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 a different perspective.

Instead of focusing on changing his son, Dr. Chism learned to focus on connection, acceptance, and supporting his son's communication and independence. In this conversation, he reflects on the lessons autism has taught him about empathy, patience, inclusion, and what it really means to show up as a father.

This episode is especially meaningful for parents who may feel overwhelmed early in their journey. It's a reminder that growth happens not only for children, but for parents too.

Topics Covered

• Processing an autism diagnosis as a parent
• Moving from denial toward acceptance in the autism journey
• Parenting a non-speaking autistic child
• Listening to autistic voices and lived experiences
• Supporting communication through AAC devices
• Building strong father-child relationships
• Encouraging independence and life skills
• Finding community as an autism parent

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction to Dr. Jonathan Chism
01:21 Dr. Chism's background and family
03:08 Receiving an autism diagnosis at age two and a half
07:57 Moving from denial toward understanding autism
10:40 Learning from autistic voices and shifting perspective
24:26 Advice for parents feeling overwhelmed

Memorable Quote

"Be patient with yourself. Your child is a gift, and this journey will create a new normal."
— Dr. Jonathan Chism

About the Guest

Dr. Jonathan Chism, also known as Dr. Chiz, is an associate professor of history at the University of Houston Downtown, an ordained minister, and the co-founder of the Autism Dad Social Club. As a father raising a non-speaking autistic son, he is passionate about supporting fathers, promoting autism acceptance, and helping families build meaningful connections with their children.

Resources Mentioned

• Autism Dad Social Club
• Uniquely Human by Dr. Barry Prizant
• AAC communication tools such as TouchChat

About the Host

Brian Keene is a pediatric occupational therapist and founder of Pure Hearts Therapy, a neurodiversity-affirming therapy practice providing in-home pediatric therapy services for families in Arizona.

Through the Autism Family Resource Podcast, Brian shares practical tools, expert conversations, and supportive insights to help parents navigate the journey of raising neurodivergent children.

Learn more at:
https://pureheartstherapy.com

Subscribe & Connect

If this episode resonated with you, please consider sharing it with another parent who might benefit from this conversation.

Listen and subscribe to the Autism Family Resource Podcast:
https://pod.link/1591840956

Explore more resources for families at:
https://pureheartstherapy.com

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 also highlights how addressing these internal systems may help children better engage in therapies, school, and daily life.

This episode is not about quick fixes. It's about gaining a deeper understanding of how the body works and how families can explore additional tools to support their child's development and regulation.

Topics Covered

• How inflammation may influence behavior and regulation
• The connection between gut health and neurological function
• Dr. Knight's four-phase cellular healing approach
• The role toxins and environmental exposures may play in health
• Supporting detox pathways safely and thoughtfully
• Why mitochondrial health matters for energy and regulation
• Real stories of changes families have experienced
• Simple lifestyle adjustments families can start today

About the Guest

Dr. Jeffrey Knight is a chiropractor and founder of the Autism Wellness Center in Utah. His work focuses on a whole-body approach to health, supporting neurological function, detoxification pathways, cellular healing, and gut health.

Through his four-phase wellness program, Dr. Knight works with families across the country to help support children's overall health and regulation.

Learn more:
https://healthempoweredfamilies.com

Resources Mentioned

Health Empowered Families
https://healthempoweredfamilies.com

About the Host

Brian Keene is a pediatric occupational therapist and founder of Pure Hearts Therapy, a neurodiversity-affirming therapy practice providing in-home pediatric therapy services for families in Arizona.

Through the Autism Family Resource Podcast, Brian shares practical strategies, expert conversations, and supportive insights to help parents navigate autism and neurodiversity with confidence.

Learn more:
https://pureheartstherapy.com

Subscribe & Connect

If this episode resonated with you, please consider sharing it with another parent who might benefit from the conversation.

You can find more resources and support at:
https://pureheartstherapy.com

Follow Pure Hearts Therapy on social media for more tools, strategies, and conversations supporting neurodivergent families.

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 Pinkley 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 many parents feel alone, how community support can transform the experience of raising a neurodivergent child, and practical ways families can begin building their own support networks. From online communities to local support groups, Mandy highlights how even one meaningful connection can help families move from isolation to hope.

If you've ever wondered whether other families truly understand what you're going through, this conversation is a reminder that you are not alone—and your community may be closer than you think.

Topics Covered

• Why many parents of neurodivergent children feel isolated
• Mandy Pinkley's journey embracing her autistic identity
• The power of finding community with people who understand your experience
• How support groups can reduce isolation and build confidence
• Online communities vs. in-person support networks
• How parents can help their children find supportive social environments
• Why advocacy and authenticity matter in the autism community
• How families can start building their own support networks

About the Guest

Mandy Pinkley is an autism advocate who speaks openly about identity, community, and the importance of creating spaces where neurodivergent individuals feel accepted and understood. Through advocacy and community engagement, Mandy works to promote inclusion, awareness, and authentic representation of autistic experiences.

About the Host

Brian Keene is a pediatric occupational therapist and founder of Pure Hearts Therapy, a neurodiversity-affirming therapy practice providing in-home pediatric therapy services for families in Arizona.

Through the Autism Family Resource Podcast, Brian shares practical insights, expert conversations, and supportive strategies to help parents navigate the journey of raising neurodivergent children.

Learn more at:
https://pureheartstherapy.com

Subscribe & Connect

If this episode resonated with you, please consider sharing it with another parent who might benefit from this conversation.

You can find more resources and support at:
https://pureheartstherapy.com

Follow Pure Hearts Therapy on social media for more conversations, guidance, and resources supporting neurodivergent families.

• CARD – Center for Autism & Related Disabilities

• Family Inclusion Networks (e.g., "FIN")

• Local autism organizations

• Facebook and online support groups

• Community events and family-friendly meetups
  
  

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 Pinkley to talk about what real inclusion looks like for autistic children. Together they explore how friendships form, how peers can become allies, and what parents and educators can do to create environments where neurodivergent kids feel genuinely welcomed.

Mandy shares personal insights from her advocacy work and her own experiences as an autistic adult. The conversation also explores practical ways parents can advocate for their children, teach healthy boundaries, and help kids build confidence and connection with others.

This episode is a reminder that inclusion isn't just about allowing someone to participate — it's about creating spaces where every child truly belongs.

Topics Covered

• What true inclusion means for autistic children
• Why some neurodivergent kids struggle with friendships
• How peer mentorship programs create inclusive environments
• The importance of listening to a child's lived experience
• Teaching healthy boundaries and self-advocacy skills
• How parents can advocate effectively in school settings
• Ways peers can become allies for neurodivergent classmates

Memorable Quote

"Inclusion isn't just letting someone sit at the table — it's wanting them there."
— Mandy Pinkley

About the Guest

Mandy Pinkley is an autism advocate dedicated to promoting understanding, inclusion, and empowerment for neurodivergent individuals. Through advocacy, community engagement, and educational conversations, she helps families and schools create environments where autistic individuals feel accepted and supported.

Resources Mentioned

• Penguin Project (inclusive theatre program for children with disabilities)
• CARD — Center for Autism and Related Disabilities

About the Host

Brian Keene is a pediatric occupational therapist and the founder of Pure Hearts Therapy, a neurodiversity-affirming therapy practice providing in-home pediatric therapy services for families in Arizona.

Through the Autism Family Resource Podcast, Brian shares practical tools, meaningful conversations, and expert perspectives to help parents support the development and wellbeing of their neurodivergent children.

Learn more at:
https://pureheartstherapy.com

Subscribe & Connect

If this episode resonated with you, please consider sharing it with another parent who might benefit from this conversation.

You can explore more resources and support at:
https://pureheartstherapy.com

Follow Pure Hearts Therapy on social media for more conversations, strategies, and encouragement for families navigating autism and neurodiversity.

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 difference for autistic youth. Mandy also shares insights on digital safety, emotional experiences, identity development, and why it's so important for parents to meet their children where they are.

This conversation is the beginning of a multi-episode series with Mandy, where Brian and Mandy will explore topics like digital safety, inclusion, peer advocacy, and building supportive communities for neurodivergent youth.

If you've ever wondered how to better understand your child's perspective or create a stronger connection with them, this episode offers thoughtful insights and encouragement.

Topics Covered

• Mandy's experience growing up autistic and being diagnosed later
• Why many autistic girls go undiagnosed longer than boys
• The emotional experiences many autistic youth navigate
• Bullying, isolation, and searching for belonging
• The role of digital environments and online safety
• How open communication helps protect and support kids
• Supporting identity development and self-expression
• Helping neurodivergent youth find community

Memorable Quote

"Meet them where they're at — not where you want them to be."
— Mandy Pinkley

About the Guest

Mandy Pinckley is an autism advocate focused on promoting digital safety, inclusion, and support for neurodivergent youth. Through speaking, advocacy work, and community engagement, she helps families and educators better understand the experiences of autistic individuals and create safer, more supportive environments.

Resources Mentioned

• CARD — Center for Autism and Related Disabilities

About the Host

Brian Keene is a pediatric occupational therapist and founder of Pure Hearts Therapy, a neurodiversity-affirming therapy practice providing in-home pediatric therapy services for families in Arizona.

Through the Autism Family Resource Podcast, Brian shares expert conversations, practical strategies, and supportive insights to help parents navigate the journey of raising neurodivergent children.

Learn more at:
https://pureheartstherapy.com

Subscribe & Connect

If this episode resonated with you, please consider sharing it with another parent who might benefit from this conversation.

Listen and subscribe to the Autism Family Resource Podcast:
https://pod.link/1591840956

Explore more resources for families at:
https://pureheartstherapy.com

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 surface of what they do. Megan offers a compassionate, practical framework for parents who want to better understand their child instead of reacting from fear or frustration.

This conversation is a powerful reminder that many behaviors make more sense when we slow down, stay curious, and learn to listen differently. If you've ever wanted to better understand what your child is trying to communicate, this episode is a meaningful place to start.

Topics Covered

• Megan Ashley's late autism diagnosis and lived experience
• Why sensory differences are often one of the clearest signs of autism
• How culture shapes the way autism is understood and supported
• What masking is and why it can be so exhausting
• Why autistic girls are often diagnosed later than boys
• How environment influences whether autistic traits are supported or stressed
• Redefining what "okay" can mean for your child
• How parents can listen beyond behavior and better understand communication

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction and Megan Ashley's advocacy mission
01:20 Megan's late autism diagnosis and personal journey
03:00 Understanding autistic thinking and communication differences
04:30 Autism culture and why context matters
08:45 Sensory differences and real-life sensory examples
10:20 Masking explained and why it can be exhausting
13:40 Why autistic girls are often diagnosed later
17:20 Recognizing sensory differences in children
20:40 Autism traits, strengths, and supportive environments
25:30 Redefining what "okay" means for autistic children
28:30 How parents can listen better and remove bias

Memorable Quote

"Meet them where they're at — not where you want them to be."
— Megan Ashley

About the Guest

Megan Ashley is a licensed therapist, speaker, author, parent advocate, and autism advocate. As an autistic Black woman, her work focuses on helping parents better understand and connect with their autistic children through empathy, behavioral understanding, and practical support. She is the author of Blueprints of Behavior: Understanding Autism in Your Family Through Behavior.

Resources Mentioned

• Perfect Consulting
• Blueprints of Behavior: Understanding Autism in Your Family Through Behavior by Megan Ashley
• Megan Ashley on Instagram

About the Host

Brian Keene is a pediatric occupational therapist and founder of Pure Hearts Therapy, a neurodiversity-affirming therapy practice providing in-home pediatric therapy services for families in Arizona.

Through the Autism Family Resource Podcast, Brian shares practical tools, expert conversations, and supportive insights to help parents navigate the journey of raising neurodivergent children.

Learn more at:
https://pureheartstherapy.com

Subscribe & Connect

If this episode resonated with you, please consider sharing it with another parent who might benefit from this conversation.

Listen and subscribe to the Autism Family Resource Podcast:
https://pod.link/1591840956

Explore more resources for families at:
https://pureheartstherapy.com

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, secure attachment, and social skill development. Lisa also shares practical examples parents can use right away, including how to respond during meltdowns without escalating them and why role-playing can help children build social confidence.

This conversation is a reminder that progress often starts with small shifts at home. When parents feel more supported and confident, it becomes easier to help children build the skills they need to thrive.

Topics Covered

• Why school-age meltdowns are often rooted in emotional regulation challenges
• How executive functioning affects behavior, homework, and daily tasks
• What co-regulation really looks like in the moment
• Why validation and firm boundaries can work together
• How secure attachment is built through consistency
• Why some kids need direct support with social skills
• How role-playing can help children practice real-life interactions
• Why parents need support too

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction and why this episode matters for overwhelmed parents
00:44 Meet Lisa Chan and how she shifted from OT to parent coaching
04:10 Emotional regulation, meltdowns, and executive functioning explained
12:20 What co-regulation looks like during a public meltdown
20:05 Secure attachment, consistency, and healthy boundaries
22:20 Social skills, self-esteem, and using role-play at home

Memorable Quote

"The biggest takeaway is really going to be the realization that you have more power in helping your child and helping yourself than you realize."
— Lisa Chan

About the Guest

Lisa Chan is a parent coach, child behavior specialist, and former pediatric occupational therapist with over a decade of experience supporting families. Her work focuses on emotional regulation, behavior patterns, social skills, and helping parents create healthier, more connected family dynamics.

Resources Mentioned

• Lisa Parent Coach website
• Lisa's emotional regulation course

About the Host

Brian Keene is a pediatric occupational therapist and founder of Pure Hearts Therapy, a neurodiversity-affirming therapy practice providing in-home pediatric therapy services for families in Arizona.

Through the Autism Family Resource Podcast, Brian shares practical tools, expert conversations, and supportive insights to help parents navigate the journey of raising neurodivergent children.

Learn more at:
https://pureheartstherapy.com

Subscribe & Connect

If this episode resonated with you, please consider sharing it with another parent who might benefit from this conversation.

Listen and subscribe to the Autism Family Resource Podcast:
https://pod.link/1591840956

Explore more resources for families at:
https://pureheartstherapy.com

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 talk about what to do after a diagnosis, how to build a care team and village around your child, how to educate family members in relatable ways, and why culturally responsive care matters so much.

This conversation is warm, practical, and deeply encouraging. If you have ever felt like you were carrying too much on your own, this episode is a reminder that you do not have to navigate autism by yourself. There is support, there is community, and there are ways to advocate with more clarity and confidence.

Topics Covered

• What to do after an autism diagnosis
• How to build a strong care team and support village
• Helping family members understand autism in relatable ways
• Teaching autistic children to advocate for their own needs
• Therapy burnout and why breaks can be healthy
• Cultural barriers and disparities in autism care
• Why communication between families and providers matters
• Encouragement for parents carrying a heavy load

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction and why this conversation matters
01:14 Dr. Martine LaVenture's background and autism advocacy journey
05:03 What to do after an autism diagnosis
10:13 Building a village and treatment team around your child
12:41 Therapy burnout, breaks, and discharge conversations
15:32 Cultural disparities, advocacy, and communicating with providers

Memorable Quote

"You don't have to do this by yourself. There is a village, there is a community out there."
— Dr. Martine LaVenture

About the Guest

Dr. Martine LaVenture is a licensed social worker, school social worker, therapist, and autism advocate. She is also a proud mom of an 18-year-old on the autism spectrum and brings both lived and professional experience to her work supporting children, families, and culturally responsive care systems.

Resources Mentioned

• Dr. Martine LaVenture's website: leventraconsultant.com
• Instagram: @laventurecslc
• Upcoming children's book about autism

About the Host

Brian Keene is a pediatric occupational therapist and founder of Pure Hearts Therapy, a neurodiversity-affirming therapy practice providing in-home pediatric therapy services for families in Arizona.

Through the Autism Family Resource Podcast, Brian shares practical tools, expert conversations, and supportive insights to help parents navigate the journey of raising neurodivergent children.

Learn more at:
https://pureheartstherapy.com

Subscribe & Connect

If this episode resonated with you, please consider sharing it with another parent who might benefit from this conversation.

Listen and subscribe to the Autism Family Resource Podcast:
https://pod.link/1591840956

Explore more resources for families at:
https://pureheartstherapy.com