Differently Wired with Debbie Reber

I took what I thought was a diversion into talking about physical disability inclusion with Scott Whitney of All4Inclusion and found that to see difference, to support challenges and to really celebrate gifts we must hear real stories of people with lived experience different to our own.

As part  of creating teacher training material on inclusion I collaborated with Scott Whitney to talk about living with disability and what it would take to create more inclusive schools.

“The strong cannot be brave.  Only the weak can be brave; and yet again, in practice, only those who can be brave can be trusted, in time of doubt, to be strong.  The only way in which a giant could really keep himself in training against the inevitable Jack would be by continually fighting other giants ten times as big as himself.  That is by ceasing to be a giant and becoming a Jack.”

Heretics, G.K. Chesterton

Meet Jessica McCabe, the force behind "How to ADHD." Seven years ago, Jessica embarked on a transformative journey, evolving from a place of self-doubt to becoming an advocate for understanding and working with the ADHD brain. In her own words, she shares:

"Seven years ago, I didn't respect myself; I thought that I just needed to try harder. I dropped the shame, embraced the way my brain works, and developed strategies to accomplish anything I set my mind to. Now, I want this to be the norm—a world where discussing our working memory is as natural as talking about our eye color."

Jessica's insights are a breath of fresh air, and this month, she unveils her latest creation, the book "How to ADHD: Working with Your Brain, Not Against It." 

My guest on the podcast is Adell Bridges,  a movement expert and yoga instructor who often credits her ADHD for the creative way she instructs bodies and brains on the mat.  Adell is both a role model  of a successful wonderfully wired adult and an infectious brain-body enthusiast and teacher.  This episode is a gift to parents of wonderfully wired kids and parents who are wonderfully wired themselves.

Whilst we know that being "out of the box" is a good thing, it often creates difficulties for both us as parents and our children, when it results in explosive, difficult behaviour. 

Dr Greene offers so much hope and practical teaching to parents like you and I pulling out our hair, desperate to help a child who is often in trouble (or in distress!) due to his inability to consistently manage his frustration in an adaptive way.

“Seeing your kid struggle isn’t fun.”   says Dr Ross Greene. “The trick is to pay close attention to whether she needs your help or can manage it on her own. And the magic is in how, if she does need your help, you handle things from there.”

I’m so excited to give you real tools in knowing just how to ‘handle things from there’ this month! 

Dr Greene explains the Collaborative Proactive Solutions (CPS) approach with clarity and practical examples.

Meg Faure is an Occupational Therapist, author, baby specialist and the founder of Parent Sense. Over the last 25 years, she’s worked with thousands of parents to help them understand their baby's sleep, feeding and sensory needs.  

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In this episode of the podcast, we talk about the sensory needs of babies,  the way to create a calm sensory world for a little one and how to read and respond to babies sensory cues.  I asked Meg if one can identify wonderful wiring in infants and how to respond wisely to early warning signs and special needs. 

I invited Julie Bogart onto the podcast to discuss how wonderfully wired kids would benefit if education creates good thinkers rather than good test takers.

Julie is known for her common sense parenting and education advice. She’s the author of the beloved book, The Brave Learner, which has brought joy and freedom to countless home educators. Her new book, Raising Critical Thinkers, offers parents a lifeline in navigating the complex digital world our kids are confronting.

Julie’s also the creator of the award-winning, innovative online writing program called Brave Writer, now 22 years old, serving 191 countries. 

Julie says things like "Reading isn't voting", "There are no educational emergencies" and "the content we teach is just content".  You're going to like what she has to say!

My guest on the podcast this month is Dr Jeannine Jannot.  Dr Jannot is an academic coach and the author of The Disintegrating Student: Struggling But Smart, Falling Apart, and How To Turn It Around. She has over 25 years of experience working with children, teens, and young adults in both public and private school settings. 

Jeannine has a master's degree in school psychology from The Ohio State University and a doctorate in child and developmental psychology from the University of Connecticut. She began teaching college psychology courses in 2010, and in 2014 she founded The Balanced Student.  

You can learn more about her at JeannineJannot.com.