How to Help Your Neurodivergent Child Thrive During the Holidays

24/11/2025 35 min
How to Help Your Neurodivergent Child Thrive During the Holidays

Listen "How to Help Your Neurodivergent Child Thrive During the Holidays"

Episode Synopsis

In this special holiday edition of Helping Families Go Beyond the Podcast, host Loryn Carpenter sits down with Dr. Valerie Roth and Dawn Wisniewski to share practical, compassionate strategies for families with neurodivergent learners navigating the busy holiday season. From prepping relatives for sensory-friendly gatherings to handling unsolicited comments with grace, this episode is packed with actionable advice on creating inclusive, joyful celebrations. Whether you're traveling, hosting, or just trying to keep things calm, you'll find thoughtful tips on visual schedules, sensory kits, and self-care for caregivers. 
Timestamps:
(00:00) Introducing Dr. Valarie Roth & Dawn Wisniewski, School updates, thank you Lakewood Ranch Community Foundation
(03:25) How can we prepare students for travel and meeting extended family?
(08:30) Software, technology, or strategies that might help
(14:50) Sensory friendly environments for holidays
(20:30) Dealing with uninformed comments
(23:30) Dealing with burnout of the holidays
(29:30) Final tips and toolkit
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