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The Empowered Parent with Dana Baltutis
Welcome to The Empowered Parent Podcast Series 2.
This short series is inspired by the Australia and New Zealand Inaugural Neurodivergence and Wellbeing Conference.
Over the next few episodes, we’ll be shining a light on what it truly means to belong, and celebrating the lives, strengths, and stories of neurodivergent people.
I’ll be speaking with leaders, advocates, and thinkers from across Australia and New Zealand who are pioneering change. Together, we’ll explore how families, schools, and communities can move beyond old deficit views - and instead see neurodivergence as a vital part of human diversity.
This series is about hope, celebration, and possibility. It’s about recognising that there is a place in the world for everyone - and that when we create belonging, we all thrive.
Don’t forget to follow along, share your reflections, and join the conversation. You can connect with me at danabaltutis.com or mytherapyhouse.com.au
Let’s celebrate neurodivergence. Let’s celebrate belonging.
The Empowered Parent with Dana Baltutis
Season 2 NEURODIVERSITY - Episode 3: The Heart Behind Mingle Co: Vee's Mission to End Isolation (Violeta Abarzua Vasquez - Event Manager, Advocate, Podcaster, Film Maker)
"Sometimes I feel things very intensely," reveals Violeta Abarzua Vasquezas she shares her journey of discovering neurodivergence in both herself and her children. This revelation transformed not only her understanding of her family but sparked the creation of Mingle Co – an organisation dedicated to building genuine connection for neurodivergent people.
After 21 years working across the disability sector, Vee noticed a critical gap: many neurodivergent individuals desperately wanted meaningful connections but found traditional social spaces overwhelming and alienating. Drawing from her own experiences of feeling "complicated" and "quirky," she designed events where sensory needs are anticipated, fidgets are welcomed, and deep conversations replace uncomfortable small talk. The result? Spaces where people can truly be themselves – sometimes for the first time in their lives.
Vee's approach to parenting her neurodivergent children offers powerful insights for families. When her daughter was diagnosed with ADHD at 18, V reflected on the words she'd spoken years earlier: "I love how you see the world. Don't change for anyone." These simple words had profoundly impacted her daughter who had always felt "out of place." Similarly, understanding her four-year-old son's PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance) transformed daily challenges by respecting his need for autonomy.
Perhaps most inspiring is Vee's vision for the future – a world where inclusivity isn't an afterthought but fundamentally woven into our schools, workplaces, and social spaces. "Inclusivity helps everyone, absolutely everyone," she emphasizes. Through her events, podcast, and award-winning documentary celebrating neurodivergent stories, Vee isn't just talking about change – she's creating it, one connection at a time.
Discover how embracing different ways of seeing the world can transform lives. Listen now and consider: how might we all contribute to creating spaces where everyone truly belongs?
mingleco.com.au
https://mingleco.com.au/community-podcast/
Documentary Information on Mingleco website
danabaltutis.com, mytherapyhouse.com.au, https://mytherapyhouse.com.au/your-childs-therapy-journey/ https://www.danabaltutis.com/services
