{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"Nimble Youth ","title":"Episode 28: Autism, Then and Now: Patrick’s Story and the Power of Community","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":1201,"description":"Nimble Youth Podcast — Episode 28 Show NotesAutism, Then and Now: Patrick’s Story and the Power of CommunityHost: Matt Butterman Guest: Dr. Gretchen Hoyle, MD — Pediatrician with 25 years of clinical practiceSeries: Growing Up with Mental Health Conditions🎧 Episode OverviewIn Episode 28 of Nimble Youth, we launch a new series exploring the lives of people who grew up with mental health or developmental differences — and how family, community, and changing knowledge shaped their journeys.We begin with autism, seen through the life of Patrick, Dr. Gretchen Hoyle’s cousin, who was born in 1972, long before “autism spectrum disorder” entered everyday language.Patrick’s story unfolds in a time when:Autism was rarely diagnosedThere were no IEPs, formal supports, or online communitiesKids who struggled socially were often labeled “odd,” “quirky,” or “in their own world”Through this deeply personal narrative, Matt and Dr. Hoyle explore:What autism looked like in the 1970s and ’80sHow family love created an early form of “community” before diagnostic language existedHow much more we understand now — and what hasn’t changed🧩 Patrick’s Story: Autism Before We Had the WordsDr. Hoyle describes growing up in a close-knit family of nine cousins, all within a few years of each other. Patrick, two years younger than her, quickly stood out as:Exceptionally brightCarried an almanac everywhereMemorized capitals, populations, imports, weather patterns of countries few adults knewSocially and physically differentStruggled with coordination in group gamesNeeded accommodations for things like Easter egg hunts (the “Patrick egg” hidden in plain sight)Took language literally, missed inside jokes and social nuanceEven without a label, his cousins created a kind of protective community around him — choosing teams thoughtfully, saving the visible egg, involving him in play.Years later, as Dr. Hoyle went through psychology, medical school, and pediatrics, she recognized what hadn’t been named...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/h--qUaWpX4AVtgW1NGPKvLDD1Xx7NflxElKMX5dzn_8/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS82ZDY5/MDgwYjg4N2E4YTFl/ODA2ODdlNjJjOTQ5/MmZjOS5wbmc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}