Spectrum Perspectives

During COVID, Jillian's son Bobby developed PANS/PANDAS, leading to sudden changes in behavior including self-injurious behavior. The diagnosis was initially dismissed by his neurologist but later acknowledged by a local pediatrician who confirmed her observations. Jillian and her husband both had to quit their jobs to care for Bob full-time due to the ongoing challenges. She described the significant impact on her family's life, including living in crisis mode and experiencing severe caregiver burnout, which led to her being prescribed multiple medications that left her feeling numb. Jillian emphasized the importance of addressing both the physical health aspects and the mental health challenges faced by caregivers in similar situations.
Find her on Facebook: "Bobby's World-Profound Autism & Comple Needs.
On Instagram: BobbysWorldProfoundAutism

Jillian talks about her son having not only autism but PANS/PANDAS, but the doctors not recognizing it. She is also very open about caregiver burnout and dealing with mental health issues over it. Listen to the full episode on this channel.

Steve Gonyea shared the challenges of his son Dustin's late autism diagnosis, his own experience as a single dad, and the lack of services in rural New York. He detailed his and his wife's work as foster parents to over 180 children, primarily those with autism and complex needs, and their decision to adopt three. Steve discussed his various projects aimed at creating solutions for the disability community, including a community bus service, an autism barn, recreational centers, and efforts to address housing and dental care issues. He emphasized the need for parents to be proactive and highlighted his involvement in national initiatives like Ability Village. The conversation also touched on the high rate of fathers leaving families with autistic children and the importance of parental involvement. 
Reach Steve at steve_gonyea@yahoo.com

Meet Steve Gonyea, Super dad! He has fostered 180 children including many with Special Needs. He adopted that last three, one of whom is profoundly autistic. Now he is busy advocating and creating projects for them. Listen to the full episode to see what else he is up to.

Cindy interviews Tyler Hudson focusing on Tyler's experience raising his non-speaking autistic son, Lyric. Tyler shared his journey from Texas to Tasmania, his career as a musician, and the challenges of Lyric's regression into autism after initial typical development. They discussed the long diagnostic process, the limitations of early interventions like ABA, and the lack of medical investigation into underlying conditions. Tyler explained his motivation for public advocacy, sparked by RFK Jr.'s controversial speech, and his frustration with the broad autism spectrum label. The conversation highlighted Lyric's recent progress with spelling to communicate, which has been a transformative experience for the family. Tyler also promoted his book, "The Missing Lyrics," which details his journey and critiques societal denial around autism.

Tyler is an autism advocate and the father of Lyric who has autism. A musician originally from Texas, he moved to Australia and now resides in Tasmania. Tyler explains his motivation for public advocacy, sparked by RFK Jr.'s controversial speech, and his frustration with the broad autism spectrum label. Listen to the full episode on this channel.

Nicole shared Caleb's story, including his early development, sudden regression and subsequent diagnosis of autism. She described the challenges of finding appropriate care, including Caleb's time in a residential school and the eventual creation of House of Hope, a micro-residential program for adults with profound autism needs. Nicole discussed the difficulties in navigating the adult service system, the lack of trained staff, and her vision for replicating her model to help other families navigate transitions from high school into adulthood.

Nicole shared Caleb's story, including his early development, sudden regression and subsequent diagnosis of autism. She described the challenges of finding appropriate care, including Caleb's time in a residential school and the eventual creation of House of Hope, a micro-residential program for adults with profound autism needs. Nicole discussed the difficulties in navigating the adult service system, the lack of trained staff, and her vision for replicating her model to help other families navigate transitions from high school into adulthood. Listen to the full episode on this channel. 

Elizabeth's son was diagnosed with Autism and Apraxia at three years old. At ten years old they discovered spelling and RPM with Soma, then worked with Eizabeth Vosseller and the Spelling to Communicate method. Later she worked with Dawn Marie Gaivin and Dana Johnson of the Speller method, so she is familiar with all three spelling methods. Now she works as a Special Education Advocate, helping parents navigate the system and IEP meetings, helping them to advocate not only for Spelling, but for an age appropriate education. Elizabeth discusses a recent case involving a student named Zach who needed accommodation for letterboard use in his IEP, but the school system refused to implement the IEP, leading to a successful due process hearing where the student's testimony about his spelling abilities convinced the hearing officer.

Elizabeth is the mom of a son with autism who spells to communicate. Now she works as a Special Education Advocate helping families who want to get spelling into IEP's in school. Listen to the full episode on this channel.