Dr. Desiree Jones on Neurodivergence: Who Decides What Is “Normal”?

SUBSCRIBE TO JOIN THE ALIVE WITH STEVE BURNS FAMILY Steve's friend Desi stops by to discuss neurodivergence: -What's the difference between “normal” and “not normal?" -Is neurodivergence a "superpower"? -How can parents better understand their neurodivergent child. Dr. Desiree Jones is an Assistant Professor of Psychology and director of the SHINE Lab (Stigma, Human Interaction, and Neurodivergent Experiences) at the University of Maryland. She received her PhD in Psychological Sciences from the University of Texas at Dallas. She was named in the Forbes 30 Under 30: Science list for 2023. Her research focuses on neurodivergence, stigma, and identity. ———————————————— Go to quince.com/alive for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Go to zocdoc.com/alive to find and instantly book a top-rated doctor today. Our listeners get 10% off their first month at betterhelp.com/stevealive. Alive with Steve Burns - Season One Episode Ten | Desiree Jones Instagram: @alivewithsteveburns TikTok: @alivewithsteveburns ———————————————— There are a thousand podcasts you can listen to. This one listens back. Alive with Steve Burns continues the conversation you began all those years ago. Back then it was letters and numbers and graham crackers. Now it’s death, sex, taxes, and all the big, messy questions of being alive. Why does money stress us out? Is the American dream dead? What’s the future of truth? Each week, a new guest drops by Steve’s window for a genuine and respectful dialogue between two people just trying to figure it out, together. Funny, tender, and just a little weird, this show invites you to sit down and think with Steve once again and wonder… what it really means to be Alive. You are not alone. You are cared for. If you need someone to listen: National Suicide and Crisis Hotline: https://988lifeline.org/ NAMI Helpline: https://www.nami.org/support-educatio... Crisis Text Line: https://www.crisistextline.org/ 00:00:00 Introduction 00:02:36 Desiree Jones Bio 00:03:52 Neurodiversity is Human Diversity 00:08:01 Social Effects of Neurodivergence 00:11:34 Increases in Autism Rates 00:12:40 Ad Break 00:14:46 How Stigma Affects Diagnosis 00:18:30 Queerness and Neurodivergence 00:21:34 The Double Empathy Problem 00:22:45 How to Reduce Stigma 00:24:10 Media Depictions of Autism 00:25:35 Importance of Autism Awareness 00:28:52 Ad Break 00:29:58 Accommodating Neurodivergence 00:32:20 Guide to Parenting 00:36:15 Social Media 00:39:10 Hope for the Future 00:41:15 Takeaways 00:42:41 Outdoor Reflection Keywords: Steve Burns, Desiree Jones, neurodivergence, diversity, autism, autism spectrum disorder, psychology, neuroscience, ADHD, bias, spectrum, identity, masking, stimming, savant, Asperger's Syndrome, communication, hyperfixation, double empathy problem, parenting, Rain Man, Sheldon, Young Sheldon, autism diagnosis, social media, autism awareness, stigma, acceptance, mental health, identity, research, social sciences #steveburns #adulting #podcast