<p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2117852/open_sms">Send us a text</a></p><p>Dr. Theresa Haskins shares her journey from a mother seeking answers for her autistic son to becoming an educator and researcher dedicated to creating more inclusive systems for neurodivergent individuals. </p><p>Her experiences navigating medical dismissals, educational barriers, and workplace challenges illuminate how society needs to fundamentally shift its approach to neurodiversity.<br><br>• Mother of a "thrice exceptional" son (autistic, ADHD, and gifted) who could count to 100 at age two but wasn't speaking conversationally<br>• Left special education program after realizing conventional teaching approaches didn't align with her son's needs<br>• Pursued educational psychology and doctorate degrees to understand how to change systems, not just help individuals adapt<br>• Advocates for autonomous learning and choice-making rather than taking away agency from neurodivergent individuals<br>• Challenges organizations to focus on meeting people's needs without requiring them to "prove" their disability<br>• Questions arbitrary job requirements that create barriers for neurodivergent talent<br>• Emphasizes that different developmental paths aren't lesser ones – just different<br>• Works with universities, government agencies, and organizations to implement neurodiversity-affirming practices<br>• Promotes universal design principles that benefit everyone, not just those with disabilities<br>• Believes we need to value diverse skills and stop measuring everyone against neurotypical milestones<br><br>You and your family matter. You exist, you deserve to thrive, you deserve education, you deserve gainful employment, you deserve respect, and that's what we work towards.<br><br><br></p><p>https://tonymantor.com<br>https://Facebook.com/tonymantor<br>https://instagram.com/tonymantor<br>https://twitter.com/tonymantor<br>https://youtube.com/tonymantormusic<br>intro/outro music bed written by T. Wild<br>Why Not Me the World music published by Mantor Music (BMI)</p>