Uniquely Human: The Podcast

EPISODE 170
An Autistic Educator on the "New ABA", Masking, Compliance and Belonging: A Discussion with Rebecca Engle
Rebecca Engle brings a wealth of knowledge to understanding and supporting autistic and other neurodivergent children. She has the lived experience of being an autistic and ADHD non-speaking child until five years old when speech began to develop, and although her family was very supportive, she was often misunderstood in school. She went on to get advance degrees in education and now specializes in supporting neurodivergent students. Her insights about ABA, and compliance-based approaches, as well as inclusion will be of great value to parents and professionals.

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Episode 169
ECHO Autism: Enhancing Autism Care Through Collaborative Learning and Practice with Dr. Kristin Sohl and Dr. Stephen Shore
Dr. Kristin Sohl, a developmental pediatrician developed ECHO Autism more than a decade ago, now providing outreach to more than 60 sites nationally and 40 internationally. Initially, she saw the need to address gaps in medical services she experienced directly as a physician, and addressed gaps with outreach to teams to provide the best care for autistic individuals. Dr. Stephen Shore, as an autistic educator, as well as other autistic professionals, provide support to further developing the ECHO network and participating in ECHO sessions as lived experience experts. Kristin and Stephen discuss the evolution of ECHO autism as a creative model of care.
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EPISODE 168
Sensory Health: An Essential Concern for Neurodivergent People with Dr. Virginia Spielmann, PhD, OTR/L
Dr. Virginia Spielmann discusses sensory health and its broader implications with Barry and Dave, beyond just auditory or visual sensitivity issues. She explains how sensory processing affects emotional and physical well-being, emphasizing that everyone processes sensations constantly but may experience challenges in how they integrate sensory information. She explains how neurodivergent individuals often face misinterpretation of their behaviors, with observable actions being labeled as “just behavior” rather than recognized as potential indicators of sensory distress. Virginia concludes by emphasizing that sensory health is a human issue affecting everyone, not just those with neurodivergent conditions, and highlights how differences in sensory processing have contributed to human diversity and expertise throughout history.
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Episode 167
Chefs on the Spectrum: An Innovative Employment Program for Autistic and Neurodivergent People, with Chef Franklin Becker and Chef Joseph Valentino

This episode features Chef Franklin Becker and Chef Joseph Valentino discussing their work with the Chefs on the Spectrum program at Chef Franklin’s restaurant Point Seven in New York City. Chef Franklin explains how his personal experience as a father of an autistic son inspired him to create the program, which connects autistic adults with meaningful careers in professional kitchens while helping restaurants become more inclusive workplaces. Chef Joe shared his journey from facing job rejections and difficult work environments to thriving as a chef at Point Seven, where he has developed important skills like managing ticket orders and preparing mise en place properly. The discussion highlighted how Joe’s presence has positively impacted the entire kitchen team by teaching tolerance, acceptance, and compassion, while also breaking down stigma about autism in the culinary industry.

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Dr. Mel Houser, MD, physician and founder of the All Brains Belong health care community, explains how current healthcare systems fail neurodivergent people. Dr. Mel explains how traditional healthcare settings create barriers that don’t accommodate neurodivergent needs, and how practices in All Brains Belong, guided by universal design principles, emphasize the importance of elevating lived expertise by telling patients “you are the expert in your body.” The discussion also covered how neurodivergent people often present with intertwined neuroimmune conditions that traditional 10-15 minute medical visits cannot properly address. Dr. Mel concluded by outlining three concrete changes needed in American healthcare systems.
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