Up next in 10
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1 in 44 children are diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in the United States. Autism is a lifelong condition that affects an individual's social interaction, communication, behavior and interest. While children from all ethnicities can be diagnosed with ASD, minority groups receive a diagnosis later and less frequently. The diagnosis can be overwhelming, and parents often feel lost and uncertain about what to do next. Fortunately, there are many resources available, including podcasts. In this blog post, we will explore how podcasts like Parenting on Autism 2.0 can provide an essential community platform for families navigating the ASD diagnosis.
The Parenting on Autism 2.0 podcast, hosted by Sybil Burroughs Cornish and Sharonna Ford, features conversations with parents and caregivers of autistic children, providing support, guidance, and even a few laughs. The show serves as a community platform where families can turn to for resources, inspiration and connection. The show's hosts offer a fresh perspective on autism, and they approach the topic with an empowering message of positivity. Episodes are both informative and entertaining, which makes it easy for parents to relate to and learn about ASD.
The podcast features guests who share their personal stories of living with an autistic child, shedding light on the experiences unique to their journey. They discuss everything from the diagnosis process and early intervention to the impact on family dynamics and strategies for daily life. The perspectives of these guests offer a sense of validation and understanding that can be hard to come by for parents navigating the ASD diagnosis alone.
Parents of autistic children not only need to learn how to navigate the diagnosis but also need access to resources that can help them better understand their child's specific needs. Podcasts like Parenting on Autism 2.0 provide a wealth of practical information and ideas that can help parents create better routines and plan for daily activities. Guests on the show also share their insights on how to focus on a child's strengths instead of their shortcomings, which can often lead to a more positive outcome.
The podcast also provides insight into how parents can advocate for their child within their communities and schools. They offer advice on how to communicate with teachers and physicians effectively, and even how to navigate the complexities of insurance reimbursement. This information is invaluable to parents looking to be more proactive in their child's care.
Navigating the diagnosis of autism can be daunting for parents of autistic children, and many are searching for information, resources, and empathy. Podcasts like Parenting on Autism 2.0 provide a valuable resource for families in need of support and guidance. By providing a platform where parents can share their stories, discuss their daily lives and learn from others, the podcast helps families in the autism community feel less isolated and more understood. If you're a parent of an autistic child, we encourage you to take a listen and see how this show can help your family.
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0:00
Raymond has a problem communicating and
0:01
learning he can't even express himself
0:03
for probably even understand his own
0:06
emotions in a traditional way all right
0:08
that was a clip from a film that came
0:10
out in
0:11
1988. wow that particular clip was Dr
0:15
Bruner explaining to Charlie Babbitt who
0:16
was played by Tom Cruise someone we've
0:18
mentioned numerous amounts of times in
0:20
today's show and that his brother Ray
0:23
who was played by Dustin Hoffman has
0:26
brilliantly played by Dustin that's
0:28
right and he was diagnosed with autism I
0:31
think for a lot of us that was the first
0:33
time I believe I even knew what the word
0:36
autism is 100 right and that movie uh
0:39
was so powerful in that sense because it
0:41
related to a lot of people in our
0:43
community right you know a lot of us
0:45
could relate to it uh there's a CDC
0:47
report that says one in 44 children are
0:49
diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum
0:52
Disorder with many minority groups
0:54
receiving a diagnosis later and less
0:56
often and so uh this prompted us who
1:00
have our two distinguished guests on the
1:03
show with us today they they are the
1:06
founders of the podcast parenting on
1:09
autism 2.0 with mocktails and Cocktails
1:13
and they stay true to form this morning
1:16
because they brought the mark in the
1:18
cocktails hold up oh
1:22
[Music]
1:35
Cornish is a woman who after hearing the
1:38
diagnosis of her of autism for her twin
1:41
daughters uh asked the doctor what
1:43
should I do yeah what does that mean and
1:46
the doctor said to you I don't know wow
1:51
autism there probably won't live past 18
1:54
months or grow past 18 months and so at
1:59
that point I
2:00
swallowed my pride and said I didn't
2:03
sign up for this and neither did you so
2:05
I don't have the degree on the wall and
2:07
I have Associates in fashion
2:10
merchandising I had to find another
2:12
pediatrician so I went on the um hunt
2:15
and I found a wonderful doctor that
2:16
helped me get into the Kennedy Krieger
2:20
in Baltimore Institute that specializes
2:23
in autism and I just walked and from
2:27
that point I just educated myself with a
2:30
wonderful support system like my mother
2:33
and my sisters and all of my friends and
2:36
I was very fortunate enough to work for
2:38
a company that wrapped their arms around
2:40
me which was um for 22 years I worked
2:43
with Shoe City and Sydney and Sabrina
2:44
are 26 years old 26. oh wow and he said
2:49
18 months
2:52
and Sydney and Sabrina are 26. 26 they
2:56
were born on 11 25 96 and they're 26
2:59
years old and they're living on their
3:01
own this is um the first year that I
3:03
released them into the world and they
3:05
are in residential housing eight miles
3:07
away I should say and I was just told
3:10
that I need to back up and stop hovering
3:12
thank you nikal she always um uh
3:14
redirects me when I'm way too much
3:17
um but I I have released them into the
3:20
world congratulations
3:22
thank you uh nickel is a person that I
3:26
worked with when I went to BC and and
3:28
hosted a panel discussion about the
3:30
history and origins of New Balance
3:31
sneakers remember that yes yeah matter
3:33
of fact uh we're gonna bring her to the
3:35
camera in a moment but also a person I
3:38
met while I was out there who treated me
3:39
with such Hospitality made sure that
3:42
anything I needed was at my disposal and
3:45
I appreciated her for that she even
3:46
invited to um invited me to some
3:49
extravaganzas that was taking place
3:50
later that night in the city did you
3:52
hang out
3:54
you always got a story what
4:00
ate some vegetables and you gotta go to
4:02
the bathroom what happens
4:20
who was um
4:23
who also has twins yeah with autism and
4:27
in her search for resources in the
4:29
community that she could align herself
4:31
with she walked into the establishment
4:33
Shoe City correct yeah and what did you
4:36
see I saw puzzle pieces on the wall and
4:39
the puzzle pieces symbolize autism
4:42
um because the doctors don't know what
4:44
causes autism or how to cure it so we
4:47
use the puzzle piece for the symbol so
4:49
when I seen puzzle pieces on the wall I
4:50
knew someone of importance was
4:53
affiliated with autism so I did my
4:55
research and stalked Sybil for about a
4:58
year I wrote a book parenting I wrote a
5:02
book called Blues Brothers journey
5:03
through autism and I mailed her a copy
5:05
of my book and um left a couple of books
5:08
at the store in hopes that she would
5:09
read it and get back to me but the world
5:11
shut down the pandemic happens the world
5:15
shut down and
5:17
um everyone kept saying this woman named
5:19
Sharona Blues Brothers Stefan Cyrus
5:22
mother needs to meet you they want to
5:24
talk to you about what you did in um
5:26
their sons are younger than my daughters
5:28
and of course they're Stefan Cyrus and I
5:31
have Sydney and Sabrina and it's Sharona
5:33
and civil wow
5:38
yeah
5:40
10 and 26 right yeah and when we're out
5:45
Cyrus's grandmother and I honor that
5:47
because Sydney and Sabrina you know and
5:50
so they're my grandsons and I read her
5:52
book and at first I was just like nickel
5:54
I don't need any more I'm like at this
5:56
point where I've done my due diligent my
5:59
girls are striving I'm like done and she
6:02
was like well see what happened so we
6:05
met March 17 2021 with mass on at her
6:10
favorite place that sway was supposed to
6:12
go to which is the MGM in DC
6:23
so I read it I met her and I'm story and
6:26
so
6:27
um you can finish we we talked and she
6:30
just pulled at every heart string well
6:32
what about this but what about this and
6:33
she would call me and what what did you
6:35
do here and all of the different
6:37
stemmings that um someone does on the
6:40
Spectrum and the audio and the therapy
6:42
she has a beautiful um therapeutic Play
6:45
trailer that she created way before she
6:47
met me and I was just an odd so much of
6:50
what Sharona had put into the community
6:53
at such a um early stages and she just
6:57
fought she just you know tell your story
6:59
how you came up with the trailer so um
7:02
basically having twins that are
7:05
non-verbal and autistic it just made me
7:08
see where the Gap was in the community
7:11
and so I decided to create that we
7:14
needed therapeutic play for our children
7:16
so I decided to create a therapeutic
7:18
play center
7:20
I'm actually having a Center built right
7:22
now that should be done this summer
7:31
that's the name of your foundation too
7:33
right yes Blues Brothers yep okay blue
7:35
is the color for autism okay got it and
7:38
the twins are brothers yep so um Blues
7:42
Brothers TPC don't leave out that
7:44
beautiful bag that Dolce and Cabana did
7:46
she like went there went to Venice and
7:49
they created this bag for me and I got
7:51
the SS right here for Seth and Cyrus in
7:55
their Factory yeah
7:57
so it's a one of a kind bag from them
7:59
and that was to help you know spread
8:01
awareness for autism I also wrote a book
8:05
um and then the therapeutic play center
8:07
is always at the carnivals and the fairs
8:11
in
8:12
um anywhere in the community I just
8:15
bring it out and it gives the children a
8:17
safe fun bully-free place to come and
8:20
have fun sensory is you know if you have
8:23
sensory they can come and um
8:27
play at the center you two are amazing
8:29
you are amazing and I love how you're
8:31
running your podcast in the middle of
8:32
this show like I like that now you heard
8:34
the question that was great just go for
8:36
it just go for yours there's so much
8:38
more stuff that she should be talking
8:39
about she did something in the mayor's
8:41
office she has done so much born on a
8:44
blue day in DC so there is a list of
8:46
things that um we are planning to do and
8:49
have done so I'm so impressed so let's
8:51
go back to the basics I think a lot of
8:53
us like um Rayman in 1988 was the first
8:56
time I really started understanding or
8:58
even heard of autism yeah what is autism
9:01
it's a um disorder that affects the
9:05
brain and that's where you have like um
9:07
the puzzle piece there's a brain wave
9:10
and I was taught at Kennedy Krieger
9:12
there are three left um tentels if you
9:16
will and there's
9:18
um three on left and right and then
9:20
autism the middle one is missing so it
9:24
causes the nervous system and
9:27
um the cognitive skills and um the the
9:31
sensories so that's why if you see a lot
9:33
of autistic people they cover their ears
9:36
their eyes and they stem because it's a
9:39
nervous system that um affects and the
9:42
last thing and I'll let Sharona talk is
9:45
that they said if you could imagine
9:46
walking down an alley at two o'clock in
9:49
the morning
9:50
Pitch Black
9:52
alone that's how an individual on the
9:55
Spectrum feels always
9:57
nervous scared anxious anxiety like
10:02
something is about to jump out so it
10:04
could be like a light it could be a
10:07
sound it could be some a color that
10:10
could affect Sydney and Sabrina and when
10:13
I'm in the community you're always on
10:15
guard to seeing what's going to trigger
10:18
a meltdown
10:19
and um if you want to jump in like what
10:23
were you told that affected them
10:27
so for me it's the boys don't know how
10:30
to communicate at all they don't
10:32
understand simple commands they don't
10:34
know
10:36
um like if I say give me that that phone
10:38
over there they wouldn't know what it is
10:40
like it's they they work on a routine
10:42
every day every day is the exact same
10:45
thing every day they have to go to bed
10:46
at the same time they take their shower
10:48
at the same time
10:50
um they pretty much function on a
10:51
day-to-day basis in the same routine if
10:53
the routine is broke we have a meltdown
10:56
a tantrum
10:58
um for the Seth and Cyrus it's more so
11:01
communicating and understanding commands
11:04
um they don't know how to talk they can
11:05
repeat but they can't say two words or
11:09
sentences together are those some of the
11:11
warning signs the repetition no eye
11:14
contact stuff like that but they're
11:16
getting better with it now they'll make
11:18
eye contact now I can get them to do
11:20
something different sometimes it'll take
11:22
a few prompts but they'll do something
11:25
different yeah it's a struggle when
11:28
um a person is consistent with the same
11:31
thing over and over again a simple skill
11:34
and my Foundation is built on that um
11:37
the city Foundation is developing
11:40
um individuals with autism that are
11:42
adults okay because as Sydney and I and
11:45
Sabrina and I walk through this journey
11:48
the school system have a lot of support
11:51
the school system gives the support of
11:54
the family there's an IEP as soon as an
11:57
individual whether it be autism or any
11:59
type of disability turns 21 and they
12:02
aged out at 21. they did walk with their
12:04
class in 2014 but they allow someone on
12:08
the disability to stay in the school
12:10
system for three years and so they're
12:14
get 21 and then they exit out of the
12:16
school system and they're done either
12:18
you go into an agency where you kind of
12:21
like lay dormant and there's no more
12:23
development so I struggle with
12:26
entering into that them into that world
12:29
and so it took a long time for me to say
12:32
which the best
12:34
vehicle or the best Avenue or The Best
12:37
Day program so I created a day program
12:39
for my daughters and my husband is um
12:42
you met Malik he's in the landscape and
12:45
um that's a simple skill so Landscaping
12:48
blowing the leaves having that
12:50
consistency but the one thing I did
12:53
different raising Sydney and Sabrina I
12:54
made sure that every day was different
12:56
okay I didn't set them on the path of
13:00
having and it was a struggle it is not
13:03
easy yeah okay and why did you do that
13:05
you didn't because there's never the
13:07
same day yeah okay to be able to adjust
13:11
to that change we all even if we don't
13:15
have a disorder
13:17
see with change embracing something you
13:20
know embracing the change and emotional
13:22
um sense your emotional sensories you
13:26
deal with it when you don't have it so I
13:28
had to
13:29
um as a single mom with daughters on the
13:31
Spectrum forced them into the world
13:33
nickel has a ton of stories that she
13:36
watched me and her kids you know
13:39
um go to Disney World and go do these
13:42
things she Sharona has Stefan Cyrus has
13:45
more stamps in um their passport than I
13:48
do okay they've traveled the world you
13:50
know her book is about traveling on the
13:52
Spectrum and that was one of the reasons
13:54
why I connected with her because I
13:56
didn't keep it the same we have Sybil
13:58
boroughs cornishes here and Sharona Ford
14:00
are here they the founders of parenting
14:03
on autism with mocktails and Cocktails
14:05
they just went Bonkers when they met
14:06
Andy Cohen in the hallway
14:09
okay so we're going to open up the phone
14:12
lines if you if you're parenting on
14:14
autism
14:16
um share your stories
14:18
888-742-3345
14:20
have to be in Tracy G the talking with
14:23
Sybil and sirona comparing on autism 2.0
14:27
with mocktails and Cocktails it's a
14:29
podcast people can check out this
14:30
podcast now yes yes where can they find
14:33
it on all podcast platforms
14:36
um Spotify Apple Pandora okay that's you
14:41
say that first when you're here okay
14:46
foundation and Blues Brothers
14:47
foundations April 15th on Saturday April
14:51
15th they're going to be hosting a
14:52
fundraiser event for their 40s
14:54
foundations and Faith Evans is going to
14:57
be a guest and she's going to talk about
14:59
her experience being a parent with a on
15:02
autism and where can they go to where is
15:04
this located at this event it's going to
15:06
be in Prince George's County Sprint Camp
15:08
Springs Maryland okay all right HB you
15:11
got a question I do have a question for
15:13
both of you
15:14
um for a parent that's out there
15:16
listening now they may be a quote
15:19
unquote single parent I can't imagine
15:21
how they do it quote unquote by
15:24
themselves what suggestions would you
15:27
make because a lot of times people are
15:29
uncomfortable with asking for help it's
15:30
the strangest thing in the world to me
15:32
but what would you suggest that they do
15:35
because no one can basically it sounds
15:36
like you can do it by yourself you just
15:38
can't you need help so basically that
15:41
was my number one thing when I first
15:44
found out that the boys were autistic I
15:45
didn't know where to go so I we started
15:47
support groups and we have support
15:49
groups where we bring parents in single
15:52
moms or caregivers whoever and we
15:56
discuss different things and we also I
16:00
mean it's also the reason why I wrote my
16:01
book it's a great resource to families
16:03
just learning that their child is on the
16:05
Spectrum it gives you a good idea of
16:06
what to expect moving forward so we have
16:09
these support groups we have the book
16:11
and then we have the podcast that they
16:12
can listen to that will also give them
16:15
guidance on you know different avenues
16:17
that they can take that will help them
16:19
the one thing that I will say is
16:21
definitely get your support system and
16:24
face it head on a lot of times people
16:28
here they see it before they hear it and
16:32
they go into a denial and
16:34
um when you hear the diagnosis autism
16:37
today
16:39
there's so many resources get in the
16:44
therapy that you need for yourself and
16:46
for your child
16:47
the window of getting the response
16:51
whether it be the eye contact or the
16:53
verbal prompts is so crucial in the
16:56
early stages so if you hear it move on
17:00
it and it's the hardest thing because
17:02
why me why me and that was what I dealt
17:08
with and I have three sisters and my
17:09
mother and my father were alive at the
17:11
time and I had I keep saying I had this
17:13
wonderful wonderful
17:16
company and I'm getting emotional
17:19
because our company is Shoe City and for
17:22
22 years if I was facilitating a
17:24
training session and they were having a
17:27
meltdown all I had to do is look at the
17:29
the phone ring and I'd look at them and
17:31
they'd say go go take care of Sydney and
17:33
Serena and have the support of a small
17:37
company nikal I wouldn't know her if I
17:40
didn't work for Shoe City yeah you know
17:42
and so it's about saying it and a lot of
17:47
people in in in the 90s when Sydney and
17:50
Sabrina the early 2000s when I had them
17:52
96. some of my friends get mad
17:56
when I would say excuse me they have
17:57
autistic their autism excuse me I'm
18:00
sorry and they're like why do you keep
18:02
telling everybody this I was like
18:03
because they need to know they're not
18:05
misbehaving yeah they're not just having
18:08
a bad day this is something that they're
18:11
living with so and you're living with as
18:14
well yeah yeah yeah so it's hard to let
18:17
go yeah and and I'm proud of what we've
18:20
accomplished in the 26 years of living
18:23
on this journey and when I met Sharona
18:27
and other women that I meet and I'm
18:29
constantly counseling so many people I
18:33
just knew that God put me in this
18:35
community to be the vessel you know
18:38
especially 26 when it was you know a
18:42
small portion of us
18:46
identifying with autism and not I I was
18:49
not going to put them in the corner in
18:51
the back right and just be like oh
18:52
they're back there and like take the
18:54
food to them no they were going to have
18:56
a place in this world and that's where
18:59
Sydney and Sabrina
19:01
um
19:01
and and I I it doesn't cost anything to
19:06
give people
19:07
um what you know because you don't know
19:09
what you don't know and then when you
19:11
get to know it give it absolutely and
19:14
and that's what God told me you know
19:16
thank you so much Sybil and Sharona um
19:19
we've spoken a lot about the challenges
19:21
of autism I've also always heard about
19:24
the gifts that those on the Spectrum
19:26
have in particular to
19:29
um the Arts whether it's fine arts or
19:30
whether it's music or the in-between can
19:33
we hear about that as well well raising
19:35
Sydney and Sabrina my family is a part
19:37
of the Arts Russell is my brother-in-law
19:40
my sister is an actress my niece
19:43
performs here at the Met
19:46
um I played the piano I rode horses and
19:49
every ounce of what I did Growing Up
19:51
Sydney and Sabrina did so it's very
19:54
important
19:55
um the music is important to the therapy
19:57
just listening to music to let them stem
20:00
to a beat is important Russell wrote the
20:04
song because he said Sybil's going to
20:06
give them some blues and and and I
20:09
didn't know he was writing the song but
20:11
I was in the living room talking to
20:13
Sydney and Sabrina just like I'm talking
20:14
to you I just said that they were going
20:18
to grow past 18 months so the music is
20:21
important they played the piano until
20:23
they got found the words and I drove up
20:26
the lady that taught Sydney and Sabrina
20:27
taught me and everyone Jennifer and
20:30
Becky and everyone and when my mom died
20:32
Miss Jackson said I'm going to teach
20:34
Sydney and Sabrina because they need the
20:36
Arts in their life so it's very very
20:39
important they draw they scribble and
20:42
whatever they do on paper I frame I I
20:46
make it we did during the covet we did
20:49
tie-dye Mass oh you know and it wasn't
20:52
it wasn't we sold them it was you know
20:55
Sydney was bored and I said come on like
20:57
you can't keep coloring on all the walls
20:59
let's find some dye we can't keep eating
21:03
the dirt let's plant some leaves let's
21:05
plant some fruit so you know that's why
21:08
the tree represents our foundation
21:10
because it shows that trees grow and
21:14
soil and you know the the doctor said I
21:18
would be like they're eating the dirt
21:19
he's like okay it's got iron in it
21:22
they're piking because they're you know
21:24
so I have that community of people that
21:27
said it's okay that they're eating dirt
21:29
not ew yuck they're just like you know
21:31
they're eating it it's they're piking
21:33
and it's an iron deficiency that they
21:36
have and so I when they when when they
21:39
run iron
21:42
today sirona what about um your boys
21:45
yeah
21:46
um so Seth and Cyrus they know how to
21:48
swim okay they can swim swim swim
21:51
we were in I want to say Dominican
21:54
Republic and they ran down the end of
21:58
the dock where the boats come in and
22:00
jumped off into the ocean oh everybody
22:03
that was standing there was scared but I
22:05
knew they were going to swim back up
22:06
thank God they did but they know how to
22:09
swim
22:10
um their stuff on my Instagram page
22:12
where they're like looking up and
22:14
looking around and the teachers telling
22:16
them like how many apples do you see and
22:18
they'll do like this and then they'll
22:20
hit 20. like that it's like they they
22:22
just look at it and then they know it's
22:24
20. yeah so they're real good with that
22:26
she'll show them like yellow and red and
22:29
they'll just find the card this is red
22:31
like they're really good with that they
22:33
can't say it but they can pull the words
22:35
together and match it like without even
22:37
looking it's coming it's coming right
22:40
Mike Muse you want to jump in
22:42
yeah this conversation actually hits
22:44
home this is a very powerful
22:45
conversation I got a little bit
22:47
emotional over here I just text my uh my
22:49
family member and I asked her if she was
22:50
listening right now
22:52
um because you two remind me so much of
22:55
her and her husband and I just brought
22:58
my nephew along with me to Disney World
23:00
who is on the Spectrum and I've always
23:03
been impressed with her in them
23:06
um by their resolve we'll be out to
23:09
restaurants in noisy places and it gets
23:11
so busy and he's expressing himself and
23:15
they never dim his life they never tell
23:19
him to be quiet they they are so
23:22
resolved they don't distract they let
23:25
him be and they are so calm in it and I
23:29
know inside they are just as anxious
23:31
everyone is looking how are they
23:34
thinking how are they responding and I
23:37
just asked her if you can stop work and
23:39
pay attention to these two oh thanks I
23:41
would love to be be able to connect you
23:43
with her because
23:45
I'm always all proud of them and and how
23:48
they're raising them and I had a cousin
23:50
back in the 90s who was on the Spectrum
23:52
we didn't have words for it but she used
23:54
to work at McDonald's and she was so
23:56
proud of that job and she was just beat
23:58
in the front and she would mop and she
24:00
would sweep and that was her day to day
24:02
and she was full of so much light and
24:05
joy and we never dimmed her light too
24:08
and so thank you for your work
24:11
um to what you're doing to help I love
24:12
the fact that you guys say Disney World
24:14
Disney World does have opportunities for
24:16
people who are on the Spectrum to
24:18
receive special services I love that
24:20
you're traveling normalizing them and
24:22
normalizing situation what would you say
24:25
to parents though who are not as strong
24:27
um as my friends
24:29
um and who are not as strong as you guys
24:31
are in your identity and your
24:32
self-esteem to say
24:33
to sit and be calm and let your kids
24:36
just be that's got to be hard so what
24:39
how what would you say to that well
24:41
parent who's listening it all happens
24:43
with time because I also went through
24:45
that you know when it when they first
24:47
told me they were autistic you know I
24:49
took a step back and I at first I kind
24:52
of got like well what does this mean you
24:54
know you go through a whole grieving
24:55
process because when you're pregnant
24:57
with your child you think oh my baby's
24:59
going to go to prom my baby's going to
25:00
have babies and get married and drive
25:03
cars and and when I take my child to get
25:06
their driver's license but then reality
25:08
sets in and you know your child is not
25:09
going to do these things so it's a whole
25:11
grieving process that you have to over
25:13
time accept and just come to grips with
25:16
and just realize that this is this is
25:19
your new normalcy you know and my new
25:21
normalcy is creating this different
25:24
world for my children and so it starts
25:28
off with you feeling like this and
25:29
you're not as strong and you feel
25:30
defeated but it comes with time and and
25:33
things get better and you just gotta
25:36
stick to it
25:38
um for me
25:39
I decided that
25:41
um stop trying to fit my girls into
25:43
mainstream society and I live in two
25:46
different worlds and when I'm with my
25:50
girls I'm in um in their world and I get
25:54
down on their level and I identify that
25:57
you know what it's the light let's put
25:59
on our sunglasses it's okay
26:02
um true story we've traveled so much and
26:05
that there's so many stories but I'm
26:07
going to tell two funny stories we
26:09
travel so much and the the this
26:12
checkpoint and I I don't do a lot of the
26:15
um handicap because again I try to force
26:17
them into like patience let's wait in
26:20
line and we were a little late and
26:22
Sabrina didn't want to put her phone
26:23
down and I said you got to put it down
26:25
you gotta take the hair you gotta take
26:27
it and so she took it off and I turned
26:29
around and she pulled my wig off
26:31
and I'm standing there I'm like and
26:33
Malik and Sydney because we pair them up
26:36
he's already gone through the checkpoint
26:38
with Sydney and they're putting his
26:39
shoes back on and I'm tussling with my
26:42
wig and I was just like okay the the
26:46
woman behind me she goes you got a lot
26:48
going on you think
26:51
as the wig is like
26:54
down and so my husband's like I walked
26:58
through checkpoint and he's like what is
27:00
wrong and I'm like she took my damn
27:02
wiggle
27:04
and so he's like it's gonna be okay and
27:06
I hear I see his shoulders just laughing
27:08
inside just laughing like like get her
27:11
sick bring up like people always when
27:14
they like lash out at me they always go
27:16
get one for me hit her for me
27:20
piggyback when you were going through
27:22
the tunnel with the candy there's so
27:25
many but the last one I want to say
27:27
about fitting them into the society and
27:29
being just depressed
27:32
um I was on the phone with nickel again
27:34
and she's my everyday and so the kids
27:37
are out in the courtyard in my house
27:39
playing and you know we all played
27:41
outside as kids right we we didn't have
27:44
all this technology and they're riding
27:46
the bikes and I'm on the phone and I'm
27:48
bawling
27:50
well Sydney and Sabrina ever go outside
27:52
and play and she said
27:54
what
27:56
what are you worrying about that for she
27:58
has low tolerance for Tears thank you
28:01
very much that's why I'm pushing them
28:02
back and she'd be like don't get on
28:04
their client she's like
28:06
she was like you don't know if uh
28:11
out there and play with them kids they
28:13
got each other and from that point on I
28:15
was like you're right they got each
28:17
other they got each other they're going
28:18
to have each other forever okay look I
28:20
wanna the phone lines have been lit up I
28:22
just want to make sure people can hear
28:23
your stories yeah your experiences I
28:26
like to um there are a lot of folks who
28:28
are living with kids on the Spectrum or
28:30
family members our love for you guys to
28:32
do some quick q a sure okay so
28:36
888-742-3345 say four five uh we're
28:39
talking with simple girls Cornish and
28:41
Sharona Ford they were parenting on
28:43
autism 2.0 with mocktails and Cocktails
28:45
that's a that's a podcast you can find
28:48
on Pandora and all other participating
28:50
dsps they also are the founders of the
28:53
Simpson foundation and Blues Brothers
28:55
Foundation they're having they're
28:56
holding the vent an event April 15th at
29:01
Prince George's County
29:03
um
29:04
Springfield Maryland okay and if people
29:06
want to reach out to you how can I reach
29:08
out to you
29:09
know enough of myself she's a mocktail
29:13
girl
29:15
it's spring Springs I'm sorry
29:19
people always know the truth this is the
29:22
ones that's sober that be messing up
29:24
sway
29:26
hold on I want a champagne what you give
29:29
me
29:30
I don't know Tequila okay uh they're for
29:34
Real about it
29:39
so brought me a gift hold on let me
29:40
before we go
29:42
is it a bottle I don't know what it is
29:45
say consistent
29:49
yeah open that up for me there and then
29:51
Mikhail you got me a gift too come over
29:53
here
29:55
[Music]
29:57
[Applause]
29:59
chips it's Prosecco oh no that's a
30:03
really beautiful bottle that looks like
30:05
a bottle of Lamar yeah
30:08
I love Lamarcus right this is my new
30:12
balance connect I'm putting her on blast
30:14
right now all right so she got me
30:16
something nice right here beautiful
30:18
let's see wow what I got what are these
30:21
exclusive
30:23
2002 r
30:32
around here
30:34
you hear that you hear that hate DMV man
30:36
I'm part of the DMV they show me love
30:39
man you need to be a part of winning
30:40
some of these sneakers
30:57
[Laughter]
31:14
all right let's take a few calls real
31:16
quick
31:17
um
31:19
[Music]
31:21
okay we have Tanya on the line from
31:23
Maryland Tanya welcome to the show
31:26
hey Tanya
31:31
both ways for having your guests on to
31:35
talk about this very very important
31:37
subject matter
31:39
um my son was recently diagnosed with
31:43
autism level one meaning that he's high
31:46
functioning so it wasn't something that
31:49
I noticed when he was younger he was
31:51
meeting all his Milestones but when he
31:53
got in school
31:54
I started to notice that he was very
31:56
anxious and I'm thinking oh is this
31:58
kindergarten Jitters or whatever
32:00
whatever but I knew as as his mom like
32:04
something's not right let me go and get
32:07
some information and so I started
32:08
talking to his pediatrician and then she
32:11
referred me to uh a company out here
32:13
called verbal Beginnings I had him
32:15
evaluated and that's when we got the
32:18
diagnosis and I immediately like your
32:21
guest said
32:22
um I was not one of the parents who was
32:25
like okay I'm gonna be ashamed of my
32:27
son's diagnosis I'm not going to share
32:29
it or I'm gonna go into grief I went
32:31
into okay let's get some service you
32:33
know let's get him the help that he
32:35
needs with school
32:37
um and everything and I'm a single mom
32:39
most of my relatives are up in age so
32:41
they really can't help as much I'm
32:44
trying to explain it to them you know
32:46
some were like don't share it with
32:48
people but I was like I'm not that type
32:50
to not share certain things because it
32:52
could be a help for someone else who's
32:54
probably keeping it quiet
32:57
um my son he's making tremendous
32:59
progress with the support that I have at
33:02
his school which is a public school
33:03
where we live that's good to hear
33:06
I quit my job and I'm an attorney I quit
33:09
my job
33:10
um I work and your guests will notice I
33:12
I worked in uh Bethesda not that far out
33:16
from DC and I lived Roanoke County which
33:19
is next to BWI Airport which is a hike
33:22
and my son was just going through it and
33:26
I needed to be home working from home
33:28
full-time
33:29
um so I could have accessibility to get
33:32
to him at school when I needed to and
33:35
you know that wasn't an option so I quit
33:37
and everyone was like oh my God what
33:39
you're going to do for resources and I'm
33:41
not worried about that my main objective
33:43
and focus is on my son and I have to
33:45
report he has made tremendous strides
33:48
okay let's go
33:52
his name is Joshua okay can I ask a
33:56
question
33:57
um and then Mike Muse was speaking about
33:58
this off air too she said he's level one
34:01
yes there's a spectrum from A to Z so
34:05
there's mild
34:07
which level one then you go to moderate
34:10
mild to moderate Sydney and Sabrina are
34:12
mild to moderate non-verbal so there are
34:15
different
34:16
Spectrum from A to Z and then you have
34:19
the Asperger's Spectrum where there's
34:22
high high volume levels Albert Einstein
34:26
you know
34:28
um and the severe is they can't
34:31
transition into mainstream so then they
34:34
have lots of services whether the severe
34:38
could help hurt themselves or hurt the
34:41
community a lot of um banging on their
34:45
selves and the walls and the heads so
34:49
it's you know it's severe enough that
34:51
you need a lot of medical support so my
34:55
girls are mild to moderate non-verbal
34:57
and the non-verbal part is that when
35:00
Sharona was talking about they can't we
35:04
take can out because they can it's just
35:07
gonna take some time and that's been
35:09
what I've done with Sydney and Sabrina
35:12
because when someone said 18 months they
35:14
won't grow past 18 months I was like
35:17
well what do you do with that yeah and
35:19
at 26 and you wanted to just want to
35:21
chime in just a little bit on that one
35:23
on that note about the different ranges
35:24
of it and so for parents to give them
35:26
hope right that you know all shall be
35:28
well is that I have another family
35:29
member
35:30
um whose son was on the Spectrum and I'd
35:33
create this film Summit and I invited
35:35
him to participate because I felt like
35:37
he can and and I do end up doing a film
35:41
intensive at the USC like a film school
35:43
program and I also too felt like he
35:45
could and so I said no I want him there
35:47
and as a result not only did he graduate
35:49
high school he went on to undergrad but
35:52
then he just got accepted in film School
35:55
fantastic wow very yes and so but at one
36:00
if you don't mind leaning into there's
36:02
another friend I have a lot of friends
36:04
with this and this one is listening
36:05
right now friend to the citizen of sway
36:07
in the morning he and his lovely wife
36:10
they talked to me a couple of weeks ago
36:12
I didn't realize this about the legal
36:15
advocacy services for kids who are on
36:18
the Spectrum to get into specialized
36:20
schools to really or they're able to get
36:23
into these private schools here in New
36:25
York City
36:27
um and there's lawyers out there who
36:30
fight on behalf of kids on the Spectrum
36:33
to ensure that they can get that amazing
36:37
um K-12 experience and for free so if
36:42
you could obviously every state is
36:44
different it certainly is the state of
36:45
Maryland you can tell just a familiarity
36:47
you have with that and any information
36:49
you can get to the citizens depending on
36:51
your county and the less I'm calling
36:54
she's in Montgomery County
36:56
um Howard County I live Prince George's
36:59
County our state is split up so I wish
37:03
there was what not New York has with the
37:06
attorneys and getting them into
37:07
specialized schools because in the state
37:10
of Maryland if your county public school
37:13
system can serve the individual on the
37:17
IEP they will not fund it
37:24
we could talk different and so it goes
37:27
back and forth
37:28
um for me Marilyn my county is A1 a all
37:33
their schools are um at the top okay so
37:36
I personally didn't want my children in
37:39
those specialized schools
37:41
um they wanted to split my children up
37:43
and put them in those schools and I I
37:45
took a tour of the school and I didn't
37:47
like it there were children in the
37:49
classroom that still were wearing
37:50
diapers that had to have their diaper
37:52
changed I didn't want my children to see
37:54
that is it more like an institution no
37:56
it was a school it was a school it was a
37:58
school so this is it I I don't want to
38:00
get too deep into the weeds here I just
38:01
recognize it every state and city is
38:03
different in general but for audience
38:05
members who are listening check with
38:07
your city check with your state there
38:10
are other services and these schools in
38:12
New York are are elite private schools
38:15
sure so and they get in that's wonderful
38:17
they're not the those I don't know what
38:20
those I'm sorry about that but there are
38:22
schools that New York has where they pay
38:24
fifty thousand dollars where there were
38:26
privileged kids pay fifty thousand
38:28
dollars and get educated K through 12.
38:31
there are lawyers out here in New York
38:33
City who will advocate for your child
38:35
who is on the Spectrum to be able to
38:38
attend those schools and so if you are
38:42
listening I just encourage you to see if
38:43
there are lawyers in your city lawyers
38:45
in your state that have this program
38:47
where your kid can get into a very not
38:50
specialized schools for kids on the
38:52
Spectrum specifically but just into very
38:54
high performing private schools to
38:56
receive a really good education okay I'm
38:59
gonna uh take another caller Haywood are
39:01
you a man
39:02
man
39:10
I wanted to I wanted to talk to a man
39:13
we've yet to do that you know so see if
39:16
your experience what your experiences
39:18
and you're in Wisconsin talk to us
39:21
yeah
39:22
um I didn't find out that my daughters
39:24
had um a former um autism like they said
39:27
it's levels to Orchards my daughter has
39:30
Rex syndrome which affects um one out of
39:33
15
39:35
um girls
39:36
and um yeah my daughters they can't talk
39:39
when I'm saying well
39:42
but I I never thought that I would you
39:45
know be satisfied my life to raise them
39:47
I'm raising from six to 24 by myself
39:49
good for you by yourself by myself man
39:54
wow wow man Haywood my God Happy
39:58
Father's Day I'm writing a book about it
40:02
um
40:02
you know I can't talk about because I
40:04
get emotional because if you go through
40:07
it you know you know what you go through
40:09
yeah and it's rough man it's rough but I
40:13
never thought of me leaving my girls in
40:16
other people's hands and if the twins
40:19
they're a few I'm a real real beautiful
40:20
man yeah and if you know that they had
40:23
RAC syndrome unless you saw them with
40:25
their repetitious motion with their
40:27
hands you know and for anyone who's
40:30
listening
40:32
syndrome and read about it I bet you
40:35
would not leave that site with tears in
40:37
your arms there you go he said he had
40:39
twins twins
40:41
do you have uh were you able to reach
40:43
out to any support groups or even maybe
40:48
um men who are raising kids on the um on
40:50
the Spectrum
40:52
well yeah I keep up with the red
40:54
syndrome foundation and they send me a
40:56
list of people in my area with red
40:58
syndrome girl but I haven't um everybody
41:01
I talked to they said hey was your story
41:03
unique we we have never you know it's
41:06
guys should be like hey we admire you
41:08
magic come see you raise your door and
41:11
they see me with the girls and
41:12
everything I get their hair done
41:15
I try to make a life for them
41:18
and I never thought that I would do this
41:25
there you go hey we appreciate you
41:28
Haywood thank you for calling in and
41:29
sharing your story brother you're a
41:31
citizen man in the morning um these two
41:33
amazing guests uh we have to wrap the
41:35
show up but before we do I don't feel
41:37
like we gave your information out enough
41:39
because you got a ton of phone callers
41:41
Deanna and Pa Jesse and Texas Nikki New
41:44
York Sean and Denver Lee and Kylie Sean
41:46
in New York and others that are calling
41:48
where can they reach you directly if
41:50
they want to if they had questions so
41:51
how can you be this is civil I could be
41:53
reached at
41:55
sidcivinc.com and that is the website
41:58
for my Foundation or parenting on autism
42:02
with um no parenting on autism 2.0 okay
42:06
Sid s-i-d sib Sid sib yep Foundation
42:10
okay
42:12
Sharona I can be reached at um Blues
42:16
Brothers
42:17
tpc.org the website or my um Gmail
42:21
bluesbrotherstpc gmail.com you have
42:24
other kids right I do so how is that
42:27
Dynamic raising kids who are on the
42:30
Spectrum with kids who are who aren't
42:32
um so I actually have four kids I have a
42:34
22 year old get maybe 23 she's in school
42:37
to be a doctor got two more years left
42:39
okay so congratulations
42:45
um and she has been my best support like
42:49
when she's home even before she went to
42:51
school she would take them to the Jump
42:54
Place the pool she she she does
42:56
everything with them she was my um my
42:59
respite nurse she gave me all my breaks
43:01
okay and then um Anthony my uh my son
43:06
he's 19. he's getting ready to join the
43:09
fire department but um he's good with
43:11
them too yeah he does a lot of wrestling
43:13
with them and taking them to the store
43:15
and picking them up from school when I
43:17
need them to so the older kids come in
43:19
and help out a lot wow that's great you
43:21
two are amazing give them a round of
43:23
applies man big round of applause for
43:25
sharing your story and the work that
43:26
she's doing several girls punished and
43:28
uh sirona Ford and make sure you follow
43:30
them and check them out you can hit us
43:32
up too we'll give you that information
43:33
thank you for coming thank you you had a
43:36
good time I had a blast okay thank you
43:38
guys oh we appreciate
43:40
love to the kids thank you kale thank
43:42
you too okay for the sneakers and thank
43:44
you for the gifts and when when I win
43:46
the next episode of our sneaker Wars
43:51
yo hit me up at I am Mike Muse m u s and
43:54
Sam e on Twitter and Instagram big torch
43:57
hit me up I'm at torchington that's
43:59
torch i-n-g-t-o-n-d-b
44:02
ee yo gonna be posting the mix uh later
44:05
today okay it's really DB yeah okay and
44:08
then um on Tracy how can he reach you
44:10
citizens love y'all Twitter Instagram
44:12
for me hit me over there at it's Tracy g
44:14
i t s t r a c y gizzle hit me up at
44:18
canvascolors.com my new Billy talk lip
44:21
color drop this call phenomenal just in
44:23
time for mothers for Mother's Day
44:25
phenomenal it is out now
44:27
canvascolores.com
44:34
he only won't be my manager when it's
44:36
convenient
44:38
good help out here
44:42
God
44:43
I got y'all though all right I'm at real
44:46
sway across the board and uh Ty our our
44:48
video guy will be our video engineer
44:52
we'll be um putting this and producing
44:54
this interview together so you'll be
44:55
able to watch it on slaves universe and
44:58
then also you'll see me posting a lot of
45:00
it on my Instagram as well but thank you
45:02
to the citizens that called in we were
45:04
live today we'll be back live tomorrow
45:05
as well I'm at real Sway and we're going
45:08
to end with our new song
45:10
picked by DB we have nothing
45:14
left to say
45:17
[Music]
#Arts & Entertainment