Autism Inclusion in the Christian Church – with Sunita Theiss
Beyond 6 Seconds: Neurodiversity stories from neurodivergent people
05/26/25
•34m
About
Comments
Featured In
CW: Eating disorder, death of a parent.
Sunita Theiss is an autistic, ADHD and PDA* parent, writer, and advocate. A second-generation Indian American, she has a rich background in communications, marketing, and storytelling, and has found several ways to support and encourage families raising neurodivergent kids.
Sunita is passionate about creating opportunities for culturally responsive support in a way that helps families honor both their values and their children's needs. She is a regular contributor to PDA North America's Insights and Key Ministry's blog, and her writing has been featured in many publications, including Business Insider and Christianity Today.
*PDA is most often defined as Pathological Demand Avoidance or Pervasive Drive for Autonomy.
During this episode, you will hear Sunita talk about:
- Discovering her own neurodivergence after she had her children
- Her experience growing up as an undiagnosed neurodivergent kid in a South Asian family in the U.S. state of Georgia
- How raising her children has affected how she views her neurodivergence
- Growing up in the Hindu community and living as a Christian as an adult
- Writing about her experience in church as a neurodivergent parent of neurodivergent children
- How "low demand parenting" works for her and her family
Join Sunita's writing workshop and/or coaching services:
- A Story Only You Can Tell: A Writing Gathering for Parents of Neurodivergent Kids – use the code CAROLYN for $10 off Sunita's writing workshop (scheduled for 6/26/2025)
- Low Demand Parenting Coaching - use the code SUNITA15 for $15 off
Read Sunita's writing at sunitatheiss.com/writing, on Instagram @sunitatheiss and on Substack.
The book that Sunita mentions in this episode is called "The Myth of Good Christian Parenting" by Kelsey McGinnis and Marissa Burt.
Watch the video of this interview on YouTube.
Follow the Beyond 6 Seconds podcast in your favorite podcast player.
Subscribe to the FREE Beyond 6 Seconds newsletter for early access to new episodes.
Support or sponsor this podcast at BuyMeACoffee.com/Beyond6Seconds!
*Disclaimer: The views, guidance, opinions, and thoughts expressed in Beyond 6 Seconds episodes are solely mine and/or those of my guests, and do not necessarily represent those of my employer or other organizations. These episodes are for informational purposes only and do not substitute for professional medical advice. Consult a medical professional or healthcare provider if you are seeking medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment.*
Previous Episode
Dr. Daniel P. Jones is a Creative Practitioner, Disability Scholar, and Postdoctoral Research Associate at the University of Sheffield in the UK. Daniel specializes in inclusive research methodologies, focusing on the embodied experiences of public spaces, kinship, and solidarity within Tourette syndrome communities. As someone who has lived experience of Tourette syndrome himself, he has been actively engaged in community facilitation and Tourette syndrome activism in the UK for over a decade.
During this episode, you will hear Daniel talk about:
- How he realized he had Tourette syndrome – years after he had been diagnosed
- What was it like for him growing up with Tourette's in a religious household
- How his PhD thesis research focuses on the experiences that adults with Tourette's have in both public physical spaces and digital spaces
- What he learned about how the experiences of BIPOC and queer people with Tourette's are different in these spaces
- His work to lead and promote inclusive research
Follow Daniel on Bluesky: @danielpjones.bsky.social Visit Daniel's website: DanielPJones.com
Watch the video of this interview on YouTube.
Follow the Beyond 6 Seconds podcast in your favorite podcast player.
Subscribe to the FREE Beyond 6 Seconds newsletter for early access to new episodes.
Support or sponsor this podcast at BuyMeACoffee.com/Beyond6Seconds!
*Disclaimer: The views, guidance, opinions, and thoughts expressed in Beyond 6 Seconds episodes are solely mine and/or those of my guests, and do not necessarily represent those of my employer or other organizations. These episodes are for informational purposes only and do not substitute for professional medical advice. Consult a medical professional or healthcare provider if you are seeking medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment.*
Next Episode
Rylan Hoffman, the founder of Hoff Social, is a transmasculine and neurodivergent marketing strategist and content creator who has spent 14+ years building online communities. With over 100 million organic views, they know the power of visibility, but also its risks. After facing doxxing, harassment, and even extremist threats, Rylan made it their mission to help queer business owners navigate the internet safely while getting the right eyes on their content.
During this episode, you will hear Rylan talk about:
- How they first discovered that they were neurodivergent (ADHD and autistic)
- The intersection of their gender identity with their neurodivergence
- Their own experience of being mass harassed and doxxed online as a queer content creator
- How they help queer businesses grow their online presence while staying safe online
- Online marketing and safety tips for queer and neurodivergent business owners
- Creating engaging content for their community while being mindful of the algorithm
To find out more about Rylan and their work at hoffsocial.com and on Instagram @hoffsocial.
Resources for growing safely online (mentioned at the end of this episode):
Watch the video of this interview on YouTube.
Follow the Beyond 6 Seconds podcast in your favorite podcast player.
Subscribe to the FREE Beyond 6 Seconds newsletter for early access to new episodes.
Support or sponsor this podcast at BuyMeACoffee.com/Beyond6Seconds!
*Disclaimer: The views, guidance, opinions, and thoughts expressed in Beyond 6 Seconds episodes are solely mine and/or those of my guests, and do not necessarily represent those of my employer or other organizations. These episodes are for informational purposes only and do not substitute for professional medical advice. Consult a medical professional or healthcare provider if you are seeking medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment.*
If you like this episode you’ll love
Promoted