For over 10 years, I held a rewarding career in education and obtained my Bachelor of Science degree in child development through Texas State University. I am also in the process of obtaining my master's degree in family therapy. During my time as a Gifted Specialist for Round Rock ISD, I became fascinated by pediatric brain development, neurodiversity, and executive functioning. I began to immerse myself in the current research to explore supportive and affirming practices that could help my students and their families solve problems and build confidence.
Throughout this journey, I came to understand neurodiversity at an even more intimate level while I unmasked the neurodiversity within myself and my family. I am passionate about advocating for the needs of the neurodiverse population in a way that affirms individual strengths and meets each person with compassion no matter where they are on their journey.
Being neurodiverse is not a problem to be fixed. There is nothing wrong with you or your child if you have a neurodiverse brain. You are living in a world that was not designed for neurodiversity so it's important to find strategies and accommodations that work for you to level the playing field.
Taking a top-down approach to meeting needs is no better than using a bandaid. It may temporarily fix the problem but it won't get to the root cause of what was going on in the first place. I prefer utilizing a bottom-up approach to problem-solving. This approach can take more time and effort but the results can be much more significant in the long run.
There is no one size fits all approach to meeting individual needs. Many parents, teachers, and professionals use a wide range of research-backed or data-driven techniques that can sometimes conflict with each other. It may have left you feeling confused or frustrated when what was "supposed to" work didn't suit your or your family's needs.
Many parenting experts emphasize teaching children how to behave better. This is only fruitful when the child is neurodevelopmentally ready to be taught. The foundation for helping children is made through love, safety, connection, and co-regulation with caring adults.
Sometimes a person's body and brain may detect a threat when the person is actually safe. Or they may perceive safety when they are actually at risk. I believe faulty neuroception is at the core of many labels and disorders. Human behavior is complex and involves biology, neuroscience, genetics, trauma history, environmental factors, and more.
I have adopted a lifetime commitment to self-discovery and improvement. I am not a perfect person or a perfect parent. I am always learning and growing and can only speak from the place where I am currently at.
Deborah Reber
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