{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"EP 229: Autism Spectrum Disorder, Regenerative Agriculture, and Community Care","description":"In this episode, Kimberly and Alex discuss his extensive background in working with children on the Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). He spent much of those years taking a non-traditional approach from just behavioral to prioritizing fun and community. This work led him to keenly understanding the importance of local agriculture, nutrition, and the gut-brain connection, and eventually he began working as an animal butcher and supporting his wife\u2019s work, The Wild Nutritionist. Aspects of their discussion are connected through the thread of the importance of holistic care for ASD individuals as well as local farming, nutrition, and the gut-brain connection.   Bio Alex Johnson is a father, butcher, former autism specialist, husband of Kate Pope, The Wild Nutritionist, and long-term friend of Kimberly\u2019s. His background in theater studies, and then psychology, led him to working with children on the Autism Spectrum Disorder for over a decade. Understanding the needs of this population then helped him transition to regenerative agriculture and animal butchery.    What He Shares: \u2013Working with children on the Autism Spectrum Disorder \u2013How and why ASD has changed in recent years \u2013Harms and limitations of diagnoses and labels \u2013Transitioning to regenerative agriculture and butchery \u2013Prioritizing community through local farming   What You\u2019ll Hear: \u2013How Alex began working with kids \u2013Studied theater and psychology \u2013Role play and autism in 2010 \u2013How insurance changed autism  \u2013In home and in community teaching to kids with ASD \u2013Bringing families together with potlucks \u2013DSM-5 refining definition of ASD \u2013Disproportionately diagnosed in boys versus girls \u2013Severity ratings (1, 2, 3) of ASD \u2013Issues with self-diagnoses \u2013Performative vulnerability \u2013Challenges in diagnosing ASD \u2013Social, Communication, and Behavior  \u2013Familial approaches to ASD and community \u2013Neurodivergence and ASD labels \u2013Limitations of checklists of diagnoses \u2013Gut issues and ASD \u2013Behavioral versus holistic and community care \u2013Regenerative agriculture, nutrition, and ASD \u2013Transitioning to animal butchery \u2013Small-scale, mobile harvest operation  \u2013Mobile Harvest Truck \u2013Art of animal butchery and carrying traditions \u2013Politics and farming \u2013Community care in farming and rural areas \u2013Nutritional needs for families \u2013Getting kids involved in family nutrition \u2013Importance of local farmers markets \u2013Talking to local farmers \u2013Buying seasonal produce \u2013Harms of individual priorities versus community \u2013Returning to community care   Resources Website: https:\/\/regenerativecookingschool.com\/ IG: @wildnutrionist   ","author_name":"Sex Birth Trauma with Kimberly Ann Johnson","author_url":"http:\/\/www.kimberlyannjohnson.com\/","html":"