Neurodiversity Barry Prizant David Finch

EPISODE 65
Neurodiversity: A Conversation with Barry and Dave

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Show Notes

The concept of neurodiversity and its application is currently one of the hottest issues of discussion and consideration, both within and outside autism and disability culture. Barry and Dave have a wide-ranging conversation that addresses the origin of neurodiversity, current debates about boundaries and terminology, and how the concept has evolved in recent years. They go onto discuss implications of our evolving understanding of neurodiversity for education, employment, and supporting a more respectful and inclusive approach to differences across all human beings.

Featuring

BARRY PRIZANT

BARRY PRIZANT, Ph.D., CCC-SLP

Dr. Barry Prizant is a speech-language pathologist with close to 50 years experience as a researcher and international consultant for autistic individuals and their families. He is a Visiting Scholar at Brown University and Director, Childhood Communication Services. Publications include The SCERTS Model manuals, an educational approach implemented in more than a dozen countries, four books and 130 scholarly chapters and articles. Barry has presented more than 900 seminars and keynote addresses internationally, including two invited presentations at the UN for World Autism Awareness Day. He has received numerous honors for his career contributions.

Visit Barry’s website here

Uniquely Human, the book (Updated and Expanded edition!)

Dave David Finch square

DAVE FINCH

Dave Finch is the author of the New York Times bestselling memoir, The Journal of Best Practices: A Memoir of Marriage, Asperger Syndrome, and One Man’s Quest to Be a Better Husband. As a writer and creative consultant, his work has appeared on ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, NPR, SiriusXM, The New York Times, Rolling Stone, The Howard Stern Show, and the award-winning Netflix series, Atypical. Based in Denver, Dave’s company, Elevated Studio, produces this podcast and other recognized series.

Visit Dave’s website here

…and Continue the Discussion

Do you have a book or podcast club? If so, you may use this discussion guide to facilitate a conversation about this episode.

1) What are your experiences with current terminology that has emerged out of writings and on-line discussions about neurodiversity? If you have specific preferences for using particular terms (e.g., neurodiverse, neurodivergent, neurotypical), what are they and why?

2) Neurodivergent conditions can often be disabling, but may also be characterized by strong abilities or even remarkable gifts or talents. Have you experienced this personally, or in individuals in your life?

3) What are the major takeaways that Barry and Dave present in their discussion about neurodiversity. Are there any additional takeaways that you can add based upon your personal experience as a parent, professional, or neurodivergent person?

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Music

Matt Savage, courtesy of Savage Records

Matt Savage is an autistic jazz musician, composer, and bandleader. Matt has collaborated with jazz greats like Chick Corea, the Ellington All Stars, Chaka Khan, Wynton Marsalis, Bobby Watson, Clark Terry, Jimmy Heath, Jason Moran, Arturo O’Farrill, John Pizzarelli, Joshua Redman, Terri Lyne Carrington, Jon Faddis, Jerry Bergonzi. Donny McCaslin, and more. He has recorded more than a dozen records and graciously contributes the music for Uniquely Human.

Production and Sound Design

ELEVATEDSTUDIO

Uniquely Human: The Podcast is produced, engineered, and edited by Elevated Studio in Denver, Colorado. Owned and operated by co-host Dave Finch, Elevated Studio produces digital media assets and content strategies for the electronics, entertainment, and lifestyle industries.