What if the biggest shift in your child’s future starts with one decision you’ve been putting off? In this episode, we dive into the emotional, medical, and deeply human side of navigating neurodivergence—and what parents often get wrong (and right) along the way.

In this episode of The Autism Roundtable, host Leah Gross sits down with Dr. Nallapati, a developmental pediatrician and founder of Turtle Pediatrics, to unpack the realities of diagnosing and supporting neurodivergent children. From her unconventional path into pediatrics to her innovative telehealth model, Dr. Nallapati shares how meeting families in their own environment can transform care.

The conversation explores the critical importance of early intervention, while also emphasizing that it’s never “too late” to get answers. They tackle parental guilt, misinformation around autism causes, and the complexities of ADHD treatment—including the nuanced approach required for children with both autism and ADHD (AuDHD).

Above all, this episode reframes diagnosis not as a label—but as a roadmap toward clarity, support, and growth.

About The Guest:

Dr. Nallapati is a developmental pediatrician with over 15 years of training and experience working with children across multiple clinical settings. She is the founder of Turtle Pediatrics, a telemedicine-based practice designed to evaluate and support children in their natural home environment. Her work focuses on autism, ADHD, and developmental delays, with a strong emphasis on empowering families and providing individualized care.

Time Stamps:

00:00 Journey into Pediatrics and Developmental Care

03:50 The Power of Resilience in Children

07:19 Founding Turtle Pediatrics & Telehealth Model

11:37 When to Seek a Diagnosis

15:41 Why Early Intervention Matters

24:28 Parental Guilt and the Blame Cycle

30:55 Late Diagnoses and Relief in Understanding

37:13 Autism, Research, and Misinformation

46:49 Understanding ADHD and Diagnosis

52:07 Medication vs. Therapy Debate

54:50 What is AuDHD?

Ready to better understand your child and take the next step with confidence?

Tune in to the full episode for valuable insights.

What does it look like when a parent stops fighting the diagnosis and starts seeing the child more clearly?

In this episode of The Autism Roundtable, Leah Gross speaks with children’s author Jenn Bailey about parenting, perspective shifts, sensory overload, inclusion, and how stories can help children better understand themselves and each other.

Leah Gross welcomes author Jenn Bailey for a thoughtful conversation about autism, parenting, and the power of literature to foster empathy. Jenn shares her family’s experience navigating her child’s diagnosis, the supports that made a difference, and the mindset changes that helped her parent with more understanding. She explains how that journey inspired her to create books centered around Henry, a child whose perspective opens a window into the inner world of kids who may experience friendship, school, and sensory input differently. Together, Leah and Jenn explore inclusion, introversion, regulation, curiosity, and the importance of seeing each child as a whole person.

About The Guest:

Jenn Bailey is a children’s author and mother of three whose work has brought meaningful representation of autism into children’s literature. Inspired by her own family’s journey, she wrote A Friend for Henry, which went on to receive recognition from the American Library Association’s Schneider Family Book Award. She has since expanded Henry’s story into an early reader series designed to support both autistic and neurotypical children through thoughtful, accessible storytelling.

Time Stamps:

00:00 Jenn’s Personal Journey into Autism

02:30 The Diagnosis & What Changed

04:15 Parenting Shift: Seeing the Child Differently

06:10 Emotional Overload & The “Cup” Analogy

10:15 Where Frustration Turns Into Understanding

18:20 Helping Neurotypical Kids Build Empathy

22:00 Supporting Regulation & Emotional Needs

24:00 Jenn’s Message to Parents

Ready to better understand the inner world of autistic children and the power of empathy-centered parenting?

Tune in to the full episode for valuable insights.

What can make a hospital visit less overwhelming for an autistic or neurodiverse child, and how can parents walk in better prepared?

In this episode, Zahava Ginsburg shares how child life specialists help children and families navigate medical settings with more calm, dignity, and support.

Zahava explains the unique role of child life specialists in helping children and families cope with medical experiences, especially in hospital environments that can feel overwhelming for autistic and neurodiverse patients.

She shares how preparation, sensory awareness, and simple supports like fidgets, headphones, and clear planning can make a major difference. The conversation also explores support around bloodwork, surgery, grief, sibling needs, and the importance of helping families advocate for what their child needs before a medical visit ever begins.

About The Guest:

Zahava Ginsburg is a child life specialist in Livingston, New Jersey, and the founder of Heart of Gold, a private practice that supports children and families through medical preparation, anxiety, sibling support, and coping strategies for challenging healthcare experiences.

Time Stamps:

00:00 Sensory Hospital Support

03:55 Common Hospital Visits

05:21 Plan Ahead and Advocate

08:12 Burn Unit Realities

11:02 Burn Safety at Home

16:09 Playroom and Safe Spaces

20:42 Grief and Bereavement

24:37 Saying Goodbye Options

27:48 Hospital Resources Checklist

28:16 Coping Plan Grab Bag

33:49 Using Sedation Smartly

35:14 Supporting Siblings Too

44:11 Virtual Sessions

Ready to help your child feel more supported during medical visits?

Tune in to the full episode for practical insights, encouragement, and tools that can make a real difference for your family.