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121 | navigating culture and religion with Sunita Theiss
ABOUT THIS EPISODE (+ scroll for resources) 👇
Dr. Tay and Sunita Theiss, an Indian neurodivergent mom, discuss Sunita's journey through autism diagnoses for herself and her children, the impact of South Asian cultural values on her parenting, and the integration of neurodivergent needs within religious communities. Sunita shares her personal experiences, the challenges of advocating for her child's needs within faith-based settings, and practical strategies for creating more inclusive communities. Together, they discuss the importance of accommodations, self-advocacy, and intentional parenting.
00:00 Introduction and Guest Overview
00:54 Host's Background and Podcast Mission
01:57 Sunita's Family and Personal Journey
02:51 Navigating Neurodivergence in the Family
05:22 Cultural Influences and Misattributions
11:44 Parenting Approaches and Self-Advocacy
21:40 Accommodations and Long-Term Support
26:41 Meeting Online and Family Backgrounds
27:11 Integrating Different Upbringings
27:42 Reparenting and Healing
28:29 Family Time and Dinner Table Dynamics
31:21 Parenting Strategies and Research
33:28 Navigating Neurodivergence in the Family
37:01 Cultural and Community Reactions
41:30 Supporting Neurodivergent Families in Religious Communities
49:00 Final Thoughts and Resources
RESOURCES
⚡️ connect with Sunita on Instagram @sunitatheiss, visit her website, and read her Substack
⚡️ want to learn more about Dr. Tay's Whole Family Approach and current services offered? visit drtaylorday.com
⚡️ join the Evolve Facebook community to participate in the episode Q+As >> facebook.com/groups/evolveautism
⚡️ learn from me and submit your questions [could be featured on a future episode] >>
*PDA is a theorized profile of autism and not a clinical diagnosis. however, it has been a helpful conceptualization for many parents to learn about how their child's brain is wired. our knowledge of PDA is currently unfolding and I do my best to share up-to-date, balanced information. to learn more about PDA, please listen to episode 110
