TW: This episode discusses suicide. Please listen with care.

It's suicide prevention month and we know that our population of neurodiverse youth and adults are impacted greatly by suicide, by suicidal ideation, and mental health issues because of bullying and other social challenges. It’s a vital topic, and one that’s hard to discuss, but we really have to do it because it’s so important.

In today’s episode, we have our very first guest. We’re so excited to talk to Anne Moss Rogers, a suicide prevention trainer, author, and advocate. Anne Moss tells the story of losing her son to suicide and why she’s become to passionate about suicide prevention and bringing awareness to parents and schools. We also discuss why parents are afraid to ask their kids about suicidal thoughts, how social challenges can lead to suicidality for neurodiverse kids, and the importance of having a safety plan in place.

In this episode, you’ll learn…

[01:44] An introduction to our very first guest on the podcast, Anne Moss Rogers, and how she became so passionate about suicide prevention

[21:31] Why parents are afraid to ask their kids about suicidal ideation

[30:01] How the research shows that social challenges can lead to suicidality for neurodiverse children, and why we need to be able to talk about it

[39:19] The importance of having a safety plan for instances of suicidal thoughts

[45:02] How parents of neurodiverse children who experience suicidal ideation can take care of themselves

[52:34] The Last Word

Get full show notes and the episode transcript: https://www.youdontwantahug.com/post/12-suicide-prevention-for-the-neurodiverse-population-with-anne-moss-rogers

If you can’t get enough of us, and want stay up to date with our other projects and ways you can connect, join our newsletter: https://www.youdontwantahug.com/

We didn’t mean to disappear for seven months… okay, maybe we did. But we’re back! Turns out, living through existential dread and trying to raise neurodivergent kids is a full-time gig (with no PTO). But we’ve surfaced—with stories, updates, and an entire dragon-themed Zoom backdrop Gwen can’t figure out how to remove.

In this catch-up episode, Gwen and Kristen are dishing out all the highs, lows, awkward award nights, top hat choices, and job transitions their neurodivergent kids have been navigating. From AmeriCorps fallout and grocery store burnout to college acceptances and Target cashier wins—we’re celebrating the inchstones (and laughing so we don’t cry).

In this episode, you’ll learn…

• [00:01:00] The fire-breathing Zoom background Gwen can’t figure out
• [00:04:00] Why we really took a break (hint: life was A LOT)
• [00:05:00] Kristen’s son Hayden goes from wildland fires to CSU
• [00:09:00] Jamison gets straight A’s—and learns asking for help is strength
• [00:11:00] Autism Elevated, Target jobs, and inchstones with Graham
• [00:15:00] Gwen’s daughter is officially becoming a Vogelzang!
• [00:18:00] Why guests are banned from Gwen’s house (for now)
• [00:19:00] Graduation night disasters, missed awards, and screaming moms
• [00:23:00] The next chapter: Beacon College + working at a lettuce farm

Get full show notes and the episode transcript: https://www.youdontwantahug.com/post/ep-29

If you can’t get enough of us, and want stay up to date with our other projects and ways you can connect, join our newsletter: https://www.youdontwantahug.com/

Helping your child transition to adulthood isn’t for the faint of heart for any parent… but when you're helping a neurodivergent child navigate the process, it’s even harder.

Sure, there’s help– if you know where to ask for it. And your locality probably has a system or service that can offer support– but it has a different title in every state. And don’t forget that the type of diploma or certificate your child receives from high school can affect the type of support they can qualify for. Feeling overwhelmed yet?

Well, before you start hyperventilating, in today’s episode, we’re sharing all the things we’ve discovered while launching our neurodivergent kids, so you’ll have an idea about what support to look for when it comes to your own kids. We’re covering Medicaid, job programs, when the school transition starts, where to look for support, and even the personality changes our kids undergo through this process.

If you have an older neurodivergent child and you’re feeling overwhelmed about the future, you need this episode. Let's dive in!

In this episode, you’ll learn…

[00:00] Intro

[02:18] Why we’re talking about what the transition to adulthood looks like with kids on the spectrum

[04:39] A Rylanism and Grahamism to lighten the mood

[09:41] Where to start when it comes to helping your neurodivergent child transition from school to adulthood

[15:09] Gwen’s experience of struggling to find information on the services available for the transition process

[22:55] The difference between guardianship and power of attorney for our kids

{25:05] What Medicaid qualification looks like for some of our kids and who can help you navigate the process

[29:00] Some educational considerations and decisions to keep in mind during the transition process

[33:23] How the transition to adulthood changes our kids into radically different humans

[41:34] The Last Word with Rylan and Graham

Get full show notes and the episode transcript: https://www.youdontwantahug.com/post/ep-28

If you can’t get enough of us, and want stay up to date with our other projects and ways you can connect, join our newsletter: https://www.youdontwantahug.com/