Families Living with Autism from WHYY's Voices in the Family

A new theatrical performance in Delaware sheds light on the impact of autism on the family. It tells the story of a mother's journey from resistance to acceptance of her autistic daughter and of herself, a woman with her own complexities. Families are sometime hard-pressed to find energy and compassion to address the unique stressors of raising an autistic child. Some fall apart while others thrive, despite struggles and hardship. This week on Voices in the Family, Dan Gottlieb and his guests explore ways families can improve how they function with their autistic children. We'll hear from playwright Damien Atkins, whose play Lucy opens later this month at The Delaware Theatre Company. He'll be joined by director David Stradley and psychologist/author Dr. Robert Naseef, Ph.D., who specializes in families with autistic children; his son Tariq has autism. We'll also hear from two mothers of autistic children. Download the podcast here.

Reflecting and Reconnecting from WHYY's Voices in the Family

Every year we make promises to ourselves about losing weight, organizing our closets, or organizing our lives. Sometimes we keep the promise for a couple of weeks but rarely that long. On the next Voices in the Family, Dan Gottlieb and his guests explore a different kind of New Year's ritual...taking time for quiet reflection in order to listen to our deepest truths about who we are and what we want our lives to be about. Dan will be joined by Rabbi Nancy Fuchs Kreimer, The Reverend Chaz Howard, and Sylvia Boorstein. Nancy Fuchs Kreimer is the Director of the Department of Multi-faith Studies and Initiatives at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College where she is Associate Professor of Religious Studies. Chaz Howard is chaplin at the University of Pennsylvania. And Sylvia Boorstein is a psychologist, author, and a founder of Spirit Rock Meditation Center in Woodacre, California. Download the podcast here.

Healing Hurt People from WHYY's Voices in the Family

In a city like Philadelphia, emergency room staff handle a never-ending onslaught of shooting and stabbing victims. For many victims, the violence that brought them to the hospital is a constant presence. Often, a violent incident leads to more violence. A Philadelphia program called "Healing Hurt People" tries to offer emotional support and resources after a violent attack. It is run by the Center for Nonviolence and Social Justice at Drexel University, and guest host Maiken Scott will talk with leading staff from the center. Our guests are Sandra Bloom, Theodore Corbin, and John Rich. Sandra L. Bloom, M.D. is an internationally recognized expert on trauma, and co-author of "Bearing Witness: Violence and Collective Responsibility". Dr. Theodore Corbin is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine at the Drexel University College of Medicine. He also serves as the Medical Director of the Healing Hurt People Program. John A. Rich is Professor and Chair of Health Management and Policy at the Drexel University School of Public Health. His recent book about book about urban violence is called "Wrong Place, Wrong Time: Trauma and Violence in the Lives of Young Black Men." Also featured is an article from Health and Science titled, Program offers resources and support to young victims.

Download the WHYY podcast here. See also: Wrong Place, Wrong Time: Trauma and Violence in the Lives of Young Black Men, Getting Played: African American Girls, Urban Inequality, and Gendered Violence, Urban Justice