The Genius Life 530: The Truth About Autism, Resilience, and What Kids Really Need to Thrive | Leland Vittert
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Dec 1, 2025 
Leland Vittert, an Emmy-nominated journalist and author of Born Lucky, shares his personal journey navigating life with autism. He emphasizes the importance of reframing how we perceive autism, advocating for adapting children to the world rather than the opposite. Leland discusses the role of discipline in building self-esteem, transforming childhood adversity into resilience, and teaching essential social skills. He urges a scientific inquiry into rising autism rates and promotes a parenting approach that encourages kids to tackle challenges head-on, fostering long-term growth.
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Parenting Over Labels
- Leland Vittert frames Born Lucky as a parenting book and a love story more than an autism manual.
- His core message: parents can dramatically shape outcomes by pushing kids toward competence, not excuses.
Give Small Daily Challenges
- Do give children achievable challenges to build self-esteem, like daily physical goals.
- Leland's father used 200 pushups a day to cultivate discipline and confidence.
Dad Confronts School Exclusion
- Leland's dad confronted a PE teacher after learning Leland had been placed with girls.
- The incident illustrated relentless parental advocacy amid school rejection.
