The UNspecial Podcast

Are you a parent raising a child with special needs? Do you sometimes feel overwhelmed, isolated, or unsure where to turn for guidance and encouragement? Welcome to The Unspecial Podcast, dedicated to empowering and inspiring parents like you on your unique journey.Each week, we bring you heartfelt conversations with a diverse range of guests who offer invaluable insights and personal stories. Hear directly from individuals with special needs who share their triumphs, challenges, and perspectives on living fulfilling lives. We'll also sit down with parents who've walked similar paths, offering practical advice, emotional support, and the wisdom gained from their experiences.But that's not all. We'll connect with dedicated educators who provide strategies for navigating the school system and fostering your child's learning. Plus, we'll feature leading experts—from therapists and medical professionals to advocates and researchers—who will equip you with evidence-based information, inno

The UNspecial Podcast is a kids podcast hosted by Unknown Host, with 90 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Unknown Host hosts The UNspecial Podcast, a kids show with 90 episodes published.

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  The UNspecial Podcast

  The Listening World: Bridging the Gap with The Spellers Method.

  Aug 17, 202658 min

  Host Zach interviews Dr. Dana Johnston, an occupational therapist and co-founder of the Spellers Method, about why silence in autism is often mistaken for absence and why speech is wrongly equated with intelligence. Johnston distinguishes “non-speaking” from “non-verbal,” arguing many non-speakers have intact language and cognition but face a motor planning “brain-body disconnect” she calls whole body apraxia, plus frequent undiagnosed vision issues. They discuss how dysregulation, sometimes labeled aggression, can stem from nervous system disruption and medical problems, and how communication via spelling can help families understand pain and needs, though it may not eliminate all challenges. Johnston contrasts facilitated communication (physical touch) with RPM, S2C, and Spellers (no touch), emphasizing training and parent involvement. She shares outcomes, including a former client now pursuing neuroscience, mentions interest in spiritual experiences reported by spellers, and promotes Spellers trainings, websites, and an October 16–17 Spellers conference in San Diego. Visit our website: www.unspecialllc.com #specialneeds #specialeducation #specialed #podcast #unspecial #specialneedsjourney #specialneedskids #interview #truth #emotional

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  The UNspecial Podcast

  Warrior for Change: Martin Slingstad's Story.

  Aug 4, 202649 min

  Martin’s Autism Life: Self-Acceptance, Special Olympics, and Training First Responders | Unspecial Podcast In this episode of the Unspecial Podcast, the host interviews Martin Slingstad (Martin’s Autism Life), an autistic author, public speaker, Special Olympics athlete, and founder of Spire Autism. Martin shares early memories of being non-speaking until age three or four, his diagnosis at five, and the challenges of bullying and lack of support in school, which delayed his self-acceptance until writing his book, Chatterbox, co-authored with his mom and written from both perspectives. He discusses difficulties making friends, the importance of asking autistic people what they like to talk about, and how speaking engagements and solo travel have become major gifts in his life. Martin explains Spire Autism’s mission to train teachers and first responders, promote autism acceptance, and create sensory supports, emphasizing calm approaches to meltdowns and sharing a poem, “I Am,” about being a “warrior for change.” Visit our website: www.unspecialllc.com #specialneeds #specialeducation #specialed #podcast #unspecial #specialneedsjourney #specialneedskids #interview #truth #emotional

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  The UNspecial Podcast

  From Special Needs to Community Needs.

  Jul 27, 202654 min

  On the Us Special podcast, host interviews Claire DePaulis about motherhood, community-building, and self-care while raising three children under five, including her oldest daughter Valentina, who shows signs of autism (minimal speech, low adaptive skills) and is in a specialized autism preschool classroom while awaiting a formal diagnosis due to system delays. Claire discusses shifting mindset from control to surrender, practicing gratitude, managing safety challenges like elopement, and navigating the IEP process through documentation and advocacy. She explains founding SD Mom Walks during COVID via grassroots Facebook and later Instagram and Peanut, growing to weekly events in San Diego and Orange County. Noting the gap in spaces where special needs moms truly relate, she created “Self-Care for the Selfless,” monthly events like yoga, sound healing, and beach walks to reset and connect.

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  The UNspecial Podcast

  Navigating PDA: A Mother's Insight into Autism Challenges.

  Jul 20, 202652 min

  On “The Unspecial Podcast,” host Zach interviews Amber Aarons, an Arizona mom of six (four autistic children) and advocate for PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance/Persistent Drive for Autonomy). Amber shares her family’s diagnostic journey, including a son diagnosed medically at 12, two younger IVF children diagnosed as toddlers (one a “PDA girl”), and a late autism level-one diagnosis for a daughter after mental-health struggles. She discusses adult outcomes and state supports in Arizona, including group homes, vocational rehabilitation, and Medicaid waivers, emphasizing the need for a medical diagnosis and extensive paperwork. Amber explains PDA as an elevated nervous-system threat response to everyday demands that can look like defiance, outlining co-regulation, reducing demands during meltdowns, and focusing on connection over compliance, plus common PDA signs and parental judgment. She describes her PDA-focused coaching offerings and social accounts (@autismsavvy).

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  The UNspecial Podcast

  Fierce and Unconditional: A Conversation on Autism and Advocacy

  Jul 13, 202645 min

  Zach interviews Sarah of Inch Stones by Sarah, a mom, advocate, and educator supporting families navigating autism, IEPs, and celebrating “inches” of progress. In rapid-fire questions, Sarah shares self-care practices, challenges the myth that a diagnosis defines a child’s humanity, and offers hope that things will be “more than okay.” She describes shifting from trying to “fix” her daughter Millie to embracing unconditional, expectation-free hope, and explains how grief is non-linear and intensifies with the permanence of long-term support needs, including impacts on siblings and future caregiving fears. Sarah emphasizes action over rumination, faith over fear, and “find a way.” She discusses presuming competence, citing her children’s progress with spell-to-communicate and AAC. Sarah explains Inchstones as rejecting deficit-focused milestones and outlines her IEP Power Plan, which helps parents prepare strong parent statements to change the dynamics of IEP meetings, and notes her Substack, podcast, and upcoming National Council of Severe Autism speaking engagement. website: www.unspecialllc.com #specialed #podcast #unspecial #specialneedsjourney #specialneedskids 👉 For more personal content, check us our on Instagram: / unspecialllc 👉 If you haven't yet, make sure you read Special Dayz, a book about Zack's special education journey: https://www.amazon.com/Special-Dayz-F .. .

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