Steph West is the creator and director of Starfish Social Club, which teaches neurodivergent kids and teens how to make friends without masking or conforming. She’s on a mission to change the way we teach social skills, as well as the way we raise our neurodivergent kids in general.
Steph was formally diagnosed with ADHD in 2021, which has made her even more committed to her students and helps them relate to her on a very personal level. Her goal with her work is never to teach autistic and ADHD students how to conform to neurotypical society, rather, it’s to help them develop dynamic social awareness and problem-solving skills to connect with their peers, while still preserving the traits that make them unique.
Steph’s ideology serves as a great reminder that we can all learn how to move through social interactions more easily without sacrificing our authenticity, and I’m so delighted to share her valuable perspective with you this episode.
Resources:
Website: www.StarfishSocialClub.org
Facebook: www.FB.com/StarfishSocialClubSATX
Podcast: Social Skills Unscripted
Timestamps
0:00:00 - Episode 224: Navigating ADHD with Tracy Azuka - Strengths, Symptoms, Workarounds, and Standing Out
0:03:12 - Interview with Steph West: Creator and Director of Starfish Social Club and Neurodivergent Advocate
0:05:04 - Conversation with Steph: Exploring Neurodivergence and the Starfish Social Club
0:08:08 - Exploring the Challenges of ADHD and Giftedness: A Personal Reflection
0:10:41 - Reflection on Executive Functioning Challenges and Sensory Sensitivities
0:13:12 - Conversation on ADHD Diagnosis and Special Interests
0:14:53 - Conversation Summary: Exploring ADHD Traits in Childhood
0:17:21 - Heading: Reflection on Childhood Trauma and Mental Health Challenges
0:24:41 - Conversation on Childhood Experiences and Academic Success Despite ADHD Diagnosis
0:27:09 - Interview with Special Education Teacher: Reflections on Accidental Career Path
0:31:14 - Heading: Reflections on the Impact of an ADHD Diagnosis
0:33:42 - Conversation on ADHD Diagnosis and Parental Relationships
0:38:37 - Conversation on the Intersection of ADHD and Autism
0:43:31 - Conversation on Working Memory and Social Skills in Autism
0:47:40 - Conversation on Social Cues and Working Memory in Children
0:49:14 - Conversation on Students' Memory and Social Skills
0:51:27 - Conversation on Overlapping Symptoms of ADHD and Autism
0:56:01 - Conversation on Autism and ADHD Characteristics
0:58:03 - Conversation on Neurodivergence, Empathy, and Time Management
1:03:25 - Heading: Recognizing Dysregulation in Children and Adults
1:05:25 - Heading: Strategies for Managing Overstimulation in Children and Adults
1:07:30 - Conversation on Teaching Social Awareness and Contextual Awareness to Kids Without Requiring Them to Mask
1:17:12 - Heading: Working with a Student on Social Interactions
1:18:49 - Heading: Compassionate Conversation with a Struggling Fifth Grader
1:20:43 - Heading: Understanding ADHD Intuition: A Conversation with Steph
1:23:32 - Interview with Stephanie Knecht: Founder of Starfish Social Club and Host of Social Skills Unscripted Podcast
1:25:50 - Episode Summary: Interview with Steph - ADHD and Autism Expertise
