The Neurodiversity Voices Podcast

Guest: Kiran Rodriguez joins Paul to share the personal story and mission behind NeuroMatch—a new platform that creates safer, Neurodiversity-Affirming spaces for dating, friendship, and community. We delve into feature choices such as chat prompts, voice notes, dyslexia-friendly colour settings, and verification; why starting local in Hampshire is important; and how the team is addressing safety, moderation, and crisis signposting.

Notable quotes

• “ADHD is very hard to live with… It’s shaped me because I’ve learned how to be strong and resilient.”
• “Prompts are there to help when you can’t think of what to say first.”
• “I’m dyslexic—I want people to choose the colour that helps them read.”
• “Friendship comes first… some people just want someone to talk to when they’re lonely.”
• “You’re never alone… there’s always somebody you can connect with.”

Resources & links

Guest: Andrew Letchuk—an autistic, disabled, and neurodivergent advocate, writer, and podcaster—to explore disability justice, representation, and what true access can look like in everyday life.

Andrew shares his journey through special education, diagnosis, and post-secondary accommodations, and how those experiences shaped his identity as a disabled person and pushed him into advocacy. Together, they unpack the differences between disability rights and disability justice, discuss media stereotypes of autism, and envision what it means to build accessible events, classrooms, and movements from the ground up.

This conversation is part story, part political education, and part invitation: to listen to disabled expertise, honour lived experience, and practice disability justice in our daily choices.

Connect with Andrew Letchuk:

Guest: Nellie Nakhel — author, advocate, and founder of Lovely Life Library, a creative space where children’s stories celebrate neurodiversity and inclusion.

Diagnosed with dyslexia at a young age, Nellie transformed what once felt like a barrier into her greatest creative strength. Through her storytelling and teaching, she’s helping kids and adults alike see that thinking differently isn’t a limitation — it’s a superpower.

Together, Paul and Nellie explore how neurodiversity shapes learning, creativity, and empathy, and what it means to create stories that make every child feel seen.

Notable Quotes

Nellie Nakhel is an author, educator, and advocate for neurodiversity. As the founder of Lovely Life Library, she creates inclusive picture books that help children embrace their differences with pride. Her work blends her background in psychology, her experience in higher education, and her personal journey with dyslexia to empower learners of all kinds.

To purchase Nellie's Lovely Life Library's 7 books through Amazon
 
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. If you choose to buy through our affiliation links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting the podcast!  
 
For Amazon US and International Buyers (except Canada)

 1. "Rising With Dyslexia” - https://amzn.to/3MuXVx3

2. "Light Of Hers” - https://amzn.to/48JPkxS

3. "Shining in Silence: The Story of a Deaf Dancer" - https://amzn.to/44iD9H6

4.  "The Waves of Anxiety: And Learning How to Swim" - https://amzn.to/48zi9yn

5. "Breathe, Little One: It's Not So Easy...But I'm Trying!" - https://amzn.to/48PHoez

6.  "Leo, the Lion Who Taught Me" - https://amzn.to/4iRiNup

7. "Every Believes In Something: Together in a World of Differences" https://amzn.to/4aKZMI2

For Amazon Canada Buyers:

 1. "Rising With Dyslexia” -https://amzn.to/4rQACxV

2. "Light Of Hers” - https://amzn.to/4q3u11e

3. "Shining in Silence: The Story of a Deaf Dancer" - https://amzn.to/3KXr6ID

4.  "The Waves of Anxiety: And Learning How to Swim" - https://amzn.to/3MpxN6R

5. "Breathe, Little One: It's Not So Easy...But I'm Trying!" - https://amzn.to/4abf8p9

6.  "Leo, the Lion Who Taught Me" - https://amzn.to/48vSqXu

7. "Every Believes In Something: Together in a World of Differences" https://amzn.to/4oOjVjK

Guest: Dr. Gregory James Skinner, M.D., a Calgary-based family physician and leading advocate for accessible adult autism diagnosis.

Dr. Skinner shares his remarkable journey through international medical training, his personal connection to autism, and the challenges he faced building one of the few medical practices in Canada specializing in adult autism assessment. His story highlights the urgent need for better access, validation, and understanding for autistic adults who are often overlooked or dismissed.

Key Quotes:

“Autism isn’t invisible—it’s a visible neuro-minority. People see it, but it’s misunderstood.” – Dr. Gregory Skinner

“Diagnosis is not about weakness—it’s about validation, recognition, and access to support.” – Dr. Gregory Skinner

Resources & Links:

Learn more about Dr. Skinner’s Clinic, Autism Exists Diagnosis Clinic - https://www.autismexists.com

Visit Lives in the Balance to explore Dr. Ross Greene’s collaborative approach to care - https://livesinthebalance.org

Connect With Us

Guest: Cynthia Miller-Lautman – Occupational Therapist, Educator, and Host of Swinging Upside Down

In this episode of The Neurodiversity Voices Podcast, host Paul Cruz sits down with occupational therapist Cynthia Miller-Lautman, whose work bridges sensory science and neurodiversity-affirming practice.

Cynthia shares how early clinical experiences, parenthood, and work in diverse communities taught her to “watch the person” and see so-called “behaviours” as signals of dysregulation, not defiance.

Together, Paul and Cynthia explore the eight senses (including vestibular, proprioception, and interoception), what “just right” regulation actually feels like, and how to design sensory-safe micro-spaces in schools, homes, clinics, dental offices, and workplaces—without needing huge budgets or perfect setups.

You’ll walk away with a minimum viable plan to support sensory regulation, plus a new lens on “behaviour” that centres safety, consent, and dignity for neurodivergent children and adults.

Key Takeaways

• The 8 Senses, Not 5
  Cynthia explains touch, vestibular, proprioception, taste, smell, hearing, vision, and interoception, and why the first three are the foundation for regulation.
• “Just Right” vs On High vs On Low
  Instead of pathologizing, Cynthia uses “just right,” “on high,” and “on low” to help families and educators understand sensory needs in plain language.
• Behaviour as Communication, Not Defiance
  Rocking, leaving the room, refusing to eat, or “not listening” are reframed as clues to sensory overload or underload, not bad choices.
• Sensory Is a Human Need, Not a Reward
  Sensory tools (movement, weight, deep pressure, safe spaces) should not be “earned”—they’re supports that make learning, therapy, and daily life possible.
• How to Build a Micro Sensory-Safe Space
  With low-cost items (pillows, old sheets, beanbags, rocking/office chairs, simple weighted or vibrating tools), you can set up sensory corners in:
  • Classrooms
  • Homes and small apartments
  • Therapy, medical, and dental offices
• Consent and Safety with Tools
  Cynthia shares practical guidelines for things like weighted tools (never more than ~10% of body weight), watching eyes and body language for consent, and avoiding forced touch.
• Sensory Needs Across the Lifespan
  Sensory regulation isn’t “just for kids.” It matters in:
  • Dental and medical procedures
  • Waiting rooms
  • Workplaces and therapy offices
  • Aging, dementia, and hospitalizations
• Becoming a Sensory Detective
  The most powerful shift: adults becoming curious detectives instead of judges—asking “What is this person trying to get to feel just right?” instead of “Why are they being difficult?”

Key Quotes

• “Sensory is not a reward. Sensory is a human need.” – Cynthia Miller-Lautman
• “Behaviours are often signals—our detective work is figuring out what’s really going on.”
• “Parents, teachers, and therapists must become sensory detectives to help kids (and adults) find ‘just right.’”

Resources & Links