Early Intervention Matters

The Early Intervention Matters Podcast is a podcast that informs, inspires and equips parents and professionals who live and work with children with neurodevelopmental difficulties and disabilities like autism, adhd, tic-disorders, and learning difficulties.

Early Intervention Matters is a society podcast hosted by Dr. Inyang Takon, with 57 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Dr. Inyang Takon hosts Early Intervention Matters, a society show with 57 episodes published.

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  Early Intervention Matters

  The Tiegerman Story: One Family's Relentless Journey to Build a School for Neurodivergent Learners.

  Sep 15, 202642 min

  His mother watched her sister lose the ability to speak — Forty years later, that story is a school that's changed 700 lives annually In this episode, Dr. Inyang Takon sits down with Dr. Jeremy Tiegerman, licensed psychologist and Chief Operating Officer of Tiegerman, a life-cycle agency serving children and adults from age 3 through adulthood on Long Island, New York. They cover how families get admitted through the IEP and CSE process, why Tiegerman staffs two certified teachers per 12-student classroom, what 20 speech-language pathologists for 130 children actually looks like in practice, how transition planning works from preschool through the adult services side, and the story of the aunt whose traumatic brain injury sparked it all. Parents and educators navigating a neurodevelopmental diagnosis — or wondering what happens after a specialist placement ends — will find a genuinely hopeful, practical picture of what a fully joined-up system can look like. cation Department, and also runs a private psychology practice in Syosset, NY. Timestamps: 00:00 — Introduction to Dr. Jeremy Tiegerman and the episode 04:39 — The family story behind the founding of Tiegerman School 06:35 — Supporting children with speech, language, autism, ADHD, and learning needs 16:33 — Why language is the foundation of learning 17:33 — Tiegerman’s intensive classroom staffing and therapy model 33:13 — Preparing families for educational and life transitions 43:53 — “Teaching the extraordinary”: Tiegerman’s mission and long-term impact Guest bio Dr. Jeremy Tiegerman, Psy.D., is Chief Operating Officer of Tiegerman Schools and Tiegerman Community Services, a family of non-public, state-approved schools and community services in the New York City Metropolitan Area. They offer residential, vocational, and day rehabilitation programs. He has spent most of his career at Tiegerman — advancing from School Psychologist to Principal to Program Director before becoming COO in January 2023. Dr Tiegerman carries forward the organization's mission of "teaching the extraordinary" by focusing on early identification of language and autism spectrum disorders. He holds a bachelor's in Psychology from the University of Maryland and a master's, Certificate of Advanced Studies, and Doctorate in School Community Psychology from Hofstra University. He is a licensed School Building Leader and School Psychologist certified by the New York State Education Department, and also runs a private psychology practice in Syosset, NY. Connect with Dr. Jeremy Tiegerman Website: https://tiegerman.org Leadership team: https://tiegerman.org/executive-team/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tiegermanschools/ LinkedIn (Tiegerman): https://www.linkedin.com/company/tiegerman85/ LinkedIn (Dr. Tiegerman): https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremy-tiegerman-01473b17/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Tiegerman85 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Tiegerman85 Connect with Dr. Inyang Takon (NEW!) Resource Library: https://braindiverse.org Support the show Resources & Connect with Dr. Inyang Takon: Website: www.drtakon.com General Information for Parents www.school-doctor.com Questions? Email Us at eim@drtakon.com Connect on LinkedIn Subscribe to Ask a Developmental Paediatrician Read our SUBSTACK Articles for Short Simple Smart tips for parents, health professionals Guest enquiries: podcast@drtakon.com

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  Early Intervention Matters

  "Decisions About Patients Should Never Be Made Without Patients"

  Aug 31, 20261h 12m

  Summary: Ruth Ajayi, Patient Advocate, Public Speaker, and Non-Executive Director, joins Dr. Inyang Takon to talk about how a traumatic maternity experience sixteen years ago launched a career spent bringing patient and carer voices into rooms of power. Ruth explains the difference between consultation and co-production, how she built community engagement from scratch by walking into GP surgeries and hair salons rather than waiting for people to come to her, and what she looks for as a patient and public voice partner on NHS England's Responsible Adoption of AI Committee — including whether new tools widen health inequalities or advance health equity. She closes with direct advice for parents of neurodivergent children: find your tribe, and don't be afraid to be labelled a "difficult patient." Key Takeaways for Parents and Teachers: Genuine patient engagement means going out into the community — GP surgeries, schools, local businesses — not expecting people to come to you. "Co-production" goes further than consultation: co-planning, co-designing, co-evaluating, and co-delivering alongside the people a service is built for. New tools and services (including AI) need to be tested against whether they widen or narrow health inequalities, especially for people who are less digitally connected or have complex needs. One small, human gesture — like warming up gel before a scan — can make a lasting difference to a patient's experience. Parents of neurodivergent children should find community with others who understand, and shouldn't fear being seen as a "difficult" advocate for their child — persistence can be lifesaving. Resources Mentioned: Maternity Services Liaison Committee (MSLC), now Maternity Voices Partnership NHS England's Responsible Adoption of AI Committee Connect with Ruth Ajayi: Website: https://www.ruthajayi.co.uk/ Self Advocacy Guides: https://www.ruthajayi.co.uk/home LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruth-ajayi-storytoaction/ https://brandangelz.com/creator/LadyRuth Support the show Resources & Connect with Dr. Inyang Takon: Website: www.drtakon.com General Information for Parents www.school-doctor.com Questions? Email Us at eim@drtakon.com Connect on LinkedIn Subscribe to Ask a Developmental Paediatrician Read our SUBSTACK Articles for Short Simple Smart tips for parents, health professionals Guest enquiries: podcast@drtakon.com

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  Early Intervention Matters

  Aggressive. Manipulative. Lazy...?" Why We're Getting FASD Behaviour Wrong

  Aug 27, 20261h 17m

  Antonia Rathbun Lindsey, an internationally recognised art therapist and FASD specialist with 40 years of experience, joins Dr. Inyang Takon to reframe how we understand behaviour in children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders. Drawing on her own experience as a late-deafened clinician who learned to adapt her own body, and her years working within an Afrocentric family reunification programme, Antonia explains why alcohol exposure in pregnancy disrupts neuronal development, why children with FASD often can't "read" their own distress (interoception), and why what looks like defiance is frequently a nervous system stuck at threshold — what she calls a "bristle attack." She shares concrete, play-based strategies for helping children regulate and shows why "workarounds, not stops" changes outcomes for families. Key Takeaways for Parents and Teachers: FASD is caused by alcohol exposure in pregnancy — it's the most preventable cause of intellectual disability, and no amount of alcohol during pregnancy is considered safe. Children with FASD often struggle with interoception — the ability to sense and signal their own overwhelm — so meltdowns are often prolonged "episodes," not typical tantrums. Labels like "aggressive" or "manipulative" often describe survival responses to sensory overload, not the child's character. Physical, sensory-based interventions (deep pressure, movement, rhythm) can help a dysregulated child re-organise faster than verbal redirection alone. Supporting these families means acknowledging intergenerational trauma and cultural context — not just clinical symptoms. Resources Mentioned: Parenting Your Porcupine: A Toolkit for Children with FASD, Other Drug Effects, and Neurodiversity by Antonia Rathbun Lindsey — available via Books.by (English, French; German translation in progress) The Lewis Protocol SAMHSA's FAS Centers for Excellence Canada's British Columbia Ministry of Education State of Alaska Drug & Alcohol Services Connect with Dr. Inyang Takon: Website: www.drtakon.com General Information for Parents: www.school-doctor.com Questions? Email: eim@drtakon.com LinkedIn: Connect with Dr. Takon Subscribe: Ask a Developmental Paediatrician Read: Braindiverse Substack Guest enquiries: podcast@drtakon.com Support the show Resources & Connect with Dr. Inyang Takon: Website: www.drtakon.com General Information for Parents www.school-doctor.com Questions? Email Us at eim@drtakon.com Connect on LinkedIn Subscribe to Ask a Developmental Paediatrician Read our SUBSTACK Articles for Short Simple Smart tips for parents, health professionals Guest enquiries: podcast@drtakon.com

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  Early Intervention Matters

  The Language of Play: Dinalynn Rosenbush on Speech, Sign Language, and Waiting Lists

  Aug 24, 20261h 4m

  Summary Dinalynn Rosenbush, a 30-year speech-language pathologist and creator of the top 1.5% podcast The Language of Play, joins Dr. Inyang Takon to reframe how parents think about speech and language delay. They cover the misconception that only a speech pathologist can move the needle (parents' time and connection matter just as much), why signing supports rather than delays speech, why "play" is not a break from language-building but the mechanism of it, and practical, low-cost strategies parents can use the moment they notice a concern — rather than waiting for an assessment. Key Takeaways for Parents and Teachers: Don't wait for a diagnosis or a waiting-list appointment to start supporting a child's language — early, everyday interaction matters more than parents often realise. Signing does not delay speech — it gives children access to language through larger muscle groups before fine motor speech control develops, and children naturally transition to spoken words as they become easier. Parents have something a therapist can't replicate: frequency, time, and connection — pairing that with the right strategies can accelerate progress significantly. "Play" isn't just toys — sensory exploration (like mashed potatoes at dinner) is also play, and redirecting rather than shutting it down protects the learning opportunity. If you're on a waiting list, don't just wait — small, consistent daily strategies can start making a difference immediately. Resources Mentioned: The Language of Play podcast Small Steps in Speech (Amanda Barati) — speech therapy scholarship program Connect with Dinalynn Rosenbush: Website: https://www.thelanguageofplay.com/ Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-language-of-play-kids-that-listen-speech/id1661880535 Freebie — 5 Ways to Get Kids to Listen Better: https://www.thelanguageofplay.com/5-ways-to-get-kids-to-listen-better LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dinalynn-rosenbush-b5750854/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557381098806 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dinalynnrosenbush/ Connect with Dr. Inyang Takon: Website: https://www.drtakon.com General Information for Parents: https://www.school-doctor.com Questions? Email: eim@drtakon.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/inyang-takon-paediatrician-co-founder-school-doctor-25a0b551/ Subscribe: https://neuropaeddoc.substack.com/ Read: https://braindiverse.substack.com/ Guest enquiries: podcast@drtakon.com Support the show Resources & Connect with Dr. Inyang Takon: Website: www.drtakon.com General Information for Parents www.school-doctor.com Questions? Email Us at eim@drtakon.com Connect on LinkedIn Subscribe to Ask a Developmental Paediatrician Read our SUBSTACK Articles for Short Simple Smart tips for parents, health professionals Guest enquiries: podcast@drtakon.com

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  Early Intervention Matters

  Seeing the Whole Child: Beyond the Diagnosis with Dr. Sudipta Sen

  Aug 21, 20261h 18m

  Summary: Dr. Sudipta Sen, a consultant paediatrician with over 33 years of experience across NHS and private practice, joins Dr. Inyang Takon to unpack what it really means to "see the whole child." Drawing on a career that began at one of Kolkata's busiest hospitals and was shaped by a formative encounter with Mother Teresa, Dr. Sen explains why she pushes back against rigid referral criteria, how she builds trust with a child in the first moments of an appointment, and why a diagnosis should open a roadmap for a child — not define them. Key Takeaways for Parents and Teachers: A diagnosis explains a behaviour; it's the whole-child view that explains the person — don't let a label become the whole story. Children shouldn't have to "fit" narrow referral criteria to get support — if something isn't working for a child, it's worth pursuing even without a tidy diagnostic fit. Teachers and parents should assume good faith in each other: a child who "looks fine" at school may be dysregulated at home, and vice versa — neither setting invalidates the other. Trust-building starts small — Dr. Sen gets down to a child's eye level, shares something personal about herself, and treats the child (not just the parent) as the main person in the room. Burnout in this field is real; Dr. Sen's advice to fellow clinicians is to keep learning, find mentors, and hold onto interests outside of medicine. Resources Mentioned: Missionaries of Charity (Mother Teresa's organisation) NRS Medical College, Kolkata, India ADHD Embrace Hounslow ADHD/learning disability pilot clinic Connect with Dr. Inyang Takon: Website: www.drtakon.com General Information for Parents: www.school-doctor.com Questions? Email: eim@drtakon.com LinkedIn: Connect with Dr. Takon Subscribe: Ask a Developmental Paediatrician Read: Braindiverse Substack Guest enquiries: podcast@drtakon.com Support the show Resources Website: www.drtakon.com General Information for Parents www.school-doctor.com Questions? Email Us at eim@drtakon.com Connect on LinkedIn Subscribe to Ask a Developmental Paediatrician Read our SUBSTACK Articles for Short Simple Smart tips for parents, health professionals Guest enquiries: podcast@drtakon.com

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