Libsyn Directory

23 | Helping Siblings Communicate with an Autistic Child | Crestina Yaiva

Release Date: 01/08/2023

54 | Race, Autism & Advocacy in Parenting | Jonathan Chism

Autism Family Resource

Have you ever wondered if the world will truly understand your child for who they are? In this powerful and deeply reflective conversation, Brian sits down with father, educator, and Autism Dads Social Club founder Jonathan Chism to explore the intersection of race and disability. Together, they unpack what it means to raise an autistic child while navigating cultural expectations, systemic challenges, and the pressure of being seen and understood in public spaces. Jonathan shares how his perspective as a Black father has shaped his parenting journey, including unlearning traditional...

53 | Autism Parenting, Acceptance & Fatherhood | Dr. Jonathan Chism

Autism Family Resource

Parenting an autistic child can bring moments of joy, uncertainty, growth, and deep reflection. In this episode of the Autism Family Resource Podcast, Brian Keene sits down with Dr. Jonathan Chism, also known as Dr. Chiz, a father, professor, minister, and co-founder of the Autism Dad Social Club. Dr. Chism shares the honest story of his family’s journey raising his non-speaking autistic son. He opens up about the early shock and denial after diagnosis, the hope that therapy might “fix” autism, and the powerful shift that happened when he began listening to autistic voices and embracing...

52 | Inflammation, Toxins & Gut Health in Autism | Dr. Jeffrey Knight

Autism Family Resource

Have you ever wondered if something deeper might be affecting your child’s regulation, behavior, or sleep? In this episode of the Autism Family Resource Podcast, Brian sits down with Dr. Jeffrey Knight, chiropractor and founder of the Autism Wellness Center, to explore how factors like inflammation, gut health, environmental toxins, and cellular health may influence a child’s nervous system and overall regulation. Dr. Knight shares his four-phase approach to cellular healing, designed to help support detox pathways, improve mitochondrial function, and restore gut health. The conversation...

51 | Finding Your Community in the Autism Journey | Mandy Pinckley

Autism Family Resource

Many parents of neurodivergent children share a common feeling: isolation. Even when surrounded by people, it can feel like no one truly understands the unique challenges your family is navigating. In this episode of the Autism Family Resource Podcast, Brian Keene sits down with autism advocate Mandy Pinckley to talk about the power of community and connection. Mandy shares her personal journey of discovering supportive spaces where she could be authentic about being autistic, and how finding the right community helped her build confidence and self-acceptance. Together, they explore why so...

50 | What True Inclusion Looks Like for Autistic Kids | Mandy Pinckley

Autism Family Resource

Many parents know the feeling. Your child comes home and says, “Nobody plays with me,” or you watch them standing alone on the playground while other kids easily connect. Every parent wants their child to feel included and accepted, but sometimes it feels like the world doesn’t quite know how to make room for differences. In this episode of the Autism Family Resource Podcast, Brian Keene sits down again with autism advocate Mandy Pinckley to talk about what real inclusion looks like for autistic children. Together they explore how friendships form, how peers can become allies, and what...

49 | Growing Up Autistic & Finding Your Voice | Mandy Pinckley

Autism Family Resource

What is it really like to grow up autistic? And what do autistic youth wish the adults in their lives understood better? In this episode of the Autism Family Resource Podcast, Brian Keene sits down with autism advocate Mandy Pinckley to talk about her lived experience growing up autistic and the journey that led her into advocacy work today. Mandy shares what it was like navigating childhood, friendships, bullying, and the search for belonging while growing up undiagnosed. Together they explore how early understanding, supportive relationships, and open communication can make a meaningful...

48 | Understanding Autistic Behavior with Compassion | Megan Ashley

Autism Family Resource

What if parents could feel less afraid, less confused, and more connected to their autistic children? In this episode of the Autism Family Resource Podcast, Brian Keene sits down with Megan Ashley: an autistic Black woman, licensed therapist, parent advocate, speaker, and author. Megan shares her own late autism diagnosis, what helped her recognize autism in herself, and how her lived experience now shapes the work she does with families. Together, they talk about sensory differences, masking, culture, behavior, and why so many autistic children are misunderstood when adults only look at the...

47 | Meltdowns, Co-Regulation & Autism Parenting | Lisa Chan

Autism Family Resource

If your child’s meltdowns leave you feeling frustrated, stuck, or unsure what to do next, this episode is for you. In this episode of the Autism Family Resource Podcast, Brian Keene sits down with Lisa Chan, parent coach, behavior specialist, and former pediatric occupational therapist, to talk about what’s really going on during hard moments at home. Lisa explains why emotional regulation is a learned skill, how executive functioning plays a role in everyday struggles, and why parents have more influence than they often realize. Together, they unpack co-regulation, loving boundaries,...

46 | Autism Advocacy, Culture & Support for Families | Dr. Martine LaVenture

Autism Family Resource

Navigating autism can feel especially isolating when families are also carrying the weight of cultural barriers, medical mistrust, or systems that were not built with them in mind. In this episode of the Autism Family Resource Podcast, Brian Keene sits down with Dr. Martine LaVenture, a licensed social worker, school social worker, therapist, and proud mom of a teen on the autism spectrum. Dr. LaVenture shares how her personal and professional journey shaped her passion for supporting autistic children and their families, especially within historically marginalized communities. Together, they...

45 | Mouthing & Chewing Behaviors in Autism | Dipali Devani

Autism Family Resource

Many autistic children chew on shirts, toys, or even their own hands. For parents, these behaviors can feel confusing or concerning. But often, mouthing and chewing behaviors are a child’s way of meeting an important sensory need. In this episode of the Common Chaos Sensory Series, host Brian Keene is joined by occupational therapist Dipali Devani to explore why these behaviors happen and how families can support their children in safe and supportive ways. Dipali explains how oral sensory needs, regulation challenges, anxiety, and sensory seeking can all play a role in mouthing behaviors....

More Episodes

Guest:

Crestina Yaiva is a stay-at-home mom of twins aged 9. She has a business of her own, making handmade jewelry using textiles. Her son Franco is on the autism spectrum as well as non-speaking, while Vincent is neurotypical.

Overview:

Crestina had noticed that her son Vincent is always so kind and loving to others, but when it came to his brother, he seemed to be a bit distant. Franco has always had a tendency to be somewhat isolated and play by himself. The boys would have decent interactions, but they seemed brief, and Vincent seemed to be a little more distant from his brother. Eventually, Crestina came across an article that really helped her bring her boys closer together. The article was centered around “not blaming the baby.” This entails taking accounting for your time or how you are feeling and making an effort not to blame the sibling with more needs for being tired or not having time. Crestina began to rephrase the way she communicated with Vincent, and she began to notice that Vincent began to bond more with his brother and have less resentment towards him. Crestina still continues to be intentional about how she communicates about her capacity and needs and takes a neutral stance instead of “blaming the baby”.

Recap:

“Don’t blame the baby”
1. Avoid using one child as an excuse not to have attention or energy for the other child.
Look for support groups like SARRC and Sibships for siblings of neurodiverse children.

Resources:

Sibshops

SARRC https://autismcenter.org/sibling-support

Autism United: https://azaunited.org/services/sibshops

Crestina's Business Page

Website https://cocochenzo.com/

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/coco_chenzo/

Episode 14: How to manage the emotions of the sibling of an autistic child

https://www.pureheartstherapy.com/autismfamilyresource/how-to-manage-the-emotions-of-the-siblings-of-an-autistic-child

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