After the Storm: Parenting Neurodiverse Kids in a Post-COVID World with Neil Wallace

The Reframe

The pandemic left a lasting impact on everyone, but in particular, on neurodiverse children. Now the work begins to help them catch up, heal, and thrive. Joining us today is the business senior executive director of the Heritage Community, Neil Wallace, to discuss how to empower neurodiverse kids to reach their full potential. In this conversation, you’ll hear all about how COVID affected neurodiverse children, why (and how) we need to help neurodiverse kids catch up to their peers post-pandemic, and more! We delve into the power of emotional regulation as a parent to a child with ASD (autism spectrum disorder) before Neil shares some practical tips for doing so and the importance of helping your children process trauma. We discuss the inevitable struggles children with ASD will go through, why they need to experience them, how Neil and his team support and train the caregivers of neurodiverse children, and why all kids with ASD need to build vocational independence. Finally, Neil shares his thoughts on future treatments for neurodiversity. To hear all this, and so much more, be sure to tune in now!

Key Points From This Episode:

• A brief overview of today’s guest, Neil Wallace.
• The biggest challenges COVID created for neurodiverse kids.
• How we can help neurodiverse kids catch up to their peers after COVID.
• Why a parent’s relationship with an ASD child may not be reciprocal in childhood.
• The importance of being able to emotionally regulate as a parent to an ASD kid.
• A few ways to regulate yourself so your neurodiverse child feels safe.
• Why children with ASD need to be challenged.
• Neil tells us about his staff and parent support manuals.
• The most important thing kids with ASD need to achieve: vocational independence.
• Neil’s thoughts on where the future is heading in the treatment world.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Neil Wallace on LinkedIn

Douglas Bodin
The Bodin Group