May 4, 2026

DEEP DIVE: Olivia Martinez-Hauge on Special Needs Parenting

Olivia Martinez-Hauge is a mom of three kids, two with neurodiversity. She’s also a therapist who treats individuals and families who caregive. We talk parenting special-needs kids, plus how to be better allies to friends who might be on that path.

Apple Podcasts podcast player badge
Spotify podcast player badge
Goodpods podcast player badge
Audible podcast player badge
iHeartRadio podcast player badge
Youtube Music podcast player badge
Apple Podcasts podcast player iconSpotify podcast player iconGoodpods podcast player iconAudible podcast player iconiHeartRadio podcast player iconYoutube Music podcast player icon

This Deep Dive series revisits some of our past episodes about the joys and the challenges that come with raising kids with differences and disabilities.

Olivia Martinez-Hauge is a marriage and family therapist specializing in the treatment of families, couples, and individuals who are caregiving for children or adults with neurodiversity. She is also a licensed occupational therapist with over two decades of experience helping children and their families.

She is also a mother of three children, two with neurodiversity.

In this "Fresh Take" interview, Olivia explains

  • the grief and isolation that might come with special needs parenting
  • her own journey moving past those emotions by parenting "from a place of present"
  • the team of support that a parent of a special needs child needs
  • how we can change our friend groups, schools, and societies to be more supportive of families with children who have special needs


Whether you're a parent of a special needs or neurodiverse child, or just want to be a better friend to someone who is, you'll learn so much from this interview.

Find out more about Olivia and her work at The Center for Connection and Neurodiversity here: https://www.thecenterforconnection.org/


What Fresh Hell is co-hosted by Amy Wilson and Margaret Ables.

We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website:

⁠⁠⁠https://www.whatfreshhellpodcast.com/p/promo-codes/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices