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I am joined by Gretchen Rowe for a heartfelt and insightful conversation about navigating learning challenges with neurodivergent kids. Gretchen shares her personal journeys through homeschooling, discussing everything from the decision to seek formal diagnoses for her children to the ups and downs of finding the right support and resources.

Together, we explore how to talk with kids about learning differences in a positive, empowering way, the importance of fostering self-advocacy skills, and the crucial role that other caring adults and community play in supporting children as they grow. With stories from our own families, practical advice, and plenty of warmth and humor, this episode is a must-listen for any parent, educator, or caregiver seeking a path forward when learning feels hard.

In this episode you'll hear about:

• Gretchen’s background
• The Process and Value of Diagnosis
• Gretchen’s view that diagnosis is not a destination, but just a point on the path.
• Questions about whether and how to share a diagnosis with children.
• Avoiding limiting language tied to a diagnosis.
• Seeking Diagnosis: Personal Experiences
• Gretchen’s experience seeking a formal diagnosis for her son with acute dyslexia.
• Comparison with Sarah’s experience using public school evaluation:
• Deciding on Diagnosis and Accommodations
• Reflecting on reasons for pursuing diagnosis (information, resources, labels, fear of stigma).
• Discussion of accommodations for standardized testing (SAT/ACT) and the need for an established paper trail.
• Timing and consequences of seeking/not seeking accommodations.
• Talking to Kids About Their Diagnosis and Learning Differences
• When and how to initiate conversations with children.
• Changing “I can’t” statements into productive collaboration.
• Encouraging children to ask for help and reframe challenges.
• Parenting Strategies for Navigating Neurodiversity
• Teaching children to seek help productively.
• Modeling adaptive behaviors and self-awareness as parents.
• Handling setbacks and being open about parental mistakes and learning together.
• Preparing Neurodivergent Teens for Independence and Adulthood
• Teaching practical life and self-advocacy skills.
• Encouraging mentorship and guidance from other adults besides parents.
• Empowering teens to seek feedback about their strengths.
• Supporting Teens’ Transition to Work or College

Links and Resources From Today's Show

• Why Should I Seek Occupational Therapy?
• Connect with Sarah Collins on IG
• Games That Teach Executive Function
• Demme Learning
• What Are Executive Function Skills?
• Field Trips Can Build Executive Functioning
• Episode 2: Decoding Behavior in homeschooling- sensory overwhelm, emotional control, perseverance
• Episode 43: Collaborative Problem-Solving in Education and Parenting
• Episode 60: Tackling Childhood Anxiety: How Occupational Therapy Can Help
• Episode 66: Shifting From Compliance to Connection: The Power of Declarative Language in Supporting Kids

Connect With Our Guest, Gretchen Roe

Gretchen Roe has 21 years of home education experience with her six children, all of whom have now graduated. With a degree in psychology and child development, she has spent the last 27 years in positions of homeschool advocacy, developing special bonds with families of children who work harder to learn. With Demme Learning since 2014, first as a Special Needs Placement Specialist, now serving as the company’s Community Outreach Coordinator, she loves the outdoors, all things furry, chicken raising, and beekeeping. She is a high school swim coach and a second-degree Taekwondo Black Belt.