TPP 418: Redefining Success for Neurodivergent Children, with Dr. Emily King
episode
Full-Tilt Parenting: Strategies, Insights, and Connection for Parents Raising Neurodivergent Children
45 min
2 speakers
8 chapters
transcribed 15 hours ago
Transcript
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
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Maybe it's Maybelline. If there's anything that's going to challenge our definition of success, it's raising a nerd divergent child, right? Because I just have always felt like they're the canaries in the coal mine of like, this is not working for them. And we don't have a choice. other than to pivot and do what they need to be healthy and happy. Because that's where we all land. Every parent wants their child to be healthy and happy. But what does that look like for them? And every single child is going to be different. And every single child not only might be different from their peers, but is probably different from how your parents design success, which is the first thing we all have to let go of.
I'm Debbie Reber and welcome to Tilt Parenting, a podcast featuring interviews and conversations aimed at inspiring, informing, and supporting parents raising differently wired kids. We live in a society where success is often defined by external markers like prestigious jobs, academic achievements, or traditional milestones. But as parents of neurodivergent kids, we also know our children's paths and timelines often will be very different. And while their journeys may not align with conventional notions of success, that doesn't mean they're any less meaningful or valuable. So how can we redefine what success means for our kids and for our families? That's one of the big questions I explore with today's guest, child psychologist, Dr. Emily King.
Emily has worked with neurodivergent children and teens for over 20 years. She earned her PhD in school psychology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. And after working as a school psychologist in Houston, Texas, where she provided mental health services in K through 12 public schools, Emily shifted her work to focus on supporting neurodivergent youth, their families and educators. She's also the host of the Learn with Dr. Emily podcast and Substack and the creator of the Neurodiverse Classroom, a professional development curriculum for elementary and middle school educators. In our conversation, Emily and I dive into redefining success for neurodivergent students, emphasizing the importance of joy, self-discovery, and effectiveness in their learning journeys.
We explored how cultural definitions of success can be limiting, what's happening in American public schools regarding neurodivergence, and the actionable steps we can take to help shift the paradigm. Most importantly, we talk about how to reframe success in our families in ways that empower our kids to build autonomous, self-actualized lives on their own terms. Thank you so much for having me. I believe so strongly that these are the kinds of critical conversations we need to be having in order to disrupt traditional models of education and learning that don't include or acknowledge the needs and experiences of our neurodivergent kids. So I love if you could share this episode with friends and family and professionals in your world who have a stake in this conversation.
Thanks so much. And now here is my conversation with Dr. Emily King. Hey, Emily, welcome to the podcast.
Hey, Debbie, thanks so much for having me.
Of course. I can't believe you haven't been on the show before. We've known each other for a very long time, and I follow your work and love the focus that you're taking in your work and what you're doing in this space. So welcome, official welcome to the show. I've read your formal bio, but could you introduce us in the way that you like to talk about the work that you do centered around your why and your passion for this community?
Yeah, so my why is I always come back to this intersection of education, mental health, and neurodiversity.
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Chapters
8 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:00–7:49
2
What cultural definitions of success limit neurodivergent children?
7:49–11:44
3
How does Dr. Emily King’s background shape her view on neurodiversity?
11:44–14:55
4
Why are joy and effectiveness the two key ingredients for neurodivergent success?
14:55–19:14
5
How can parents shift the paradigm of success in their families?
19:14–30:47
6
What does the current state of neurodivergence understanding look like in American public schools?
30:47–38:29
7
How can schools support neurodivergent learners through staffing and inclusion?
38:29–44:18
8
What role do autonomy and self‑advocacy play in redefining success for neurodivergent kids?
44:18–45:07
Speakers
2 identifiedMore from Full-Tilt Parenting: Strategies, Insights, and Connection for Parents Raising Neurodivergent Children
TPP 266a: A Conversation with Poet and Advocate LeDerick Horne
TPP 522: A Whole Child Approach to ADHD with Phil Boucher, M.D.
TPP 091a: A Conversation With Steve Silberman About His Book “Neurotribes”
TPP 521: A Conversation with Dr. Peter Gray About Restoring Childhood
TPP 253a: Advocate and Author Jonathan Mooney on Why Normal Sucks
TPP 520: Dr. Özgür Bolat on Why Rewards Backfire and the Real Science of Motivating Kids