Full-Tilt Parenting: Strategies, Insights, and Connection for Parents Raising Neurodivergent Children

Kristy Forbes joins me to talk about what autistic burnout is and how it
presents, why “deep rest” is critical for someone experiencing autistic
burnout, and how autistic burnout is differentiated from mood disorders or depression. We also talk frankly about the challenges of seeing burnout in autistic / PDA children through a neuronormative lens, and how that may lead to therapies and strategies that may be the opposite of what a child in
autistic burnout actually needs.

About Kristy Forbes
Kristy Forbes is an Australian-based autism & neurodiversity support
specialist with experience working with clients both nationally and internationally. This includes neurodivergent people and their families; and professionals who wish to support them, such as educators, psychologists, pediatricians, allied health professionals, support workers and integration aides. Her work is informed by her extensive professional experience as an educator (Early Childhood, Primary and Secondary teaching), as an integration aide to children with social, emotional and behavioral differences, and as a childhood behavioral and family support specialist. Kristy has degrees in Political Science, Education, Literature, Film and Art. Her most valuable insights, however, come from lived experience.

Kristy is formally identified autistic, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) as well as being a parent to four neurodivergent children, all with varying neurodivergent experience and expression including being non speaking, apraxia, dyspraxia, tourettes
and PDA. She has the unique experience and insight of many perspectives: the teacher, the support specialist, the parent, the partner and the neurodivergent person (including the child she once was!).

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Today we’re diving into the complex and often overwhelming world of allergies, asthma, and related conditions—and what it really takes to support kids (and families) living with them. My guest is Dr. Zachary Rubin, a double board-certified pediatrician and allergist/immunologist who’s known for making allergy science accessible and understandable to millions. He’s also the author of the new book, All About Allergies, which is a clear, compassionate guide to managing allergic diseases.

In our conversation, Dr. Rubin breaks down how the immune system responds in different allergic scenarios, what’s behind the rise in things like pollen counts and food allergies, and how conditions like asthma fit into the bigger picture. We also talk about practical strategies for managing symptoms, supporting kids in everyday life, and reducing some of the stress and uncertainty that can come with allergies. 

 About Dr. Zachary Rubin

Dr. Zachary Rubin is a double board-certified pediatrician and allergist/immunologist who practices at Oak Brook Allergists in the Chicago area. A nationally recognized medical educator and public health advocate, he shares evidence-based, accessible information on allergies, asthma, and public health with over 3 million followers under the handle @rubin_allergy. Dr. Rubin earned his medical degree from Case Western Reserve University, completed his pediatrics residency at the University of Illinois College of Medicine in Chicago, and his allergy/immunology fellowship at Washington University in St. Louis. Outside of medicine, he enjoys swimming, hiking, golfing, hula hooping, and spending time with his wife, daughter, and three German Shepherds. All About Allergies is his first book, offering a clear, compassionate guide to managing allergic diseases.

 

Things you'll learn from this episode

How allergies work in the body and how the immune system responds across different triggers and scenarios

Why the connection between allergies and neurodivergence is gaining attention, despite ongoing research gaps

How environmental changes, including climate factors, are contributing to rising allergy prevalence

Why understanding diagnosis, prevention, and emergency planning is essential for managing food allergies

How asthma functions as an allergic lung condition and what that means for long-term health

Why addressing the emotional, social, and practical realities of living with allergies is key forsupporting kids and families

Resources mentioned

Dr. Zachary Rubin’s Substack


All About Allergies: Everything You Need to Know About Asthma, Food Allergies, Hay Fever, and More by Zachary Rubin, MD

Dr. Zachary Rubin on Instagram

Dr. Zachary Rubin on Threads

Dr. Zachary Rubin on Facebook

Dr. Zachary Rubin on YouTube

 
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Today we’re diving into what it really looks like to advocate for our neurodivergent kids in school in a way that’s truly aligned with who they are. My guest is Dr. Destiny Huff, a trauma therapist, advocate, and educator whose work is deeply informed by her own lived experience as a late-diagnosed autistic mother.

In our conversation, we explore the limitations and pitfalls of traditional IEP processes, what a genuinely neurodiversity-affirming approach can look like in practice, and how families can build more effective, collaborative relationships with schools. Destiny shares both big-picture reframes and practical strategies, offering a grounded, honest look at how to navigate systems that weren’t designed with our kids in mind, while still holding onto possibility and meaningful change.

About Dr. Destiny Huff 

Dr. Destiny Huff, LPC, is a late-diagnosed Autistic and ADHD mental health therapist, non-attorney special education advocate, and national speaker. She is the founder of Destiny Huff Consulting, where she supports families and schools in implementing neuroaffirming practices and navigating the IEP process.

As the mother of two neurodivergent learners in public school special education, Dr. Huff brings both lived and professional experience to her work. She focuses on dismantling deficit-based narratives in education and addressing the intersection of race, disability, and trauma.

Dr. Huff has presented nationally and co-hosts The Affirming Village Podcast, where she explores advocacy, disability justice, and the realities of navigating special education systems.

Things you'll learn from this episode 

How Dr. Huff’s journey from parent to advocate informs her approach to neurodiversity-affirming support

Why individualized, meaningful IEPs matter more than compliance-driven plans

How systemic barriers like underfunding and lack of training impact school support for neurodivergent students

What distinguishes traditional IEPs from neuroaffirming ones—and how that shows up in real life

How documenting data at home can strengthen advocacy for accommodations and services

Why supporting kids in understanding themselves and building self-advocacy is essential, alongside leveraging community and advocacy to create change

Resources mentioned

Neuroaffirming Advocacy: A Neuroaffirming Guide to Special Education Advocacy

Destiny Huff Consulting


Advocating for Kids, Inc. (Cheryl Poe)

Affirming Village Podcast with Lisa Baskin-Wright

Dr. Destiny Huff on Instagram

Dr. Destiny Huff on Facebook

Lisa Baskin Wright

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Eliza Fricker joins me to talk about PDA or pathological demand avoidance – and in fact I know many people interpret PDA as persistent desire for autonomy. I’ve done a few episodes on PDA before but never from a parent’s perspective so after reading Eliza’s book, The Family Experience of PDA, I knew I wanted to share her perspective with the Tilt community. During this episode, we talked about how demand avoidance is more extreme in a child with a PDA profile vs. the inflexibility and rigidity we might see in other neurodivergent kids, what Eliza has learned about herself parenting a child with PDA, and what her resistance was to the changes needed to her parenting style.

Eliza also gave out some great tips for teachers who have a PDA student in their classroom and for parents who are struggling with family, friends, or people close to them who aren’t willing to understand what PDA is and what that means for their family.

Things you'll learn from this episode

* What makes demand avoidance more extreme in children with PDA

* Eliza’s experience in changing her parenting ways to become more flexible

* Tweaks teachers can use to work with children who have PDA in a classroom setting

* How PDA may look different than “typical demand avoidance” that we might see in some neurodivergent children

* What Eliza has learned about herself from parenting a child with PDA

* Advice for parents who are raising a child with PDA

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Today we’re talking about autistic burnout—what it is, how it shows up in children and young people, and what it actually takes to support recovery. My guest is Jodie Clarke, an autistic and ADHD professional with more than 20 years of experience specializing in autistic experience and mental health, particularly in children and teens. In this episode, Jodie talks about the signs and causes of autistic burnout, how it’s often misunderstood or missed altogether, and what meaningful support really looks like. This is an essential conversation for anyone supporting autistic kids—grounded, validating, and full of important shifts in how we understand and respond to burnout.

 About Jodie Clarke

Jodie Clarke is an autistic and ADHD professional with over 20 years’ experience, specialising in autistic experience and mental health with a focus on children and young people . She is currently completing a PhD exploring autistic burnout in children and young people. Jodie is also a parent to 3 neurodivergent children of her own.

Things you'll learn from this episode 

How Jodie Clarke’s personal journey into neurodivergence shapes her advocacy around autism and burnout

Why masking plays such a significant role in autistic burnout for children and teens

How autistic burnout shows up in young people and the signs parents can learn to recognize

Why lowering demands and creating safe, low-pressure environments is essential for recovery

How societal and family expectations can contribute to burnout and delay healing

Why supporting recovery involves trusting parental intuition, unlearning conditioning, and helping kids reconnect with their authentic selves

Resources mentioned

Jodie Clarke’s website


Stop the World I Want to Get Off: A Guide to Understanding and Supporting the Recovery of Autistic Burnout in Children and Young People by Jodie Clarke


Young, Autistic, and Burned Out by Jodie Clarke

Luke Beardon at Sheffield Hallam University

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