The Coffee Klatch Special Needs Radio

We have all heard the term "Maverick Mind"  today we meet the woman who coined the phrase... wrote the book... uncovered the Maverick Mind in this outstanding five part series.   The highly visual mind of a Maverick is what causes symptoms, but also what allows Mavericks to become symptom-free. In this interview, we will discuss the Brain Engineering Program that Dr. Cheri Florance developed to repair and stabilize verbal fluency in Mavericks. We will discuss how to improve attention and memory, the Central Executive, the input processors of listening and reading, the output processors of speaking and writing, and how these skills are transferred and generalized for home, school, and self-concept.   Despite having others label her son, Whitney, deaf, autistic and mentally disabled, Dr. Florance refused to give up on him. With her expertise in brain science and speech pathology, she traced her son's difficulties to his high level of visual thinking. Combined with a multi-disciplinary focus on speech, hearing, and psychology, she found the key to unlocking her "unreachable son.  Today, Whitney is symptom-free, a college graduate, and a professional engineer.   Through her experience with her son, Dr. Florance discovered what she calls the "Maverick Mind." Today, Dr. Florance works with Mavericks all over the world through her Brain Engineering Labs, enhancing the lives of children and adults with symptoms of Autism Spectrum, ADD, PDD, and other disorders of communication, language, learning, and behavior.   Join our guest host photographer Angela Eaton, a mother of a "Maverick" daughter, to explore this enlightening and potentially paradigm-shifting discussion.

 In this interview, Dr. Florance will discuss more in depth how to identify Maverick Minds. Mavericks are highly visual thinkers with a language disorder. Because a language disorder leads to frustration, anxiety, and tension, Mavericks can exhibit symptoms that can look like other disorders, including PDD, Autism, ADHD, ODD, and Sleep Disorders. With Mavericks, a misdiagnosis can lead to mistreatment, aggravating the problem and leading to an adverse outcome. Correctly identifying Mavericks allows for proper treatment that can be very effective and turn the whole situation around. We will also discuss the prevalence of Maverick Minds in affluent communities.   Despite having others label her son, Whitney, deaf, autistic and mentally disabled, Dr. Florance refused to give up on him. With her expertise in brain science and speech pathology, she traced her son's difficulties to his high level of visual thinking. Combined with a multi-disciplinary focus on speech, hearing, and psychology, she found the key to unlocking her "unreachable son.  Today, Whitney is symptom-free, a college graduate, and a professional engineer.   Through her experience with her son, Dr. Florance discovered what she calls the "Maverick Mind." Today, Dr. Florance works with Mavericks all over the world through her Brain Engineering Labs, enhancing the lives of children and adults with symptoms of Autism Spectrum, ADD, PDD, and other disorders of communication, language, learning, and behavior.   Join our guest host Angela Eaton, a mother of a "Maverick" daughter, to explore this enlightening and potentially paradigm-shifting discussion.

“ADHD/ADD Basics:  Stuff You Need to Know” Dr.  Richard Selznick is a psychologist, nationally certified school psychologist, graduate school professor, university professor of pediatrics and school consultant. Author The Shut-Down Learner: Helping Your Academically Discouraged Child   and School Struggles: A Guide To Your Shut-Down Learner’s Success,   A down-to-earth presenter who looks to discuss difficult topics in non-jargon terms, Dr. Selznick tries to present complex issues in down-to earth terms. Dr. Richard Selznick is excited to kick off his premiere with Dr. Michael Goodman, Pediatric Neurologist where he will be talking about the basics of ADHD and stuff you need to know.  Maybe you think you’ve heard it all before, but every perspective is different and Dr. Goodman offers a fresh, practical, down-to-earth view for parents (and teachers) to consider regarding ADHD.  Dr. Goodman brings years of experience to<

Dr Jamie Howard    Clinical Psychologist, Anxiety and Mood Disorders Center CHILD MIND INSTITUTE Jamie M. Howard, PhD, is a clinical psychologist specializing in the evaluation and treatment of anxiety and mood disorders in children and adolescents. Dr. Howard will lead the Child Mind Institute's Anxiety and Mood Disorders Center trauma response group. Her expertise in treating post-traumatic stress and adjustment disorders across the lifespan is a product of dedication to the most current and effective interventions, combined with her passion for helping children and families adjust to difficult and unexpected life experiences.  

  Join hosts Diane Kennedy and Rebecca Bank authors of "Bright Not Broken: Gifted Kids, ADHD, And Autism" Tonight we welcome New York Times bestselling author Dr. Dale Archer  discussing his new book "Better Than Normal: How What Makes You Different Can Make You Exceptional" which redefines our perception of what REALLY constitutes a mental illness. Dr. Archer is a Psychiatrist and is the Medical Director for psychiatric services at Lake Charles Memorial Hospital. A media veteran with over two decades of experience, the host of "The Dr. Dale Archer Show" and has appeared on the top national news shows talking about various psychological issues related to current events. Dr. Archer has also authored "Chemical Imbalance Depression" and currently writes "Taking Charge" an advice column now syndicated nationally in numerous magazines and newspapers    

Dr Melanie A Fernandez Director, Parent-Child Interaction Therapy Program CHILD MIND INSTITUTE Melanie A. Fernandez, PhD, ABPP, is a clinical psychologist who specializes in the treatment of children’s behavioral problems, particularly attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and oppositional defiant disorder. She has provided psychological evaluations and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) to hundreds of children and adolescents. As one of fifteen master trainers in parent-child interaction therapy endorsed by PCIT International, she also has unique experience working with parents to improve their children's social behavior, self

Dr Rachel Busman Clinical Psychologist, Anxiety and Mood Disorders Center CHILD MIND INSTITUTE Rachel Busman, PsyD, is a clinical psychologist specializing in the evaluation and treatment of anxiety and mood disorders in children and adolescents. Dr. Busman has extensive experience providing cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to children, teenagers, and young adults struggling with psychiatric disorders, school difficulties, and behavioral problems. She has specific interest and expertise in the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder, separation anxiety, specific phobias, and selective mutism.    

Join guests Diane Kennedy and Rebecca Bank authors of the blockbuster book "Bright Not Broken Gifted Kids, ADHD, And Autism: Why Twice Exceptional Children Are Stuck and How To help them   Martha Burge, author, parent and certified personal - professional coach specializes in gifted and creative people, Including, adults diagnosed with ADHD and parents of children with ADHD and related conditions. Martha’s new book The ADD Myth: How to Cultivate the Gifts of Intense Personalities Martha Burge specializes in gifted and creative people, adults diagnosed with ADHD and parents of children with ADHD and many other diagnoses of mental disorder. Many years ago she simply refused to agree that her children were disordered.  A couple of college degrees, a coaching certification, and many clients later, she now knows why. And she’s out to tell the rest of us all about it in her recently released book, “The ADD Myth: How to Cultivate the Unique Gifts of Intense Personali

Marc Elliot has spoken to hundreds of groups and organizations, reaching out to more than 100,000 individuals in the United States and internationally. At the age of 26, Marc has now found a way to use his own story, his triumph over handicaps, as a way of helping individuals around the world find their own path to tolerance for themselves and others. Marc is the author of the book "What Makes You Tic?"   Tonight Stefanie will be speaking with author and motivational speaker Marc Elliot who grew up struggling with Tourette's Syndrome. In 2011 he was named College Speaker Of The Year teaching high school and college students kindness, tolerance, and respect towards others.  Marc will talk about what it was like for him to grow up as a child who always stood out, never quite fit in, and always said and did the "wrong" thing. His book "What Makes You Tic?"  gives readers an in depth understanding of what it was like for him while growing up.  He describes the difficulty of knowing that he was making inappropriate and impulsive comments, yet he knew he was unable to control himself.  Today Marc is tic free and an inspirational speaker helping create a culture of people who better understand what it feels like to be "different."    

    Richard Melnick was diagnosed with cancer a dozen years ago. While facing a life-threatening illness and what could have been a premature death sentence, he experienced a new way of viewing the world. One of the subjects he often pondered while in medical limbo was parenting, which he writes extensively about in his new book, Parents who Dont Do Dishes.  And while Melnick covers his fair share of paternal methodologies, a large part of the book is devoted to examining life’s simplest philosophies with a healthy balance of pop-culture references and audacious humor. The resulting book is an antidote to helicopter parenting and tiger moms as he taught his boys to develop a playful relationship with life. Written in Melnick’s scrappy, heartfelt style, Parents Who Don’t Dishes is a hilarious and easy-to-read book that dives into some of life’s deepest topics with surprising ease.

The publication of DSM5 will no doubt bring changes that will affect twice-exceptional children, especially those with Aspergers Disorder.  Drs. Lorna Wing and Judith Gould, world renowned experts and pioneers of the autism spectrum discuss the upcoming changes in the DSM. Dr. Lorna Wing  has 40 years of experience in the field of autism and learning disabilities through her work w the Medical Research Council Social Psychiatry Unit, London. Her published work on the subject of autism has challenged and changed the thinking in the field. In the early days she questioned that Kanner's autism was a single separate entity and through her research work w Judith Gould led to the now accepted concept of a spectrum of autism. It was Dr Wing who, in 1981, coined the term "Asperger syndrome" Her book The Autistic Spectrum, for parents and professionals, has been translated into many languages and it remains a valuable source of information and advice.  Dr. Judith Gould is Director NAS Lorna Wing Centre for Autism. She is a Chartered Consultant Clinical Psychologist w nearly 40 years' experience, specializing in autism spectrum disorders and learning disabilities. She has published widely in the field of autism spectrum disorders and her research work with Lorna Wing led to the now-accepted concept of a spectrum of autistic conditions. Dr Gould is involved in training in autism spectrum disorders and related conditions both in the UK and overseas. Her cur

Ashok Gupta will share with Marianne his explanation of ME/CFS/Fibromyalgia, which he has spent the last ten years researching and refining. Ashok Gupta has dedicated his life to finding an effective treatment for ME/CFS and Fibromyalgia The Amygdala Hypothesis a 'vicious cycle' that, once triggered in people with certain risk factors can perpetuate neurological overstimulation, physiological dysfunction, and many physical symptoms. Today they discuss it all .....Genetic and Environmental Risk Factors - Triggers: Acute Psychological Stress & Viral, Bacterial, or Other Triggers - CHRONIC STIMULATION OF THE AROUSAL SYSTEM - PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS - Exhaustion from Sleep Problems - Post-Exertional Malaise, Adverse Reaction to Exercise - Digestive Problems, e.g., Irritable Bowel Syndrome(IBS) - Food Allergies/Sensitivities - Misdiagnosis - Immune System  - Latent Virus Reactivation/High Viral Titres - Visual Disturbances - COGNITIVE SYMPTOMS - (Brain Fog - memory problems)Emotional Lability, Anxiety and Depression-SYMPTOMS AND SECONDARY ILLNESS CYCLES - Retraining The Amygdala 

We have all heard the term "Maverick Mind"  today we meet the woman who coined the phrase... wrote the book... uncovered the Maverick Mind. Despite having others label her son, Whitney, deaf, autistic and mentally disabled, Dr. Florance refused to give up on him. With her expertise in brain science and speech pathology, she traced her son's difficulties to his high level of visual thinking. Combined with a multi-disciplinary focus on speech, hearing, and psychology, she found the key to unlocking her "unreachable son.  Today, Whitney is symptom-free, a college graduate, and a professional engineer. Through her experience with her son, Dr. Florance discovered what she calls the "Maverick Mind." Today, Dr. Florance works with Mavericks all over the world through her Brain Engineering Labs, enhancing the lives of children and adults with symptoms of Autism Spectrum, ADD, PDD, and other disorders of communication, language, learning, and behavior. Join Marianne Russo and co-host Angela Eaton, a mother of a "Maverick" daughter, to explore this enlightening and potentially paradigm-shifting discussion.

Join guests Diane Kennedy and Rebecca Bank authors of the blockbuster book "Bright Not Broken Gifted Kids, ADHD, And Autism: Why Twice Exceptional Children Are Stuck and How To help them We are excited to welcome back Jennifer Cook O'Toole  award-winning author, educator, advocate and mother of three Kids with Asperger's. Jennifer's  Asperkids, LLC, a multi-media social education company  has formed  The first collaborative program between the Montessori and Autism/Asperger's communities. "Any parent who has ever wished their child could find their homework, organize their room, or calm themselves will benefit from her suggestions" says a top Montessori teacher/trainer. With her third book, An Asperkid Home: Where the Stories of Everyday Superheroes Begin due out this spring, a new article in Autism Asperger Digest this summer and her increasing international recognition as an autism superstar,  Jennifer has a lot to talk about!  This is a don't miss episode for 2e/Asperger parents and professionals alike.

Know your legal rights for your special needs blog, book and social media posts with copyright lawyer and autism advocate Bonnie Berry LaMon, Esq. With so many special needs parents writing blogs and sharing their child's stories we wondered..... Do you know some of the legal implications particularly when it comes to copy right laws?  Areva's guest, Bonnie Berry Lamon, has practiced entertainment law for over twenty years. Her law firm B2L Entertainment Law Group negotiates and drafts agreements in connection to its clients activities in flim, television, music and book publishing.  Two incredible attorneys and special needs advocates will guide you through the process