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.

What if one of the most powerful ways to help your child in school has less to do with pushing harder and more to do with communicating smarter?

In this episode, Leah Gross speaks with Erica Viel about advocacy, school collaboration, dyslexia, and how parents can become confident, effective partners in their child’s educational journey.

Discussion Points:

1. Erica Viel’s personal and professional journey in special education and autism support
2. What makes a teacher truly impactful for children who struggle
3. How parents can advocate effectively without creating tension
4. The purpose of IEP meetings, 504 accommodations, and school-based collaboration
5. How Erica’s own experience with dyslexia shaped her approach to advocacy and education

Leah Gross sits down with Erica Viel, educator, advocate, and founder of Viel Advocacy and Consulting, for a practical and encouraging conversation about supporting children in school. Erica shares her background as a special education teacher, her work with students across a wide range of settings, and the personal experiences that led her to launch her own advocacy and consulting business.

Together, they discuss how parents can build strong, collaborative relationships with teachers and therapists, why communication between home and school is essential, and how families can better prepare for meetings and decisions around services and supports. Erica also opens up about her own dyslexia diagnosis, the interventions that helped her succeed, and how that experience gave her empathy for students and families navigating learning differences today.

About The Guest:

Erica Viel is an educational advocate, consultant, and former special education teacher with extensive experience supporting students with autism and other learning needs. She is the founder of Viel Advocacy and Consulting, where she helps families navigate IEPs, 504s, school meetings, observations, parent coaching, executive functioning support, and more. Her personal experience with dyslexia also gives her a unique and deeply empathetic lens in the work she does.

Time Stamps:

00:00 What inspired Erica to open her own advocacy and consulting business

06:15 What makes a teacher impactful for struggling students

09:20 How parents can communicate effectively with teachers

13:05 When parents should reach out and how often

16:10 Communication notebooks, digital logs, and practical systems that work

19:00 What an educational advocate does and when families may need one

33:00 What these meetings are meant to accomplish

39:10 Why collaboration across disciplines matters

44:00 Advice for parents on tone, mindset, and communication

01:01:15 Why children should be included in the process

Ready to become a stronger advocate for your child in the school system?

Tune in to the full episode for valuable insights.

What happens after early intervention ends? In this hopeful and practical conversation, Laura McKenna shares her journey from autism diagnosis to college acceptance, offering parents a powerful roadmap for raising confident, capable young adults on the spectrum.

Key Questions Explored in the Episode:

1. How can an autism diagnosis become a tool rather than just an emotional milestone?
2. What should parents focus on during the early years that impacts long-term independence?
3. What changes during the teenage years, and why do supports need to shift?
4. What are transition programs and how do families access them?
5. What resources exist for young adults over 18, including SSI and state support programs?
6. How can parents plan earlier for independence and adulthood?

Laura McKenna shares her 18-year journey as an autism mom, beginning with her son’s diagnosis at age five and progressing through adolescence, transition programming, and ultimately college. She emphasizes that while the diagnosis can be emotionally overwhelming, it opens doors to meaningful services and understanding.

The conversation highlights the importance of early intervention, consistency, compassion, and long-term planning. Laura discusses how teenage years bring new challenges, particularly anxiety and social expectations, requiring renewed therapeutic support. She explains transition programs available through public education until age 21, the process of gradually introducing college expectations, and the importance of functional life skills.

Laura also sheds light on critical but often overlooked resources like Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and state disability services, encouraging all eligible families to explore them. The episode concludes with hope: with baby steps, education, and sustained support, meaningful independence is possible.

Laura McKenna is an autism mom, former college professor, writer, consultant, and parent support specialist at the COPE Center for Autism. After navigating her own son’s autism journey, she now supports families through diagnosis, IEP guidance, transition planning, and government benefit applications. Her work focuses on empowering parents with knowledge and practical tools for every stage of development.

Key Takeaways:

1. An autism diagnosis, while emotional, is a powerful gateway to services and understanding.
2. Early intervention builds a foundation, but support must evolve during adolescence.
3. Transition programs (18–21) can provide critical life and vocational skill development.
4. SSI and state disability services can offer long-term financial and structural support.
5. Independence happens in baby steps—and consistent effort pays off over time.

Time Stamps:

1. 00:02 Early Intervention Reflections and Lessons Learned
2. 09:17 Navigating the Teenage Years
3. 14:50 Transition Programs (18–21)...

What if one of the biggest “levers” for behavior, mood, sleep, and regulation isn’t another strategy or program — but what’s happening inside the gut and inside the cell?

Key Questions Explored in the Episode:

1. How do gut health, inflammation, and cellular function connect to autism-related symptoms and behavior?
2. When is it worth trying gluten-free/casein-free changes — and how do you make it sustainable?
3. Why do many supplements “not work,” and how can families evaluate what’s actually effective?
4. What role do omega-3s, polyphenols, prebiotic fibers, and sleep support play in regulation and development?
5. How can parents take practical steps without getting overwhelmed?

Michaela Morrell explains her work in cellular health, gut health, and inflammation — and why families dealing with autism often seek her out. She shares how her interest began with her own son’s early gut issues and hyperactivity, which led her deep into research on gut health, nutrition, and brain development.

She then describes noticing signs of atypical development in her nephew (reduced eye contact, limited social engagement, motor differences) and emphasizes how critical early timing can be. They implemented gluten-free and casein-free changes quickly and observed improvements, while also seeing that gluten exposure could trigger dramatic shifts in behavior and communication.

Later, Michaela describes using an at-home blood test focused on cellular inflammation and fatty acid status. She attributes her nephew’s rapid gains (eye contact, speech, social interaction, affection, classroom functioning) to targeted supplementation — especially omega-3 paired with polyphenols, plus prebiotic fiber support, and a saffron-based sleep supplement (with iodine, magnesium, and vitamin C). Throughout, she stresses individualized factors like absorption, gut activation of nutrients, and sustainability, encouraging parents to learn, test, measure, and take manageable steps.

About The Guest:

Michaela Morrell is a cellular health and gut health practitioner who focuses on inflammation, nutrient absorption, and the role of essential fatty acids in brain and body function. She shares both professional insights and personal family experience, and hosts a podcast aimed at empowering people to improve health without needing expensive, ongoing care.

Time Stamps:

00:01 – Michaela introduces her focus: cellular health, gut health, inflammation

01:41 – Her first son’s gut issues and hyperactivity

05:54 – Early interventions: whole foods, bone broth, and omega-3 emphasis

09:10 – Why “omega levels” can still be low even with fish + supplements

12:17 – Noticing developmental differences in her nephew (comparison helped)

14:30 – Early warning signs and pushing for timely evaluation

17:21 – Gluten-free/casein-free: quick implementation and behavior shifts

18:16 – What gluten exposure can look like in behavior + communication

21:56 – New testing approach: cellular inflammation and cell membrane function

26:03 – Rapid progress after targeted supplementation begins

29:53 – What they added: omega-3 + polyphenols + prebiotic fiber support

31:30 – Constipation, fiber challenges, and gut lining repair (butyric acid)

32:19 – Sleep support: saffron-based supplement + nutrients for myelin support

35:35 – How to make changes sustainable (steps, habits, long-term view)

42:11 – Start with testing: measuring to know what to do first

45:17 – Why many supplements...

What does it take to advocate for yourself in systems not built to accommodate you and then turn that struggle into a path of healing for others? In this powerful episode of The Autism Roundtable, we explore resilience, rights, and holistic care through one remarkable journey.

Discussion Points:

1. Overcoming systemic barriers in higher education and professional environments
2. Navigating discrimination and advocating for accommodations
3. Clinical work with anxiety, gender dysphoria, and adjustment to disability
4. Understanding neurodivergent culture through research and lived experience
5. Integrating yoga therapy, diet, breathwork, and nature into therapeutic practice

In this episode, Matthew Lunsford shares his deeply personal journey of navigating academia and professional life while living with visual impairment, hearing loss, and cerebral palsy. He reflects on the discrimination he faced, the legal battles he fought for accommodations, and the resilience required to persist.

Matthew also discusses his current private practice, where he works with neurodivergent individuals experiencing anxiety disorders, gender dysphoria, and life transitions related to disability. His approach blends evidence-based behavioral work with holistic and somatic modalities.

The conversation concludes with a broader reflection on healing, emphasizing the nervous system, self-acceptance, and the power of integrating Western and Eastern perspectives on health.

Matthew Lunsford is a board-certified behavior analyst, licensed special education teacher, and certified yoga therapist. Drawing from both professional training and lived experience, Matthew focuses on holistic, affirming care for neurodivergent individuals, with particular expertise in anxiety, identity, and adjustment to disability.

Time Stamps:

00:00 Overcoming Barriers in Academia

02:02 Facing Discrimination in the Professional World

03:36 Advice for Navigating Discrimination

07:10 Current Social Work Practice

09:40 Addressing Anxiety Disorders

17:36 Exploring Neurodivergent Culture

30:26 Living with Visual Impairment

34:27 Growing Up Visually Impaired

35:34 Advice for Parents of Visually Impaired Children

36:43 Emotional Challenges and Acceptance

39:13 Navigating Life with Hearing Loss

41:34 Living with Cerebral Palsy

46:16 The Journey to Becoming a Yoga Therapist

48:33 The Holistic Benefits of Yoga Therapy

55:21 Breath Work and the Nervous System

59:49 Western vs. Eastern Approaches to Medicine

Ready to rethink advocacy, healing, and what holistic support can look like?

Tune in to the full episode for an honest, inspiring conversation on resilience and neurodivergent well-being.

Is your child’s tics, anxiety, or rigid behaviors “just a phase” – or something more? In this episode of the Autism Roundtable, Leah sits down with Dr. Meir Flancbaum, a clinical psychologist and CBT expert, to unpack tics, Tourette’s, anxiety, and OCD, and what all of this really means for your child, your family, and for you as a parent.

Dr. Meir Flancbaum introduces his background as a psychologist and founder of the Center for Cognitive Behavior Therapy, explaining how CBT helps children, teens, and families through structured, research-based strategies. He outlines the CBT triangle of thoughts, feelings, and actions, and shows how this framework applies to conditions like anxiety, OCD, and Tourette’s.

He then breaks down tics and Tourette’s syndrome, clarifying the difference between motor and vocal tics, and why Tourette’s is often misunderstood. Dr. Flancbaum explains the biological and hereditary roots of tics, the factors that intensify them, and how Habit Reversal Training teaches children awareness and alternative responses. He contrasts tics with autistic stimming, emphasizing that tics relieve discomfort, while stims provide soothing reinforcement. This leads to a broader discussion about acceptance, perspective-taking, and supporting children without increasing stress or pressure.

The conversation continues with anxiety and OCD, both framed as cycles fueled by avoidance and short-term relief. Dr. Flancbaum explains anxiety as a “false alarm,” discusses why rates may be increasing, and outlines CBT and medication options. He also describes OCD as intrusive thoughts paired with compulsive behaviors, treated through exposure and response prevention. The episode closes with guidance for parents: focus on progress, embrace “golden nugget” moments, and remember that raising a neurodivergent child may require more care—but the “roses in a tulip garden” are often the most meaningful gifts.

• 00:00 – 06:30 | What is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)? The CBT triangle and real-life examples
• 06:30 – 12:30 | Tics and Tourette’s explained: motor vs. vocal tics, common misconceptions, and heredity
• 12:30 – 15:40 | Treatment for tics: Habit Reversal Training, awareness, social support, and “tic busters”
• 15:40 – 21:40 | Stimming vs. tics: reinforcement, the mosquito-bite analogy, and why blocking tics can be helpful
• 21:40 – 28:30 | Acceptance, perspective, and parenting: education, expectations, and understanding your child
• 28:30 – 37:50 | Anxiety as a “false alarm”: what anxiety is, why it’s on the rise, and how society has changed
• 37:50 – 46:30 | Treating anxiety: pills, skills, or both? CBT tools, cognitive restructuring, and exposure therapy
• 48:50 – 55:30 | OCD 101: obsessions, compulsions, contamination fears, mental loops, and the “thought filter”
• 55:30 – 59:30 | Comorbidities: Tourette’s, ADHD, anxiety, OCD together – what to treat first and why
• 59:30 – 1:02:30 | Final message to parents: golden nugget moments, roses in a tulip garden, and being kind to yourself