Complex Kids, Simple Solutions

• C. S. Wyatt — From Checklists to Conversations: Preparing Neurodivergent Students for College

  Send us a textIn this conversation, Michelle sits down with educator and accessibility advocate Dr. C. S. Wyatt to demystify the leap from K–12 supports to college reality—and how listening (not just checklists) drives real inclusion online and in the classroom.Dr. Wyatt shares:The cliff at 18. IDEA/IEP and most K–12 protections end at adulthood; in higher ed, students must personally contact Disability Services to receive ADA/504 accommodations—and parents can’t do it for them.Why online “access” often isn’t accessible. PDFs and one-size-fits-all templates fail many learners; give students control over font, size, color, reminders, and formats—and pair online shells with real human mentoring.Teach self-advocacy early. Start in elementary school: “I can’t see the board,” “I need quiet headphones,” “Can I get the notes in plain text?”—so it’s automatic by college.Accommodations vs. core requirements. Extra time on a general-ed essay? Often yes. Extra time in a chemistry lab or during clinical tasks that can’t pause? Often no—if it changes the nature of the course or profession.Parent mindset that works. Lead with listening. When your child can’t find the words (dysgraphia, motor planning, language), bring in specialists to help you “hear” what they mean.Quote to tape on the fridge: “Ask the student what they need—and believe the answer. Then build the class around that truth.”Whether your learner is eye-typing on a device or juggling ADHD in a Canvas shell, Dr. Wyatt’s message is simple: relationships first, formats second—and start practicing self-advocacy long before move-in day.👤 About Dr. C. S. Wyatt Dr. Wyatt is a college instructor and researcher focused on accessibility, universal design, and communication for neurodivergent students. A technology professional turned professor—and a parent of two neurodivergent daughters—he blends lived experience with evidence-based practice to make higher education genuinely usable.🔗 Connect with Dr. Wyatt Website: tameri.com/autisticme Link hub: linktr.ee/cswyatt Email: [email protected]#ComplexKidsSimpleSolutions #CollegeReady #IEPtoADA #Neurodiversity #UniversalDesign #ParentAdvocacyListen to this episode and more athttps://wisdom4complexkids.com/complexkidssimplesolutions 🎧 Connect with Michelle: Website: www.wisdom4complexkids.com Instagram: @michellechoairy Join the community: Wisdom 4 Complex Kids Facebook Group 💌 Have a question or want to share your story? Email Michelle at [email protected] 🧠 Want simple tools that actually work? Download the free advocacy toolkit: wisdom4complexkids.com/the-ultimate-advocacy-toolkit-pdf

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• Russell Van Brocklen — Rethinking Dyslexia: Why Typing, Not Tracing, Unlocks Reading and Writing

  Send us a textIn this conversation, Michelle Choairy sits down with Russell Van Brocklen, founder of Dyslexia Classes, to uncover a radically different way of helping kids with dyslexia, ADHD, and learning differences thrive—by flipping traditional methods on their head and using neuroscience, technology, and writing itself as the therapy.Russell shares:🧠 A senator’s wake-up call. When a New York lawmaker discovered his daughter’s dyslexia too late for early intervention, he created the Dyslexia Task Force—and inspired a new look at what really works in literacy instruction.⌨️ Why typing beats tracing. Instead of overloading fine-motor memory, Russell’s approach builds neural bridges through typing—using repetition, self-correction, and measurable output to strengthen both spelling and comprehension.🔄 From “Orton-Gillingham or bust” to modern neuroscience. He explains why 1940s-era multi-sensory methods miss key discoveries about how the dyslexic brain processes language—and how simple tech tools can fill the gap.💡 The half-circle method. By combining reading, listening, and writing around a child’s deepest interests (Disney, animals, iPhones—anything!), parents can cut through chaos and spark genuine progress at home.💬 A parent’s perspective. Michelle shares how her son Drake’s unique learning profile reframed her belief in what literacy should look like—and why “different” doesn’t mean “less.”Quote to tape on the fridge:“We don’t need to prompt-engineer the computer. We need to prompt-engineer our brains.”Whether your child has dyslexia, ADHD, or simply struggles to get words on paper, Russell’s message is clear: with structure, curiosity, and consistency, the brain can rewire itself for success.👤 About Russell Van Brocklen A New York-based educator, researcher, and founder of Dyslexia Classes, Russell helps students and parents replace frustration with measurable progress through practical, brain-based literacy strategies.🔗 Connect with Russell 🌐 Website: dyslexiaclasses.com 💼 LinkedIn: Russell Van Brocklen#ComplexKidsSimpleSolutions #DyslexiaSupport #Neurodiversity #ADHDAwareness #ParentAdvocate #SpecialEducation #ReadingStrategiesListen to this episode and more athttps://wisdom4complexkids.com/complexkidssimplesolutions 🎧 Connect with Michelle: Website: www.wisdom4complexkids.com Instagram: @michellechoairy Join the community: Wisdom 4 Complex Kids Facebook Group 💌 Have a question or want to share your story? Email Michelle at [email protected] 🧠 Want simple tools that actually work? Download the free advocacy toolkit: wisdom4complexkids.com/the-ultimate-advocacy-toolkit-pdf

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• Dr. Emily Levy — Unlocking Every Child’s Learning Potential with Orton-Gillingham

  Send us a textIn this conversation, Michelle sits down with Dr. Emily Levy, founder and director of EBL Coaching, to explore how customized, multi-sensory instruction can transform outcomes for students with dyslexia, ADHD, executive functioning challenges, and other learning differences.Emily shares:Why no one-size-fits-all works. With 22+ research-based methods in her toolkit, Emily explains why kids with unique learning profiles need a curriculum that’s both structured and flexible.The power of Orton-Gillingham. From tactile sand trays to skywriting, Emily breaks down how OG’s multi-sensory, step-by-step approach rewires how struggling readers decode and spell—helping not just kids with dyslexia, but any child who needs a foundation in literacy.Beyond the diagnosis. Emily shows how true progress comes from digging past labels and asking the real question: Which skill is this child missing right now—and how can we target it?Collaboration that works. By reviewing IEPs, conducting her own evaluations, and looping in teachers and therapists, Emily builds “Team Child” so parents never feel alone.Virtual vs. in-person. Pandemic struggles proved one thing: tech can bridge gaps. Emily shares how mailed manipulatives, interactive whiteboards, and one-on-one engagement make virtual tutoring effective—even for kids who once “hated Zoom school.”Quote to tape on the fridge: "Every child has gifts and strengths—and the ability to succeed in life. School may feel like the hardest stretch, but beyond it lies the golden end: thriving in who they are."Whether your child has dyslexia, ADHD, autism, or a rare genetic condition, Dr. Levy’s message is simple: with the right tools, teamwork, and individualized support, every child can move forward.👤 About Dr. Emily Levy A lifelong advocate for students with learning differences, Emily grew up immersed in special education—her mother founded a school for kids with disabilities in Florida. After an early career in finance, Emily pivoted back to her passion, earning her doctorate in special education and founding EBL Coaching, which now serves students in New York, New Jersey, and worldwide virtually.🔗 Connect with Emily & EBL Coaching Website: www.eblcoaching.com Facebook: EBL Coaching Instagram: @ebl_coaching LinkedIn: Emily Levy | Dr. Emily Levy#ComplexKidsSimpleSolutions #OrtonGillingham #LearningDifferences #IEPAdvocacy #DyslexiaSupportListen to this episode and more athttps://wisdom4complexkids.com/complexkidssimplesolutions 🎧 Connect with Michelle: Website: www.wisdom4complexkids.com Instagram: @michellechoairy Join the community: Wisdom 4 Complex Kids Facebook Group 💌 Have a question or want to share your story? Email Michelle at [email protected] 🧠 Want simple tools that actually work? Download the free advocacy toolkit: wisdom4complexkids.com/the-ultimate-advocacy-toolkit-pdf

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• Jeanine Mouchawar — Talking to Teens When “I Don’t Know” Is Every Answer

  Send us a textIn this conversation, Michelle sits down with parenting coach Jeanine Mouchawar to unpack why the strategies that worked for little kids fall apart in the teen years—especially for neurodivergent teens—and how small shifts in tone, timing, and language rebuild connection without power struggles.Jeanine shares:The teen transition = a parent transition. Your child’s needs change at puberty; your approach must, too. “What worked at 8 won’t work at 14”—and that’s normal.Side-door conversations beat head-on clashes. Skip the spotlight and eye contact; try parallel talks (car rides, walking, chores) and start with low-stakes observations instead of accusations.Say less, get more. Lead with a single fact + a curious question: “I noticed a D on the test—what happened?” (Not: lectures, portals, and punishments.)Shame shuts down the brain. When kids sense our disappointment, they can’t problem-solve. Regulate yourself first; then coach them.Name it to tame it. Build a feelings vocabulary (beyond “mad/sad”) so kids can describe embarrassed, overwhelmed, frustrated—and choose better coping.DBT-lite at home. Practical skills that help: emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and mindful pauses (“Mom needs a time-out—give me a minute.”)For neurodivergent teens (ADHD/LD): Short sentences, reflective listening (“So you meant…?”), and indirect empathy (“I miss that puppy…”) open doors that direct comfort can slam.Five questions that get teens talking. Jeanine’s free guide to jump-start stalled conversations—tested over a decade with families.Quote to tape on the fridge: “Calm is a strategy. Regulate you first—then your teen can borrow your nervous system.”Whether your teen is quiet-quitting family life or debating every boundary, Jeanine’s message is simple: connection before correction. Shift the approach, and the “I don’t knows” start turning into real conversations.👤 About Jeanine Mouchawar Jeanine is a parenting coach who helps moms and dads of preteens through young adults reduce conflict, rebuild communication, and navigate the unique needs of neurodivergent teens using practical, skills-based tools grounded in emotion regulation and connection.🔗 Connect with Jeanine IG: https://www.instagram.com/jeanine.theparentingcoach FB: https://www.facebook.com/jeaninemouchawarcoaching LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeaninemouchawar/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmQD811NxejLhXRJwG19k7g Website: Listen to this episode and more athttps://wisdom4complexkids.com/complexkidssimplesolutions 🎧 Connect with Michelle: Website: www.wisdom4complexkids.com Instagram: @michellechoairy Join the community: Wisdom 4 Complex Kids Facebook Group 💌 Have a question or want to share your story? Email Michelle at [email protected] 🧠 Want simple tools that actually work? Download the free advocacy toolkit: wisdom4complexkids.com/the-ultimate-advocacy-toolkit-pdf

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• Nicole Runyon — Why Screens Are Rewiring Our Kids (and What We Can Do About It)

  Send us a textIn this powerful episode, Michelle sits down with former child psychotherapist and author Nicole Runyon to tackle a controversial question every modern parent faces: Is technology quietly hijacking our kids’ mental health—and what can we do about it?Nicole shares:📉 The silent epidemic no one saw coming. In 2014, Nicole began seeing a wave of children with severe depression, anxiety, and self-harm—and most had no trauma history. The common thread? Excessive screen time in developmentally critical years.👀 The myth of the “calm” iPad kid. They might look regulated—but neurodivergent and complex kids are often overstimulated and dysregulated underneath. Nicole explains why tech is not the sensory regulation tool we think it is.💡 Why tech is today’s pacifier—and how parents can say no. Nicole offers tools to help parents set boundaries and understand why their own tech use is the first place to start.⚠️ The developmental danger of convenience. From weather apps to Amazon Prime, Nicole shows how even small conveniences rob kids of critical thinking, problem-solving, and personal responsibility.📱 The “digital detox” that changed everything. Michelle shares her own story of removing tech from her home, how her son went from breaking everything to calming down—until one flight to Brazil brought it all back.Quote to tape on the fridge: “Big Tech is no match for a developing brain. We wouldn’t give our kids a beer to survive a long flight. Why are we handing them something just as addictive?”Whether you’ve got a screen-obsessed tween, a Roblox meltdown brewing, or a house full of devices you regret ever buying, Nicole’s message is clear: You are enough. And you have more power than you think.👤 About Nicole Runyon Nicole Runyon is a licensed psychotherapist turned parenting educator and the author of [Insert Book Title]. She spent 20 years working with kids and teens facing trauma, anxiety, and severe depression—and now helps families reclaim calm, connection, and clarity in a tech-saturated world.🔗 Connect with Nicole Runyon • 📘 Website: nicolerunyon.com • 📸 Instagram: @igenerationmentalhealth • 👥 Facebook: Nicole Runyon • 💼 LinkedIn: Nicole Runyon, LMSW#ComplexKidsSimpleSolutions #DigitalParenting #NeurodivergentKids #ScreenTimeStruggles #ParentingInTheDigitalAge #NicoleRunyon #MichelleChoairy #TechAddiction #iPadTantrums #RobloxMeltdowns #ConsciousParentingListen to this episode and more athttps://wisdom4complexkids.com/complexkidssimplesolutions 🎧 Connect with Michelle: Website: www.wisdom4complexkids.com Instagram: @michellechoairy Join the community: Wisdom 4 Complex Kids Facebook Group 💌 Have a question or want to share your story? Email Michelle at [email protected] 🧠 Want simple tools that actually work? Download the free advocacy toolkit: wisdom4complexkids.com/the-ultimate-advocacy-toolkit-pdf

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