In this episode of The Neurodivergent Report, Sarah and JQ welcome back Sol Smith, certified autism specialist, author of The Autistic’s Guide to Self-Discovery, and founder of the NeuroSpicy Community!

Curious what’s inside:

• Autonomy and choice are essential for neurodivergent learners

• PDA as a drive for autonomy rather than “demand avoidance”

• “There’s no such thing as an academic emergency…”

• Supporting kids’ special interests as pathways to motivation and resilience

• Importance of self-advocacy skills

However you are able to engage, thanks for being here!

With love, Sarah 💜

Looking for Sol?

🌐 professorsol.com

🌐 neurospicycommunity.com

📘 The Autistic’s Guide to Self-Discovery – available wherever books are sold

📱 Instagram: @theprofessorsol

📱 TikTok: @professorsol

Connect with us!

Follow 👉 @ndreportpod

Apply to be a guest 🎤⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠ndreportpod.com⁠

Keywords (we've gotta please the SEO) AuDHD, ADHD, autism, PDA, Pervasive Demand for Autonomy, neurodivergent students, school accommodations, emotional regulation, executive function, SEL, autonomy in education, self-advocacy, parenting neurodivergent kids, classroom strategies, masking, burnout, neurodiversity, Sol Smith, Sarah Russell, The Neurodivergent Report

Come meet Brett, the AuDHD Boss!

We’re talking about workplace accommodations; both how to ask for them and what to even try!!!

Curious about what's inside:

• The realities of neurodivergence in professional spaces, namely the impacts to the way we show up at work.

• Unpacking the importance of accommodations and how/what to ask for

• Why open communication and psychological safety are essential for neurodivergent success.

Through personal experiences and practical strategies, we discuss self-regulation, emotional triggers, burnout prevention, and how to ask for clarity without feeling “difficult.”

Whether you are a neurodivergent in the workplace, or hold a position in management - this episode has something to offer you!

Looking for Brett?

Website: https://brettwhitmarsh.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brettwhitmarsh/

Podcast: https://brettwhitmarsh.com/audhdboss-podcast/

Connect with Us!

✨ Follow us @NDreportpod on socials for more

🎤Apply to be our guest ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠NDreportpod.com⁠

Dr. Kristen Eccleston is known online as The Neurodiverse Teacher, and we are digging back in to accommodations at school for our neurodivergent kids!

Curious what's inside:

• Schools over-discipline instead of supporting the mental health of EVERY child
• What undiagnosed mental health issues (ADHD, autism, OCD, and anxiety) look in the classroom

• What parents and students can ask for (but don’t know they can!)

Kristen is passionate, funny, and radically student-centered. This episode is a MUST for parents, teachers, therapists, school leaders, and anyone who wants a future where neurodivergent brains are supported instead of punished.

However you are able to engage, thanks for being here!

Love, Sarah

🔍 Major Themes & Keywords (SEO)

• Neurodiversity in education

• ADHD & autism in the classroom

• Executive dysfunction & regulation

• Mental health support vs discipline

• Masking, burnout & misdiagnosis

• Late diagnosis in high achievers & girls

• Inclusive teaching strategies

• Advocacy for neurodivergent students

• Coaching in entertainment industry

• School accommodations & IEPs

• Shame-free learning environments

Connect with Dr. Kristen Eccleston:

🌐 Website: www.theneurodiverseteacher.com

📱 Instagram/TikTok: @the.neurodiverse.teacher

Connect with Us!

✨ Follow us @NDreportpod on socials for more

🎤Apply to be our guest ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠NDreportpod.com⁠

Supporting young adults on the spectrum often means looking beyond traditional therapy.

In this episode of The Neurodivergent Report, I sit down with Patty McCallister, a counselor and autism coach who went back to school to better support her son and the neurodivergent young people in her life.

Patty shares how her work blends mental health counseling, LifeMap coaching through AANE (Asperger/Autism Network), and creative approaches like bilateral stimulation and “calm space” practices.

We also dive into her collaboration on The Art of Neurodivergence — an expressive, judgment-free art and spirituality program in Buffalo, NY that creates safe spaces for autistic and ADHD individuals to explore creativity, self-regulation, and identity.

Curious about what’s inside?

✨ How Patty’s parenting journey created a career shift

✨ What is LifeMap coaching for neurodivergent young adults

✨ Why community, spirituality, and creativity matter

✨ Using bilateral stimulation, calm spaces, and movement to support regulation

✨ How parents and caregivers can access resources and support networks

Patty’s story reminds us that supporting each other requires community, creativity, and compassion & that healing will never look the same for everyone.

However you’re able to engage, thank you for being here.

With love,

Sarah 💜

Looking for Patty?

🌐 Website: Patty McCallister Counseling & Coaching

📢 Connect with Us:

Follow 👉 ⁠@ndreportpod⁠

Apply to be a guest 🎤⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ndreportpod.com

Dr. Nechama Sorscher is back to help us better advocate for our kids at schoolLife as the parent of a neurodivergent child is already overwhelming… but now we’re back at school!

Are you ready for the IEP/504 meetings where we’ll make decisions that impact your child’s entire school year?!

In this episode of The Neurodivergent Report, we’re talking candidly about the challenges and opportunities that arise when advocating for your child’s education.

From identifying early developmental indicators to understanding the difference between IEPs and 504 plans, this conversation shines a light on what parents need to know — so they can walk into the school feeling more confident and empowered.

And if you’re an educator or administrator, we didn’t leave you out! Community support makes all the difference, and the evolving science of neurodiversity is always strengthening our advocacy efforts.

Curious about what’s inside?

✨ How early should parents bring up developmental concerns at the doctor?

✨ IEPs vs. 504 plans — and what parents should really know

✨ The role of emotional well-being and movement breaks in learning

✨ How advocacy can lead to better outcomes — with or without legal help

✨ Shifting perceptions of autism in media and schools

✨ Why teachers need better training in brain development & neurodiversity

This episode is a reminder that advocacy isn’t about getting through the meeting… it’s about opening a written line of legal communication with the school team.

However you’re able to engage, thank you for being here.

With love,

Sarah 💜

Looking for Dr. Sorscher?

Check out her website!

"Your Neurodiverse Child" - book on sale now!

📢 Connect with Us

Follow 👉 @ndreportpod

Apply to be a guest 🎤⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠ndreportpod.com

A Canadian walked into the Pentagon and gave a talk on workplace accessibility & inclusion...

Being diagnosed as autistic at just six years old shaped Sydney Elaine Butler’s path in ways she’s still unpacking today.

From navigating education and career barriers to advocating for accessibility in HR, Sydney shares how lived experience fuels her work.

Public speaking, social media, and authenticity also come into play — with Sydney reminding us that success looks different for everyone, and that sustainability in advocacy and content creation starts with listening to your body.

Curious about what’s inside?

✨ How early diagnosis impacts education and career choices

✨ Why accessibility in HR can’t be standardized — and shouldn’t be

✨ Social media, authenticity, and sustainable content creation

✨ Why community and cultural perspectives matter in shaping neurodiversity

PLUS — listen for our methods of self-care in these trying times

However you’re able to engage, thank you for being here!

With love,

Sarah 💜

Looking for Sydney?

🎧 Listen now + connect with their work:

🔗 LinkedIn

🔗 Instagram

📢 Connect with Us:

Follow 👉 ⁠@ndreportpod⁠

Apply to be a guest 🎤⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ndreportpod.com

What is it like living life as a highly sensitive person?

In this episode of The Neurodivergent Report, we sit down with Karolina, a wordsmith and translator from Poland.

We dig into the science & lived experience, and how cultural perceptions of sensitivity can overlap with the neurodivergent experience.

✨ Trigger warning: This episode contains discussion of depression, fatigue, and suicide attempts. Please listen with care.

Curious about what's inside:

• What percentage of people are highly sensitive?

• The daily minutiae of being highly sensitive... from needing more rest, to managing sensory overload, to experiencing art and relationships on a deeper level

• How vulnerability can save lives

This conversation is a reminder that sensitivity is not fragility. It’s our way of being deeply attuned to the world, and it is both a blessing and a curse.

If you are looking for a conversation that intersects sensory sensitivity, neurodivergence, and resilience ... this episode is for you!

However you're able to engage, thanks for being here!

With love, Sarah

Looking for Karolina?https://itiskarolina.com/

📢 Connect with Us

Follow 👉 @ndreportpod

Apply to be a guest 🎤⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ndreportpod.com

Neurodivergent life often means navigating a world that wasn’t built with us in mind. But what if the key to better mental health isn’t just about thinking differently but functioning differently?

How does occupational therapy fit into this? In this episode, OT and ADHD coach Jamie Cutino joins us to unpack sensory needs, executive functioning, and a real simple guide to accommodations.

Curious about what's inside:

• Occupational therapy vs, mental health therapy, vs ADHD coaching - & when to reach for which
• Why sensory regulation is just as important to support as executive function

• How internalized ableism keeps us from using the tools we already know help
• Things to try NOW to start improving focus, energy, and to day-to-day

Jamie’s incredible passion shines through as she reminds us that ADHD care must go beyond medication and therapy!

We NEED to start learning how to function in real life.

If you’ve ever wondered how to better meet your sensory needs, advocate for yourself, or simply stop burning out, this episode is for you!

However you’re able to engage, thank you for being here!

With love,

Sarah 💜🎧 Listen now + don’t forget to check out Jamie’s podcast: Outsmart ADHD⁠⁠ https://outsmartadhd.transistor.fm/⁠⁠

📌 Find Jamie here:⁠⁠

LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-cutino-014213256/)

⁠Facebook⁠ (https://www.facebook.com/jamie.keller.165)📢 Connect with Us:

Follow 👉 ⁠@ndreportpod⁠

Apply to be a guest 🎤⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ndreportpod.com