144: Different Thinkers: Turning a Diagnosis into Empowerment

In this episode of The Special Ed Strategist, host Wendy Taylor sits down with pediatric neuropsychologists Dr. Yael Rothman and Dr. Katia Fredriksen—co-authors of the Different Thinkers children’s book series—to explore how families can help children understand diagnoses with compassion and clarity. With a strengths-based, neurodiversity-affirming lens, they offer practical ways to shift conversations from “what’s wrong” to “what’s unique,” empowering both home life and school advocacy.

Three Key Takeaways:

• Reframe diagnosis as a narrative shift toward understanding, not limitation.
• Use personalized storytelling and concrete examples to highlight what the child does best.
• Equip children with words and self‑advocacy tools early and revisit them as they grow.

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Find the full episode here:

• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the‑special‑ed‑strategist‑podcast‑with‑wendy‑taylor‑m‑ed‑et‑p/id1639953041

Other platforms: https://pod.link/1639953041