EPISODE 151
Neurodivergence Across Generations:
A Discussion with Daughter and Mom, Rebecca Rosenzweig and Dr. Karen Carson
Play the Episode…
Show Notes
Barry and Dave discuss neurodivergence across generations in a family, with Rebecca Rosenzweig and her mother Dr. Karen Carson exploring how neurodivergent traits have been present in both maternal and paternal lines, with Karen sharing her late-in-life diagnosis of autism and ADHD, while Rebecca discussed her diagnosis and the challenges of sensory processing differences. They share personal stories about accommodations and support within their family, including how Karen’s intuitive understanding of Rebecca’s needs helped create a supportive home environment. The conversation also covered the importance of recognizing neurodivergence without pathologizing natural behaviors, and the need to balance masking with authentic self-expression, particularly in different social and professional contexts.
Featuring
Rebecca Rosenzweig
Rebecca Rosenzweig is an MSW candidate at USC and an autistic advocate. She is a therapist at the Child and Family Guidance Center and facilitates groups at the Neurodivergent Collective. She also presents on autism and neurodiversity affirming practices to schools and organizations. She loves neurodiversity, psychology, doggie noses, and bear tummies (particularly Paddington). She lives in Los Angeles with her dog, Samson and her partner, Ellie.
Karen Carson
Karen Carson is a physician who received her MD from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine with a residency in pathology at UCLA Medical School. She is a children’s book author, and most importantly the mom of three neurodivergent children, Becca, Sky and Bogie. She lives in LA in the neighborhood where she grew up, in a house filled with rescue dogs. Dogs are a passion and so is writing about dogs! She is the author of the children’s chapter book series “Sir DoGoody Button” and “Fleabins the Great…Troublemaker”, under the pen name K. Frances Carson.
Learn more on her website!
Transcripts coming soon!
While you wait on the revised version, you can access to the automate transcripts on your streaming platform of preference.
👉 Download the Transcripts 💾 (Coming Soon!)
…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. How did Becca and Karen each receive a diagnosis, or come to accept or embrace their neurodivergence? Do each of their stories resonate with your experience or the experience of someone you know?
2. How did their family adapt in a manner that have helped neurodivergent members of their family? Did this happen intuitively, planned intentionally, or both? Any specific examples that they shared that you can relate to?
3. What do Becca and Karen want other families to know about recognizing neurodivergence across generations, and what advice do they provide about the special considerations and issues that a neurodivergent family might encounter? What, specifically has most resonated with you?
HOSTED BY
Barry Prizant, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
Dr. Barry Prizant is a speech-language pathologist with more than 50 years experience as a researcher and international consultant for autistic and neurodivergent individuals and their families. He is an Adjunct Professor of Communicative Disorders at the University of Rhode Island and Director, Childhood Communication Services (a private practice). Previously, he served as Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry in the Brown University School of Medicine, and held a tenured professor appointment at Emerson College. Publications include 5 books, most notably Uniquely Human: A Different Way of Seeing Autism (2015; 2022) and The SCERTS Model manuals, an educational approach implemented in more than a dozen countries. He has published 150 scholarly chapters and articles and serves on numerous professional advisory boards for journals and professional organizations. Barry has presented more than 1000 seminars and keynote addresses internationally, including two invited presentations at the United Nations for World Autism Awareness Day. His career contributions have been recognized with honors from Brown and Princeton Universities, the Autism Society of America and the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
Visit Barry’s website here
Uniquely Human, the book (Updated and Expanded edition!)
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
“I have read a million and one books on Autism. Uniquely Human is the best book I have ever read, hands down. Thank you Barry for this incredible gift!!!!”
– Navah Paskovitz, Mother of three boys with Autism, Co-Founder, the Ed Asner Family Center
“Compassion, learning and supportive strategies–the three essentials for working with folks with ASD–are an integral part of this must-read book.”
– Michelle Garcia Winner, Speech Language Pathologist and Founder of Social Thinking
“Thanks be to Barry for the first-ever must read written for parents, educators, and clinicians.”
– Michael John Carley, Founder, GRASP; Author of Asperger’s From the Inside-Out
“What makes the book compelling is how funny Mr. Finch is about himself. He’s great company.”
– Susannah Meadows, The New York Times
“In this hilarious memoir (which also gives some of the finest explications of Asperger’s out there), Finch approaches trying to be a better husband and father with the determination of Sherman marching on Atlanta.”
– Judith Newman, People (4/4 stars)
“Talk about being on a roll. This dude wrote a book, he has Asperger’s syndrome. He cured himself by listening to me on the radio!”
– Howard Stern