and School Supports
09:45 Local Groups and Activity Options
11:52 Waitlists and Getting On Them
13:37 Be the Squeaky Wheel
15:20 Organize Paperwork and Ask Providers
19:53 Action Steps and Next Episode

Connect with Samantha Foote!

Website: https://everybrainisdifferent.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everybrainisdifferent

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@everybrainisdifferent