Chelsea's Vocation
Chelsea's neurodivergent offspring are the reason her heart and mind have grown year after year for two decades. As a neuromajority human caring for and about autistic humans, she has learned to apply a thing or two about brain wiring and wants to share that learning with other people so they can know better and do better, too. These 20-minute long shows will be released every two weeks (two per month max), feature occasional guests, have a neuroaffirming focus, and highlight autistic experiences.
Chelsea's Vocation
Noey's Journey
Chelsea's second-born, Noey, contributes so much valuable insight in this episode introducing them. A recent graduate from Columbia College Chicago, Noey Budde is still very much trying to find their place in the world, but has a great start with an illustrious background in both the humanitarian and creative fields. Noey is an educated composer creating pieces for various forms of media, primarily podcasts (including this one!) and film. When not in their studio, they’re found working alongside the bright students of Chicago as a substitute teacher. One of their biggest dreams is to create media that comforts and reassures others on the spectrum and living with neurodiversity that they’re seen and heard.
Noey was diagnosed with autism and ADHD (Embrace Autism), which makes them an "AuDHDer," two decades ago as a three-year-old girl. Noey now identifies as nonbinary, prefers they/them pronouns, and is using their lived experience as a substitute teacher.
From Noey's perspective, learn
- why an early diagnosis and self-awareness are advantageous.
- how stigmatism around neurodivergence and Special Education impacted identity.
- why educators might "ask why" of a student.
- the purpose behind "stims" (blog from Prosper Health).
Chelsea uses these terms that might need explanation:
- autistic masking (full episode on this topic scheduled for October)
- ableism/ableist thinking (full episode on this topic scheduled for October)
- neurospicy
- mitochondrial myopathy (Muscular Dystrophy Association)
- rhabdomyolysis (Cleveland Clinic)
- perfect pitch: the ability to identify or produce a musical note without a reference tone
- gross motor coordination: coordinating large muscle movements for activities like walking, jumping, dancing, or balancing, which may appear as clumsiness or difficulty with motor planning
- ocarina
If it seems like Chelsea had a difficult time honing the content of this episode to keep it around 20 minutes, it's because she did! Luckily, Noey will be back for a June episode on Autism and Gender Identity. Want to see Noey and Chelsea in person? Check out their breakout session at the 36th Annual Wisconsin Autism Conference on Friday, April 4!
Podcast includes an introduction for episodes 6 and following at the beginning. Transition music, "Taking a Vocation", by Noey Budde.
Closing narration for episodes 6 and following.
