The Empowered Parent with Dana Baltutis

• Season 2 NEURODIVERSITY - Episode 4: Living Authentically: How to Embrace Your Neurodivergent Identity (Joanne Hatchard, Social Worker, Advocate, Podcaster)

  Send us a textWhat happens when we truly embrace neurodivergence as a fundamental part of human diversity? Joanne Hatchard, founder of Better Being Me and creator of the "Be Me Completely" course, brings profound wisdom from both personal and professional experience to this conversation about acceptance, connection, and living authentically.Diagnosed with dyslexia at 16 and later recognizing her own autistic identity through her son's diagnosis, Joanne shares how self-acceptance freed her from exhausting masking behaviors. She offers a refreshing cosmic metaphor—neurodiversity as the universe with each diagnosis representing a planet—emphasizing that every neurological variation has value and purpose within the whole.The conversation dives deep into practical approaches for supporting neurodivergent individuals, particularly the power of acceptance from parents. "If the parents don't have it, it's really hard for the child to have it," Joanne explains, highlighting how mixed messages create confusion and anxiety. She distinguishes between avoiding labels versus embracing accommodations, showing how families can develop their own language around neurodivergence without shame or secrecy.Perhaps most valuable is Joanne's candid advice against seeking a single guru with all the answers. "One theory doesn't have all the answers," she emphasizes, encouraging parents to understand their own values before selecting from diverse perspectives. Her signature blend of professional knowledge and lived experience allows her to "connect the dots" between abstract research and practical strategies families can actually use.With humor and compassion, Joanne reminds us of the ultimate freedom in self-acceptance: "You're not dead. You can do it again tomorrow, different, if you want to." This grace-filled perspective offers both hope and agency to anyone navigating a neurodivergent journey, whether for themselves or someone they love.Share this episode with anyone seeking to understand neurodivergence more deeply or create more accepting spaces for neurodivergent individuals to thrive authentically.https://betterbeingme.com.au/https://betterbeingme.com.au/blog/https://go.betterbeingme.com.au/bbmecompletely295544 danabaltutis.com, mytherapyhouse.com.au, https://mytherapyhouse.com.au/your-childs-therapy-journey/ https://www.danabaltutis.com/services

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• Season 2 NEURODIVERSITY - Episode 3: The Heart Behind Mingle Co: Vee's Mission to End Isolation (Violeta Abarzua Vasquez - Event Manager, Advocate, Podcaster, Film Maker)

  Send us a text"Sometimes I feel things very intensely," reveals Violeta Abarzua Vasquezas she shares her journey of discovering neurodivergence in both herself and her children. This revelation transformed not only her understanding of her family but sparked the creation of Mingle Co – an organisation dedicated to building genuine connection for neurodivergent people.After 21 years working across the disability sector, Vee noticed a critical gap: many neurodivergent individuals desperately wanted meaningful connections but found traditional social spaces overwhelming and alienating. Drawing from her own experiences of feeling "complicated" and "quirky," she designed events where sensory needs are anticipated, fidgets are welcomed, and deep conversations replace uncomfortable small talk. The result? Spaces where people can truly be themselves – sometimes for the first time in their lives.Vee's approach to parenting her neurodivergent children offers powerful insights for families. When her daughter was diagnosed with ADHD at 18, V reflected on the words she'd spoken years earlier: "I love how you see the world. Don't change for anyone." These simple words had profoundly impacted her daughter who had always felt "out of place." Similarly, understanding her four-year-old son's PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance) transformed daily challenges by respecting his need for autonomy.Perhaps most inspiring is Vee's vision for the future – a world where inclusivity isn't an afterthought but fundamentally woven into our schools, workplaces, and social spaces. "Inclusivity helps everyone, absolutely everyone," she emphasizes. Through her events, podcast, and award-winning documentary celebrating neurodivergent stories, Vee isn't just talking about change – she's creating it, one connection at a time.Discover how embracing different ways of seeing the world can transform lives. Listen now and consider: how might we all contribute to creating spaces where everyone truly belongs?mingleco.com.auhttps://mingleco.com.au/community-podcast/Documentary Information on Mingleco website danabaltutis.com, mytherapyhouse.com.au, https://mytherapyhouse.com.au/your-childs-therapy-journey/ https://www.danabaltutis.com/services

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• Season 2 NEURODIVERSITY Episode 2: Mind the Gaps - Dr. Vanessa Spiller on Neurodiversity (Clinical Psychologist)

  Send us a textWhat if challenging behaviours aren't problems to fix, but signals showing us how a child's brain works? Dr Vanessa Spiller, clinical psychologist and FASD expert, revolutionises our understanding of neurodivergent children through her groundbreaking "Mind the Gaps" model.Drawing from both professional expertise and lived experience as a foster carer, Dr Spiller explains that neurodiversity simply means brain-based differences - everyone has strengths and weaknesses. The real challenge often lies in the gap between what children are asked to do and the abilities they actually possess. Her approach visualises these abilities as a wheel - for neurodivergent children, this wheel resembles something from the Flintstones: jagged, bumpy, and making progress difficult without proper support.Dr Spiller shares powerful insights about executive functioning - the mental flexibility, impulse control, and ability to link cause and effect that many neurodivergent children struggle with. Rather than forcing children into environments that don't fit their brains, she advocates for finding windows into learning through special interests. "If a child loves trains," she explains, "using Thomas the Tank Engine scenarios to teach cause and effect will be far more effective than abstract examples."Her most heartfelt message speaks directly to parents: "You are the greatest resource your child has." Not the speech therapist, not the psychologist, but you. This shifts the focus from parents feeling they need to be the perfect solution to recognising themselves as an ongoing, evolving resource - experimenting, learning, and modelling the very flexibility we hope to teach our children.Whether you're a parent, educator, or therapist, this conversation will transform how you understand and support neurodivergent children. Subscribe now to hear more episodes that help build a world where every child truly belongs.https://www.fasdtrainingaustralia.com/Mind-the-Gaps-bookhttps://www.amazon.com.au/Explained-Brain-Workbook-Educators-everything/dp/0995353212https://www.fasdtrainingaustralia.com/https://everymomentmatters.org.au/vanessas-story/ danabaltutis.com, mytherapyhouse.com.au, https://mytherapyhouse.com.au/your-childs-therapy-journey/ https://www.danabaltutis.com/services

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• Season 2 NEURODIVERSITY - Episode 1: Rainbow Brains and Belonging (Dana Baltutis - Speech Pathologist and Parent Coach)

  Send us a textWelcome to Series 2 of the Empowered Parent Podcast, where we explore neurodiversity and attunement to children with "rainbow brains." I'm setting the foundation for upcoming conversations with parents, professionals, and neurodivergent individuals by sharing insights from the recent Neurodiversity and Wellbeing Conference.• Neurodiversity, a term coined by Australian sociologist Judy Singer, celebrates neurological differences as natural human diversity• Parenting a neurodivergent child isn't about parenting harder but about attunement - connecting to their unique rhythms and needs• The Eight Attunements: sensory, emotional, relational, communication, task, timing, environmental, and self-attunement• "Perception is projection" - how we interpret our child's behaviour often reflects what's unresolved in ourselves• Moving from criticism to compassion creates the soil where belonging grows• Small, consistent adjustments in our approach make meaningful differences• Neurodivergent children aren't broken and don't need fixing - they bring creativity, honesty, and fresh perspectivesJoin me for upcoming episodes featuring incredible guests as we explore neurodiversity from many perspectives. Remember, attunement creates belonging, and neurodivergent children belong in our world. danabaltutis.com, mytherapyhouse.com.au, https://mytherapyhouse.com.au/your-childs-therapy-journey/ https://www.danabaltutis.com/services

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• Episode 72: Dana Baltutis (Speech Pathologist and Parent Coach) - Taking a Mindful Pause

  Send us a textThe journey we've been on together for 71 episodes is taking a thoughtful pause. After two years of deep conversations about neuroaffirming parenting, understanding our children's unique neurological wiring, and moving from compliance-based expectations to relationship-centered approaches, it's time for me to rest and refill my well.Throughout our episodes, we've explored the intricate landscape of raising uniquely wired children—from sensory processing and emotional regulation to anxiety, PDA, and social connection challenges. We've tackled practical strategies like environmental setup, co-regulation techniques, and building connection in everyday moments. More importantly, we've delved into those quieter, deeper parent mindset shifts that transform how we show up for our children and ourselves.This podcast has always been a love letter to parents who want to parent differently, who are learning to trust themselves, trust their child, and trust the process. The pause I'm taking now honors that same principle—recognizing when it's time to step back, when the demands of running a business, supporting families, writing a book, and creating meaningful content each week require a moment of recalibration. But this isn't goodbye—it's a reset, a chance to gather fresh insights and return with even more clarity about what will truly serve you.While I'm away, I invite you to shape what comes next. What parenting challenges leave you feeling lost? What topics around neurodiversity in the home, school, or community would support your journey? Send your thoughts through the My Therapy House website, where you'll also find our online courses covering PDA, communication development, regulation, and more. Revisit any of our existing episodes that resonated with you, and remember: you're not alone. You're doing sacred, unseen work, and this community sees you. I'll be back soon with new conversations that reflect your needs and questions. danabaltutis.com, mytherapyhouse.com.au, https://mytherapyhouse.com.au/your-childs-therapy-journey/ https://www.danabaltutis.com/services

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