Traveling with a neurodivergent child can feel overwhelming for many families… especially when sensory needs, routines, mobility challenges, or accessibility concerns are involved.

In this episode of the Autism Family Resource Podcast, Brian Keene sits down with Teresa Roddy, an accessible travel specialist and occupational therapy assistant, to talk about how families can make travel feel more realistic, supportive, and enjoyable.

Teresa shares how she helps families plan around real-life needs including sensory sensitivities, adaptive equipment, mobility accommodations, dietary restrictions, and communication supports. She also shares practical strategies families can use to reduce stress while traveling, including pacing vacations differently, preparing ahead of time, and building around a child's comfort needs rather than forcing packed schedules.

This conversation is a reassuring reminder that meaningful family experiences are possible… and that families do not have to figure everything out alone.

• Sensory-friendly travel planning for autistic children

• Accessible travel accommodations and adaptive equipment

• Vacation strategies for families with disabilities

• How to reduce travel stress for neurodivergent children

• Comfort items and regulation support while traveling

• Why slowing down can improve family vacations

• Practical ways to prepare children before trips

00:00 Introduction
02:30 Accessible travel and sensory accommodations
06:50 How Teresa plans trips around family needs
10:15 Common barriers families face with travel
13:05 Tips for avoiding overstimulation while traveling
15:20 Final encouragement for families

"Sometimes slowing down… taking breaks… and building around your child's comfort needs can completely change the experience for the whole family."

Teresa Roddy is an accessible travel specialist and certified occupational therapy assistant with over 25 years of experience working with pediatric populations. Through Accessible Travel with Teresa, she helps families plan vacations that consider sensory needs, mobility accommodations, adaptive equipment, dietary restrictions, and accessibility support.

Instagram: Accessible Travel with Teresa Instagram

Facebook: Accessible Travel with Teresa Facebook

• Autism on the Seas

Hosted by Brian Keene, occupational therapist and founder of Pure Hearts Therapy, a neurodiversity-affirming pediatric therapy company providing home-based occupational, speech, and physical therapy services throughout Arizona.

If this episode resonated with you, please consider sharing it with another parent who might benefit from this conversation.

Listen and subscribe to the Autism Family Resource Podcast:
Autism Family Resource Podcast

Explore more resources for families at:
Pure Hearts Therapy

What does sensory overload actually feel like for autistic individuals?

In this episode of the Autism Family Resource Podcast, Brian Keene sits down with speaker, author, and content creator Lawrence Harris to discuss autism, sensory overwhelm, social connection, emotional regulation, bullying, and identity through Lawrence's lived experiences.

Lawrence shares powerful examples of what sensory overload felt like growing up… from loud classrooms and fluorescent lights to overwhelming grocery stores and uncomfortable clothing textures. He also opens up about navigating friendships, masking, confidence, and learning how to better understand himself over time.

This conversation offers parents and caregivers a meaningful look into how autistic individuals may experience the world differently… while also reminding families that being different does not mean something is wrong.

A thoughtful, honest, and neurodiversity-affirming conversation filled with practical insight and emotional reflection for families supporting neurodivergent children.

• What sensory overload can actually feel like

• Clothing sensitivities and sensory overwhelm

• Autism and emotional regulation

• Loud environments, grocery stores, and overstimulation

• Social communication and reading social cues

• Bullying, masking, and self-acceptance

• Autism, friendships, and finding connection

• Strategies Lawrence uses to manage sensory overwhelm

• Why understanding sensory needs matters for families

• Supporting autistic children with compassion and acceptance

00:00 Introduction to Lawrence Harris
01:45 What sensory overload can feel like
06:40 Clothing sensitivities and family misunderstandings
10:20 Autism, friendships, and social communication
21:00 Finding friendships through shared interests
26:20 Different sensory regulation strategies within families
30:35 Lawrence's journey into advocacy and speaking
34:40 "You're not broken" message for autistic individuals

"You're not broken… you just think a bit different… and that's okay."

Lawrence Harris is an autistic speaker, author, and content creator who shares openly about sensory overwhelm, emotional regulation, confidence, bullying, and personal growth through his lived experiences. Through speaking, writing, and online content, Lawrence helps others better understand autism and neurodivergent experiences in a relatable and empowering way.

Instagram:
Lawrence C Empowers Instagram

Website, books, and resources:
Lawrence Harris Website

• Noise-canceling headphones

• Journaling for emotional regulation

• Meditation and exercise for stress management

Hosted by Brian Keene, occupational therapist and founder of Pure Hearts Therapy, a neurodiversity-affirming pediatric therapy company providing home-based occupational, speech, physical, and aquatic therapy services throughout Arizona, along with virtual parent coaching and family support.

If this episode resonated with you, please consider sharing it with another parent who might benefit from this conversation.

Listen and subscribe to the Autism Family Resource Podcast:
Autism Family Resource Podcast

Explore more resources for families at:
Pure Hearts Therapy

What happens when an autistic adult becomes a speech therapy professional supporting neurodivergent children and families?

In this episode, Brian sits down with Ozzie Inzunza, a neurodivergent Speech-Language Pathologist Assistant (SLPA) and autistic adult, to discuss his personal journey growing up neurodivergent, navigating communication and social differences, and how those experiences now shape his work with children and families.

Ozzie shares what it was like growing up with intense interests, feeling different from peers, and eventually discovering a passion for helping others through speech therapy. Together, they explore why differences are not deficits, the importance of recognizing strengths, and how small, often overlooked wins can add up to meaningful progress over time.

This conversation offers encouragement for parents who may be wondering if their child is making progress, feeling uncertain about the future, or searching for a more empowering perspective on neurodiversity.

• Growing up neurodivergent in a traditional Hispanic household

• Special interests, scripting, and early signs of autism

• Social challenges and finding connection with others

• Ozzie's path from sports medicine to speech therapy

• Why strengths-based approaches matter

• Supporting autistic children without underestimating their abilities

• Helping parents recognize small but meaningful progress

• Hope, growth, and lifelong learning for neurodivergent individuals

00:00 Introduction to Ozzie's story
01:30 Early childhood interests and autism traits
05:11 Special interests through childhood and adulthood
08:20 Social experiences and growing up neurodivergent
10:42 Discovering speech therapy as a career
12:34 How lived experience shapes therapy
15:06 Encouraging and supporting parents

"Every single client is capable and knows more than I even suspect they might."

Ozzie is a neurodivergent Speech-Language Pathologist Assistant (SLPA) who works with pediatric families and is currently completing his studies at Arizona State University to become a Speech-Language Pathologist. Drawing from both professional training and lived experience as an autistic adult, Ozzie brings a strengths-based, neurodiversity-affirming perspective to supporting children and families.

• Ozzie's Instagram: @illmindofozzie

Brian Keene, OTD, OTR/L, is the founder of Pure Hearts Therapy and host of the Autism Family Resource Podcast. Through neurodiversity-affirming conversations, Brian helps families better understand, support, and advocate for their children while providing practical strategies they can use in everyday life.

If this episode resonated with you, please consider sharing it with another parent who might benefit from this conversation.

Listen and subscribe to the Autism Family Resource Podcast:
https://pod.link/1591840956

Explore more resources for families at:
https://pureheartstherapy.com