Jan. 23, 2026

From Diagnosis To Dialogue: Autism, Mindset, And A Family’s Playbook For Progress with Neil Rogers

From Diagnosis To Dialogue: Autism, Mindset, And A Family’s Playbook For Progress with Neil Rogers

Send us a text A confusing label, years without sleep, and a son who couldn’t speak—then a letter board changed everything. We sit down with creative entrepreneur and advocate Neil Rogers to explore how a family built a sustainable framework—inspired by Positive ActivityTM (developed by Neil and his wife Lori set to help people professionally and personally) in order stay clear, resilient, and inventive while raising an adult son with profound autism. From gratitude journaling and exerc...

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Season 3

Send us a text

A confusing label, years without sleep, and a son who couldn’t speak—then a letter board changed everything. We sit down with creative entrepreneur and advocate Neil Rogers to explore how a family built a sustainable framework—inspired by Positive ActivityTM (developed by Neil and his wife Lori set to help people professionally and personally) in order  stay clear, resilient, and inventive while raising an adult son with profound autism. From gratitude journaling and exercise to practical diet changes and sensory integration, Neil shares the specific choices that improved sleep, reduced frustration, and opened space for learning.

The turning point came with Spelling to Communicate. Once Craig had a reliable motor path to point and type, his intelligence, heart, emotions, and intellectual thinking rushed forward—defining DNA on the spot, recognizing Muhammad Ali and the fact Cassius Clay was his name at birth, and sharing deep thoughts of people coming together as one instead of picking people apart. That voice unlocked autonomy. Craig has a desire to achieve higher aspirations and moves at his own pace. We talk about collaborating with schools especially when budgets fell short, and why respecting a person’s pace leads to better outcomes than pushing through.

We also zoom out to challenge old stereotypes and highlight where hope is rising.  Assistive tech—from advanced robotics to brain-computer interfaces—could soon scale care and communication. 

 If you care for a nonspeaking person, work in education or therapy, or just believe every human deserves a voice, this story offers a practical, humane roadmap you can start using today.

To learn more about Neil and Lori, please visit https://www.positiveactivity.net/. Neil is the author of "Bar Tips" -Everything I Needed to Know in Sales I Learned Behind the Bar. Neil is coming out with another book "Navigating the Special Needs World with Positive Activity." 


Support the show

01:38 - Meet Neil Rogers And Craig

02:57 - Building A Positive Mindset Framework

05:03 - Early Diagnosis And System Gaps

08:05 - Media Frames And Public Perception

11:54 - Health Trends, Environment, And Debate

17:05 - Lessons: Diet, Sleep, Sensory Tools

22:14 - Collaboration With Schools Over Conflict

25:42 - Speech Limits, Apraxia, And New Paths

27:53 - Spelling To Communicate Breakthroughs

31:54 - Friendship, Agency, And Philosophy

36:01 - Tech Hopes: Robotics And Neural Links

39:11 - Autonomy, Goals, And Daily Joy

WEBVTT

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Hello everyone and welcome to today's episode of On the Spectrum with Sonia.

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Today we have a very special guest, Neil Rogers.

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Neil Rogers is a creative entrepreneur whom I was introduced to by the incredible Julie Logan.

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Julie is one of my dear friends and has been very instrumental in not only helping me personally, but also professionally in getting my book out and giving me branding ideas.

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And if you don't know, CreativeCon is happening this February.

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My publisher, Dominic Domasky, will be there.

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Julie Logan is going to be obviously there as she is the matriarch of Creative Con.

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And it's in February in Chicago at Intercontinental.

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So if you have not bought your tickets, I highly recommend you buy them and join in on the fun.

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But here to discuss profound autism, business positivity, and just the inner play of keeping a positive mindset and helping caregivers with coming up with solutions based on his work and how he has helped his son.

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Is Neil Rogers, thank you so much for being here.

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Hello, Sonia.

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How are you, my dear?

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Thank you so much for being here.

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I'm good.

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I'm good.

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How are you doing today?

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Good, but I'll I'll have to I'll have to kick off with one thing right of the way.

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Uh we are a team here at Rogers, and that is Lori, my wife, who is very intricate in Craig's development and is the one that's really the straw that stirs the drink.

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Okay.

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We have kind of different role.

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I mean, we work together, but mine is more along the line of more big picture stuff.

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Lori's always into the into the nitty-gritty and uh does a marvelous job.

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See, right now that we've found this new way as we discussed earlier, and I will get into it here in a little bit, but because of this new intervention we found, she's right back into mama mode with a 34-year-old child.

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So it's it's marvelous to see, and of course, I'm very supportive of the whole thing.

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So what has this journey been like for you from start to where it is now?

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Well, ironically enough, I I'm about 13 chapters into a new book, uh, which will be called Navigating the Special Needs World with Positive Activity.

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And positive activity is the program that Lori and I have developed, and it's kind of the sum total of our lives and how we've operated both in our businesses and in our personal life.

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And so, and it really it's all it's grounded in getting your mindset right.

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So you uh you're in a place of positivity because you're gonna be way more productive, way happier.

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You know, if you're if you are in sales or you're in business, you're gonna sell 37% more, you're gonna be 31% more productive.

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And this is all this is all research done by Sean Acor in the in the book called The Happiness Advantage.

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And so we have adopted that and we we use it every day.

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We're journalers, we're meditators, we we're exercisers, we watch our diet, we do all those things that that help keep our mind sharp.

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And so that puts us in a place of open-minded, divergent thinking solution providing creativity.

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So we kind of walk around in creative mode a lot uh most of the time.

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You know, we don't really very rarely feel boxed in.

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So it it it's been very helpful over the years.

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Now, I'm not saying there has been days, especially in the journey with Craig, that we didn't feel boxed in, because as I as I've written these chapters, it's like, oh my goodness, this has just been a crazy lifetime.

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And you know, it starts out with just, huh?

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What does he have?

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Oh, he's PDD.

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What is PDD?

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Pervasive developmental disorder.

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Well, what is that?

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And then you would do some research and you go, Oh, he's got autism, right?

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So it's like, I don't know, a sleight of hand.

00:04:30.060 --> 00:04:34.540
And it was certainly this is nineteen ninety, hold on, where we get the math right here.

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Uh I think it's nineteen it's in the nineties when he got diagnosed.

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Right?

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If I'm doing the math right.

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Yeah, because yeah, because he's ninety.

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He's ninety-one, his nine uh man is eighty s eighty-nine.

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Yes, that's how it works with Camus 94.

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So somewhere probably ninety-four or so, ninety ninety-three or so, he got diagnosed because he the tri the the sim the the regular way of if you talk to nine out of ten people, they're gonna give you the same story.

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And when the kid was diagnosed, and it's gonna be at a certain period of time, between eighteen and twenty-four months, or they just kind of disappear.

00:05:06.459 --> 00:05:13.180
They will eyes roll back in their head, they stop babbling, they still want no eye contact, they won't they don't they're reverse to being hugged.

00:05:13.420 --> 00:05:22.459
So as you might well imagine, as I'm rewriting the re- as I'm going through this process of writing this book, and my go, it was blubbering with tears doing this stuff.

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But we feel there's always I felt there's always important.

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We and we feel it's important because I think there is a story to tell there, and I think there's it's a consistent one.

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It's one that you'll hear a lot of.

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And then we did some, but as as as things went on, we we did some more when we we jumped in a little bit, you know, even though we were confused, what is this?

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My the first thing I said to Lori when when we were when I mean this is how little we thought that we thought it was going to be okay.

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I wasn't even here.

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I was in New Jersey in a car going on sales calls.

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And I called her, I said, you go, yeah, well, he's got this thing, PDD, and okay, well, again, confusion and well, does the is the does the doctor say it's something we can work with?

00:06:01.340 --> 00:06:01.900
She says, Yes.

00:06:02.060 --> 00:06:03.819
I said, well, then that's what we'll do.

00:06:03.980 --> 00:06:19.980
So we just from there, from there on out, we we, you know, left left no stone unturned and was all over the certainly out into Chicago, New York, you know, we went anywhere where somebody had an intervention or a thought that could help him that was that was non-invasive.

00:06:20.060 --> 00:06:24.780
You know, you know, so it was just we didn't want to we wanted to stay away from pharmaceuticals and all those things.

00:06:24.860 --> 00:06:27.019
So anything that was natural, we were all about that.

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So that's kind of where it all, you know, that's so that's where we started.

00:06:30.220 --> 00:06:36.060
And then now he's get now he's in early intervention, he's going into schools, you know, into the school system.

00:06:36.220 --> 00:06:41.340
Now there's a whole now we got a whole nother stuff, another lot of things we gotta we gotta think about.

00:06:41.500 --> 00:06:48.459
Uh in you know, it's this notion where you have to fight for everything, fight for every dime and whatnot, which really isn't my way, our way.

00:06:48.620 --> 00:06:56.060
I mean, we're not we're not, you know, it's uh yeah, sure, we were we we were a squeaky wheel, but we also were a cooperative wheel.

00:06:56.139 --> 00:07:02.860
So we developed we developed a program, a little organization called PACE, Parents Assisting Special Educators.

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And essentially it was a what we called it it was a positive, proactive parent organization looking to support the effort of educating our kids.

00:07:12.379 --> 00:07:18.780
So when your son got diagnosed, did you find that there were a lot of available resources there at the time?

00:07:19.259 --> 00:07:19.579
No.

00:07:20.540 --> 00:07:20.780
No.

00:07:21.259 --> 00:07:25.420
We were right in the we were right where that hockey stick is, right?

00:07:25.579 --> 00:07:26.459
And they call us like this.

00:07:26.540 --> 00:07:26.620
Right.

00:07:26.860 --> 00:07:27.819
Here's where we were.

00:07:28.620 --> 00:07:30.300
So that's you know, he's 30.

00:07:30.459 --> 00:07:33.259
So that's 32 years ago.

00:07:33.500 --> 00:07:51.259
So you know it's interesting you mentioned 1994 because that term Asperger got put in, and formerly it was the DSM4, the this was also this was for people who what they coined as higher functioning autism, because people still did not understand autism back then.

00:07:51.500 --> 00:07:59.180
And, you know, and unless you really showed like a more conspicuous symptomology, right?

00:07:59.420 --> 00:08:03.900
That's what I think would raise bells for clinicians back then.

00:08:04.379 --> 00:08:15.420
Like I can't tell you how many times people have said, Oh, when I think about autism, I think about the movie Rain Man, you know, and yeah, well, that's what people thought it was, right?

00:08:15.579 --> 00:08:23.579
And so I just feel like it's you know they Well, no, no, sorry, nobody was gonna make a movie about Craig.

00:08:24.220 --> 00:08:34.220
Because there was no, you know, he he was he was humming, he was chinning, he was flapping, all these things, and didn't have uh Dustin Hoffman to play.

00:08:34.620 --> 00:08:42.139
Now, some of that stuff, like the repetitive nature, and you know, I wanted I brought Nerd3 or whatever it was, whatever those things were that can't remember all of them.

00:08:42.379 --> 00:08:46.539
But uh but that's I can't blame the folks because that's their frame of reference.

00:08:46.620 --> 00:08:48.539
I mean it's like, you know, Yeah, exactly.

00:08:48.939 --> 00:08:53.659
The one that I remember vividly was remember the m remember the show Saint Elsewhere?

00:08:53.819 --> 00:08:56.699
No, it's it's an old show, so maybe before your time.

00:08:56.939 --> 00:09:01.100
It was a hospital, uh a uh made-up hospital in uh Boston.

00:09:01.340 --> 00:09:01.659
Okay.

00:09:01.819 --> 00:09:08.779
And so and it was with Denzel Washington and Ed Begley Jr., the all these people in the beginning part of their careers, right?

00:09:08.939 --> 00:09:09.100
Okay.

00:09:09.419 --> 00:09:16.939
And the guy who ran the show was the president or whatever, he was the head doctor, I forget exactly what it's he had a he had a autistic.

00:09:17.259 --> 00:09:22.779
And he was like, he was one of the you know, squirmy, wouldn't sit still, that type of guy.

00:09:22.939 --> 00:09:26.539
And uh I remember vividly saying to myself, I hope I don't get one of those.

00:09:26.859 --> 00:09:27.419
Well, guess what?

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Now Craig was never, never in that fa fashion.

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He was never injurious or of himself or others, but but he was, you know, he is what it is.

00:09:34.379 --> 00:09:37.819
But yeah, so I can't blame the folks, but it's but it's like anything.

00:09:37.899 --> 00:09:44.699
If you if you hear now, if you hear enough of it uh on social media or whatever, it becomes fact, right?

00:09:46.139 --> 00:09:57.899
Well I think people have a better appreciation and understanding for it now in terms of what knowledge is being disseminated about it, what shows are being done, even though I think there's still a long way to go.

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In fact, I actually spoke with a producer about a show that is currently very popular that deals with autism.

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And I was even reading.

00:10:05.899 --> 00:10:07.500
Is that the doctor about the doctor?

00:10:07.659 --> 00:10:09.579
No, no, no, it's something different.

00:10:09.739 --> 00:10:12.699
And and I was gifting them my book, basically.

00:10:12.859 --> 00:10:23.899
And I was like, I would love to add value to your show to talk about different aspects of the show and talk about people who, you know, just add more varieties of different kinds of people on your show, right?

00:10:24.059 --> 00:10:30.459
And discuss because I feel like a lot of times too, you know, they hone in on certain types of things.

00:10:30.620 --> 00:10:38.059
But if you could expand it and let people see all different kinds of people, I think you know that's where it's gonna grow.

00:10:38.379 --> 00:10:40.620
Yeah, it's just more appreciation can grow.

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Education and understanding.

00:10:42.379 --> 00:10:45.179
I think that um most of these things take on a life of their own.

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And and like I said, I don't think anybody's gonna be get excited about I mean a documentary, sure.

00:10:50.539 --> 00:10:52.219
I think that would be a a cool thing.

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I don't think there's gonna be a sitcom of, you know, or a or drama of watching a kid flap around, you know, junior high and in in elementary.

00:11:00.859 --> 00:11:10.459
I so I I just wish they people got the understanding and and they underst and they also, you know, in terms of I want people to get behind what happened to these kids.

00:11:10.539 --> 00:11:11.979
And I don't mean just our kids.

00:11:12.139 --> 00:11:15.739
I mean all the kids and the chronic illnesses and children these days.

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I mean it's staggering.

00:11:17.739 --> 00:11:23.099
You know, so but instead of actually focusing on that, you know, or or you know, we're we're we're fighting over it.

00:11:23.899 --> 00:11:24.459
What does this mean?

00:11:24.539 --> 00:11:25.179
What does that mean?

00:11:25.259 --> 00:11:30.139
And and you know, he's bad and he's anti-vax and he's this, it's like, you know, folks.

00:11:30.459 --> 00:11:30.779
Right.

00:11:31.099 --> 00:11:33.099
You know, you just brand them and then it's over.

00:11:33.259 --> 00:11:35.019
So you well, in this case it isn't.

00:11:35.259 --> 00:11:38.379
Robert Kennedy just keeps on moving along and doing what he's gonna do.

00:11:38.539 --> 00:11:41.099
And now he's now he's just doing a whole thing on Lyme disease.

00:11:41.259 --> 00:11:46.620
I got a friend, I get a f we have a friend here who's actually one of Craig's teachers, had debilitating line.

00:11:46.779 --> 00:11:48.299
No answers, no answers.

00:11:48.859 --> 00:11:51.339
And so, and that's another unexplained deal.

00:11:51.419 --> 00:11:53.500
So she's walking around, she still looks beautiful.

00:11:53.579 --> 00:11:56.219
She's just, you know, to some people, it's like, what's wrong with her?

00:11:56.379 --> 00:11:59.099
Well, she's she's got this stuff and it it hurts.

00:11:59.339 --> 00:12:01.419
So I I just saw something on that the other day.

00:12:01.500 --> 00:12:04.859
They're doing a whole, they, they're they're really bringing that to the fore.

00:12:05.019 --> 00:12:06.139
So I think that's important.

00:12:06.219 --> 00:12:19.979
I mean, this there's there's there's just so much that we're and that that we're that we're missing out there, you know, and especially, you know, now they you know, the way they're changing the the dyes and foods and because I don't know what happened, but something happened, right?

00:12:20.219 --> 00:12:22.459
Some predisposition, sure, I'll buy that.

00:12:22.699 --> 00:12:23.899
Some combination of things.

00:12:24.059 --> 00:12:25.500
Yeah, that makes sense to me.

00:12:25.739 --> 00:12:27.819
Let's keep let's keep looking at it, right?

00:12:28.139 --> 00:12:40.299
You know how when, you know, you know, it's because it's not just I mean, Sonia, I don't remember a time as a kid growing up where I had to worry about sharing my peanut butter and jelly sandwich with anybody.

00:12:40.620 --> 00:12:40.779
Right.

00:12:41.099 --> 00:12:42.779
There were no peanut allergies.

00:12:43.259 --> 00:12:43.819
What is that?

00:12:43.979 --> 00:12:44.779
And that's part of it.

00:12:44.859 --> 00:12:52.939
That's part of this laundry list of I saw this by and uh woman, this woman Mary Holland had had posted it on a on a talk she gave in Boston.

00:12:53.099 --> 00:12:55.819
I wish I had gone to the talk because I I've heard her interview before.

00:12:55.979 --> 00:13:08.299
And uh, although she her she's affected by autism, she didn't just she wasn't just talking about autism, she was talking about teenage, you know, teenage suicide and and depression and and uh ADHD, diabetes, obesity.

00:13:08.699 --> 00:13:10.139
That's it's all there.

00:13:10.219 --> 00:13:17.500
And it's like and we're like, you know, for for the m you know, so it's you know, and and it should all be looked at some some form of fashion.

00:13:18.299 --> 00:13:19.019
I agree, I agree.

00:13:19.099 --> 00:13:22.939
And I think a lot of it is all you know very tied together, right?

00:13:23.099 --> 00:13:30.459
Especially when you talk about teenage depression and suicidality and ADD and obesity.

00:13:30.620 --> 00:13:34.379
I think they're, you know, ways, shapes, and forms connected to one another.

00:13:34.459 --> 00:13:35.099
Aaron Powell Well, yeah.

00:13:35.179 --> 00:13:40.219
I mean, why is it why is it and now I don't eat fruit loops, I don't eat sugar, you know, as a general rule.

00:13:40.379 --> 00:13:44.459
But why do our fruit loops have got, you know, I I can't remember what the actual number is.

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X number more ingredients than the fruit loops you get over in Europe.

00:13:48.299 --> 00:13:52.859
Why is it it's better pro more processed, is it more effective, is it cheaper to to produce?

00:13:53.019 --> 00:13:53.419
I don't know.

00:13:53.579 --> 00:13:55.899
But he's the that's the type of stuff that they're looking at.

00:13:56.059 --> 00:13:58.539
They're looking at get it out of the get it out of the system.

00:13:58.699 --> 00:14:00.139
And that can't be a bad thing.

00:14:00.299 --> 00:14:01.099
No, I agree with that.

00:14:01.579 --> 00:14:04.699
You can point to you blue in the face, I don't like this guy because he works for that guy.

00:14:04.779 --> 00:14:05.419
I don't care.

00:14:05.579 --> 00:14:05.739
Right.

00:14:05.979 --> 00:14:07.579
You know, let's make something happen.

00:14:07.819 --> 00:14:10.299
Provide solutions and stop talking about it.

00:14:10.459 --> 00:14:12.620
That's I mean, this stuff has been talked about for years.

00:14:12.779 --> 00:14:14.539
They've always talked about what it wasn't.

00:14:14.699 --> 00:14:16.219
Well, it's not it's not this.

00:14:16.379 --> 00:14:16.939
It's not this.

00:14:17.659 --> 00:14:17.899
Okay.

00:14:18.059 --> 00:14:22.459
Well, explain explain tell me what it is and explain the coincidence.

00:14:22.699 --> 00:14:23.099
Right.

00:14:23.419 --> 00:14:24.059
That's all.

00:14:24.459 --> 00:14:25.339
You can explain it away.

00:14:25.500 --> 00:14:25.979
You can explain it.

00:14:26.059 --> 00:14:28.459
I'll and don't tell me they're diagnosing him better.

00:14:28.779 --> 00:14:29.019
Right.

00:14:29.259 --> 00:14:37.419
And for you, when you you know, going back to when your son got diagnosed, was there anybody there to explain to you about it?

00:14:37.579 --> 00:14:41.019
No, we're literally the had the the head of the curve.

00:14:41.259 --> 00:14:42.539
It's like he's yeah.

00:14:42.699 --> 00:14:44.539
So it was there was they were nice people.

00:14:44.620 --> 00:14:48.459
Uh they were we then when you read the book, I read a whole this whole chapter on my angels.

00:14:48.620 --> 00:14:52.139
The people that came in our lives and did the best they could with the knowledge they had.

00:14:52.379 --> 00:14:53.019
Much like we do.

00:14:53.339 --> 00:14:53.500
Sure.

00:14:53.819 --> 00:15:05.099
We did the best we could with the with the knowledge we had, and the knowledge we had was, you know, was was combo be what you could um what you could what you could get from a practitioner or a doctor.

00:15:05.339 --> 00:15:11.099
But we always went once we started to go natural almost immediately, you know, to get him to get him into other things.

00:15:11.259 --> 00:15:13.019
But you know, it's all in your perception too.

00:15:13.099 --> 00:15:20.939
I mean, I we had so many people that were practitioners that were so appalled that Robert Kennedy Jr.

00:15:21.099 --> 00:15:30.620
would call their kid, you know, we call talked about these kids profound with profound autism that they'll they'll never pay taxes, they might never marry, they might never can hold a job.

00:15:30.939 --> 00:15:32.620
Well, no true words are spoken.

00:15:33.819 --> 00:15:34.139
Right?

00:15:34.379 --> 00:15:42.620
We hope we still go, we still we're positive, we're we're still moving forward, but that's but these people got all up in arms.

00:15:43.339 --> 00:15:49.899
It was like, no, if you if you have the lived experience, that's a reality that's a harsh reality that we live with.

00:15:50.139 --> 00:15:55.099
You know, it's like how is this, you know, you know, how are we gonna how's this gonna how is this gonna work forever?

00:15:55.500 --> 00:15:56.939
Because I'm 67 years old.

00:15:57.339 --> 00:15:57.819
You know?

00:15:57.979 --> 00:15:58.539
So yeah.

00:15:58.939 --> 00:16:17.339
What were some lessons that you learned along the way in with both you and your wife helping with your son and helping in finding ways to help manage symptomology, to help with his growth and you know, moving at the pace where he was at.

00:16:17.659 --> 00:16:20.219
Well, there are certain things, certain things that I can remember.

00:16:20.459 --> 00:16:23.899
First, when we changed his diet, he finally slept.

00:16:24.059 --> 00:16:26.620
I mean you're talking about years without sleeping, right?

00:16:26.859 --> 00:16:32.859
And then then that was that was one that was that was one thing because he was we got him off casein and gluten.

00:16:33.259 --> 00:16:33.579
Okay.

00:16:33.739 --> 00:16:33.979
Okay.

00:16:34.379 --> 00:16:38.299
And then like within seemed like overnight things changed.

00:16:38.379 --> 00:16:38.859
Mm-hmm.

00:16:39.019 --> 00:16:42.299
Now, I'm the seventh of eight of a negative Irish Catholic family.

00:16:42.459 --> 00:16:42.699
Okay.

00:16:42.939 --> 00:16:44.699
You think what you think I'm buying into this?

00:16:44.859 --> 00:16:52.299
It's very it was, you know, it's a it was a learning experience to get over that and you know, and just go, okay, this is the way we gotta go.

00:16:52.539 --> 00:16:54.459
Because especially whereas it's non-invasive.

00:16:54.539 --> 00:17:03.179
Now, it was troubling around the house because we had a, you know, we got two other kids that like cookies and, you know, bagels or whatever it is, and Craig couldn't have them.

00:17:03.259 --> 00:17:04.940
So it was it was hard.

00:17:05.099 --> 00:17:07.019
So that so but that was one.

00:17:07.180 --> 00:17:12.700
The second thing is when we found we found sensory integration.

00:17:13.420 --> 00:17:18.539
And so where he could regulate himself, or the teacher could regulate him.

00:17:18.620 --> 00:17:26.140
So we want to it's where we started our foundation was when the school, when we talked talked to the school about it, and they said, Oh wow, that'd be great to have here.

00:17:26.299 --> 00:17:27.339
They didn't have a budget for it.

00:17:27.500 --> 00:17:34.220
So we started the organization, we went out and raised the money, and we put the first of its kind uh sensory integration equipment in the in the school.

00:17:34.299 --> 00:17:44.859
So that would be things like a swing and balls, so kids would just roll around in a pit of balls because it regulated, or they had the the body sock where they just loved that.

00:17:45.099 --> 00:17:47.019
But ironically enough, they didn't like to be hugged.

00:17:47.259 --> 00:17:49.900
He didn't like to be hugged, but he loved the body sock.

00:17:50.140 --> 00:17:52.620
So sense of you know getting himself regulated.

00:17:52.859 --> 00:17:55.420
So that was that was that was that was huge.

00:17:55.580 --> 00:17:59.340
We had we had interventions like cranial sacral therapy.

00:18:00.220 --> 00:18:04.140
Our angel um Darlene Doreen Almida.

00:18:04.460 --> 00:18:07.100
This woman had hands, healing hands.

00:18:07.340 --> 00:18:17.259
Craig would just melt in her hands to just see him so comfortable and so, you know, just so happy, you know, and just not flapping around and chinning.

00:18:17.580 --> 00:18:18.700
She could regulate him.

00:18:18.860 --> 00:18:21.100
So all that stuff started to go away, you know.

00:18:21.180 --> 00:18:25.500
So that those are the So it was remaining open to to things, really.

00:18:25.580 --> 00:18:33.820
I think if I if I'm if I if you're reading me here, we were open to new things that weren't that again that wouldn't that weren't drugs, weren't shots, weren't it?

00:18:35.019 --> 00:18:38.220
But they were and we did do a few of those things too.

00:18:38.460 --> 00:18:40.380
But um forget exactly what the Dr.

00:18:40.539 --> 00:18:41.660
Bowie thing was.

00:18:41.980 --> 00:18:50.140
But the um But yeah, so it was but my mainly it was the it was the uh in the all that stuff is passed around by parents.

00:18:50.779 --> 00:18:52.380
Hey, have you tried this?

00:18:52.779 --> 00:18:57.180
So it's like this network underneath the rest of the world.

00:18:57.420 --> 00:18:58.460
Do you know what I'm saying?

00:18:58.940 --> 00:19:09.420
You know, it's that's why, you know, when you want to really um hear about some of these things, you gotta get on getting it into one of these substacks where these people write about it and they do research and they write on it.

00:19:09.820 --> 00:19:17.019
And um, you know, there's one there's a study out there, there's a movie out there now for for all your listeners uh called The Inconvenient Study.

00:19:17.740 --> 00:19:19.500
Interesting thing that for everybody to watch.

00:19:19.580 --> 00:19:22.060
And you can get it right online, it's free.

00:19:22.860 --> 00:19:26.620
And then so that was so that was those were all good things there.

00:19:26.700 --> 00:19:35.500
Um he did very well through uh I would suggest also the way that we operated within the schools and the way that we participated and collaborated.

00:19:35.660 --> 00:19:36.060
Mm-hmm.

00:19:36.299 --> 00:19:39.019
That was a lot better for our head than fighting all the time.

00:19:39.259 --> 00:19:39.580
Sure.

00:19:39.820 --> 00:19:45.100
So we helped provide solutions as opposed to just you, you, you need to be doing this.

00:19:45.340 --> 00:19:47.019
Now, you they could could they have done better?

00:19:47.180 --> 00:19:47.900
Yeah, possibly.

00:19:48.060 --> 00:19:48.700
I don't know.

00:19:48.860 --> 00:19:51.420
But uh but everybody's got a budget, right?

00:19:51.740 --> 00:19:58.860
And you're you have budget constraints and you know, then if if you if if you fight for yours, does that take away from someone else?

00:19:59.019 --> 00:19:59.420
I don't know.

00:19:59.580 --> 00:20:05.100
You know, so it's uh so those are so those are the things you learn along the way.

00:20:05.259 --> 00:20:10.779
You know, it's just and then it's just b then for me, for a it's just basic people skills, which we've been doing forever.

00:20:10.940 --> 00:20:16.140
Back to, as you pointed out, my book, Bartending, this is how I propelled my sales career, all the stuff I learned there.

00:20:16.299 --> 00:20:23.259
So doesn't mean we didn't have some issues, didn't mean that we, you know, we had our our share of bad IA IEP meetings.

00:20:23.420 --> 00:20:23.740
We did.

00:20:23.900 --> 00:20:25.259
They're not they're not fun.

00:20:26.060 --> 00:20:29.019
And it's kind of a humiliating experience, to be honest with you.

00:20:29.259 --> 00:20:31.340
It's one that could go as far as I'm concerned.

00:20:31.580 --> 00:20:32.060
Right.

00:20:32.380 --> 00:20:35.180
But um because I mean who's who's picking the goals?

00:20:35.340 --> 00:20:38.140
The people that gotta that have the the purse string.

00:20:38.299 --> 00:20:41.820
So this is what we want, but we can only we can only afford this.

00:20:41.980 --> 00:20:42.220
Okay.

00:20:42.539 --> 00:20:43.340
What do you do?

00:20:43.580 --> 00:20:47.100
And then you're holding there with a prescription from children's hospital in Boston.

00:20:47.259 --> 00:20:48.700
Well, this is what they say we should have.

00:20:48.779 --> 00:20:53.340
So And in the end, God's honest truth, um, as far as like the speech.

00:20:53.580 --> 00:20:53.980
Mm-hmm.

00:20:54.460 --> 00:21:00.539
Yeah, when you're when when you're a non speaker, you can give you can give these kids speech and language so the cows come home.

00:21:00.620 --> 00:21:01.019
Mm-hmm.

00:21:01.900 --> 00:21:02.940
They're never gonna speak.

00:21:03.019 --> 00:21:08.220
They've got a praxia, which affects which which is a s which is what a stroke victim might have.

00:21:08.380 --> 00:21:09.420
So it affects their brain.

00:21:09.660 --> 00:21:15.340
They're not firing their brain is not firing um signals down to their fine fine motor skills.

00:21:15.420 --> 00:21:27.660
Now I am no, you know, doctor or anything, but this is just what what what my my assessment of it is, and what happens is that your your your fine motor skills like your your lips, your tongue don't won't work right.

00:21:27.820 --> 00:21:29.100
And they're not getting the signals.

00:21:29.259 --> 00:21:32.060
But what they do have is they've got gross motor skills and they can point.

00:21:32.299 --> 00:21:33.259
So that's the whole premise behind.

00:21:33.580 --> 00:21:44.299
So the greatest thing I would say I I would suggest our greatest discovery came to us by accident, and that is but we remained open, which is which is the big thing to listening to something.

00:21:44.539 --> 00:21:59.980
So this uh spelling to communicate has been, I wish we again, for anybody that's out there with a 10-year-old boy or girl that's not speaking, go buy underestimated the book, and then go find yourself a ner and wal and watch Spellers the movie on YouTube free.

00:22:00.140 --> 00:22:13.580
And then uh go find yourself a practitioner and get communicating with your kid because you're gonna hear things that you're gonna be very happy about, that they love you, that they love their family, that they know people, they know everybody, and they know everything.

00:22:13.820 --> 00:22:16.779
You think this kid, he knows everything.

00:22:16.940 --> 00:22:28.299
So the whole thing about spelling to communicate is you read um age-appropriate lessons, and then you ask them questions that are within that, you know, that that they prescribe to ask.

00:22:28.380 --> 00:22:31.019
Uh, and then you might ask some open questions.

00:22:31.180 --> 00:22:37.180
And one of the one of the um one of the stories I read and was a uh story, a lesson on uh cells.

00:22:37.340 --> 00:22:45.500
So what's in the body of the the the lesson is molecules, DNA, et cetera, et cetera, right?

00:22:46.140 --> 00:22:50.380
And then I asked the questions and I looked at the woman that was working with me at the time.

00:22:50.460 --> 00:22:54.220
She's our lead practitioner, Beth, again, one of our angels.

00:22:54.380 --> 00:22:55.820
And uh I said, Beth, what do you think?

00:22:55.900 --> 00:22:57.340
And I asked him, she goes, go ahead.

00:22:57.500 --> 00:22:57.740
Okay.

00:22:57.980 --> 00:23:00.299
Craig, what does the acronym DNA stand for?

00:23:00.460 --> 00:23:04.060
Now we've heard nothing from deoxyribic nucleic acid.

00:23:04.220 --> 00:23:04.860
How does he know that?

00:23:04.940 --> 00:23:06.060
How does he know it?

00:23:06.620 --> 00:23:17.340
Another another story, another lesson, and there was a picture of uh there's a picture, and the picture really didn't have anything to do with the story because the the guy I'm about to tell you was in the pictures had nothing to do with the story of the lesson.

00:23:17.500 --> 00:23:18.460
So again, same thing.

00:23:18.539 --> 00:23:21.420
I read the lesson, did the questions, looked to Beth.

00:23:21.500 --> 00:23:22.380
What do you think?

00:23:23.100 --> 00:23:23.660
Can I ask him?

00:23:23.820 --> 00:23:24.220
Can I ask him?

00:23:24.380 --> 00:23:24.860
She goes, sure.

00:23:25.019 --> 00:23:26.299
Craig, who's that in the picture?

00:23:26.860 --> 00:23:27.660
Muhammad Ali.

00:23:28.140 --> 00:23:31.820
So he was able to then point at and communicate that way.

00:23:32.220 --> 00:23:33.980
Well, he's spelling it, he's spelling it on the board.

00:23:34.220 --> 00:23:35.180
He's spelling it on the board.

00:23:35.420 --> 00:23:36.539
On the 26-letter board.

00:23:36.700 --> 00:23:37.740
And he will eventually type.

00:23:37.820 --> 00:23:39.100
It'll be a typing situation.

00:23:39.420 --> 00:23:42.140
But it's he uh he spelled out Muhammad Ali.

00:23:42.460 --> 00:23:44.779
I have no idea how he knows who Muhammad Ali is.

00:23:44.860 --> 00:23:46.539
But it gets a little better here, sign.

00:23:47.100 --> 00:23:49.180
I asked him, Craig, what's his real name?

00:23:49.340 --> 00:23:55.340
Now, he wasn't even born when Muhammad when Cassius Clay changed his name to Muhammad Ali.

00:23:55.980 --> 00:23:56.380
Right.

00:23:56.620 --> 00:23:58.620
But he knew who it was, Cassius Clay.

00:23:58.860 --> 00:24:03.820
And this just goes to show you that you can never judge a book by its cover.

00:24:04.060 --> 00:24:14.940
Because even though, yes, somebody may not be speaking, but they know a lot more than what you will ever, you know, someone will ever give them credit for, right?

00:24:15.100 --> 00:24:25.259
Because don't think that just because someone can't speak that they don't know anything, that they're intel you know, that they're relegated completely with IQ or something like that.

00:24:25.500 --> 00:24:29.259
Because honestly, you know, what you're describing is a genius here.

00:24:29.420 --> 00:24:29.580
Oh.

00:24:29.820 --> 00:24:30.860
And everyone's way.

00:24:31.019 --> 00:24:31.980
And you know what?

00:24:32.140 --> 00:24:32.940
He's a genius.

00:24:33.019 --> 00:24:38.380
And I'll tell you this, it's, you know, and this is a very powerful example and lesson you've given here.

00:24:38.700 --> 00:24:41.980
So on Thursday, and I think Lori's gone, she's gone up there now.

00:24:42.220 --> 00:24:44.380
On Thursday, he he spells for the friend.

00:24:44.539 --> 00:24:45.500
So now he has friends.

00:24:45.660 --> 00:24:49.820
I mean, everybody loves Craig and everybody's, but now he's got his own peer group, right?

00:24:49.980 --> 00:24:58.460
I mean, he and Lori and Lori and my daughter Amanda brought him down to um Virginia this year for their big the big spelling conference.

00:24:59.580 --> 00:25:07.019
He sat there at the um at the uh lectures and just listened.

00:25:07.340 --> 00:25:12.620
And then but this guy Dylan, he texts with or he zooms with every um every week.

00:25:12.779 --> 00:25:15.580
Let me just find it real quick so I can read it to you properly.

00:25:15.820 --> 00:25:16.380
Here it is.

00:25:16.539 --> 00:25:16.860
Okay.

00:25:17.180 --> 00:25:21.259
So this is uh this is kind of this is uh the transcript that we get from Beth.

00:25:21.340 --> 00:25:24.700
Like she'll uh whenever she does does work with him, she'll give us the transcript.

00:25:24.860 --> 00:25:25.420
So here it is.

00:25:25.500 --> 00:25:26.860
Hi Dylan, so good to see you.

00:25:26.940 --> 00:25:27.420
How are you?

00:25:27.580 --> 00:25:29.580
Dylan, I am fine, glad to see you.

00:25:29.820 --> 00:25:32.380
Craig, you live in Maryland with your family, correct?

00:25:32.539 --> 00:25:32.860
Yes.

00:25:33.019 --> 00:25:33.900
Who do you live with?

00:25:34.060 --> 00:25:38.299
I live with Roland, and I'm so happy, but I'd rather be living with nonspeakers.

00:25:38.539 --> 00:25:45.420
So now he's telling us he wants that he wants them to be in a group home with other nonspeakers so that they all can communicate the way they communicate.

00:25:45.580 --> 00:25:48.140
They can sit and just be and be communicating.

00:25:48.299 --> 00:25:49.259
So who is Roland?

00:25:49.420 --> 00:25:50.700
Dylan says, Who is Roland?

00:25:50.860 --> 00:25:51.259
Craig.

00:25:51.420 --> 00:25:53.660
He does some work taking care of people like me.

00:25:54.140 --> 00:25:56.539
It's right, lovely and sad.

00:25:57.820 --> 00:26:00.700
Craig, what is your ideal living situation, Dylan?

00:26:00.860 --> 00:26:02.060
I hope to live with a speller.

00:26:02.299 --> 00:26:03.580
Craig, I hope to too.

00:26:03.740 --> 00:26:05.100
Okay, here comes the philosophy.

00:26:05.259 --> 00:26:05.740
You ready?

00:26:05.900 --> 00:26:06.700
This is Craig.

00:26:06.860 --> 00:26:10.220
Will there be a time when the world steps into the one truth that is love?

00:26:10.380 --> 00:26:10.779
Dylan.

00:26:10.940 --> 00:26:11.420
I hope so.

00:26:11.580 --> 00:26:12.539
I hope so someday.

00:26:12.700 --> 00:26:15.420
I think everyone has to try harder to find the good in people.

00:26:15.580 --> 00:26:16.779
Craig, so do I.

00:26:16.940 --> 00:26:18.940
Dylan, you have to be less judgmental.

00:26:19.180 --> 00:26:21.259
Anything you think would help here, Craig.

00:26:21.420 --> 00:26:21.980
Here it comes.

00:26:22.060 --> 00:26:22.860
Here's another one.

00:26:23.019 --> 00:26:28.220
The reality of intelligence will spring a momentous news new story into many people's conscience.

00:26:28.380 --> 00:26:29.980
That is awesome, Dylan says.

00:26:30.140 --> 00:26:37.340
Craig, you either stand solidly with the solidly together or let the non-speakers state their own truth.

00:26:37.500 --> 00:26:40.620
Now, if he was sitting right here, you'd go, really?

00:26:41.580 --> 00:26:42.220
Yeah.

00:26:43.100 --> 00:26:45.340
Um, Dylan, I concur.

00:26:45.580 --> 00:26:47.019
Craig, thanks so much.

00:26:47.259 --> 00:26:49.019
Seems like time to say goodbye.

00:26:49.180 --> 00:26:50.220
Hate to go, brother.

00:26:50.380 --> 00:26:52.299
Dylan, I will see you next week, Craig.

00:26:52.460 --> 00:26:52.860
See you soon.

00:26:53.180 --> 00:26:54.620
This pulls up the heartstrings.

00:26:55.100 --> 00:26:56.380
But that's what they're capable of.

00:26:56.620 --> 00:27:04.299
So if we stop focusing on nonsense and look for solutions and stop fighting, we might come up with more of this stuff.

00:27:04.380 --> 00:27:04.700
You know?

00:27:04.860 --> 00:27:05.900
I mean, look at all the stuff.

00:27:05.980 --> 00:27:12.860
I mean, there's things that that are going technologically that uh Elon Musk is doing through Tesla and Neuro and Neurolink.

00:27:12.940 --> 00:27:17.420
I mean, Tesla's gonna Tesla's working on robots that'll take care of these people, right?

00:27:17.660 --> 00:27:19.180
That solves a huge problem.

00:27:19.420 --> 00:27:19.660
Right?

00:27:20.299 --> 00:27:26.380
Then there's then it's geared, you know, right now it's geared towards the elderly, but it's it's it's applicable to to our guys.

00:27:26.539 --> 00:27:31.900
And then uh Neuralink is putting uh putting links, uh putting chips into paraplegics' brains.

00:27:32.060 --> 00:27:36.380
And then from what I understand, they're they're uh they're moving things with their brain.

00:27:37.180 --> 00:27:42.060
Like they can so is there one they're gonna be able to put in put in these guys' heads so they can speak?

00:27:42.220 --> 00:27:42.779
Because he does.

00:27:42.940 --> 00:27:45.980
He states that he wants to speak with his mouth when he spells it anyway.

00:27:46.299 --> 00:27:46.700
So yeah.

00:27:46.860 --> 00:27:49.259
Oh, that's the uh So that's the big one.

00:27:49.500 --> 00:27:52.140
The I would say that's the biggest life change we've ever had.

00:27:52.299 --> 00:27:58.380
When your son is 31 years old and it's the first time you said, I love dad, I love Cam.

00:27:58.940 --> 00:28:00.940
I'm proud of who's who's my hero?

00:28:01.100 --> 00:28:02.220
Mandy is my hero.

00:28:02.380 --> 00:28:03.100
That's his sister.

00:28:03.340 --> 00:28:03.980
I love mom.

00:28:04.299 --> 00:28:05.740
So you know he feels this way.

00:28:05.900 --> 00:28:20.700
But you you you we don't get it from him directly because you know he doesn't, you know, he he still he participates more now, but not like, you know, a typically developing person would, you know, at a at a holiday or whatnot.

00:28:20.860 --> 00:28:21.820
But he wants to be here.

00:28:21.900 --> 00:28:24.299
But he also interesting, sir, he doesn't want to live with us.

00:28:24.539 --> 00:28:41.740
He actually might my uh the uh one of his practitioners had a uh Christmas card, said, We want Craig, I want to I want to write write a Christmas card to Roland and Evelyn so you can um um you know just to Merry Christmas, she goes, he goes, Dear, dear Roland Evelyn, thank you so much for taking care of me.

00:28:41.900 --> 00:28:43.820
That way I don't have to live with my parents.

00:28:44.140 --> 00:28:52.299
And what was it like for you when he was 31 to have him express, I love dad, Mandy's my hero.

00:28:52.620 --> 00:28:54.460
Well, it's tears, it's Tears City.

00:28:54.539 --> 00:28:57.980
Oh, it's just like, yeah, it's it's a tears of of joy, you know.

00:28:58.060 --> 00:29:04.060
It's like, oh my goodness, after all these after all these years, you know, you knew I always knew there was something in there.

00:29:04.140 --> 00:29:06.460
I always knew that he was comfortable with us.

00:29:06.539 --> 00:29:10.779
I always knew but he was, you know, but I don't know, I didn't know what emotions he had.

00:29:10.940 --> 00:29:12.220
He has them all.

00:29:12.940 --> 00:29:13.420
Has them all.

00:29:13.660 --> 00:29:15.019
You know, we get to know when he's sick.

00:29:15.100 --> 00:29:16.620
We never knew when he was sick.

00:29:16.860 --> 00:29:20.380
We never knew when he didn't want to do something, or then he would get a little frustrated.

00:29:20.539 --> 00:29:22.460
No, okay, we gotta try this, you gotta do this work.

00:29:22.620 --> 00:29:31.340
So now if he says, you know, if Lori wants to do some work with him or, you know, do some spelling with him, he go he he'll he might just say, I'm tired, I need a nap.

00:29:31.500 --> 00:29:32.140
So guess what?

00:29:32.220 --> 00:29:33.259
Go take a nap, buddy.

00:29:33.340 --> 00:29:34.299
We don't have to do this now.

00:29:34.380 --> 00:29:35.580
We'll get back at it later.

00:29:35.740 --> 00:29:38.700
So we get to we he gets to do things on his own time.

00:29:38.940 --> 00:29:39.820
Just his own time.

00:29:39.980 --> 00:29:42.940
It's um so the whole thing's wonderful.

00:29:43.100 --> 00:29:51.900
So I think if you're if you're if your listeners are out there, I think the whole thing is always be proactive, always be positive, always be pro proactive, be collaborative.

00:29:52.620 --> 00:30:00.779
You know, you get some gifts, even though you're in this thing and it's hard, and we all know it, and it's there's sleepless nights and there's worry for the future, and all those things.

00:30:01.019 --> 00:30:04.460
Find those little gems that that brighten your day.

00:30:04.620 --> 00:30:07.019
Like anything that he says on that on that board.

00:30:07.100 --> 00:30:09.180
I just want to know what what what what did he say today?

00:30:09.340 --> 00:30:09.900
What's going on?

00:30:10.060 --> 00:30:10.779
What's he feeling?

00:30:10.940 --> 00:30:15.180
And um, so we can we can always find joy in that and happiness in it.

00:30:15.259 --> 00:30:21.259
So, and then that gives us that keeps us in a better place to continue to work to find things that will help him.

00:30:21.980 --> 00:30:23.660
And those and those like him.

00:30:23.820 --> 00:30:25.820
And I think this book is going to be one of those things.

00:30:25.900 --> 00:30:27.660
That's why we're gonna we speak on it.

00:30:27.740 --> 00:30:31.580
We're we do a lot of we and we want to do more of that coming up this year.

00:30:31.740 --> 00:30:49.900
You know, we want to be out there talking to parents and and corporations and whatnot and telling them the story about these types of things that are so helpful that that that are such a lifeline because there's still people that turn that that turn up uh you know as successful as this spellers thing is, and every everybody feels the same way.

00:30:50.060 --> 00:30:59.180
Again, we're all in these groups, you know, again, these kind of you know, under the radar groups, you know, which you know that uh that we all feel the same way.

00:30:59.980 --> 00:31:04.299
Everybody's coming up with the same s same um revelations.

00:31:04.539 --> 00:31:07.420
And they're all everybody's into these telepathy tapes.

00:31:08.220 --> 00:31:18.539
So it's like I met a woman at a at a counter at a at a breakfast place that I that I go to that I frequent, and she goes, I'm listening to this podcast.

00:31:18.779 --> 00:31:20.220
I said the telepathy tapes, right?

00:31:20.299 --> 00:31:21.740
She goes, Yeah, just blown away.

00:31:21.900 --> 00:31:22.539
Because you can't think about it.

00:31:25.660 --> 00:31:28.140
Um I work with the medium.

00:31:28.299 --> 00:31:29.420
Maybe he's working out.

00:31:29.740 --> 00:31:30.539
So adorable.

00:31:30.700 --> 00:31:53.180
Yeah, no, he no, there's uh a medium that I talked to, and she was telling me because she was actually asked to do a reading because there are many people with autism that do equine therapy, and she was asked to go do a reading for uh the to communicate with the horses and the people who are non-speaking with autism.

00:31:53.420 --> 00:31:59.660
And uh she told me about the podcast of telepathy tapes, and she was blown away by it.

00:31:59.900 --> 00:32:23.340
And that definitely inspired also the kind of work that she continues to do with readings and things, but you know, just to even venture out into those communities to do readings for like animals, equine therapy, people with profound autism, having the those therapies done and being able to do readings and administer them there.

00:32:23.580 --> 00:32:23.740
Yeah.

00:32:23.900 --> 00:32:25.500
Oh, by the way, he loved horseback riding.

00:32:25.740 --> 00:32:26.700
Horses are majestic.

00:32:27.180 --> 00:32:30.860
I haven't done it in years, but it was one of those things was like a regular thing we did every week.

00:32:31.019 --> 00:32:32.539
So I was one of those good memories.

00:32:32.620 --> 00:32:35.100
You'd take him down, he'd get on the horse and just plod around him.

00:32:35.259 --> 00:32:41.420
But I think this this thing here, I mean, that all that all regulated him, but this thing here, it it lessens the frustration.

00:32:41.580 --> 00:32:47.740
So we've we've we've uh we promoted a couple of couple of showings of the movie, Spellers, the movie.

00:32:48.460 --> 00:32:54.140
Um and we I can't bear the thought of another 10-year-old boy or girl trapped in their mind own mind.

00:32:54.220 --> 00:32:58.220
You know, that they could they've got so much to say as you heard.

00:32:58.539 --> 00:33:00.860
You know, I'm reading right off of the transcript.

00:33:01.180 --> 00:33:09.740
Yes, and everybody has a right to express themselves and what they want people to hear from them and how they want to be.

00:33:09.980 --> 00:33:12.380
Everybody wants to feel like they matter.

00:33:12.539 --> 00:33:22.220
And I think the biggest way we can support somebody in feeling like they matter is to actually allow them to be present and to express themselves.

00:33:22.380 --> 00:33:24.940
And and most importantly, for us to listen.

00:33:25.259 --> 00:33:25.500
Correct.

00:33:25.660 --> 00:33:30.460
So it makes him happy when, you know, instead of doing this, he wants to do that, and we go do that.

00:33:30.620 --> 00:33:32.700
That's l I mean, you're gonna listen to them, you know.

00:33:32.940 --> 00:33:45.500
Right downstairs, if I was down down in our basement, Lori's got in, you know, those poster boards, poster, you know, tear sheets that you get on one of those easelback post-it note type things, all of his goals, his stated goals.

00:33:46.299 --> 00:33:48.140
We didn't say you should want to do that.

00:33:48.220 --> 00:33:48.779
No, no, no.

00:33:48.940 --> 00:33:50.220
Just like, what do you want to do?

00:33:50.380 --> 00:33:53.980
He wants to get his GED, he wants to go to college, he wants to teach.

00:33:54.140 --> 00:33:57.580
So, you know, so there's he wants us, you know, he wants to help, he wants to help others.

00:33:57.740 --> 00:33:59.900
So whatever we can do to foster that, we will do it.

00:34:00.140 --> 00:34:01.740
And that's such a beautiful thing.

00:34:01.900 --> 00:34:19.259
Your story, what you've shared today, you know, it's very eye-opening, you know, just for your journey, for people to get a understanding of your journey and also just the milestones that were across and just how intuitive and intellectual your son is.

00:34:19.500 --> 00:34:21.579
It's just been very inspiring.

00:34:21.980 --> 00:34:23.019
Inspires us every day.

00:34:23.259 --> 00:34:23.500
Yes.

00:34:23.659 --> 00:34:26.860
Where can we learn more about your book and when is it supposed to release?

00:34:26.940 --> 00:34:31.980
And so you'll see when it does release, uh, I'm hoping by uh by March.

00:34:32.299 --> 00:34:32.539
Okay.

00:34:32.779 --> 00:34:36.299
Uh which is kind of an anniversary of Barb Tips uh that was released.

00:34:36.539 --> 00:34:40.460
And um so um you'll find it on positive activity.net.

00:34:40.619 --> 00:34:42.940
And then they people can learn all about us and our programs.

00:34:43.019 --> 00:34:49.820
And there's a lot of good blog posts on there that that are that are you know, I think the what I'd say is everything that you'll read on there, we lived.

00:34:49.980 --> 00:34:50.779
We didn't make it up.

00:34:51.019 --> 00:34:54.940
Might have read about it somewhere else, but we put it in in practice, and this is our results.

00:34:55.099 --> 00:35:01.739
So that you know, the results of how we how we how we take this guy here and write every day three things you're grateful for.

00:35:01.980 --> 00:35:03.500
Changes your mind right out of the gate.

00:35:03.739 --> 00:35:03.819
Sure.

00:35:04.219 --> 00:35:07.419
Just say you get off of that whatever you oh okay, yeah, that was pretty good, yes.

00:35:07.659 --> 00:35:08.299
Oh, that was good.

00:35:08.460 --> 00:35:08.699
You know.

00:35:08.940 --> 00:35:12.940
And it could be something as simple as the coffee is warm, enough to be crazy.

00:35:13.179 --> 00:35:16.299
So it's uh and then um so those types of things.

00:35:16.379 --> 00:35:21.099
And they can download the little starter starter uh kit that Lori has on there for free.

00:35:21.259 --> 00:35:26.059
So it's just about getting the things, the the practices to do daily to get your mindset right.

00:35:26.139 --> 00:35:26.299
Trevor Burrus, Jr.

00:35:26.379 --> 00:35:28.219
Gratitude is definitely very important.

00:35:28.379 --> 00:35:34.619
It actually studies have shown that people who practice gratitude, it changes how your brain is wired.

00:35:34.699 --> 00:35:35.500
It rewires it.

00:35:35.659 --> 00:35:38.539
Like so people who have, for example, depression, right?

00:35:38.699 --> 00:35:43.899
It helps with taking that edge off of the depression when you focus on the gratitude.

00:35:44.059 --> 00:35:49.339
And also the more you practice gratitude, the more you can manifest other things in your life.

00:35:49.659 --> 00:35:50.619
Be humble and kind.

00:35:50.859 --> 00:35:51.419
Absolutely.

00:35:51.739 --> 00:35:53.179
Do something nice to somebody today.

00:35:53.339 --> 00:35:54.059
Something simple.

00:35:54.299 --> 00:35:55.819
Not have to be grandiose.

00:35:55.980 --> 00:35:58.059
Hold the door, let somebody go in traffic.

00:35:58.299 --> 00:35:58.539
Sure.

00:35:58.699 --> 00:36:00.859
And no, nobody bats a thousand.

00:36:01.179 --> 00:36:01.500
Right?

00:36:01.659 --> 00:36:07.500
You know, it's like, you know, so if you if it's you know, if you miss as a matter of fact, it's a funny story.

00:36:07.659 --> 00:36:13.419
I um uh let's see, right before a storm, well, a perceived storm.

00:36:13.579 --> 00:36:17.259
It's always amazing how they make a big deal out of these storms, and that's barely anything.

00:36:17.419 --> 00:36:19.339
You know, a lawyer says, Can you get me gas?

00:36:19.419 --> 00:36:21.899
I said, sure, I forgot that it was a storm coming.

00:36:22.299 --> 00:36:28.219
So I was um I was um I went to the gas station and the place was packed.

00:36:28.379 --> 00:36:34.699
So I'm waiting to get get get a um get a spot and they're too deep in the uh in each in each bay.

00:36:34.859 --> 00:36:38.859
And I'm sitting, this guy's just waiting, going forever to leave.

00:36:38.940 --> 00:36:39.500
He's done.

00:36:39.659 --> 00:36:43.579
You know, his car's going, you know it's like, dude, come on, let's go, right?

00:36:43.899 --> 00:36:44.779
In my head.

00:36:44.940 --> 00:36:47.659
So it so it becomes a little annoying, right?

00:36:48.299 --> 00:36:54.460
And now I go to pull in and the other guy pulls up and he's giving me the I don't know what and then I look behind him.

00:36:54.619 --> 00:36:57.579
Well, his his pump was was not in service.

00:36:57.739 --> 00:37:01.099
I saw a yellow, you know, the yellow thing on I don't know if you've ever seen that when you get gas.

00:37:01.179 --> 00:37:03.419
If they put a yellow thing on it, it's not operable.

00:37:03.579 --> 00:37:10.299
I I so I rolled down the list, sorry man, I didn't see the the yellow thing, but it was like, you know, then he smiled at me and that was the end of it.

00:37:10.460 --> 00:37:13.579
So then he left, and then I went to pull, I went to pull in.

00:37:13.659 --> 00:37:18.940
So I pulled in and got gas, and then I was I was heading out, and a woman was pulling in.

00:37:19.019 --> 00:37:20.859
And for a moment there, she went to back up.

00:37:20.940 --> 00:37:24.139
And I said, No, no, no, you come this way, I'll back up.

00:37:24.779 --> 00:37:31.659
My attitude changed dramatically from being annoyed with the process to just saying, you know what?

00:37:31.819 --> 00:37:35.339
You go first, you go, I'll back up and go move around.

00:37:36.299 --> 00:37:37.819
And she was very appreciative.

00:37:38.379 --> 00:37:38.940
And you know what?

00:37:39.099 --> 00:37:45.579
And when you do something kind for someone else, that in and of itself is a mood booster because you're putting good out there.

00:37:45.739 --> 00:37:49.899
And it's just like karma, you know, you put good out there, good comes back.

00:37:50.379 --> 00:37:53.099
Whatever energy you put out in the world, it comes back.

00:37:53.819 --> 00:37:59.019
You know, and um, you know, and talking about kindness, you know, I run with autism speaks.

00:37:59.099 --> 00:38:01.099
I've run 14 marathons.

00:38:01.739 --> 00:38:09.339
One of my favorite quotes is if you had a choice between being kind or being right, choose kind.

00:38:11.819 --> 00:38:13.099
Being right is overrated.

00:38:14.779 --> 00:38:18.299
Oh, and that's and and who and once again, right?

00:38:18.379 --> 00:38:23.579
What's right or wrong, once again, it comes down to what is a person's perception.

00:38:24.139 --> 00:38:26.619
What are those what's their worldview, right?

00:38:27.659 --> 00:38:28.379
Those things.

00:38:28.699 --> 00:38:36.139
So So currently, right now, you know, as we're wrapping up a little bit, now is your son still following the gluten-free diet?

00:38:36.299 --> 00:38:37.500
Is he still Oh yeah.

00:38:37.739 --> 00:38:37.899
Okay.

00:38:38.219 --> 00:38:41.500
Or he makes them all those like little treats and all that stuff.

00:38:41.659 --> 00:38:45.099
And um, you know, does he slip off every once in a while?

00:38:45.259 --> 00:38:45.500
Shim.

00:38:45.980 --> 00:38:47.419
You know, it's like you can't, you know.

00:38:47.659 --> 00:38:51.500
But uh but I think he knows it makes him feel better when he does it, when he's not.

00:38:51.579 --> 00:39:00.699
I mean, I don't know, you know, if I eat if I eat uh chunk chip cookie, I'm like I'm toxic because I never have I very rarely have it.

00:39:00.859 --> 00:39:01.099
Right.

00:39:01.339 --> 00:39:02.379
It feels good when I'm biting.

00:39:02.539 --> 00:39:04.699
Oh boy, that tastes really good, and all of a sudden I feel like crap.

00:39:04.779 --> 00:39:06.139
So I go, maybe I shouldn't have done that.

00:39:06.379 --> 00:39:06.539
Yeah.

00:39:06.779 --> 00:39:13.739
Well, you know, I was actually listening to this lecture, you know, where they talk about it was for autism certification specialty.

00:39:13.819 --> 00:39:15.899
So I'm a therapist by trade and profession.

00:39:16.139 --> 00:39:23.019
And um, I was doing my continuing ed for my licensure, as we have our requirements to upkeep our license.

00:39:23.179 --> 00:39:38.460
And it talked about the imbalance of the microbiota, which is a bacteria in your stomach, that is commonly seen with people on the autism spectrum, and that's why certain diets will work better for them to help with their gut health.

00:39:39.099 --> 00:39:39.980
That's what we're doing.

00:39:40.139 --> 00:39:40.699
Yep.

00:39:41.659 --> 00:39:42.539
It happened though.

00:39:42.859 --> 00:39:47.339
That's one thing we're I'm working on too is learning where this is all coming from.

00:39:47.500 --> 00:39:52.539
And but then also, you know, too, continuing with just advocating and things.

00:39:52.859 --> 00:39:55.739
Neil, what is one way we can support you?

00:39:55.980 --> 00:40:03.019
Oh, I think just I think the thing to do going forward is as soon as this uh maybe we'll uh I'll send I'll let you know when the book is available.

00:40:03.339 --> 00:40:03.659
Okay.

00:40:03.899 --> 00:40:06.940
And then we'll do we'll do another one of these and we'll go through it.

00:40:07.019 --> 00:40:07.579
How's that?

00:40:08.299 --> 00:40:09.019
Absolutely.

00:40:09.259 --> 00:40:09.980
Absolutely.

00:40:11.019 --> 00:40:13.419
Well, Neil, I want to thank you so much for being here.

00:40:13.659 --> 00:40:15.099
Um Thank you.

00:40:15.419 --> 00:40:18.299
And where can people find you if people want to reach out to you?

00:40:18.859 --> 00:40:20.139
Positiveactivity.net.

00:40:20.460 --> 00:40:21.419
It's got it all there.

00:40:21.739 --> 00:40:22.059
Okay.

00:40:23.019 --> 00:40:23.579
Excellent.

00:40:23.819 --> 00:40:26.299
Well, this wraps up today's episode.

00:40:26.460 --> 00:40:27.819
Thank you all for tuning in.

00:40:27.980 --> 00:40:32.619
Remember to rate, review, subscribe, and share with your family and friends.

00:40:32.859 --> 00:40:36.059
I'm looking forward to being back with another episode for you all.

00:40:36.219 --> 00:40:37.899
Thank you very much for listening.