Todd is joined with Jason Lupow, an old friend from medical school who is raising 2 sons on the spectrum while working as an emergency department physician. He meaningfully describes how he does not sweat the small stuff, tolerates feeling judged, and has worked hard to get his sons the support they need in s2. E1. N11. of the Otherness Podcast titled Through the Autism BS: Persistence, Parenting, and Doctoring.
Todd is joined by Dr. Jason Lupow, an autism father, emergency department physician, and the father of 2 boys on the spectrum who describes how he sorts through what is most important and helpful in supporting him and his family.
When you meet in your 20’s in med school, you are young, broke, and passionate. This is the time when Jason and Todd met and they had no idea then how autism would define their lives so immensely. They touch on how siblings will ultimately take a caretaking role for their brother of sister with autism, how cool displays of memory are parlor tricks that may not have functional use over time, how arguments with insensitive people in the community are familiar, and how when someone says “your kid looks normal”, it is actually a hurtful insult. Jason has found sports to be an important part of his sons’ development as one has an analytical mind when for football and one participates in special needs sports leagues.
Jason also shares how ABA along with use of risperidone, a psychiatric medication that can be helpful for irritability and aggression, helped one of his sons emerge from difficult times. They tolerate some side effects as it has made his home a more peaceful and engaging place. Jason describes with passion how he feels connected to the people with autism who come to his ER with behavior issues and that they simply need compassionate care instead of elaborate tests and medications to sedate them. He also informs families of what resources there are in his community that have helped him and his family gather support which is an essential ingredient for growth in autism.
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The Otherness Podcast is exploring and engaging autism through experienced stories with Dr. Todd Peter Levine and is available on most places and sites where you like to listen to podcasts.
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Opening Theme Song Music Credits
“Otherness Podcast Intro Theme Song and Music” by Nicholas Burling
Copyright 2021 Late Leopard Publishing/Nick Burling (ASCAP)
Administered by Late Leopard Publishing (ASCAP)
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Closing Theme Song Music Credits
“Otherness Podcast Outro Theme Song and Music” by Nicholas Burling
Copyright 2021 Late Leopard Publishing (ASCAP)
Administered by late Leopard Publishing (ASCAP)
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Through the Autism BS: Persistence, Parenting, and Doctoring.