Dr Shari Corbitt joins hosts Judith Weigle and John McFadden on the Creating Communities for Neurodivergent People Podcast, episode: Debunking the Myths of Autism

Awakenings CEO and founder, Dr. Shari Corbitt, was a featured guest on this May 2025 episode of Creating Communities for Neurodivergent People. She joined mothers of autistic individuals, professionals who work with autistic people, and autistic self-advocates for a robust, heartfelt conversation.

Listen to Dr. Shari’s segment above—and the full episode—to discover why autism does not have to destroy families or leave autistic people house-bound without a meaningful life. This episode was created as a positive, reality-based response to the Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. press autism conference held on April 16, 2025.

This phenomenal group shared deeply personal stories about autism, grounded in their lived experiences. The segment breakdown for the full episode is listed below.

To listen to the full episode, please visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIiSmyA0cPU
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Introduction by host, Judith Weigle: 01 – 6:10

1. 6:11 – 12:23 John McFadden, neurodivergent, my nephew, and Co-Host of this show. John is 40 years old, is now living in his own apartment as of this year, has had employment for the past 20 years, and can speak from experience in his journey to create a social community, a residential opportunity, and employment. ”We just want to be given a chance.”
2. 12:24 – 23:47 Dr. Rick Silver, MD, MPH, Director and Founder of Thrive Emerge in Columbia, Maryland, a peer-based, outdoor treatment program for neurodivergent teens and young adults (Primarily ASD and ADHD) who are struggling to launch after high school. Rick is the father of two children with ADHD. www.ThriveEmerge.com  
   23:48 – 26:05 John responds to Dr. Rick Silver
3. 26:06 –  35:18 Jennifer Navarro, mother of Noah, an 8-year-old non-verbal autist, and works with special needs trusts and conservatorships. Jennifer has found a way to communicate with Noah through song, and has watched his talent is animation grow through early intervention therapy and strong family support. Noah now edits videos at 8 years old.
4. 35:19 – 43:20 Jen Wilger, a mother of an autistic son with Asperger’s Syndrome and Executive Director and Co-Founder of Temple Grandin School, Boulder, CO, providing a socio-academic curriculum for neurodivergent children to achieve workplace success after high school. www.TempleGrandinSchool.org
5. 43:21 – 59:32 Vivian Shudde, sister of an autist and Executive Director of Brookwood Community; and Janet Lewis, mother of an autist, and Director for Center for Learning at Brookwood Community, outside Houston, TX. Brookwood Community is a 485-acre all-inclusive property with housing, a social network, and employment for life for all individuals with neurological and developmental disabilities. Vivian’s sister and Janet’s son are neurodivergent. www.BrookwoodCommunity.org.   June 10^th, 11^th, and 12^th Learning Center Outreach Seminar, and Brookwood Way Conference in September.
6. 59:33 – 1:21:21Dr. Shari Corbitt, a mom of an autistic adult child who is successfully going to college and preparing for a career, and a Clinical Psychologist and Neurofeedback Specialist, Complex Mental Health Provider, Founder and Director of Awakenings Treatment Center, Los Angeles, CA www.AwakeningsTreatment.com
   1:21:22 – 1:27:10 John McFadden shares what it is like living alone, and how he learned to ask for what he needs. John now cooks and entertains.
7. 1:27:11 – 1:43:20 Bri Gallagher is a 33-year-old autistic woman who speaks from her own experience trying to navigate the world, as well as a professional with experience working in supported employment within camps that cater to neurodivergent people, an aid in the classroom, and is starting her own non-profit for neurodivergent people called The Connection Hub.