Podcast thumbnail for The Affirming Village Podcast

The Affirming Village Podcast

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by Dr. Destiny Huff & Lisa Baskin Wright

5.0(7 reviews)
25 episodes
Updated Daily
Accepts GuestsHas Sponsors

Podcast Overview

Two neurodivergent mamas — one Black, one White — with lived experience raising neurodivergent kids. One is still navigating IEPs and school calls; the other has walked the path into adulthood. Dr. Destiny Huff, LPC, a mental health therapist and advocate, and Lisa Baskin Wright, an educator and advocate, help families approach the IEP table with clarity, compassion, and power. They also train professionals on affirming practices for neurodivergent learners. This is The Affirming Village — where stories, strategy, and community meet.

Language

🇺🇲

Publishing Since

9/12/2025

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Recent Episodes

Episode thumbnail for Summer Isn’t Always a Break: Rest, Regulation, and Redefining Fun

June 26, 2026

Summer Isn’t Always a Break: Rest, Regulation, and Redefining Fun

<p><b>Episode 1: Summer Isn’t Always a Break: Rest, Regulation, and Redefining Fun</b></p><p><br></p><p>☀️ For many families, summer is a long-awaited vacation. But for neurodivergent families and special education parents, the transition into summer can bring a sudden, jarring loss of routine, predictability, and essential services.</p><p><br></p><p>In this premier episode of our Summer Series, Lisa Wright (IEP Coach) and Dr. Destiny Huff (LPC) strip away the pressure of the "perfect summer" and dive into the messy reality of caregiver burnout, systemic ableism in ESY schedules, and why your child might be facing intense dysregulation right now.</p><p>If you are currently crawling, limping, or rolling into summer feeling entirely depleted, this episode is your reminder that you are not alone.</p><p><br></p><p><b>✨ In this episode, we discuss:</b></p><p>• Why summer isn't a break for everyone and the sudden loss of school-year structures.</p><p>• The reality of caregiver burnout, decision fatigue, and "caregiver brain fog."</p><p>• Redefining "disabled rest" and why dropping demands is necessary recovery, not avoidance.</p><p>• The hidden ableism in school district ESY (Extended School Year) conversations.</p><p>• The logistical nightmare of partial-day summer schedules for working parents.</p><p>• Shifting our focus from summer "progress and mastery" to simple maintenance and regulation.</p><p>Take a deep breath. Your goal this summer isn't to push your child to learn massive new skills, it’s to find collective rest and regulation.</p><p><br></p><p>➡️ <b>Hit follow</b> so you never miss an episode of our Summer Series, and share this with a fellow caregiver who needs to hear this validation today!</p>

Episode thumbnail for Before We Close This School Year Out…

May 15, 2026

Before We Close This School Year Out…

<p>&quot;Something smells different this year.&quot; Before heading into the summer break, Dr. Destiny Huff and Lisa Wright sit down for a raw reflection on why this school year felt fundamentally different for parents, advocates, and neurodivergent learners.</p><p>In this episode, they pull back the curtain on the &quot;whiplash&quot; of navigating school districts that seem to be throwing out the rulebook. From the political nature of disability rights to the rise of &quot;team extremism&quot; and legal ambushes in IEP meetings, Destiny and Lisa discuss how they’ve had to change the way they show up to protect their own capacity and regulation.</p><p><strong>Key moments in this episode:</strong></p><ul><li><p><strong>The Systemic Shift:</strong> Why the energy in schools felt &quot;off&quot; this year and the rise of administrative gatekeeping.</p></li><li><p><strong>Disability is Political:</strong> Understanding how political climates and administration changes directly impact 504 protections and funding.</p></li><li><p><strong>Protecting the Advocate:</strong> Personal reflections on managing high-stress workloads and why &quot;spacing out&quot; meetings is a survival necessity.</p></li><li><p><strong>Ballast in the Storm:</strong> Finding stability when the needle stops moving and the importance of documenting systemic failures.</p></li></ul><p><strong>Connect with The Village:</strong> #TheAffirmingVillage #Neuroaffirming #SpecialEducation #IEPCoach #DisabilityAdvocacy #Neurodiversity #BeforeWeCloseThisSchoolYearOut</p>

Episode thumbnail for Something Shifted This Year

May 8, 2026

Something Shifted This Year

<p>&quot;Sir, slow your roll.&quot;</p><p>This week, Destiny and Lisa are getting honest about the &quot;vibes&quot; of the 2025-2026 school year. It hasn&#39;t been easy, and it certainly hasn&#39;t been quiet. We’re exploring the shift from collaborative innovation to rigid, black-and-white thinking at the IEP table.</p><p>We break down why &quot;independence&quot; is often just a code word for compliance, the dangers of relying on AI to write your advocacy emails, and how to handle the re-entry struggle after school breaks. Whether you’re a parent feeling the &quot;whiplash&quot; or an advocate managing your capacity, this conversation is for you.</p><p><strong>Key Topics:</strong></p><ul><li><p>The political climate’s impact on the classroom.</p></li><li><p>Moving beyond black-and-white thinking in IEP goals.</p></li><li><p>Why autonomy and agency matter more than just &quot;checking boxes.&quot;</p></li><li><p>Setting boundaries to stay regulated during high-conflict meetings.</p></li></ul><p><strong>Listen now and join the village.</strong></p>

25 total episodes available

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Frequently asked questions

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What is The Affirming Village Podcast?

Two neurodivergent mamas — one Black, one White — with lived experience raising neurodivergent kids. One is still navigating IEPs and school calls; the other has walked the path into adulthood. Dr. Destiny Huff, LPC, a mental health therapist and advocate, and Lisa Baskin Wright, an educator and advocate, help families approach the IEP table with clarity, compassion, and power. They also train professionals on affirming practices for neurodivergent learners.

This is The Affirming Village — where stories, strategy, and community meet.

How often does this podcast release new episodes?

This podcast updates daily.

Where can I listen to this podcast?

This podcast is available on 4 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.

Does this podcast accept guests?

No, this podcast does not typically feature guests.

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