Why Elite Athletes and Autistic Kids Need the Same Nervous System Work: With Jay Schroeder

Send us Fan Mail What if the biggest breakthroughs in autism support, athletic performance, and nervous system regulation come from the same place? Jay Schroeder makes the case that your body is far more capable than you’ve been led to believe and that the brain can be trained to unlock it. On this episode of The Polaris Connection, hosts Brad Broyles and Nathan Palmer are joined by fitness and movement expert Frank “Jay” Schroeder for a conversation connecting elite sports, special needs support, and the way the brain learns. Jay has worked with Olympians, Hall of Famers, Super Bowl champions, and children with special needs. His philosophy is simple but powerful: stop treating people as deficits, and start helping them understand their own potential.  Brad challenges Jay to explain these ideas in practical language for parents, coaches, and families supporting someone who feels overwhelmed, dysregulated, or stuck. Jay explains why he focuses on communication rather than force and how that shift can influence athletic performance, emotional regulation, learning, and independence.  Jay also shares the personal story behind his approach, including a devastating motorcycle accident, a year and a half of neurological challenges, and the discovery that pain, movement, and awareness could help retrain his brain. That experience became the foundation for the protocols he continues to use with athletes, autistic individuals, and people recovering from injury. If you’re a parent of an autistic child, a coach, a clinician, or anyone interested in the connection between movement and regulation, this episode offers a fresh and empowering perspective. It blends performance training, nervous system education, personal experience, and a message that stays with you long after the conversation ends: You are not broken... and your body may already know how to help itself. We want to hear from you! Follow us and leave a comment on our Instagram at ThePolarisConnection or reach us at [email protected]