{"podcast":{"title":"The David Kaufer Podcast: The Lighter Side of the Spectrum","slug":"the-david-kaufer-podcast-the-lighter-side-of-the-spectrum-7096940","podcast_index_feed_id":7096940,"rss_url":"https://feed.podbean.com/kauferpodcast/feed.xml","website_url":"https://kauferpodcast.podbean.com","image_url":"https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/image-logo/19917237/The_NewLogoSQ7c0p8.jpeg","author":"David Kaufer","episode_count":76,"summary":"Welcome to “The Lighter Side of the Spectrum,” a podcast where we explore how to find joy, connection, and growth while navigating the challenges of parenting kids and teens on the autism spectrum. Hosted by David Kaufer, father of a 19-year-old non-speaking autistic son, this podcast offers a fresh, uplifting perspective on life with autism—focusing on the moments of triumph as well as the obstacles.David’s son was unable to communicate reliably until he was almost 17, when they discovered and began using the spelling methodology that profoundly changed his life. His inspiring journey from silence to communication serves as a beacon of hope for anyone needing encouragement in the autism community. In addition to sharing his personal experiences, David tackles broader issues, such as building inclusion into healthcare practices to ensure those on the spectrum receive compassionate, competent care. Whether you’re a parent, caregiver, or professional, join us for light-hearted discussions, practical tips, and moments of reflection. From “Hack of the Week” and myth-busting to community spotlights and heartfelt confessions, this podcast blends humor, insight, and understanding—remindi…","last_synced_at":"2026-07-19T14:17:01.685466+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-david-kaufer-podcast-the-lighter-side-of-the-spectrum-7096940"},"episode":{"title":"Looking at Late Autism Diagnoses with Dr. Claire Jack","slug":"looking-at-late-autism-diagnoses-with-dr-claire-jack","published_at":"2026-04-10T17:39:14+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-david-kaufer-podcast-the-lighter-side-of-the-spectrum-7096940/looking-at-late-autism-diagnoses-with-dr-claire-jack","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-david-kaufer-podcast-the-lighter-side-of-the-spectrum-7096940","url":"https://kauferpodcast.podbean.com/e/looking-at-late-autism-diagnoses-with-dr-claire-jack/","audio_url":"https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/q3nq7mv98sek665g/audio_of_Claire_Jack6vybw.mp3","summary":"David interviews Dr. Claire Jack, a psychologist, writer, and host of the Autistic Minds podcast, about identity, late diagnosis, masking, and burnout. Dr. Jack describes learning about autism in her late forties after a therapist suggested it following a meltdown, then researching, blogging, writing books, and attracting autistic clients. She reflects on childhood signs (intense imagination, shyness, migraines, sensory sensitivities) that were accommodated rather than recognized, and explains how diagnosis reframed lifelong struggles, reduced self-criticism, and helped her set boundaries and act on her own terms. They discuss why autism is often missed in girls and women, how masking includes hiding stimming and rehearsing social language, and how ABA-related pressures (e.g., forced eye contact) can be harmful. Dr. Jack notes that feeling different isn’t always autism and shares a tip on noticing early signs of emotional dysregulation to prevent meltdowns and reduce shame. She addresses menopause-related sensory and healthcare-communication challenges for autistic women, shares a “kidnapped bus” misunderstanding illustrating predictive processing, and David shares his nonspeaking son Stone’s letter advocating for inclusive poetry contest participation. Email David at david.kaufer@hey.com Find Claire at https://www.autism-assessment-online.com/ Topics 00:38 Meet Dr Claire Jack 01:56 Late Autism Discovery 05:14 Childhood Signs Missed 07:56 Diagnosis Reframes Life 11:26 Why Adults Seek Answers 13:26 Autism in Women 16:48 What Masking Means 21:32 When Masking Exhausts 24:01 ABA and Eye Contact 26:09 Eye Contact Shifts 26:34 Feeling Different Debate 28:07 Self Diagnosis Pitfalls 29:27 Tip Emotional Regulation 34:26 Menopause Differences 37:41 Confession Bus Hijack 45:04 Li…","meta_description":"David interviews Dr. Claire Jack, a psychologist, writer, and host of the Autistic Minds podcast, about identity, late diagnosis, masking, and burnout. Dr…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":3087,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-david-kaufer-podcast-the-lighter-side-of-the-spectrum-7096940/episodes/looking-at-late-autism-diagnoses-with-dr-claire-jack/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-david-kaufer-podcast-the-lighter-side-of-the-spectrum-7096940/looking-at-late-autism-diagnoses-with-dr-claire-jack.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}