Leta's Tap Styles (And My Autistic Life)
Join thirteen-year-old Leta, an amazing tap dancer and the founder of Autistic Wings Dance Company, and her mom, Amanda, as they share insights into Leta's autistic life. This podcast delves into a variety of topics, from navigating the challenges of bullying in dance studios due to autism and dyslexia, to the journey of establishing a new nonprofit, to deep dives into the neurodiverse world and what it means to be “quirky.”
Gain a deeper understanding of neurodiversity, self-advocacy, and the importance of acceptance and accommodations for neurodivergent individuals. The show explores personal experiences, including the phenomenon of autistic masking and burnout, offering a relatable perspective on what it's like to navigate the world as a neurodivergent person. With special guests ranging from Leta's dance family to experts in autism spectrum disorder, "Leta's Tap Styles (And My Autistic Life)" celebrates the joy and challenges of life, all through the rhythm and resilience of tap dancing.
Leta's Tap Styles (And My Autistic Life)
Unboxing the New ASAN Barbie with Leta
We’re back with new episodes! And we’re kicking it off with Mattel’s new Autistic Barbie (made with ASAN!) We literally ran to Target to grab one of the last ones. This episode is... well, it's exactly what happens when you hand an autistic 14-year-old a Barbie doll with packaging that was NOT designed for Leta’s fine motor skill issues and add Amanda’s ADHD attempts to talk.
Watch Leta struggle with the weirdly-shaped box (seriously, why is it shaped like that?!) while we talk about why this kind of representation matters. Spoiler: Leta's main complaint is that the Barbie can't tap dance. Priorities, people.
We cover:
- Why headphones and AAC devices should just be NORMAL
- The ongoing battle to get parents to understand Autistic Wings Dance Company is different, and we need them to bring their child’s AAC devices into the studio (How else are we supposed to talk to dancers who use AAC devices?)
- Why loose-fitting clothing is a thing
- Updates on Autistic Wings Dance Company (we're looking for a new space!)
- And yes, the Barbie apparently has arthritis now according to Leta
🔗 LINKS:
SoleTalk DC 2024 video (with Leta wearing her headphones): https://youtu.be/vQMKa7O-f24?si=MMOmFhL4iaYx6fkl
Support Autistic Wings Dance Company: https://onecau.se/_etwsn1
Want to be a guest on Leta's Tap Styles (And My Autistic Life)? Send Amanda Trisdale a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/letastapstylesguest
Watch the unboxing on YouTube: https://youtu.be/yXq5DTtTlvE
New episodes every Tuesday & Friday. Thanks for being here!
#AutisticBarbie #ActuallyAutistic #AutismRepresentation #ASAN #AutisticWingsDanceCompany #PodMatch
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