40 Thriving with Neurodiversity: J.D. Barker on Autism, Creativity, and Parenting with Purpose
Autism Family Resource
Welcome Back! In this episode, we sit down with J.D. Barker, a New York Times bestselling author known for his thrillers, to discuss his inspiring journey as a neurodiverse individual. Diagnosed with autism as an adult, J.D. reflects on his career transformation, shares strategies for navigating neurotypical expectations, and offers invaluable insights for parenting neurodiverse children. This heartfelt conversation is filled with practical advice, empowering takeaways, and hope for families navigating similar paths. Guest: J.D. Barker is an acclaimed author of numerous bestselling books,...
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39: Discovering Hope and Purpose with Kari Baker
Autism Family Resource
Welcome back to the Autism Family Resource Podcast! In this episode, we spoke with Kari Baker—a local podcaster, author, and an inspiring mom who is navigating life alongside her 13-year-old son, who has both autism and ADHD. Kari shares her journey through powerful stories, lessons, and insights on finding kindness in the everyday moments of parenting and how she has grown through her experiences. Guest: Kari Baker’s path took a transformative turn with the birth of her son, Brady, and his autism diagnosis at age three. Driven by a new perspective on success and purpose, Kari shares...
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38: Early Intervention for Autism: The Early Start Denver Model
Autism Family Resource
Welcome back to the Autism Family Resource Podcast! Are you a parent of a child with autism struggling to find the right support and therapy for your child? You are not alone. Many parents find it challenging to navigate the world of autism care, especially with the numerous therapies and approaches available. But what if there was a different approach to autism care that focused on the whole family and was more collaborative and supportive? What if there was a therapy that was more play-based and encouraged intrinsic motivation? We have good news! There is. In this...
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37 Navigating Divorce with a Special Needs Child: Expert Advice from Mary Ann Hughes
Autism Family Resource
Divorce is never easy, but when you have a child with autism or other special needs, the process can feel even more overwhelming. The Autism Family Resource Podcast is here to provide practical guidance and support during this challenging time. In this episode, we welcome Mary Ann Hughes, a compassionate and experienced special needs divorce coach and mother of two sons on the autism spectrum. Mary Ann shares her personal and professional insights to help families confidently navigate this difficult transition and prioritize their child's well-being. Guest: Mary Ann Hughes is a...
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36 Supporting Your Child's Mental Health with the CALM Compass created by Mitch Leppicello
Autism Family Resource
Guest: Mitch Leppicello, LICSW, is a seasoned mental health professional with over 30 years of experience supporting autistic children and their families. Mitch is a Certified Autism Specialist with a Master’s Degree in Clinical Social Work from Fordham University in New York. Website: https://eastmetrofamilycounseling.com/ Social Media: About this Episode: Raising a child with autism comes with unique joys and challenges. One of the biggest hurdles parents face is understanding and supporting their child's mental health. In this...
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35 The lockdown's impact on kids social skills with Lenora Edwards
Autism Family Resource
In this episode of the Autism Family Resource Podcast, host Brian Keen welcomes back Lenora Edwards, head speaker and chief knowledge officer at Better Speech, to discuss the lingering effects of the lockdown on children's social and emotional regulation skills. Lenora shares her expertise in speech pathology and offers valuable strategies to help children, particularly those on the autism spectrum, improve their communication skills and navigate social situations effectively. Guest: Lenora Edwards is a distinguished Speech Language Pathologist at BetterSpeech.com—a nationwide online...
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34 Robby the Dyslexic Taxi: Transforming Challenges into Creativity
Autism Family Resource
In this episode of the Autism Family Resource Podcast, host Brian Keene engages in a heartfelt conversation with Lynn and Jonathan Greenberg, a mother-son duo, about their personal journey with dyslexia. Jonathan, a college student born with dyslexia, shares the challenges he faced and how he discovered a deep love for writing, reading, and drawing with the support of his mother. Together, they turned obstacles into opportunities, creating the children's book "Robby the Dyslexic Taxi." The book celebrates determination, creativity, and the power of collaboration. Guests: Joining us today are...
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33 Preventa Wear: A Mother’s Innovative Solution to Diaper Digging
Autism Family Resource
In this taboo-busting episode, Brian Keene welcomes Cindi Seifert, a devoted mother and the founder of Preventa Wear to share her journey raising her daughter Kyla, a 25-year-old with autism and epilepsy. The taboo topic of diaper digging, a behavior many parents face in silence, takes center stage as Cindi opens up about the challenges she encountered and the innovative solution she crafted to empower families worldwide. Guest: Cindi Seifert, a compassionate mother and the visionary founder of unfolds her remarkable journey as a caregiver and entrepreneur. Her commitment to addressing the...
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32 Considering Home Schooling?
Autism Family Resource
Synopsis: In this episode, Brian Keene welcomes Manisha Snoyer, a teacher, tech entrepreneur, and host of the ". They discuss alternatives to the traditional education system, focusing on homeschooling as a customizable and flexible solution for families, especially those with special needs. Guest: Manisha Snoyer is a renowned educator, speaker, and innovator in the field of personalized learning and childhood education. With over a decade of experience, she has worked passionately to bridge the gap between traditional education systems and individualized learning methodologies. Manisha's...
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31 Scan Me Home: Iron-on QR code solution for child safety.
Autism Family Resource
Synopsis: In this episode of the Autism Family Resource podcast, host Brian Keene interviews Justin Behnke, father of a nonspeaking child on the autism spectrum, who created the innovative safety product ScanMeHome.com. Justin shares his personal journey, the inspiration behind his product, and practical tips for enhancing child safety in the community. Guest: Meet Justin Behnke, father of a nonspeaking child on the autism spectrum and founder, director, and CEO of ScanMeHome.com, a QR code solution for child safety. Main Topics Discussed: ScanMeHome.com: A Lifeline for Parents: ...
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Rebecca “Becca” Stoddard is a pediatric occupational therapist and owner of Breakthrough Therapy based in Phoenix, AZ. Becca is enthusiastic about working with children and their families to help them achieve their gross motor milestones. Becca has completed 2 courses on Dynamic Movement Intervention (DMI). She plans to complete a 3rd course at the beginning of the year. With experience in visor therapy settings, Becca uses both intensive DMI therapy and ongoing weekly DMI therapy at her practice. She also offers a free gross motor skills screening that can be done virtually, in person, and at home.
Interview:
What is Dynamic Movement Intervention (DMI)?
DMI is a specialized, hands-on technique focusing on head control, trunk control, and achieving gross motor milestones. Some of those milestones are rolling, sitting, balancing, crawling, standing, and walking. DMI exercises look different from the traditional therapy approach. Some exercises use gravity and a lot of sensory input to get automatic responses from the child to help them reach milestones. There is also a unique box set that is used as the child gets older and progresses. One of the main parts of DMI is an emphasis on neuroplasticity. That’s a fancy term for creating new connections in the brain. The key factor in achieving this is repetition to create those new pathways.
How do I know if my child would be a good fit for DMI therapy?
When a child exhibits gross motor delays, it can be things like the inability to hold their head up, not being able to roll, and the inability to maintain balance while sitting up. In a study, gross motor delays can occur in up to 68% of children with autism. Children with autism are more at risk of delayed gross motor skills.
What are some red flag diagnoses that might be indicated for gross motor delay?
There is a wide range of diagnoses that can include gross motor delay. Some of the main ones are cerebral palsy, spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injury, gross motor delays, and development delays. Every child is different and can be a possible candidate that can benefit from DMI therapy.
What is an example of what DMI therapy may look like for a child?
One example could be putting a child in an inverted upside-down position to work on core strength. The brain will automatically want to be upright when in an inverted position. Putting a baby in that position will force the body to create the desired response to be upright. Another example would be an exercise focusing on walking and stepping up on a surface. The thigh would be supported as the child tries to step up onto a box. DMI support goes from proximal to distal. As the therapy progresses, the support will go from the hips to the thigh to the ankles.
What can a parent do at home to help their child strengthen and build gross motor skills?
Parents can take their children to the playground and practice going up steps without holding onto the railing. With a baby sitting on the lap, lean him/her backward, and give the baby a chance to try and sit up to build belly muscles that work out core strength. When laying down, aid the baby with holding him/herself up with his/her arms and exercises on the knees. A website Becca refers her clients to is pathways.org as a reference to what to expect maybe their child to be doing at certain ages.
Recap:
- Work on core strength
- Encourage play in various positions
- Physical play with toddlers and slightly older children
Resources:
Pathways.org | Tools to maximize child development
Instagram: @breakthrough_therapy_dmi
Article Reference
Research reference: Hedgecock, J. B., Dannemiller, L. A., Shui, A. M., Rapport, M. J., & Katz, T. (2018). Associations of Gross Motor Delay, Behavior, and Quality of Life in Young Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder. Physical therapy, 98(4), 251–259. https://doi.org/10.1093/ptj/pzy006
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