Shows
Not Your Mama's Autism (NYMA)Sensory Overload: A Talk with The Filmmakers of the Hulu DocumentaryIn this episode, we discuss Sensory Overload, a film about how three communities
navigate oral care and the world in general with sensory sensitivities in mind.
It's also a film about neurodivergence, sensory differences, and how the world
can be better designed to accommodate people. It's a Vox Media produced film in partnership with
Haleon and Sensodyne as part of Sensodyne's Sensory Inclusion Initiative, a
mission to build better sensory inclusion in oral care. This episode features Executive Producer Samantha Knowles, Director and Head of Content at Vox Creative Kiana Moore, and Producer Dylan Lenze. They all...2025-05-1749 min
Not Your Mama's Autism (NYMA)Sleep and the Brain: A Talk With Angela Tzelepis, PHDSummaryIn this conversation, Dr. Angela Tzelepis discusses the importance of sleep and its benefits, particularly for children. She explains how sleep restores vital energies, contributes to good development, and protects brain health. Dr. Tzelepis also addresses common sleep disorders in children, such as insomnia and sleep apnea, and the challenges of using CPAP machines. She highlights the role of sleep hygiene and the impact of electronics on sleep quality. Additionally, she discusses the relationship between anxiety and sleep problems and provides insights into behavioral interventions for improving sleep.TakeawaysSleep is essential...2025-05-0152 min
Not Your Mama's Autism (NYMA)Better Understanding Challenging Behavior: A Talk with Larissa Heise, BCBASummaryIn this episode of Not Your Mama's Autism, host Lola Dada-Olley speaks with licensed social worker and BCBA Larissa Heise about the complexities of challenging behavior in neurodivergent individuals. They discuss the definition of challenging behavior, trends observed in recent years, the importance of identifying triggers, and the role of sensory needs. Larissa emphasizes the need for individualized approaches to support, the common misconceptions surrounding challenging behavior, and the importance of understanding the full context before implementing interventions. The conversation also covers strategies for navigating support systems and the significance of insurance in accessing professional help.2025-04-0139 min
Not Your Mama's Autism (NYMA)Creating Cultures of Neuroinclusion: A Talk with Dr. Theresa HaskinsSummaryDr. Theresa Haskins, a professor, researcher, consultant, corporate executive, mom, wife, and advocate, joins the podcast. She shares her journey as an advocate for her children and a self-advocate. Dr. Haskins discusses the diagnosis process for her children and the challenges they faced. She also talks about her experience studying educational psychology and getting her PhD in education. She emphasizes the importance of choice and autonomy in education and the need for inclusive and differentiated learning approaches. Neuroinclusion means creating environments that respect and accept differences in how individuals engage, communicate, and interact with each other...2025-03-0149 min
Not Your Mama's Autism (NYMA)Serving Families in Crisis: A Conversation with Breanna Kelly-Higgs LCSW, BCBASummaryBreanna Kelly, a licensed social worker and BCBA, shares her journey into the field of autism and her passion for supporting individuals with co-occurring conditions. She emphasizes the importance of understanding and acknowledging the experiences and needs of individuals with disabilities, as well as the significance of cultural competence in providing effective care. Breanna discusses the challenges within the medical system and the need for collaboration and holistic approaches to support individuals with autism and mental health needs. She also highlights the importance of caregiver training and empowerment. Overall, Breanna advocates for systemic changes and increased...2025-02-0146 min
Not Your Mama's Autism (NYMA)Access to Reproductive Health Care: Autism and Intellectual Disability EditionSummaryIn this episode of Not Your Mama's Autism podcast, Lola Dada-Olley and her husband, Tosan Olley, discuss the complexities of navigating reproductive healthcare for their daughter, who is on the autism spectrum. They share their journey from recognizing the onset of puberty to preparing for their daughter's first period, emphasizing the importance of communication, family support, and collaboration with healthcare providers. The couple reflects on the emotional challenges and milestones they encountered, as well as the long-term considerations for their daughter's reproductive health.TakeawaysNavigating reproductive healthcare is crucial for children with autism.Communication...2025-01-0129 min
Not Your Mama's Autism (NYMA)Advocacy in Action: A Talk with Ms. Texas 2024 Annette Addo-YoboIn this episode of Not Your Mama's Autism Podcast, host Lola Dada-Olley speaks with Annette Addo-Yobo, the first immigrant-born Miss Texas, about her journey from Ghana to the U.S., her advocacy for autism awareness, and the importance of representation. Annette shares her personal experiences as a sibling caregiver, the cultural stigma surrounding autism, and her aspirations to influence policy and support families navigating the challenges of autism. The conversation highlights the need for better resources, early intervention, and community support for families affected by autism.TakeawaysAnnette's journey from Ghana to becoming Miss Texas is inspiring.Representation...2024-12-1148 min
Not Your Mama's Autism (NYMA)Navigating the High School Transition: A Talk With My SonIn this episode of Not Your Mama's Autism podcast, host Lola Dada-Olley engages her son Fela in a heartfelt discussion about the transition from middle school to high school. They explore the various high school options available, the importance of extracurricular activities like band, and the challenges that come with academic rigor. Fela shares his personal experiences and offers advice to other students facing similar transitions, emphasizing the importance of hard work and resilience. The conversation highlights the growth and development that comes with navigating educational choices and personal interests.TakeawaysChoosing high schools...2024-11-2617 min
Not Your Mama's Autism (NYMA)Workplace Neuroinclusion Strategy: Some Lessons LearnedIn this episode of Not Your Mama's Autism podcast, Lola
Dada-Olley interviews Danielle Meadows, an executive director at JPMorgan
Chase, about the importance of disability employment and the initiatives taken
by the Business Solution Team (BEST) to promote neuro-inclusion. They discuss
the evolution of the BEST program, common misconceptions about disability
inclusion, the challenges faced in the employment landscape, and the
significance of public policy in supporting individuals with disabilities. The
conversation highlights the success stories of employees and the role of job
coaches in fostering an inclusive work environment.Takeaways2024-10-0732 min
Not Your Mama's Autism (NYMA)Reintegrating Our Daughter Into School LifeIn this episode, Lola Dada-Olley and her husband Tosan discuss their journey with their daughter Alero, who is on the autism spectrum.
They share their decision-making process regarding Alero's education, including
the challenges of navigating special education services, the impact of the
pandemic, and the importance of adaptability in parenting. They reflect on
their choice to temporarily withdraw Alero from school for therapy and the
subsequent decision to reintegrate her into a supportive school environment.
The couple emphasizes the significance of building a supportive community and
learning from others' experiences in similar situations.2024-09-2434 min
Not Your Mama's Autism (NYMA)Back To School: Embracing Technology and Student-Centered LearningIn this episode, Dr. Kim Floyd, a professor of special education and an innovator, discusses her evolution in the education space and her role in standing up a center focused on assistive technology with people with disabilities. She shares her journey into special education, the development of a multidisciplinary approach, and the importance of trauma-informed practices in education.Dr. Floyd also highlights the unique challenges and strengths of rural communities in special education and the work of the American Council on Rural Special Education. She discusses the Center for Collaborative Assistive Technology Education Lab and the exciting projects coming...2024-09-011h 13
Think Differently with Dr. Theresa HaskinsAdvocating for Autism Rights Across GenerationsSend us a textIn this episode of the Think Differently Podcast, we delve into the evolving landscape of autism advocacy with Lola Dada-Olley, an attorney and dedicated supporter of autism rights. Lola, a caretaker with a lifetime of experience supporting loved ones with autism, shares her unique generational perspective. Together, we explore how societal attitudes and care approaches have progressed and identify the ongoing battles for equitable outcomes and better support for the autism community. Join us for an insightful conversation on the wins achieved and the challenges that remain. 2024-07-2541 min
Not Your Mama's Autism (NYMA)Addressing Daily Life Challenges with Revolutionary Tools: A Talk With Nadia HamiltonGrowing up alongside a sibling with autism can transform your life's blueprint in the most unexpected ways. in this episode, we're joined by the remarkable Nadia Hamilton, who shares the touching saga of her brother, Troy, and how his journey on the autism spectrum has awakened a legacy of empowerment and innovation. Nadia's candid recount of the joys and hurdles they faced together unfolds into the creation of a transformative tool - Magnus cards - that now aids individuals with autism and/or cognitive disabilities to navigate the complexities of daily life with greater independence. Our conversation is a...2024-02-1237 min
Not Your Mama's Autism (NYMA)Healthcare in America: New Year; New(ish) ExpensesEvery January, my husband Tosan and I brace ourselves for the impact of the 'January reset' on our family's finances. As parents of a child with complex medical needs, we're no strangers to the avalanche of medical bills that come with insurance deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums starting anew. Our latest episode offers an intimate conversation where we peel back the curtain on the financial challenges that families like ours face, diving into the intricacies of insurance policies in Texas, and the relentless vigilance it takes to ensure our daughter's healthcare needs are met.Join us for a...2024-01-3022 min
Not Your Mama's Autism (NYMA)2023: Our Longest, Yet Shortest, Year To DateOur 2023 year in review episode is here. We discuss the ups and downs that is/was 2023, including a life changing family trip to Barcelona, an ice storm that prevented travel to our daughter's therapy, a short term caregiver crisis, the myth of work-life balance and so much more. https://notyourmamasautism.com/https://www.instagram.com/notyourmamasautism/https://www.facebook.com/NotYourMamasAutism/2023-12-2126 min
Not Your Mama's Autism (NYMA)Redefining Success For Yourself After Trauma : A Talk With Addis GonteIn this episode, I speak with Addis Gonte, Non-Profit CEO and Disability Inclusion Advocate. We talk about how a car accident changed his life, resulting in traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries. We also speak on how his life changing accident led him on a new path to founding a non-profit, called Able Mindset, and many lessons learned along the way.https://notyourmamasautism.com/https://www.instagram.com/notyourmamasautism/https://www.facebook.com/NotYourMamasAutism/2023-11-2938 min
Not Your Mama's Autism (NYMA)"Tweendom", Puberty and Autism: An Interesting CocktailIn this episode, my husband, Tosan, and I have a conversation about the transition we've made and are making into the start of adolescence. Our kids, a boy and a girl, are now both pre-teens and our daughter has an intellectual disability. We talk about the special considerations we have to think through and make as we raise neurodivergent children who are undergoing a new life phase. One day at a time.This episode is also available in video form on YouTube.https://notyourmamasautism.com/https://www.instagram.com/notyourmamasautism/https://www.facebook...2023-09-1826 min
Not Your Mama's Autism (NYMA)Autism, Self-Advocacy, Therapy and Everything in Between: A Talk With Janelle JohnsonIn this episode, we speak with Janelle Johnson, a licensed marriage and family therapist, Founder of Bridges Family Life Center, PLLC , Mom, Wife and Self-Advocate. We talk about her own autism self-diagnosis, how she became a therapist, her own philosophy on "masking", her decision to eventually self-ID, raising an autistic child and her views on so much more.As always, we appreciate the support. If you like what you hear, please share, subscribe and give our podcast a 5 star rating on Apple Podcasts.https://notyourmamasautism.com/https://www.instagram.com/notyourmamasautism/https://www...2023-08-0946 min
Not Your Mama's Autism (NYMA)A Candid Conversation with Psychologist and Parent Advocate, Dr. Tade AkereIn this episode, we speak with Dr. Tade Akere, a mother, wife, businesswoman turned psychologist and advocate. She is the mother of an adult autistic son and a neurodivergent and mental health advocate serving patients through her Illinois based practice. She is also the host of the webseries Dr. Tade Talks and the author of the book, No! Not My Son!: An African Mother's Journey Through Life with Autism. In this episode, we walk through her family's autism journey, cultural stigma associated with a diagnosis within her Nigerian-American household, how she decided to...2023-07-0953 min
Not Your Mama's Autism (NYMA)Healthcare Delivery, Parenting, Advocacy and a Little Forgiveness Along the WayIn this episode, I speak with Tim Markle, the Southern Regional Center Director at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Waisman Center. We speak about delivery of health care to diverse populations, his own experience as a dad to an autistic son and how understanding the power of forgiveness has allowed him to become a better person, father, husband and advocate.https://notyourmamasautism.com/https://www.instagram.com/notyourmamasautism/https://www.facebook.com/NotYourMamasAutism/2023-06-0637 min
Not Your Mama's Autism (NYMA)A Later in Life Diagnosis: A Talk with Attorney and Self-Advocate LaNasha HouzeIn Season 6, Episode 2 of the Not Your Mama's Autism Podcast, I speak with attorney, self-advocate and former law school classmate, LaNasha Houze. In this episode, LaNasha speaks to how she ended up obtaining her later in life ADHD diagnosis, the subsequent realizations she made when it comes to her neurodivergence and provides some advice to those who wish to know more about this journey.https://notyourmamasautism.com/https://www.instagram.com/notyourmamasautism/https://www.facebook.com/NotYourMamasAutism/2023-05-0328 min
Not Your Mama's Autism (NYMA)Shifting Mindset: The Myth of Work/Life BalanceWelcome to Season 6 of the Not Your Mama's Autism Podcast, now brought to you in both audio and video form. In addition to listening to our podcast on your favorite podcast platform, now you can view new episodes on You Tube. After a long hiatus, we start our new season talking through our parenting journey through various seasons that includes/included: stay at home parenthood, demanding careers and various therapy schedules associated with our family's autism journey.One day at a time.https://notyourmamasautism.com/https://www.instagram.com/notyourmamasautism/https://www.facebook...2023-04-0627 min
Not Your Mama's Autism (NYMA)Special Education Law Conversation Continued with Tracey Spencer Walsh Our conversation on special education law continues with Tracey Spencer Walsh, podcast host, attorney and special education law expert. This part of our conversation focuses on things to consider as your child ages through and eventually out of special education.https://notyourmamasautism.com/https://www.instagram.com/notyourmamasautism/https://www.facebook.com/NotYourMamasAutism/2022-12-3122 min
Not Your Mama's Autism (NYMA)Special Education Law 101: A Conversation with Tracey Spencer Walsh, Esq.In this episode, I speak with Tracey Spencer Walsh, an attorney specializing in special education law and a podcast host of the podcast, "It's Special", a show focused on navigating disability within the education space. In our conversation, Tracey and I speak on what special education is, the laws in space to safeguard it and some of the thing that parents should consider as they walk on this journey with their children. For more information on Tracey, check her out here.https://notyourmamasautism.com/https://www.instagram.com/notyourmamasautism/https://www.facebook.com...2022-12-1236 min
Not Your Mama's Autism (NYMA)Matching the Right People with the Right TechIn this episode, we speak with Inarm Osborn, a passionate entrepreneur who is dedicated to improving the lives and job prospects of neurodivergent adults in need of his services. He is the Founder and CEO of Auti Quest, an innovative app that provides employment support for autistic adults. He is also Centra Co Support Services, a day center for adults with intellectual disabilities.We dive into how he started working in this space, his transition from the finance world and how he believes technology can improve the job experience for autistic individuals.https://notyourmamasautism.com/2022-11-3032 min
Not Your Mama's Autism (NYMA)Pursuit of A Different Kind of American Dream: A Talk with Koko EkengIn this episode, I speak with Koko Ekeng, mom, parenting coach and author. She talks about how her daughter's complex medical needs started her on a journey to America in order for her to get the help she needed medically and, eventually academically as well.She speaks to how her training as a life coach prepared her for a very difficult seasonhttps://notyourmamasautism.com/https://www.instagram.com/notyourmamasautism/https://www.facebook.com/NotYourMamasAutism/2022-11-0942 min
Not Your Mama's Autism (NYMA)Enhancing the Caregiver Experience with Tech: A Conversation with Dr. Jessica Taverniti of Nurolux In this episode, I speak with Dr. Jessica Taverniti, Board Certified Behavior Analyst, PHD in Psychology and Co-Founder of Nurolux, a platform that provides its members with actionable and customized tools that aids autistic people, their families and professionals that support them a better roadmap to improve overall quality of life. I speak with Jessica about her background in psychology and helping families for nearly two decades that brought her where she is today, examples of how Nurolux technology uses data to customize the caregiver experience and so much more. For more information about all the great...2022-10-1233 min
Not Your Mama's Autism (NYMA)Driving With Autism: A Talk with Andrew Arboe In this episode, we speak with Andrew Arboe, Founder of Driving with Autism, an online program that helps autistic people how to drive. He talks about common challenges he sees in this space, some of the personal challenges he has faced as a self-advocate and how the types of programming he has available for people in need of these services.For more information on Andrew's work, check out Driving on the Spectrum.https://notyourmamasautism.com/https://www.instagram.com/notyourmamasautism/https://www.facebook.com/NotYourMamasAutism/2022-09-2623 min
Not Your Mama's Autism (NYMA)Money on the Mind: A Talk About More Inclusive Financial PlanningIn this episode, I speak with Andrew Komarow, Certified Financial Planner (CFP) and Founder of Planning Across the Spectrum, a firm that specializes in financial planning for neurodivergent and disabled people and their families. We talk about his later in life autism diagnosis, what he thinks people get wrong about neurodivergence and some ways that his firm fills in the gap for services that this subset of families need.https://notyourmamasautism.com/https://www.instagram.com/notyourmamasautism/https://www.facebook.com/NotYourMamasAutism/2022-09-1333 min
LeaderLink PodcastS2E2 - Lola Dada-OlleyCharles and Josh interview Lola Dada-Olley, a keynote speaker, Tedx speaker, advocate, and corporate attorney who specializes in the Americans with Disabilities Act. This episode gives an overview of Lola's journey into advocacy as she shares the story of her family's multigenerational experiences with autism. Lola talks about leading through adversity, and how we can redefine success as leaders.Lola serves as a board member with Bryan's House and My Possibilities. She is also the host of the "Not Your Mama's Autism" Podcast. Bryanshouse.orgMyPossibilities.orghttps://notyourmamasautism.comOur g...2022-09-061h 01
Not Your Mama's Autism (NYMA)A Talk About Job Coaching: Evolution from Occupational Therapist to Start Up FounderFor Season 5, Episode 3 of the Not Your Mama's Autism Podcast, I speak with Danielle Feerst, Occupational Therapist and Founder of iElevate, a life and career coaching platform for neurodivergent teens and adults. We talk about the reason why a need for her services exists, challenges associated with this relatively new coaching space and how her background as an occupational therapist aids her in the current phase of her journey.In addition to nuggets provided in this episode, for more information, please visit their website. https://notyourmamasautism.com/https://www.instagram.com/notyourmamasautism/https...2022-08-2232 min
Not Your Mama's Autism (NYMA)How Occupational Therapy Enhanced Our Lives: A Talk with Micaela WilsonIn this episode, we speak with pediatric occupational therapist, Micaela Wilson. Mickey, as she is better known by, walks us through how occupational therapy can help certain people, the difference between occupational therapy and physical therapy and the kinds of considerations people can make when deciding which therapist is right for them.In addition to our podcast, please see the list of resources that Mickey recommends that parents should look at when better understanding this journey. As always, thank you for your support.Some of Mickey's Recommended ResourcesWebsites:...2022-07-2620 min
Not Your Mama's Autism (NYMA)From Self Awareness to Self-Advocacy: A Talk with Amy RootWelcome to the first episode of the new season, Season 5, Episode 1 where we speak to Amy Root. She is an autistic self-advocate, corporate executive, mom and wife. We talked about how her later in life autism diagnosis not only better helped her understand who she was, but helped her better parent her children (including two autistic children) and "re-parent" herself.https://notyourmamasautism.com/https://www.instagram.com/notyourmamasautism/https://www.facebook.com/NotYourMamasAutism/2022-07-1226 min
Not Your Mama's Autism (NYMA)Choosing the Light: A Journey through Self-Advocacy with Jennifer Msumba It is not every day that someone is vulnerable about their life journey. I had an enlightening discussion with Jennifer Msumba, award winning autistic filmmaker, musician and writer. In this episode Jennifer walks us through her self-advocacy journey, how she uses art to cope with feeling different and the time when she was forcibly institutionalized. Time and time again, she has chosen the light within times of darkness. She is resilience personified and I hope you get something out of this episode. To learn more about her projects, visit her website.https://notyourmamasautism.com/https://www...2022-05-2341 min
Not Your Mama's Autism (NYMA)An Elementary School Finale: A Conversation with My Son About His New Chapter In this episode, I interview my son, a budding self-advocate in his own right, about the start of his transition into middle school and his recent discharge from physical therapy. He talks about how he is processing the end of therapy, the friends he made there and the types of things that run through his mind as he thinks of the start of middle school. https://notyourmamasautism.com/https://www.instagram.com/notyourmamasautism/https://www.facebook.com/NotYourMamasAutism/2022-05-1311 min
Not Your Mama's Autism (NYMA)Pulling Back the Layers with J-Rock: British-Ghanaian- American Musician and Autism AdvocateJP "J-Rock" Horsley is a black, autistic musician who currently lives in the UK. He is also a contributor to the book, Educational Psychology Perspectives on Supporting Young Autistic People: Insight from Experience, Practice and Research, which was published in April 2022.We had a rich discussion about his music, how his neurodivergence contributes to his art, the stigma associated with receiving his later in life autism diagnosis, how he raises his sons and so much more. For more information about J-Rock, check out this article and/or follow him on Instagram.https://notyourmamasautism...2022-04-2740 min
Not Your Mama's Autism (NYMA)ABA All Grown Up: A Look into Behavioral Intervention Across the LifespanApplied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is a form of therapy commonly administered to children on the autism spectrum. According to Healthline media, ABA is a type of therapy that can improve social, communication, and learning skills through reinforcement strategies.Many experts consider ABA to be the gold-standard treatment for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or other developmental conditions. It is also considered a controversial form of treatment by some actually autistic self-advocates. it is currently a treatment primarily utilized for children and early adolescents.In this episode, ABA therapy is explored through a different...2022-04-111h 03
Not Your Mama's Autism (NYMA)Caretaker Perspectives in Raw Form In this episode, we speak to the filmmakers behind the documentary, "Unseen: How We're Failing Parent Caregivers and Why It Matters". We discuss the idea behind the documentary, why the decision was made to tell the story visually and what people hope they get out of the film. For more information about this film, check it out here.https://notyourmamasautism.com/https://www.instagram.com/notyourmamasautism/https://www.facebook.com/NotYourMamasAutism/2022-03-3021 min
Not Your Mama's Autism (NYMA)Three Moms, Three Different Sides of NeurodivergenceFriendships, like so many things in life, have to evolve to remain vital. This episode takes the listener through the story of three women who first met in their twenties as law school classmates at the Howard University School of Law, affectionately referred to as the HUSL. We would all get married, all stay in touch with one another and all become mothers, having yet another thing in common. Through the passage of time, we should share yet another commonality, we would all become mothers of children with neuro differences (autism, ADHD and sensory processing disorder to be...2022-03-141h 14
Not Your Mama's Autism (NYMA)From Trial Lawyer to Relationship Coach for Autistic Adults In this episode we start to explore the world of relationships through the eyes of Jeremy Hamburgh, trial attorney turned relationship coach for autistic adults. He is the founder of My Best Social Life, a service that aids autistic adults who need help forging more intimate friendships and romantic relationships. Jeremy talks about how he applied traits he learned in the courtroom and converted them into dating strategies for his clients. He talks about the importance of taking attributes typically viewed as flawed and utilizing them as a way to present the best first impression you can...2022-03-0155 min
Not Your Mama's Autism (NYMA)A Travel Story: Putting the Inclusive in All-InclusiveIn this week's episode, we tell the story of family travel through a multi-generational lens. What many take for granted, getting on a plane and having the opportunity to see life beyond your everyday, can prove challenging to some autistic people. My brother and children, all on the autism spectrum, were no exception. This episode touches upon how an event that happened in the early 1990's in Paris, France, would affect the way decisions were made on where and how to travel decades later in the present day. We were fortunate enough to have experts in...2022-02-1434 min
Not Your Mama's Autism (NYMA)Special Education in the Covid-19 Era: One UK Educator's PerspectiveJanuary 2022 marks the one year anniversary of a conversation had with Ivie Okwuegbuna, a UK Educator with a focus on teaching children with disabilities and neurodifferences. When we first spoke, vaccines were just starting to be distributing in certain parts of the world. She spoke about considerations and risks educators took when determining how to teach in the midst of a pandemic that had the potential of disproportionately affecting the student population they serve.Although one year old, we are still in the midst of the pandemic. So, I wanted to revisit this conversation to have...2022-01-2441 min
Not Your Mama's Autism (NYMA)An African Mom's Journey: A Conversation with Tonye Faloughi-EkezieSeason 4 of the Not Your Mama's Autism Podcast begins with a great conversation had with Tonye Faloughi Ekezie, mom, wife, disability rights advocate, TV personality, author, writer, producer and podcast host of the newly launched Special Mums Africa Podcast. In this episode, she breaks down her personal story, how she found out she had a daughter with down syndrome and heart conditions, how she and her husband coped with the early days of her journey and how she has used her personal experiences to launch various fruitful business ventures that are great for the community. Check it out and...2022-01-1058 min
Not Your Mama's Autism (NYMA)Season 4 Trailer: What is on the HorizonA brief description into what is in store for Season 4 as read by our son, Fela.https://notyourmamasautism.com/https://www.instagram.com/notyourmamasautism/https://www.facebook.com/NotYourMamasAutism/2022-01-0301 min
Not Your Mama's Autism (NYMA)A Look Back at 2021 Episodes, An Exercise in GratitudeIn this episode, we look back on 2021 NYMA Podcast episodes and discuss various lessons learned from them. We talk about past episodes that touch upon community policing, disability inclusion efforts in Corporate America, self-advocacy and more. This episode marks the start of our hiatus. We will return in January 2022 with brand new episodes. In the meantime, have a joyous and reflective holiday season.https://notyourmamasautism.com/https://www.instagram.com/notyourmamasautism/https://www.facebook.com/NotYourMamasAutism/2021-11-2524 min
Not Your Mama's Autism (NYMA)Budding Self-Advocacy In this episode, we speak to a mom-daughter duo by the names of Kendra and Maria, respectively. Kendra is the mother of two autistic children, a boy and a girl and a friend of the family. She and her family are referenced back in Season 1, Episode 6 in the episode titled, "It Takes a (Wisconsin) Village". Kendra and Maria, her then 12 year old daughter, talk about their family's autism journey. Maria talks to me about what it was like to read her original diagnostic report, what growing up in the skin she is in and with the brain...2021-10-2544 min
Not Your Mama's Autism (NYMA)Advocacy for All BrainsThis NYMA episode features Haley Moss, renowned attorney, writer, artist, author, neurodiversity expert and disability rights advocate. She is the author of the new book, "Great Minds Think Differently: Neurodiversity for Lawyers and Other Professionals". She is also the host of the podcast, Spectrumly Speaking, that she co-hosts with Dr. Lori Butts. She has another book coming out next month, "The Young Autistic Adult's Independence Handbook ", coming out next month. She spoke to me about her origin story, what it means to be an advocate vs. a self-advocate, how the legal profession can embrace neurodiversity better, and the...2021-10-111h 13
Not Your Mama's Autism (NYMA)Real Talk with Domonique Brown, One of the Stars of "Atypical" on NetflixTo round out this season's segment on representation in film and media, we speak with Domonique Brown, an actor best known for his work on the hit Netflix show, "Atypical". We talk to him about his autism diagnosis, his acting journey, his work on the show, what representation looks like to him and some of his plans for the future. To learn more about Domonique Brown, follow him on Instagram @d.cool19. https://notyourmamasautism.com/https://www.instagram.com/notyourmamasautism/https://www.facebook.com/NotYourMamasAutism/2021-09-2720 min
Not Your Mama's Autism (NYMA)A Candid Conversation with Tal Anderson, One of the Stars of the Netflix Series "Atypical" In this episode, we extend our series into exploring representation in film by having a great conversation with Tal Anderson, an actually autistic actor who recently starred in the hit Netflix series, "Atypical". She spent time with me to discuss her acting journey, her autism diagnosis, her dreams and what representation in film means to her. To learn more about her, follow her on Instagram at @thetalanderson.https://notyourmamasautism.com/https://www.instagram.com/notyourmamasautism/https://www.facebook.com/NotYourMamasAutism/2021-09-1323 min
Not Your Mama's Autism (NYMA)Casting Call: Autistic Child Actors Wanted In this week's episode, I have a great discussion with a sister filmmaking duo, Laura & Rachael Doukas, currently in the pre-production process of their upcoming feature, The Ryan Express. They sit down to speak with me about their filmmaking process, their decision to cast actually autistic actors and their personal connection behind why they chose to move in this direction. If you like what you hear, please leave a 5 star review on Apple Podcasts.https://notyourmamasautism.com/https://www.instagram.com/notyourmamasautism/https://www.facebook.com/NotYourMamasAutism/2021-08-3017 min
Not Your Mama's Autism (NYMA)Depicting Autism in FilmIn this episode of the Not Your Mama's Autism Podcast, we feature Natasha Mynhier, award winning-director "In A Beat", a movie about a black mother, her autistic son and the dynamics underlying their relationship. I speak with Natasha about the reasons behind why she wanted to depict neurodivergent storytelling in a way that highlighted autism through a diverse lens.We also speak about the decision process she underwent in making casting and personnel decisions and the importance of having a neurodiverse team on a project like this. Take a listen and let us know what you think...2021-08-1727 min
Not Your Mama's Autism (NYMA)Art Imitating Life: A Conversation with the Creator of Pixar's FloatIn this episode of the Not Your Mama's Autism Podcast, I speak with Bobby Rubio, Pixar director of the 2019 animated short film, Float. Earlier this year, Bobby spoke with me about the movie and his son, Alex, the inspiration behind the film. We talked about how being a parent to a child on the autism spectrum sparked the idea behind the film, the importance of representation in media, cultural stigma attached to an autism diagnosis, family life and the evolution he made as a dad to embrace the fullness of who his son is.For those...2021-08-0231 min
Not Your Mama's Autism (NYMA)Not Your Mama's CEO Interview In this NYMA episode, we speak to the President, CEO and Chairman of the Liberty Mutual Insurance Group, David Long, about his life as a CEO, a Dad and a husband. He and I had a very candid discussion about raising an autistic son in an age before modern day autism awareness and autism acceptance campaigns. He frankly discusses the isolation his family underwent in the early years of the diagnosis and how he channels those tough chapters of his life into pouring into community outreach efforts. We also talk about the way society has viewed brain differences...2021-07-1943 min
Not Your Mama's Autism (NYMA)More Than Just A PlaygroundWhen you think of a playground, what comes to mind? Do you think of corporate philanthropy or corporate social responsibility? Do you think of community engagement with intentionality? Do you think of universal design with accessibility at its core? The Liberty Playground is located in Plano, Texas with an aim toward catering to children of all abilities. It is a playground that is the fruit of a public-private partnership between the City of Plano, Texas and Liberty Mutual Insurance. In this episode, I sit down with one of the leaders responsible for the success of...2021-07-0529 min
Not Your Mama's Autism (NYMA)Leveraging A Neurodivergent Talent PoolOur first episode of our third season starts with a look into hiring practices at a global financial institution already known for its award winning autism and disability inclusion hiring practices. This episode looks into a relatively new set of business practices known as the Business Solutions Team ("BeST") program, an initiative with a mission to match intellectually and developmentally disabled employees with roles that fit their skill sets. In this episode, I interview BeST Program leaders Bryan Gill, Celia Rodee and Danielle Meadows, who all share their experiences on the program's origin, challenges with running...2021-06-2131 min
I Am African by VerasticHow One Mom Is Raising Two Children On The Autism Spectrum ft. Lola Dada-OlleyThe world is still learning about autism. And I, Vera Ezimora, know even less about autism. My first "real" experience with autism was when I got my first professional job after I graduated college. It was as a Service Coordinator, and I walked with individuals with intellectual disabilities. It seems like such a lifetime ago now. I learned so much from that job.When I came across today's guest, Lola Dada-Olley on Facebook (through her husband), I just knew I had to bring her on because she has so many different experiences, all rolled into one human...2021-05-241h 23
Not Your Mama's Autism (NYMA)Behind the MaskIn our final episode of the season, we round out our segment on women on the spectrum through the illustrative eyes of Marcelle Ciampi, autistic writer, author, neurodiversity advocate and diversity and inclusion leader. She talks about masking, the behaviors used to conceal true behavior in order to conform to what is considered acceptable by the greater society. She also details her perspective on getting a later in life autism diagnosis, the hurdles she jumped to obtain it in the first place and what she thinks a normal brain likely looks like.We appreciate her...2021-05-1742 min
Not Your Mama's Autism (NYMA)The Beauty of NeurodivergenceFor years, the face of autism took on a male form. It is only in the recent era that more women have come forward with their stories in hopes to slowly change the narrative and highlight the beauty of the full range of neurodivergence that exists in society. As we close out our second season, we will hear from two different autistic women who have so graciously shared their journeys, including how society reacts to them when they tell people they are on the spectrum. This episode, the next to last one of the season, features Ayanna...2021-05-0320 min
Not Your Mama's Autism (NYMA)"The Talk" on Race through An Autism Lens: Three Parent PerspectivesThis episode builds upon the previous three episodes that highlighted themes of race, neurodiversity, disability and community policing. In this episode, we discuss the talk about race that many black parents give to their children in an attempt to better protect them for the world ahead. Through the eyes of three different black parents of autistic children, each provides a vulnerable and real look into their parenting philosophies and how they either went about or will go about discussing race with their autistic children. The view points are varied, told through the lens of a mother...2021-04-1952 min
Not Your Mama's Autism (NYMA)Community Policing for Different Kinds of Brains Pt. 2This episode builds upon our previous episode on community policing with autism and disability inclusion in mind. For this episode, Sergeant Charles Heasley, of the Plano, TX Police Department, provides a deeper understanding into community policing practices through the eyes of mental health, which includes how the Department trains its force to interact with members of the autism and intellectually disabled communities who may be experiencing a crisis of some kind, including mental health challenges. In this interview, he provides listeners to his initial impression of community policing and its strong social work component, deeper explanations of some...2021-04-0543 min
Wellness and WahalaEpisode 42: Showing Solidarity with people with Autism (Guest: Lola Dada-Olley)Wellness Wahala Warriors, today April 2, 2021 we celebrate ‘World Autism Day” and we have our special guest Attorney, Advocate, Wife, Mom *2 Autism, and Sibling of Autistic brother. She provides great gems of advice like how she has multiple village of supporters; 1) Faith community support, 2) Ride or Die best friends of support, 3) Medical providers support. You don’t want to miss this great gist and the valuable tips she offers. As the African proverb says it takes a village to raise a child. Oya, tune in and listen, share, and comment using hashtag #WellnessWahala #Warriors #WorldAutismDay2021-04-0238 min
Not Your Mama's Autism (NYMA)Community Policing for Different Kinds of BrainsIn Season 2, Episode 6 of the NYMA Podcast, we discuss interactions between law enforcement and members of the neurodivergent and intellectually disabled communities through more than one perspective. The episode picks up a bit from where it left off and includes personal narratives of various ways upon which my brother has had interactions with the police and concerns our family has for the next generation of neurodivergent children as they navigate their formative years when it comes to hoping that they come across law enforcement and community members that are understanding. Another perspective will come through the...2021-03-2256 min
Mothers of MisfitsMultigenerational Autism | Lola Dada-OlleyLola Dada-Olley's adult brother and two kids are on the autism spectrum. Lola shares how she went through parentification as a child. She draws on those difficult experiences as the "blueprint" for the mom she is today. Despite all of life's challenges, Lola faces every day with joy and resilience.
Learn more about this episode on our website: www.mothersofmisfits.com2021-03-0921 min
Not Your Mama's Autism (NYMA)A Family Secret: An Event that Eventually Led to a Career ChoiceIn Season 2, Episode 5 of the NYMA podcast, we address the intersectionality of race and disability in America through the eyes of personal accounts. I interviewed my own brother, Wale, about his police stop when he was a teenage boy driving around our little brother, Kunle, also a teenager at the the time. For those of you who have already been following us on social media and via this podcast, you are aware that Kunle is autistic with an intellectual disability. He is also non-verbal. One of his favorite pastimes, up until this current day, is...2021-03-0820 min
Not Your Mama's Autism (NYMA)Autism in Love: One Couple's StoryYou want love and marriage advice? You want to learn about a particular couple's marriage philosophy? You may get a million answers. But, in Season 2, Episode 4 of the NYMA podcast, we take you down this road through the eyes of a candid neurodiverse couple, a husband and wife, based in the UK.For those of you following us on social media and via the podcast, you will recognize one of the voices, Lee Corless, who I spoke with in the immediate previous episode. In this episode, he is back with us, along with his wife Jeanette...2021-02-2238 min
Not Your Mama's Autism (NYMA)Neurodiversity in Corporate LifeIn Season 2, Episode 3 of our podcast, we address the high unemployment rate of adults with autism and the corporate inclusion efforts that have since risen up to combat this societal problem. Solutions to this issue involve a multi-faceted array of stakeholders.This episode focuses on neurodiversity inclusion efforts of major corporations; future episodes will eventually get into areas like community partners that train some individuals to be ready for such jobs, etc. We were honored to have interviewed Lee Corless, Vice President at JPMorgan Chase, based in the UK. Through the firm's Autism at...2021-02-0840 min
Not Your Mama's Autism (NYMA)Autism Mompreneurs: Resilience in ActionIn Episode 2, Season 2 of NYMA, two moms of children with special needs, Betsy and Tracey, speak to their triumphs and challenges associated with starting and/or expanding business in the midst of a global pandemic while balancing motherhood, a full-time job and/or kids' various therapy treatments. Both women talk about the way in which their children's special needs present themselves individually in each child, how their business ideas first occurred to them and where their business growing in 5 years.Regardless of the particular challenge presented on any given day, both Betsy and Tracey...2021-01-2542 min
Not Your Mama's Autism (NYMA)Feeding Neurodiversity through the Second BrainThanks to registered dietician Brittyn Coleman , MS, RDN/LD, CLT , this episode focuses on some of the many dietary considerations that may be made in determining what is the best diet so that some people on the spectrum can increase their quality of life. In this episode, we first talk about GI issues discovered in the earlier days of our daughter's autism journey. After thinking that these challenges were properly addressed, we discovered recently that this was not quite the case. We realized the need to add a dietician to our medical team in order to...2021-01-1137 min
Not Your Mama's Autism (NYMA)Covid-19 Impact on our Family: Swiss Army Knife ParentingIn our Season Finale of NYMA, we take you into midst of the pandemic through the eyes of a family that needs significant community supports in order to thrive. When parts of your community supports are impacted by the type of virus almost nobody was alive to see the last time this happened, the status quo becomes a casualty on the road to the "new normal".This episode details one family's account of the year never to be forgotten while still exhibiting persistence and resilience along the way. Whether it be a breakdown in services to...2020-12-0259 min
Not Your Mama's Autism (NYMA)Financing Autism and Intellectual Disability: When Your Plans Need PlansEpisode 8 of the NYMA podcast takes listeners on the road down an uncomfortable subject to many...money...particularly financial and estate planning. It's the intersection of where money can meet the future. In our case, it's the intersection of where money can meet the future, but with an asterisk. Sometimes, the day to day stresses of life can prevent you from achieving attainable long-term goals that can set your family up for the future. Our family had to shift our mindset from in the now to thinking more generationally. So, this episode dictates just some of what we...2020-11-1042 min
Not Your Mama's Autism (NYMA)Navigating Health Insurance In America, the word "health insurance" has become incredibly politically charged. For our family, having the right health insurance customized for our family's needs is beyond the political, it's highly personal. Moving to a new state revealed how different states tackled insurance coverage as it related to types of therapies and even the duration of care. Families like ours don't have the luxury of trying to figure out insurance coverage once they move to a new state. So, we tried to do as much research ahead of time as we could. But, even with all the...2020-10-2637 min
Not Your Mama's Autism (NYMA)Finding Answers in the Lone Star StateIn this episode, upon touching down in a city in a completely different region of the country, it became clear fairly quickly that life as we knew it would change... and not in the ways in which we originally thought. This episode addresses the surprises along the way in those early days in the Lone Star State and the people in our lives who would become community. From complete strangers to old family friends we would discover now lived in the same state as us, a new, Texas village would form. This episode starts a series in our...2020-10-1346 min
Not Your Mama's Autism (NYMA)It Takes a (Wisconsin) VillageIf it takes a village to raise a child, it may need two villages to care of a child with special needs. Adversity has a way of revealing who genuinely is in one's corner and who isn't. This episode takes you through various examples of how people chose to be present in another's life in a meaningful way. It also briefly touches upon how even family members can disappoint you at a time when you are at your most vulnerable. Through a series of random acts of kindness, Village 2.0 would emerge and prove to be a strong...2020-09-2858 min
Not Your Mama's Autism (NYMA)And Then There Was TwoAnd Then There Was Two starts to tell the story of the effect medical diagnoses can have on a family, particularly two life changing diagnoses less than one year apart from each other. Listeners will hear the origin story of the youngest member of the clan and how her autism differs from her big brother. Complete with perspectives from Dad, big brother, Mom and a Board Certified Behavioral Analyst and Psychologist, this episode navigates you through the strains this can cause on a family as well and the silver linings along the way.https://notyourmamasautism.com/2020-09-1436 min
Mommy Oyoyo50. Raising Two Children on the Autism Spectrum feat. Lola Dada-Olley | @NotYourMamasAutismIn this episode, my guest, Lola Dada-Olley shares the challenges that come with raising children on the autism spectrum. Lola's first child was about 18-months old when he was diagnosed with autism, and by then she had already given birth to her daughter who was also eventually diagnosed as autistic. Lola talked about receiving the diagnoses and learning to adapt her family's lifestyle to accommodate her children. She touches on having a collaborative partnership with her husband in raising their children, and building a community/network of families that have children with special needs. Lola talks about having had...2020-09-111h 05
Not Your Mama's Autism (NYMA)Deja Vu: First My Brother, Now My SonAs the old adage goes, "nothing you've been through is wasted." In Episode 3, NYMA dives into that time in the initial steps of the journey when parents are discovering the broad range of what neurodiversity looks like and the challenges associated with it.In this instance though, one of the parents had nearly a life time of experience, living with a sibling with autism. This episodes walks the listener through those initial moments where history appeared to be repeating itself in parts. The major difference was that this was a different era, one with far more...2020-08-3036 min
Not Your Mama's Autism (NYMA)Boy Meets GirlTough conversations on the road to marriage may include net worth, credit scores and medical histories. But, for siblings of people with special needs, an additional layer of complexity may need to be grappled with pre-union.For the host, an older sister of a man living with autism and an intellectual disability, it was important for her to have this conversation with her soon to be husband, who hadn't experienced autism intimately the way she had.Not Your Mama's Autism takes you on a journey on the road to marriage with three couples where...2020-08-1828 min
Not Your Mama's Autism (NYMA)In the Beginning, The BlueprintWelcome to the very first episode of Not Your Mama's Autism (NYMA) Podcast! NYMA takes you on a journey into autism through a series of multigenerational, cross-cultural narratives and conversations. In order to better understand our autism journey, we thought it was fitting to start at the beginning and tell the story of my greatest teacher, my baby brother who lives with autism and an intellectual disability.He taught me time and time again that you don't need words to communicate along with too many other life lessons to count. I take you through the challenges my...2020-08-0415 min
Not Your Mama's Autism (NYMA)Not Your Mama's Autism Podcast: The TrailerWelcome to the Not Your Mama's Autism Podcast, where we talk about my family's autism journey through a multi-general angle. My baby brother, my son and my daughter all live with autism. My family looks forward to sharing our story with you through personal narrative and our village of health care professionals, family members, mentors, allies and educators.https://notyourmamasautism.com/https://www.instagram.com/notyourmamasautism/https://www.facebook.com/NotYourMamasAutism/2020-07-2001 min