On the Spectrum Empowerment Stories with Sonia Krishna Chand: Adult Autism, Neurodivergent, and Mental Health Expert

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Something strange happens when you stop asking “What’s wrong with me?” and start asking “What is this part of me trying to do for me?” I sit down with coach Tina Estrella to talk about existential kink, a somatic, parts-based approach that helps people untangle self-sabotage, shutdowns, and repeating patterns without turning their inner world into a battlefield.

Tina shares her path through early diagnoses like depression, borderline personality disorder, and OCD, and what changed when she later recognized ADHD and neurodivergence through a more strength-based lens. We talk candidly about self...

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Reading out loud as a kid can feel like standing on a stage with no script, and Willie Blake knows that pressure firsthand. We sit down with Willie to talk about being diagnosed with dyslexia in first grade, getting pulled into extra support classes, and the quiet ways that “help” can still lead to isolation when classmates start treating you differently. We get honest about what that does to self-esteem, why confidence and learning are tied together, and how shame can make dyslexia feel louder than it has to be.

We also...

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Join Sonia Chand as she speaks with Vicki Christensen, founder of Blue Glasses Advocacy, about navigating the world of special education, IEPs, and parenting children with neurodiverse needs. Learn how to find support, understand your legal rights, work with schools on accommodations, and hear Vicki's personal journey raising two children with unique needs. 

Discover actionable advocacy tips, the importance of building your village, and insights from Vicki’s upcoming memoir, "Uniquely Fully Enough." Perfect for parents, educators, and professionals looking for guidance and hope on the neurodivergent journey.

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A custody fight can turn into a second full-time job when autism or other special needs are part of your child’s world, and the stakes feel unbearable. We sit down with Christopher Anderson, a family law attorney licensed in multiple states and a parent of an 18-year-old on the autism spectrum, to talk about what actually helps families reach better outcomes without handing their lives over to the court system.

We dig into the “best interest of the child” standard and why it’s both universal and deeply personal. When parents...

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Aerial yoga can look like acrobatics, but what happens inside the hammock is often the opposite of performance: it’s regulation, relief, and finally feeling safe in your body. I sit down with Melbourne-based teacher Joe Stewart to talk about how aerial yoga supports trauma-informed practice and neurodiversity through simple, powerful sensory tools like cocooning, deep pressure, gentle rocking, and optional inversions. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed in a crowded studio, bored by repetitive flows, or unsure where you fit in “typical” wellness spaces, this conversation offers a grounded alternative. 

We get pr...

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Dementia is often treated like a door slamming shut. What we hear from Marilyn is the opposite: a series of doors opening once we stop chasing who someone used to be and start meeting who they are right now. We talk about caring for parents with dementia, Parkinson’s, and Alzheimer’s, and how one family’s long-held rule to “walk away” collided with the real work of love, grief, and showing up.

We dig into what changes when you embrace the idea of “living with dementia” instead of “suffering from it,” and why per...

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One bad IEP meeting can change your body, your sleep, and your faith in the “village” everyone promises you. I’m joined by Paula J Yost, who has a perspective you rarely hear in one voice: she’s both a practicing attorney and a licensed psychotherapist. Paula shares how living through clinical depression shaped her, why getting real mental health support in law school changed her future, and how those therapy tools now show up in the way she helps people in legal settings filled with anxiety, grief, and high stakes decisions. 

We ge...

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A car crash can be over in seconds, but a concussion can rewrite your life for years. We sit down with Kelly Tuttle, a former cardiology nurse practitioner who later moved into neurology, to tell the truth about traumatic brain injury recovery, especially the kind that doesn’t show up on a “normal” CT or MRI. Kelly shares the moment she realized something was truly wrong, the fear of not knowing if she’d ever feel like herself again, and the slow, stubborn work of rebuilding a life around a healing brain.

We g...

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Some of the most dangerous myths about suicide sound polite on the surface: “They were selfish,” “They did it for attention,” “If you talk about it, you’ll make it worse.” We push back on all of that with a conversation that stays human, specific, and real.

We’re joined by Kirsten O’Connor, an author from New Zealand and the mother of Kahlia, who died at 24. Kirsten helps us remember the full person behind the loss: a bright, musical, loyal young woman with a psychology background, close friendships, and a huge heart for oth...

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Ever carried so much for so long that you forgot what you want? That’s where our guest, Debbie Weiss, once lived: 40+ years caregiving for her father after a stroke, advocating for a son on the autism spectrum, and supporting a husband through mental illness and a terminal diagnosis. The cost was anger, exhaustion, and a quiet belief that life was happening to her. Then a 50th birthday trip cracked the script. If time was speeding up, she needed to claim a response—not just responsibilities.

We walk through the small leve...

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The biggest problem in schools isn’t disengagement—it’s relevance. We sit down with education leader and author Lisa Riegel to unpack NeuroWell, a practical framework that aligns brain science with daily classroom life so students feel safe, seen, and ready to learn. From belonging cues to behavior de-escalation, Lisa shows why culture design is the hidden lever for academic gains and healthier staff.

We explore how to build a true learning community: clear norms, student roles, shared rituals, and goal setting that give every learner purpose. Lisa explains emotional and in...

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What if the story you were told about yourself was the wrong one—and the right words finally set you free? We sit down with Christopher Carrazas who was diagnosed autistic at 35, to unpack a life of masking, sensory overload, and the everyday math of trying to pass as “fine.” The moment his assessment named what he’d carried for decades, the static quieted. Relief wasn’t a cure; it was a compass.

Chris talks candidly about stigma inside his marriage, how repeated contempt can program shame that ultimately led him to believe...

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A confusing label, years without sleep, and a son who couldn’t speak—then a letter board changed everything. We sit down with creative entrepreneur and advocate Neil Rogers to explore how a family built a sustainable framework—inspired by Positive ActivityTM (developed by Neil and his wife Lori set to help people professionally and personally) in order  stay clear, resilient, and inventive while raising an adult son with profound autism. From gratitude journaling and exercise to practical diet changes and sensory integration, Neil shares the specific choices that improved sleep, reduced frustration, and ope...

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The story begins with a hard reality many families face: a beloved child who may never speak. Jennifer McGee joins us to share Isaiah’s path through profound autism—years of isolation in a classroom with low expectations, a legal fight to enforce IDEA and FAPE, and the life-changing shift that came with the right ABA team. What unfolds is a blueprint for hope built on practical tools, persistent advocacy, and a refusal to accept “can’t learn” as a verdict.

We walk through the early signs and missed milestones, the shock of s...

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Big feelings don’t have to mean big blowups. We sit down with author and mom Sarah Hartley to unpack the real-world signals of ADHD and sensory processing disorder, why two siblings can present in opposite ways, and how small environmental tweaks can turn daily battles—showers, transitions, loud crowds—into manageable routines. Sarah takes us inside her home during the pandemic, when early intervention paused and anxiety surged. The fix wasn’t perfection. It was creativity: a DIY sensory gym with crash pads and a climbing wall, plus structured games that paired movement...

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What if the behavior you see as “disrespect” is actually distress asking for a safer way in? We sit down with Kevin Dahill-Fuschel  of Counseling in Schools to unpack the practical heart of trauma-informed education: how to read behavior as information, build trust without lowering academic standards, and create classrooms where belonging fuels effort.

Kevin takes us inside decades of school-based counseling across New York City, from the aftermath of 9/11 and Hurricane Sandy to the long tail of COVID. He shares how teachers can shift daily interactions—simple compliments, noticing prosocial acts, r...

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What if your grandparents’ best stories didn’t fade with time—but could talk back when you needed them most? We sit down with founder Jeremy Horne to unpack how a childhood of mailing cassette tapes to his Nana Winny became the blueprint for Winny an app that nudges better questions, records family memories, and helps people build a living archive of their lives. Then we go deeper into Forever You, a conversational avatar that only says what you actually said—anchored by real video and audio proof.

Jeremy shares how leaving...

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Disclaimer: This is not to be taken as a therapy directive, but rather this is for learning and entertainment purposes only! Please consult with your physician and/or mental health care team to decide whether this approach is appropriate for you. 

Sensitive topics such as trauma and SA are discussed in this episode.

What if the loudest story about bipolar disorder—the chemical imbalance—misses the point? We sit down with author and facilitator Sean Blackwell to peel back that narrative and explore bipolar through a wider lens: trauma held...

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We explore why caring for caregivers of neurodivergent people must come first and how small, consistent habits can reverse burnout. Eleonora Magri shares practical sensory strategies, community resources, and a mindset shift that prioritizes human needs over rigid protocols.

• expanding caregiving beyond elder care
• why caregiver wellbeing is the first treatment step
• meeting parents where they are and pacing for readiness
• naming early burnout signs and reframing urgency
• sensory self-care that calms the nervous system
• low-cost strategies that fit short windows of time
• building a support villag...

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Struggle with reading doesn’t mean a child can’t learn; it means they haven’t been taught in a way their brain can use. We sit down with Daniela Feldhausen—who left a 25-year law career to build Kids Up Reading Tutors—to unpack how precise screening and science-backed instruction turn confusion into clarity for students with dyslexia and dysgraphia. No buzzwords, just a workable roadmap: phonological awareness to hear sounds, phonics patterns that match English’s quirks, and morphology to decode and spell longer words with confidence.

We walk through the...

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Trigger Warning: Suicide

The hardest part isn’t finding the perfect words—it’s showing up without judgment. We sit down with Helping Heroes founder Tony DeMaio to share a clear, compassionate playbook for preventing suicide among veterans, first responders, and anyone you love who might be slipping into isolation. From the earliest warning signs to practical safety steps, this conversation is built to help you notice sooner and act with confidence.

Tony traces his journey from coaching and cycling events with hundreds of veterans to launch...

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A store manager said, “There’s no such thing as a special needs shopping cart.” That moment lit the fuse for Drew Ann Long, who turned a napkin sketch into Caroline’s Cart—now standard in Target, Walmart, and Sam’s Club, and a symbol of what happens when families refuse to accept exclusion as normal. We walk through the emotional and practical beats: Caroline’s Rett syndrome diagnosis, the day-to-day realities of caregiving, and the exact problem that made shopping unsafe and exhausting once novelty carts were outgrown.

From there, we trace the h...

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What happens when the executive with the corner office is hiding a devastating secret? Joshua Case, former VP at a Fortune 500 company, pulls back the curtain on his double life—corporate success by day, battling alcohol addiction by night.

Joshua's raw conversation reveals how childhood trauma, including sexual abuse and a complicated relationship with his father, created patterns of codependency that followed him into adulthood. Despite his success in career, he found himself trapped in a cycle of using alcohol to escape painful memories and uncomfortable emotions.

Rock bottom ma...

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Dominick Domasky's story reads like a masterclass in resilience. From losing half a million dollars in a failed restaurant venture in his twenties to founding a publishing company that's helped hundreds of authors worldwide, his journey embodies the power of perseverance and reinvention.

"I went bankrupt. I was broke. I was in my early 20s, couldn't even pay for a spaghetti dinner," Dominic recalls. During those darkest moments, he discovered writing as both therapy and purpose. What began as simple stories in a notebook evolved into a mission to help others...

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Who believes one story has the power to change someone's life? I know I certainly do, and you know who else does? No other than the Wendy Babcock, Founder of WHEN stories. 

As we all are well aware, 2020 changed the world. Many of our work schedules changed, as we had to make that transition from going to a workplace to having to use our home as our office. Wendy Babcock's work was no different in that her public speaking opportunities during that time dwindled. However,  she coached speakers on ge...

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Lindsay Abernathy shares her powerful journey through domestic abuse and offers practical guidance for survivors trying to rebuild their lives after toxic relationships.

• Abuse can hide behind the appearance of a perfect life with fancy houses and cars
• Many victims don't identify their situation as abuse because it doesn't match stereotypical portrayals
• Abusers collect vulnerabilities early in relationships to weaponize them later
• Warning signs include love bombing followed by devaluation, criticism, and control
• Financial abuse keeps many victims trapped with no access to money or resources
• Trauma creat...

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Trigger Warning: Suicide and SA was discussed.

What if everything we think we know about the Gen Z mental health crisis is incomplete? In this eye-opening conversation, suicide survivor, author, and mental health advocate Aly Vredenberg challenges conventional wisdom by revealing four interconnected factors driving declining mental health among young people: economics, isolation, environment, and meaning.

Aly shares her deeply personal journey, beginning with a suicide attempt at age 14 following sexual assault and severe bullying. After surviving this darkest moment, she dedicated herself to understanding mental health...

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By now, everybody has heard of traditional going to therapy and taking medications, if necessary. However, what role does neurofeedback play in treating mental health? 

Meet Meg Stuppy, founder of the Los Angeles Neurofeedback Center and co-founder of Clarity Direct Neurofeedback, who joins us to illuminate how neurofeedback technology is transforming mental health treatment by helping rebalance the brain's natural rhythms. With 13 years of experience in the field, Meg explains in accessible terms how this brain-based approach works and why it's gaining recognition as a powerful complement to traditional therapies.

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What if neurodivergence isn't just something to be accommodated, but a powerful gift that can transform leadership? Rita Ramakrishnan, a person with Autism Spectrum and ADHD, found strengths behind her diagnosis, and she used it to excel in executive leadership. 

Amongst the strengths Rita found was her remarkable hunger for knowledge that stemmed with her voracious appetite of curiosity. Rita, unlike others who would make assumptions based off what they feel other people are thinking or feeling through social cues, doesn't make such assumptions and is not shy about asking others t...

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As many may know, May is mental health awareness month. However, what still needs more conversation about mental health is the fact that men too have mental health challenges. Men too deserve to share their stories and be heard. Men too deserve to be vulnerable without being told to "man up" or "suck it up." 

Aaron Ash bravely shares his challenges of having undergone complex trauma through incidents with his family. As a lot of people tend to do, Aaron tried to find solace in chasing extrinsic things versus turning the m...

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Andrea Andree takes us on a transformative journey from being a corporate Engineer to becoming a leadership and embodiment coach for high-achieving women who want to get out of their heads and into their bodies.

• Former project manager with two engineering degrees who felt unfulfilled despite checking all the boxes of success
• High achievement often stems from childhood wounds and patterns of seeking validation or attention
• Achievement becomes an identity and unconscious driver when it's how we learned to receive love
• 90% of our behaviors are driven by unconscious patterns...

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Sam Mitchell shares his journey of being diagnosed with autism at age four and transforming his experiences into a platform for advocacy through podcasting and motivational speaking. Sam turned his pain into purpose by giving back and helping others.

• Diagnosed with classic autism symptoms including repetitive behaviors, restricted interests, and sensory sensitivities
• Found understanding at age six through a book that explained his autism, helping him make sense of social exclusion
• Struggled with peer relationships throughout school, experiencing exclusion rather than direct bullying
• Made breakthrough at sixteen when he stopp...

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"Pigs are for eating, not for dating." This powerful metaphor emerged from my journey through unhelpful therapy, where I was repeatedly told to lose weight because "thin girls get away with more." During this special Autism Acceptance Month episode, I'm sharing raw, personal chapters from my book "Dropped in a Maze" to illuminate the unique challenges faced by those of us on the spectrum.

My story takes you through therapy sessions with Dr. Grey, who despite his expertise in autism, focused more on changing my appearance than addressing my emotional needs...

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What if your DNA could guide you on how to better handle your health? What if genetic testing could guide you on how certain medications would work?  Len May, founder and CEO of EndoDNA, does just that: helps people navigate their health through genetic testing. 

The road to lead Len May to where he is today has been anything but easy. Len May was kicked out of his home when he was in his later teens for recreational use of cannabis. Len's parents strongly frowned upon his use of cannabis.Le...

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Michael Pereira, an insurance specialist and father of a son with autism, shares critical financial planning strategies for families with special needs children. He offers insight into comprehensive insurance planning that protects dependents with special needs if something happens to their caregivers.

• Michael's strong passion is helping special needs families after his son's autism diagnosis
• Three key areas of focus: income protection, funding special needs trusts, and long-term care planning
• Financial planning gets more expensive and difficult to qualify for as you age
• Special needs trusts protect government benefits...

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What happens when a devastating diagnosis becomes a pivotal turning point in someone's life? In this episode, we explore the remarkable journey of Heather Krueger, who transformed adversity into her calling. Diagnosed with stage four liver disease just before her 25th birthday, Heather's strong faith and determination led her down a path where she was able to receive a living donation of a liver. However, Heather's story didn't end there. Her living donation ended up turning into a love story; a story that was picked up by Hallmark. Heather Krueger's story was behind...

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What happens when the magic of books become a lifeline for children in need? We welcome the extraordinary Seena Jacob, founder and CEO of Bookwallah, a nonprofit that is dedicated to setting up libraries for underprivileged children who survived traumatic events but didn't have kind of resources available for support. Seena Jacob knows well about how the power of reading stories has the ability to impact someone's life. Seena herself turned to book reading as a young child as a way to cope with her own traumas. Stories like Cinderella, Chronicles of Narnia...

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Trigger Warning:  Past Suicidal Ideations Discussed

After experiencing the crushing weight of societal expectations, Molly Booker found her path to self-acceptance through embracing her individuality and passions. On this episode of "On the Spectrum with Sonia," Molly, the author of "Magic in the Mess," takes us on her inspiring journey of breaking free from the chains of conformity  Her story highlights the difficulties that present when one feels that they don't fit in like everybody else, and the difficulties with learning to embrace one's own uniqueness.

Throughout the episode, Mo...

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Just imagine you are living your life and going about your day to only have the course of your whole life change in a flash. This is what happened to Brian P. Swift back on December 26, 1979. Brian was just a gregarious 17 year old off school on winter break. He just finished celebrating Christmas with his family, and he was looking forward to spending the rest of the winter break relaxing and having some fun. He called his buddies to go play some football, and there was a group of guys who got together...

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Tom Smith, a retired NYPD officer and current host of the Gold Shield Show, joins me on "On the Spectrum with Sonia" to discuss the often unseen intersection of law enforcement and mental health. Inspired to follow his father's footsteps and seeing the strong camaraderie and "family" formed within the community,  Tom aimed to recreate that for his own life and found just that. 

The conversation takes a deeper look at the intricacies of mental health in policing, emphasizing the vital role of mental health support within the justice system. We di...