Usually, you will hear Dan and Stephanie talking through issues and challenges of being an NDCC or sharing tips. But today, Dan with two guys from our NDCC Bible/book study join Dan (just the guys) to discuss how work influences home life. Dan, Perry, and Mark discuss priorities. How do you set your priorities? What has changed in your priorities throughout your marriage?Mark and his wife Kenda have contributed to our curriculum for couples and counselors and podcasts- you can hear more from couples (Dan and Stephanie, Mark and Kenda & Greg and Carol) who are NDCC at:https://courses.christianneurodiversemarriage.com/courses/educate-2All proceeds from courses go toward funding this podcast and further curriculum.Hear from 4 couples (including Dan and Stephanie) in this module of Educate!Mark and Kenda contributed their story to this Focus on the Family article:https://www.focusonthefamily.com/marriage/autism-and-marriage-3-signs-your-spouse-may-be-on-the-autism-spectrum/As well as a previous podcast:https://www.spreaker.com/user/mhnrnetwork/is-your-marital-counselor-or-pastoral-coTo hear more from Perry, Perry has been a guest before on the podcast- check out his link here.https://www.spreaker.com/user/mhnrnetwork/special-interests-or-expertise

Join Stephanie and Dr. Matthew Fisher, MD (and therapy dog Jessie is present too) here to help professionals, parents, and educators better understand typical health, environmental, and behavioral myths that are common in the Autism population. Information challenging these myths along with tools on how to effectively deal with a person on the Autism spectrum will be presented from a psychiatrist’s perspective.Dr. Fisher will discuss medications and his philosophy of working with individuals on the spectrum at Springbrook Behavioral HealthDr. Fisher completed his General Psychiatry residency at the University of Texas-Galveston and a Child/Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship at the University of South Carolina. He serves as Medical leader of Springbrook Autism’s Residential and Outpatient Treatment Program (specializing in treating Autism Spectrum Disorders) and is an authority in minimal medical management of ASD and ASD with comorbidities. Dr. Fisher speaks at Autism Conferences on Medical Overview of Autism Spectrum Disorders, Medication Management for Autism Spectrum Disorders, Myths and Misconceptions in Autism, Autism and Co-Morbid Conditions, and Helping Siblings and Other Children Understand Autism.

Dr. Sean Hirt earned his master’s and Doctoral degrees in clinical psychology fromGeorgia School of Professional Psychology. He completed his pre-doctoral internship atCasa Pacifica Center for Children and Families in Camarillo, CA. He completed post-doctoral training at West Georgia Psychological Services in Douglasville, GA. Over theyears, he has practiced in a variety of clinical settings, including residential treatmentcenters, school settings, and private practice. His areas of specialties include assistingpeople in addressing the following: anxiety, depression, autism spectrum disorder,overly dependent adult children, low self-esteem, behavioral and life transition issues,substance abuse, and trauma-related disorders. Dr. Hirt went on to establish his ownpsychotherapy private practice, Hirt Psychology, in 2019. There, his focus is on workingwith individuals, families, and couples to address mental health issues. In addition totherapy, he also provides diagnostic and treatment consultations to assist people infinding the appropriate treatment track and interventions. A big part of his work is at HirtPsychology includes working with individuals on the autism spectrum to help themreach personal life goals related to work, relationships, emotion regulation, school, andoverall well-being. In therapy, Dr. Hirt uses empirically driven modalities to addressclients’ needs. He works closely with all clients to develop an integrative yet client-centered approach to treatment in order to achieve satisfaction and successfultreatment outcomes. His practice provides individual, family, and couples therapy forchildren, teens, and adults and facilitates therapeutic groups. Recent groups haveincluded ‘Dating on the Spectrum’ and ‘Wise Minds- a DBT Group for DistressTolerance’.Dr. Hirt is active in the mental health community in Atlanta and across Georgia. He hasdedicated time to a variety of causes in conjunction with the Atlanta Autism Consortium,Georgia Psychological Association, and American Psychological Association. He givespresentations and talks on a variety of mental health topics, including neurodivergence.https://www.hirtpsychology.com/

Stephanie talks again with Leisa Williams. Previously we discussed her book Hope Wins! Now we discuss Hope Overcomes. We will discuss how a caring church community can come alongside a family with special needs and give HOPE! Having Other People Engage!About Leisa:Leisa is a Christian author who writes from her heart about her life experiences. Her views are tried and tested from many years of working to overcome adversity in her life as well as being founded on her Christian biblical faith, the wise counsel and support from healthcare professionals, and her educational background, which includes a Master of Education degree.From Leisa:If you have read Hope Wins, perhaps you are curious to know how things have turned out for Justin. Do we still feel like “hope wins” in our lives? What does the future hold for us? Someone once said to me, “Leisa, you always trust God.” They were unconvinced that my life was “hope-filled” because our complex circumstances perhaps still looked hopeless to them from the outside.   I don’t blame that person for thinking that about us because the minute I wrote a book to declare that Hope Wins, life became a lot more challenging. My mother received a cancer diagnosis that took her to heaven less than six months later, and my health deteriorated to the point that I was hospitalized on multiple occasions. Australia was subjected to state-wide Covid-19 lockdowns, which meant delaying Justin’s goals once again.   As I began writing this book, the events regarding Justin’s future that unfold throughout this story were yet unknown; life’s uncertainties and complexities made things very difficult at times. Hope Overcomes takes the reader on a deeper journey of finding hope and trust in God when there seems to be no way forward. It shows how hope overcomes through trials to grow a deeper hope to assist you on your journey.  The reality is that quick fixes don’t usually exist when walking through life’s adversities, especially for caregivers. However, there is a God who is bigger than our circumstances. Pathways of hope can be forged amid ongoing difficulties as we discover. If you enjoyed Hope Wins, I look forward to you continuing the journey with us, as Hope does Win, and it certainly overcomes. Find out more at:https://leisawilliamsauthor.com/reviews/

Join Stephanie and Dan as they talk about what are the essential ingredients to a healthy, God-honoring marriage as an NDCC. Stephanie reads from a devotional called 50 Fruits of Pride. Have you thought of some of those as pride before/ Pride and entitlement are the opposite of humility? Are you teachable? Can you ask for help? Can you admit when you are wrong? Can you see the perspective of others? Today they talk through the differences between character issues and neurodiversity. The article Stephanie reads on Curiosity:https://autonomytherapyatx.com/blog/the-essential-role-curiosity-plays-in-enhancing-intimate-relationships#:~:text=Fostering%20Connection,-When%20you%20first&text=Curiosity%20can%20lead%20to%20a,spark%2C%20adventure%2C%20or%20spontaneity.Stephanie also mentions the book, The Other Half of Church by Hendricks and Wilder. Dan reminds listeners when we mention attachment to go back and listen to Dr. Gills' podcasts with us on attachment.

Join Dr. Holmes as she interviews Clay M. Westbrook about Neurodiversity in the workplace. Dr. Holmes wrote the forward for Clay's book, "Best Places To Work: An Autistic Adventure in Corporate America." About Clay:Clay M. Westbrook is a lifelong resident of the state of Georgia. He was born in Athens and attended the University of Georgia, earning a bachelor's degree in History and a law degree, with honors, from the University of Georgia School of Law. After graduation, he moved to Atlanta with a carload of belongings, a Labrador Retriever, and dreams of wealth and success. After the real world swiftly crushed those dreams, he practiced law for many years, developing expertise in business law, corporate finance, and commercial real estate while working with many of the most talented and/or insufferable attorneys this country has ever produced.Clay and the practice of law parted ways for good in 2009. The breakup was amicable, with both Clay and the legal profession drastically improving as a result. He then spent many years in consulting, developing expertise in corporate finance, financial restructuring, and litigation and bankruptcy strategy consulting. In 2016, he wrote his first book, "Debt & Circuses: Protecting Business Owners From Their Enemies, Their Allies, and Themselves," as both a memoir of his experiences as a consultant in the aftermath of the 2008 Financial Crisis and a business-how-to guide for financially troubled businesses and their advisors.Later that same year, he self-diagnosed then was professionally diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome. Shortly thereafter, he transitioned into a research director role with a global commercial real estate services company. In 2020, he published "Best Places To Work: An Autistic Adventure in Corporate America" as a fictionalized memoir of his experience returning to the corporate world post-diagnosis.Clay most enjoys helping people in complicated situations that require original thought and working with talented professionals who wish to better serve their clients, with a focus on research, marketing, and information technology. When not writing or working, He enjoys history, sports, reading, and the outdoors. Ideally, he would hike in the mountains all day and then stay in a nice hotel. Clay resides in Atlanta with his wife and two sons.Clay recommends: Human: Finding myself in the Autism Spectrum for those wanting to learn more about themselves or others on the spectrumhttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1783352251Read lessBooks written by Clay:Best Places to Work: An Autistic's Adventure in Corporate AmericaandDebt & Circuses: Protecting Business Owners From Their Enemies, Their Allies, and Themselveshttps://www.amazon.com/Clay-Westbrook/e/B01DZ0PYF2%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share

Today Dan and Stephanie talk to the author of Journal of Best Practices, Dave Finch.About Dave: Dave Finch is a New York Times bestselling author on neurodiverse relationships. He is a studio owner, media host, and creative consultant to Netflix, Disney, and others. Dave’s work has appeared on ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, NPR, SiriusXM, The New York Times, Rolling Stone, The Howard Stern Show, and the award-winning Netflix series, Atypical. Dave’s company, Elevated Studio, produces podcasts and other digital media for brands and interesting people around the world.Find out more about Dave Finch:https://davidjfinch.com/Additional works/essays:https://davidjfinch.com/articles-and-essays/Disclaimer:When we have guests on the ASR podcast, they are recognized for their expertise on autism as an advocate, self-advocate, clinicians, parents, or other professionals in the field. They may or may not be part of the faith community; having a guest on the broader topic of autism does not reflect complete agreement with the guest, just as many guests may not agree with our faith perspective. Guests are chosen by topic for the chosen podcast discussion and not necessarily full agreement of all beliefs from the chosen guest(s).

Join Stephanie as she interviews Ron Sandison. There are many topics for discussion today, including Autism & transitioning into adulthood and issues young adults face like employment, developing relationships, dating, leaving the home, and healthcare. Ron speaks from experience as an adult on the spectrum. Ron and Stephanie will talk about the underemployment and unemployment of people on the spectrum. Ron said, "85% of people on the autism spectrum with advanced degrees in science, technology, engineering, mathematics are unemployed or significantly underemployed. The underutilization of this population and lost productivity equates to over 265 billion a year. Ironically by the year 2021, there were over a million unfilled positions in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, and US companies will fill these positions with H-1B visa."About Ron:Ron Sandison works full-time in the medical field and is a professor of theology atDestiny School of Ministry. He is an advisory board member of the Art of Autism and theEls Center of Excellence. Sandison has a Master of Divinity from Oral Roberts Universityand is the author of A Parent’s Guide to Autism: Practical Advice. Biblical Wisdompublished by Charisma House and Views from the Spectrum. He has memorized over 15,000Scriptures include 22 complete books of the New Testament. Sandison speaks at over 70events a year, including 20-plus education conferences. Ron and his wife, Kristen, reside inRochester Hills, MI, with daughter, Makayla. His website ishttp://www.spectruminclusion.com. You can contact him at [email protected] to Ron’s website: https://www.spectruminclusion.comLink to Ron’s Facebook fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/SpectrumRonSandisonRon continues to write books. Keep checking back for additional resources! Ron is available to speak at multiple events

Usually, you will hear Dan and Stephanie talking through issues and challenges of being an NDCC or sharing tips. But today, joining are two guys from our NDCC Bible/Book study, to discuss how work influences home life. Dan, Perry, and Greg discuss some things that translate to home and some that just do not. The guys talk about scripts and mimicking and expectations.To hear more from Perry, Perry has been a guest before on the podcast- check out his link here.https://www.spreaker.com/user/mhnrnetwork/special-interests-or-expertiseGreg and his wife have contributed to our curriculum for couples and counselors and podcasts- you can hear more from couples who are NDCC at:https://courses.christianneurodiversemarriage.com/courses/educate-2All proceeds from courses go toward funding this podcast and other curriculum.Hear from 4 couples (including Dan and Stephanie) in this module of Educate!

About Toni Boucher:Toni has been working with folks on the spectrum for over 28 years. Her daughter was diagnosed with ASD at age 11. Toni's clients and people who know her well say Asperger's is the reason she "gets it".Her articles on sensory integration are referenced worldwide by families, psychologists, teachers, and therapists. She is often referred to as "The Autism Translator."Find out more athttps://www.toniboucher.net/neurodiverseDisclaimer:When we have guests on the ASR podcast they are recognized in their expertise on autism as an advocate, self-advocate, clinicians, parents, or other professionals in the field. They may or may not be part of the faith community; having a guest on the broader topic of autism does not reflect complete agreement with the guest, just as many guests may not agree with our faith perspective. Guests are chosen by topic for the chosen podcast discussion and not necessarily full agreement of all beliefs from the chosen topic.