In this episode, we are introduced to Ryan and his story of navigating the world while being neurodivergent. As an adult who works to help others with neurodivergent conditions, Ryan talks with me about the importance of support systems, giving back to and improving the community he belongs to, and how we can all become better allies and advocates. 

In this episode, we discuss one of the most important (and often overlooked) aspects of autism: sensory. While all of us use our senses to understand the world around us, autistic and other neurodivergent people process things very differently. Let’s take a look at how our seven (yes, seven!) senses digest the input around us, and why we should always think “sensory first” when it comes to autism!

An introduction to the podcast, the voice behind it, and the myths and misconceptions that will shape the episodes to come. From vaccines to the “look” of autism, nothing is off limits! Are you ready to redefine what autism means to you?

The idea for SPARC Up grew from a steady increase of voices in the minority community wishing for more information and acceptance of autistic children. This increase came to include professionals in the childcare, education, and mental health communities as well. By increasing community knowledge of autism in general, more services and interventions will be welcomed in institutions such as education, there will be less community stigma aimed at autistic families, and more advocates will be created to help bridge gaps between resources and those affected by autism.