Becky Gardner joins us for another episode to walk us through all twelve areas of executive function and how they impact the success of our children.
As Becky shares, Executive Functions are complex, higher level of thought processes that allow a person to accomplish higher level tasks throughout their day. Everyone has them and everyone has executive functioning strengths and weaknesses. The different combinations of these make us unique and different in how we go about things.
In this podcast, we learn about all twelve executive function areas and how they impact our kids.
- Self-Restraint
- Working Memory
- Emotional Control
- Focus
- Task Initiation
- Planning/Prioritizing
- Organization
- Time Management
- Defining and Achieving Goals
- Flexibility
- Observation/Metacongition
- Stress Tolerance
Becky Gardner comes to A Life of my Own with a holistic, collaborative approach created from a unique and varied background.
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With a Master’s Degree in Occupational Therapy, which has its roots in purposeful, meaningful work to increase independence in Activities of Daily Living (ADLs), she brings a student-focus and student-driven approach to this work.
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Having a deep Social justice / Neurodiversity core belief system brings a focus of self-determination and self-advocacy. This was further developed during work at Bellevue College’s Disability Resource Center, determining individualized college accommodations for students with disabilities so that they may have equal access to course materials.
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Operating from a strengths-based educational model brings emphasis in student empowerment and nurturing their belief in their own self-efficacy. This was developed / enhanced while working with Sara Gardner (no relation, autistic creator of the current Neurodiversity Navigators program), and from working in and around the Autism Spectrum Navigators program at Bellevue College since its conception, Becky was the adjunct faculty for the Executive Functioning course, and co-taught other courses including Self-Advocacy.
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Having experience working through her own disability / executive functioning deficits, and having two neurodiverse adult children, brings an understanding of the day-to-day events and efforts that go with these experiences.
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Working with college, high school, and middle school students at varying stages on the continuum of independence, brings rich and varied experience to this work.
A Life of my Own is the natural culmination of this prior work and life experience.
Becky is excited to offer her skills and experience to a wider group of young adults to improve their understanding of what ”adulting” / independent living looks like, and to assist with increasing abilities in necessary areas leading to independence – and their feeling of A Life of my Own.
If you believe your loved one would benefit from the expertise of Becky Gardner, she can be reached at
A Life of Your Own
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