Non Linear Learning - Rethinking Education for Neurodivergent Learners

Where we raise the bar on Education for children with a disability. Educating a child with a disability isn’t for the faint of heart, and if you’re a parent or educator who refuses to give up on your child’s potential, you’re in the right place. Hosted by TEDx speaker and Ph.D. Chemist Dr. Vaish Sarathy [mom to a non-speaking Autistic teen with Down syndrome], this podcast offers a bold new way to support your child’s learning, regulation, and independence without burnout or arbitrary busy work. Together we explore how to: - Break learning barriers so your child with Autism / Down Syndrome / ADHD can learn complex Math and Science - Make teaching and learning at home a flow state - Support brain + body health with practical, science-backed tools - Use Non Linear Education strategies to unlock growth in ways traditional systems never could Hear from top educators, researchers, and self-advocates. And most importantly, believe again: in your child, and in yourself.

190. Exploring the science of Failure for you and your Autistic learner 09/11/2025

190. Exploring the science of Failure for you and your Autistic learner In this edition of Non Linear Learning, Dr. Vaish Sarathy and co-host Searmi Park unpack the buzz around “productive failure”and flip it on its head for neurodivergent learners. Inspired by Manu Kapur’s work and , Vaish and Searmi explore when failure can deepen learning, when it harms, and why the word we’re actually looking for is exploration, not failure at least for this audience. In this episode Productive failure what we think it means Why we don’t “design failure” for autistic students Parents as the ones who “fail productively” Real-life stories A challenge for listeners Key takeaways Exploration > evaluation. Our learners already face constant performance tests; they don’t need “engineered” failure. Hold the bar high, detach from outcomes. You can keep rigor and still protect nervous systems. Make the “failure” yours. Parents and educators can iterate on the environment, task, and supports instead of labeling the child. Build a web, not a bridge. Let detours teach the terrain. Resources & Links Book: by Manu Kapur Podcast that sparked this convo: 10% Happier with Dan Harris “Let’s Normalize Failure (The Right Kind) | Manu Kapur.” () Try this at home (Quarterly Challenge) Pick one stretch experience your child “can’t do”—museum hour, library time, a short concert, a new trail, and scaffold it respectfully (sensory-wise, regulation-wise). Debrief afterwards: What worked? What needs one tweak? What surprised you? About your hosts Dr. Vaish Sarathy — TEDx speaker, PhD educator, creator of Non Linear Education, and mom to a non-speaking autistic poet with Down syndrome. Searmi Park — Concertmaster, Eugene Symphony; founder of Autism Mustang Alliance; mom to a non-speaking autistic young adult. Support the show 💌 🎓 Join the waitlist ⭐ If this episode helped, please leave a 5-star review—and if it didn’t… maybe skip the review this time 😉 /episode/index/show/functionalnutritionforkids/id/38177520

189. What Dyslexia Research Can Unlock for YOUR Autistic Learner 09/01/2025

188 Rethinking College Readiness: Why Life Skills Aren’t Enough for Students with Disabilities 08/08/2025

187 Not a "Math Person"? That’s a Myth - even if your child has Down Syndrome 07/31/2025

186 Allowing Imperfection - The Teaching Strategy that leads to the most growth 07/18/2025

185 Ancient Wisdom, Modern Needs - Ayurveda, Regulation & Learning with Anuradha Gupta 07/02/2025

184: Gestalt, Scripting, Echolalia and the Speech vs Language problem! 06/27/2025

183 When Speech Isn’t Language: Understanding the Real Barrier to Communication 06/20/2025

182 Breath, Burnout, and Beginning Again: Syed Abbas on Meditation, Disability, and Healing 06/13/2025

182 Breath, Burnout, and Beginning Again: Syed Abbas on Meditation, Disability, and Healing In this deeply honest episode, I talk with —global meditation teacher, disability advocate, and father—about how a life-altering diagnosis of muscular dystrophy pushed him into the world of breathwork, mindfulness, and inner transformation. We talk about: His journey from depression and chronic medication use to mental clarity and peace What it’s like to live with a progressive disability—and find pride and power in it The science and simplicity of breathwork Why caregivers, especially parents of children with disabilities, are stuck in constant fight-or-flight—and what they can actually do about it How just a few deep breaths can shift your nervous system, your energy, and your life 🔗 Resources Mentioned: Learn Sudarshan Kriya (SKY Breath Meditation): Sahaj Samadhi Meditation course info: 🧪 Studies & Science Behind Breathwork and Pranayama Breath-based meditation can reduce anxiety and enhance well-being: Streeter, C.C., et al. (2020). Effects of Yoga on the Autonomic Nervous System, Gamma-aminobutyric-acid, and Allostasis in Epilepsy, Depression, and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 11: 782. Pranayama improves cardio-respiratory efficiency and endurance in healthy young adults: Satheesh, R., & Bindu, C.B. (2020). Pranayama improves cardio-respiratory efficiency and physical endurance in young healthy volunteers. International Journal of Research in Medical Sciences, 8(7), 2421–2425. Pranayama and aerobic exercise enhance heart rate variability and VO₂ max in sedentary middle-aged men: Hariprasad, R., Prabhu, N., & Karishma, S. (2024). Effect of Aerobic Exercise and Pranayama on Heart Rate Variability and Maximal Oxygen Consumption in Sedentary Middle Aged Males. International Journal of Current Medical and Applied Sciences, 42(2), 20–25. /episode/index/show/functionalnutritionforkids/id/36997170