Autism Parenting Secrets

Latest Episodes:

The Body is Electric and Dirty Electricity Harms Dec 17, 2020

Show notes

This week, Len had a conversation with Dr. Samuel Milham, an 88-year-old epidemiologist, author, and expert on the dangers of 'Dirty Electricity'.

Dirty electricity is an invisible toxin that impacts everyone, but kids on the spectrum are especially susceptible to harm. Dr. Milham shares his findings on its impact on children with Autism and how it affects parents and children as early as their time in utero.

The good news is that there are practical methods to limit its exposure and better protect your family from these harmful EMF's. Dr. Samuel Milham shares what parents can do to check for dirty electricity in their homes and why simply educating ourselves on this issue can have a tremendous impact on our health in the long term.

We are certainly thankful for Dr. Milham sharing his insights and believe you will take away some great value from this episode!

Key Takeaways

The impact of dirty electricity on children with Autism (04:30)
Dr. Milham’s experiment in a Palm Springs school (08:00)
Describing what dirty electricity is (12:20)
Exposure in Utero (17:00)
What parents can do to check for dirty electricity in their homes (21:10)
Practical methods to limit exposure (28:05)

Additional Resources

Connect with Dr. Samuel Milham here

To purchase a copy of Dr. Milham’s book, ‘Dirty Electricity’

To learn more about the Stetzer Filters and Meter that Dr. Milham referenced, click here

To learn more about Cass & Len’s All-In Warrior Tribe

Want to know your Warrior Parent Score? Get your FREE score here

To learn more about Cass & Len, visit us at www.autismparentingsecrets.com

Be sure to follow Cass & Len on Instagram

Check it out...Autism Parenting Secrets is number 12 on the Top 20 Autism Podcasts by Feedspot👉 https://blog.feedspot.com/autism_podcasts/

SUPPORT Is The Missing Link Dec 10, 2020

Show notes

This week's episode is part 2 of our discussion with our client, Helen Shanley. We discuss how support is the missing link parents need on their healing journeys.

Parents often just try to manage on their own in isolation. It's hard to ask for support. But for those willing to be supported, so much more is possible! Helen's story is a testament to just that. She and her son have an incredible story of healing and hope, and so much of it can be credited to her focus on support.

Helen shares why she now relies on her own wisdom for her son's care and the growth that she's experienced by working through her limiting beliefs. Tune into this week's episode to learn more about her reflections and how you, too, can adopt a supportive practice for your family!

Key Takeaways

How support played an important part in their journey (02:00)
Why Helen now relies on her innate wisdom (08:20)
Our kids know what they need (11:40)
Reflecting on the journey so far (21:10)
Focus on supporting your child rather than fixing them (26:30)
Crushing through to limiting beliefs (29:15)

Additional Resources

Are You Running On All Cylinders? Get your FREE Warrior Parent Score

To learn more about Cass & Len, visit us at www.autismparentingsecrets.com

Be sure to follow Cass & Len on Instagram

Check it out...Autism Parenting Secrets is number 12 on the Top 20 Autism Podcasts by Feedspot👉 https://blog.feedspot.com/autism_podcasts/

Small Steps + Less Pressure = BIG Progress Dec 03, 2020

Show notes

This week, we have a special episode for you all! We talked with our client, Helen Shanley from Ireland. She just completed our 12-week intensive program. She shares her transformation, and how taking small steps while putting less pressure on herself was huge. It paved the way for her to transform, which gave her son the space to make huge gains!

The feedback we get from our clients is gratifying and always offers us a fresh and interesting perspective to the journey we're all on as parents. Our discussion with Helen starts with some of the feelings she had to navigate when her son was first given an Autism diagnosis. Feelings that you may be familiar with--the grief, loneliness, and uncertainty that is so often attached to raising a child with specific challenges.

She details those initial emotions and her decision not to allow a diagnosis to define her family's quality of life. She went from putting immense pressure on herself to be the perfect parent taking all the right steps and making sure her child was doing all of the "right things to letting go and taking one step at a time.

We talk about the unintentional pressure we put on ourselves and children and some self-care tips we can implement to help keep us grounded and refreshed. Tune into this week's episode to listen to Helen's encouraging story!

Key Takeaways

Helen’s big aha moment (03:30)
A bit about her Autism journey (04:50)
The pressure she was putting on her life (11:00)
The power of our thoughts (20:05)
How diet has been a complete game changer (25:40)
Sometimes we unintentionally put pressure on our children (33:10)
Helen’s self-care tips (35:00)

Additional Resources

Are You Running On All Cylinders? Get your FREE Warrior Parent Score

To learn more about Cass & Len, visit us at www.autismparentingsecrets.com

Be sure to follow Cass & Len on Instagram

Check it out...Autism Parenting Secrets is number 12 on the Top 20 Autism Podcasts by Feedspot👉 https://blog.feedspot.com/autism_podcasts/

Autism is NOT Hardwired Nov 26, 2020

Show notes

This episode, we had a conversation with Dr. Martha Herbert, a pediatric neurologist and neuroscience, on the power of synergy. She explains how the exponential impact of doing a few key interventions at the same time can lead to significant improvements in children with Autism.

Dr. Herbert introduces an informative perspective on the nature of Autism as a whole. She proposes that it isn't a predisposed and fixed impairment as it’s typically described to be. Instead, Autism is the result of a combination of events, and once those incidents are isolated, parents are better able to treat the individual symptoms. This leads to healthier, happier, and more connected children.

Throughout our discussion, we touch on the importance of working on one thing at a time and understanding that Autism isn't just situated in the brain but, in actuality, the entire body.

We believe this episode will help guide you to the next steps in caring for your child and enlighten you about an Autism diagnosis's true identity.

Dr. Herbert is a treasure-trove of wisdom, and we're so excited to share her insights with you!

Key Takeaways

Introduction to today’s guest (01:55)
An interdisciplinary method for practitioners to communicate (7:50)
Why you should start one thing at a time (11:05)
What it means to help the brain work better (18:05)
There is no time limit to healing your child (25:20)
One of the reasons our children are sick (31:20)
Autism just isn’t just in the brain (39:15)
What people need to understand about Autism (42:40)
The visual connector parents should make sure they have (50:00)

Additional Resources

Click here, to learn more about Dr. Martha Herbert

For Dr. Herbert’s book, The Autism Revolution: Whole-Body Strategies For Making Life All It Can Be click here

For more information on neurofeedback, click here.

Click here to learn more about the Anat Baniel Method

Are You Running On All Cylinders? Get your FREE Warrior Parent Score

To learn more about Cass & Len, visit us at www.autismparentingsecrets.com

Be sure to follow Cass & Len on Instagram

Check it out...Autism Parenting Secrets is number 12 on the Top 20 Autism Podcasts by Feedspot👉 https://blog.feedspot.com/autism_podcasts/

You CAN Protect Your Child from EMFs Nov 19, 2020

Show notes

This week, we spoke with Peter Sullivan about EMFs and how this toxin can have detrimental effects on our health and, more specifically, our highly sensitive children.

Peter derives his expertise from his own experiences as a parent and his career in the tech industry. He is the founder of Clear Light Ventures, whose mission is to improve human health and performance by removing widespread environmental health threats.

Throughout our discussion, Peter shares some easy ways parents can determine an EMF sensitivity in their children and themselves. We also cover some practical ways to create a healing environment for our children by limiting their exposure to electromagnetic fields.

Peter offers his opinion on what types of radiation we should be most concerned about and if radiofrequency is actually harmless. An informed parent is an empowered one, and we are thankful to have the opportunity to shed light on this influential toxin that is often overlooked.

Tune in to find out how parents can take practical actions to reduce exposure to electromagnetic fields and wireless radiation.

Key Takeaways

Where Len and Cass met Peter Sullivan (02:00)
An easy way to determine EMF sensitivity (05:15)
Tips for creating a healing environment for your child (14:45)
Is RF really harmless? (20:10)
The social component of protecting children from EMFs (26:45)
Why we need to be more concerned about dirty electricity and wireless radiation (30:11)

Additional Resources

Clear Light Ventures

Book list to learn more about EMFs:

"Non-TinFoil Guide to EMFs"

"EMF'd"

"Dirty Electricity"

Get your own meter:

Trifield meter

Conferences, articles, and community resources:

Finding a Building Biologist

Wireless free Tent Experience

Autism and Wireless Exposure TACA Conference talk

Generation Zapped DVD

Autism and EMF Facebook Group

Jelter Calming Protocol

EMF Conference

Wireless and EMF Reduction for Autism Article

Are You Running On All Cylinders? Get your FREE Warrior Parent Score

To learn more about Cass & Len, visit us at www.autismparentingsecrets.com

Be sure to follow Cass & Len on Instagram

Check it out...Autism Parenting Secrets is number 12 on the Top 20 Autism Podcasts by Feedspot👉 https://blog.feedspot.com/autism_podcasts/

The POWER Is In The PARTNERSHIP Nov 12, 2020

Show notes

In this episode, we interviewed Dr. Lawrence Rosen, our integrative pediatrician, from early in our journey. We discuss why the best outcomes come from a true partnership with your doctor.

It’s so important that your doctor take the time to really understand your child and for them to have the curiosity to uncover what could be most helpful in their wellness journey. With that said, he believes that the most vital thing a parent can do is trust their own intuition when it comes to the health of their child.

That self-trust will guide you in picking the best practitioners for your child and facilitate a collaborative relationship with every healthcare professional you encounter.

We also cover Dr. Rosen’s child-centered approach to health and healing. Through his Whole Health 4 You initiative, he aims to empower children to control their own health and build the foundational principles that encourage a life focused on nutrition, mindfulness, rest, and healthy activity.

Lastly, Dr. Rosen shares that the most important thing we can do for ourselves as parents is the practice of living presently. Whether it’s through a yoga practice or daily gratitude list, that awareness will pay us back in dividends!

Key Takeaways

The first few important steps to take (03:15)
The first thing Dr. Rosen tells new parents (04:45)
It’s critical that parents connect with health care providers with a collaborative focus (12:45)
Dr. Rosen’s hybrid care model (16:10)
How he empowers children to take control of their health (21:20)
Children look to parents as the model for the behaviors they’ll adopt (27:02)
His two tips for parents (28:50)
The single most important gift we can give ourselves (31:45)

Additional Resources

Check out The Whole Child Center

Learn more about Whole Health 4 You here

Treatment Alternatives For Children by Lawrence Rosen and Jeff Cohen

Follow Dr. Rosen on Instagram and keep up with the Whole Child initiative with #wholechild4you

Are You Running On All Cylinders? Get your FREE Warrior Parent Score

To learn more about Cass & Len, visit us at www.autismparentingsecrets.com

Be sure to follow Cass & Len on Instagram

Check it out...Autism Parenting Secrets is number 12 on the Top 20 Autism Podcasts by Feedspot👉 https://blog.feedspot.com/autism_podcasts/

The Sequence Truly Matters Nov 05, 2020

Show notes

We interviewed Patty Lemer about her step-by-step plan for parents to help their child - the key point is that the order you do things really matters. It’s important to lay a strong foundation so therapies that address speech and language will be most beneficial.

Patty believes that the first step parents should take is to remove the bad and add in the good. The bad can be anything from environmental factors to toxic relationships, while the good can be noticing that your child responds well to a specific diet or that they seem engaged when you’re at church on Sunday.

It all starts with being that detective for your child and gaining confidence that you are the best fit for the job!

Next, parents have to look at the structural foundations to truly understand their place today. Maybe your child dealt with some sort of birth trauma or other circumstance that disrupted the natural attachment process. So many of the answers we’re looking for start as far back as the planning stages of bringing a child into the world. The key here is to leave no stone unturned.

Patty then tackles sensory issues with the understanding that so many of these “issues” are actually symptoms of an agitated nervous system. A solution may just be around the corner with a fix to your child’s diet or environment!

Many parents feel that the biggest red flags are behavior or relational. Sometimes, we jump the gun and try to address stimming or lack of verbalization when really we need to focus on those first three steps.

Lastly, Patty encourages parents to look to the future. It’s never too late to begin a path of healing, and it’s never too early to have a hopeful vision of what your child’s future may look like!

Key Takeaways

The power of sequencing (03:50)
Step one is to remove the bad and add the good (07:05)
Look at the structural foundations (09:18)
Thirdly, address the sensory issues (16:10)
What it means to have a vision (22:48)
Why the vestibular system is so important (29:41)
The first three steps must be addressed before tacking talking, relating, and behaving (31:30)
Stage five is looking to the future (33:20)
Why Patty’s books are a must-read (39:50)

Additional Resources

Books By Patty Lemer

Outsmarting Autism

To learn more about Patty Lemer, here’s her website

Patty’s Podcast The Autism Detectives

Learn more about Epidemic Answers here

Are You Running On All Cylinders? Get your FREE Warrior Parent Score

To learn more about Cass & Len, visit us at www.autismparentingsecrets.com

Be sure to follow Cass & Len on Instagram

Check it out...Autism Parenting Secrets is number 12 on the Top 20 Autism Podcasts by Feedspot👉 https://blog.feedspot.com/autism_podcasts/

The Past Reveals The Way Forward Oct 29, 2020

Show notes

This week, we are joined by Beth Lambert, founder and executive director of Epidemic Answers, a non-profit organization whose vision is a world where parents and professionals are empowered with the knowledge, resources, and support essential to raising healthy and vibrant children in today’s world.

In this episode, we discuss the importance of looking back at the entirety of your child’s life (as far back as pre-conception) for clues or as Beth mentions bread crumbs that help bring awareness on what might be currently going on. By knowing the past you can make informed decisions for the present and the future.

We also cover why parents must adopt an “I got this” attitude and embrace forgiveness. Forgiveness is such an important process. This helps you move from being stuck to being powerful. Beth guides us through that process and illustrates how it opens the doors to be more observant as a parent and, as a result, helps us get to the root cause of whatever issue you're facing.

Key Takeaways

The power of looking back (03:40)
Adopt an “I got this” attitude (07:50)
How guilt and shame paralyzes us and how to prevent it (11:15)
How to promote the concept of forgiveness (20:30)
Why being observant is how you discover some of the root causes (27:20)
The research project, Documenting Hope (29:00)
Why anecdotal evidence needs to be combined with scientific research (36:10)

Additional Resources

Books by Beth:

A Compromised Generation: The Epidemic of Chronic Illness in America's Children by Beth Lambert

Brain Under Attack by Beth Lambert and Maria Rickert HongLearn more about Epidemic Answers here

Learn more about Documenting Hope here

Learn more about The Documenting Hope CHIRP Study here

To follow Documenting Hope on Instagram

Are You Running On All Cylinders? Get your FREE Warrior Parent Score

To learn more about Cass & Len, visit us at www.autismparentingsecrets.com

Be sure to follow Cass & Len on Instagram

Check it out...Autism Parenting Secrets is number 12 on the Top 20 Autism Podcasts by Feedspot👉 https://blog.feedspot.com/autism_podcasts/

AWARENESS Influences EVERYTHING Oct 22, 2020

Show notes

This week, we interview Dr. Dan Peters, who conveys how a parent’s degree of awareness impacts so many aspects of parenting. And with greater awareness, so much more is possible - a stronger and happier relationship with your child.

Dr. Dan walks us through how to find the courage to ask the important questions to help us show up better for our children. He explains what a child needs most from their parent and how it encapsulates what the Parent Footprint is all about.

To ensure that we’re giving the right kind of attention to our children, we have to get very clear on what we want for them and ourselves. That awareness guides our steps and promotes intentional action and interaction with a child on the spectrum.

And finally, a point that we always stress and Dr. Dan emphasizes is to remind parents to check in on their own wellbeing. We have to take care of ourselves before we can care for others. And at the end of the day, the most lasting impressions we make on our children is illustrated through the lens of how we treat ourselves.

Key Takeaways

What the Parent Footprint is all about (02:05)
Finding the courage to ask how we can better show up for our children (09:10)
What your child needs from you most (15:50)
Why you have to get clear on what you want for your child (24:05)
Behaviors that promote better parent awareness (30:33)
A reminder that we as parents need to check in on ourselves too (36:00)
Start and end your day with intention (39:05)

Additional Resources

Learn more about Dr. Dan and Parent Footprint here

Listen to The Parent Footprint Podcast With Dr. Dan

Are You Running On All Cylinders? Get your FREE Warrior Parent Score

To learn more about Cass & Len, visit us at www.autismparentingsecrets.com

Be sure to follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/warriorparentcoaching/

Check it out...Autism Parenting Secrets is number 12 on the Top 20 Autism Podcasts by Feedspot👉 https://blog.feedspot.com/autism_podcasts/

Your Attention IS the Gift Oct 15, 2020

Show notes

In this episode, we are joined by Bruce Kirkby, the author of the new book Blue Sky Kingdom. Blue Sky Kingdom is the epic journey he took with his family. The journey was the ultimate unplug. They traveled from their home in Canada to the Himalayas of Northern India where he and his family lived at a Buddhist Monastery. Bruce shares the wisdom he learned and how acceptance and sincere attention to his child are the greatest gifts.

Parents of a child with Autism are often focused on fixing their child. What Bruce’s journey affirmed was that the best way that we as parents can show up for our children is through the attention we give them.

Bruce’s story of acceptance, the love of time together, and disconnection from distractions is filled with valuable insights that we know will help you in your own journey.

Stay tuned to learn more about their exciting adventure!

Key Takeaways

The journey it took to write this book (02:11)
Bruce’s lightbulb moment (04:55)
Jumping into one of our dreams (09:15)
Bodi’s connection to the Buddhist monastery (10:22)
Explaining a Zanskar social construct (14:30)
Development must go in both directions (18:32)
A child’s early years are hugely impactful (23:15)
Making travel a more pleasant experience for a child with sensory issues (30:30)
How life has changed since this trip (37:10)

Additional Resources

Blue Sky Kingdom is available here

For more about Bruce Kirby

Are You Running On All Cylinders? Get your FREE Warrior Parent Score

To learn more about Cass & Len, visit www.autismparentingsecrets.com

Be sure to follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/warriorparentcoaching/

Check it out...Autism Parenting Secrets is number 12 on the Top 20 Autism Podcasts by Feedspot👉 https://blog.feedspot.com/autism_podcasts/