About US

my "why story"

blake fertig

Born and raised in Southern California, Blake is the youngest of three. He is best described (and seen on home videos) as an energetic, bright, inquisitive, talkative, and animated child who shared his enthusiasm with everyone. Quietly focusing in school was a challenge right from the start as we've read in the report cards his mother kept (thank you mom!). From a young age his feelings were big but difficult to express. His few close friends were his tribe and are supportive to this day.

Movies & TV captured his heart and his undivided attention remaining a life-long special interest. Blake is known to his family as “Blakebuster” because his database of movies, actors, directors, editors, featured music and writers is so expansive, he could challenge most experts in the industry. Inspired by his love of the industry, Blake earned a degree in Film & Cinema added a few short films to his resume. The Jar and Verisimilitude (featuring Blake) show his passion for dramatic storytelling.

Blake also developed ridiculously-good video and audio editing skills which he uses to create priceless personal gifts and if the project is right, a few commission-based freelance production gigs. He found a job in the world of media and a boss that nurtured his strengths, skills and interests. He learned highly-technical processes and was promoted into management where he remains today.

When Blake received his Autism diagnosis 10 years into his career, he was told how rare it is to find an individual with ASD be able to maintain a promotion into management. The doctor explained that the promotions and the instant whirlwind of unpredictability, customer and employees dynamics and the pressure that typically gets pushed down from upper management is enough to lead to most skillful employees being fired. Instead, Blake developed a mask and silently suffered.

my "why story" accomplishments

Coping & questioning

When life started unraveling on nights and weekends, and the weeks were patched together with duct tape and chewing gum, Blake wisely sought a mental health therapist who said “Did you know you are the poster child for ADHD?”. To which Blake said.. “ADH what?” and for the first time in his life felt partially understood by another person. Subsequently diagnosed with ADHD in 2017 (by a physician who specializes in ADHD and then promptly retired), Blake had more questions, no answers, anti-zen medications, and no place to continue his care. Sleep was increasingly difficult and he began experiencing pseudoinsomnia. Now he battled an invisible force during both daytime and night time.

Nearly two years later, after 4 almost-babies, Blake became a father. Overcome with long-anticipated joy of meeting his son and his overwhelming fears, struggling self-esteem and no father figure to lean on, Blake felt empty and helpless. Then angry.

adult regression & Breakdown

If you’ve ever broken an egg into a hot pan and then tried to scramble it, you’ll have an idea of how the next phase felt. After two years of couples therapy, in February of 2020 we stumbled into a new therapist who had experience with non-verbal autistic kids and the signs of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Blake was bravely confronted with the strong possibility that he was on the spectrum. His evaluation was scheduled for a few months out. Three weeks later global COVID-19 news hit. Blake was ultimately forced to furlough his staff and run the store alone, revealing the final cracks in his masks, mirrors and rage.

evaluations & breakthrough - the big reveal

In late spring 2020, Blake was officially diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, Generalized Anxiety (GAD) and Depression. Until now, the original ADHD diagnosis felt unofficial and incomplete. And now he knew why.

The Relief & Grief phase of receiving the evaluation results were isolating and confusing. His family was as unprepared to process the news as he was and we were all generationally maladapted. Faced with the need to digest information without the tools or system to do wo, coupled with the daunting task to share his news to his tribe without the words to do it, he felt more alone than ever before. Add in the wrong non-ASD sensitive ADHD medication and BOOM! As they say.

Every heard of the phrase “you have to make a mess to clean a mess”? Well that’s easier applied to organizing a closet than an adult’s life decades into the development of a self-esteem that always felt comparatively inadequate. Every one of Blake’s medical and mental health team were replaced with dual-diagnosis experts and he began the brave life-changing process of Autism-forward ADHD, Anxiety, and Depression medication. We brain chemistry rebalancing, now what? This sounds like the perfect time for Rachelle’s company to require her and the family to move to the east coast.

My "What's Next Story" - self-advocacy & reinvention

Before Blake could join the family in Georgia, at 23-months old, Declan’s first regression started and he was initially diagnosed with ASD and Developmental Delay. Blake arrived in Georgia a short time later. He and Rachelle began living separately and developed a successful co-parenting plan. While waiting for Declan’s evaluation with a Developmental Pediatrician, the You Don’t Sound Autistic Podcast was launched. A month later, Declan’s evaluation revealed him to be the 2nd generation in our family to have Autism Spectrum Disorder. Both generations hid in plain sight and were initially dismissed by both sides of the family. No judgement. But lack of awareness followed by social judgements hurt. It cuts deep. But cuts can heal. That’s where the real journey begins again. In the reinvention phase that follows and the start of answering the “What’s Next For Me” Story.

Blake faced a life-long dream to learn Stand-Up Comedy and signed up for a class. He tackled social and self-expressive demons to do it, but he performed arguably the best set of the night to a live audience. He nailed it! See for yourself. As a parent to a loving and bouncy toddler, Blake cultivates Declan’s adventurous nature. Together they see the latest movies, check out the cool hangout and outdoor spots around town and enjoy hours and learning and play time. Blake is pursuing is career dreams and moving forward with a whole-heart, healing brain and coherent life.

What’s Next for Blake? You’ll find out when he does, on future episodes of You Don’t Sound Autistic Podcast (YDSA).

my "why story"

rachelle fertig

Raised in Central Florida, Rachelle quickly became the oldest of six kids and a 3rd pair of hands for mom and dad. Parenticized at age of 16 by one parent, and again at 21 by the other, Rachelle found her self in a translator roll early on. Rachelle also struggled with math, reading and writing in varying stages all throughout school. She embraced a therapeutic, hands-on intuitive-based profession. Rachelle is a massage & craniosacral therapist and has studied the brain, central nervous system, nutritional activation and regulatory physiology for 20+ years.

A few years into her career, she moved to Southern California where she excitingly met and married Blake. The rest of the story is background to the primary focus YDSA. While playing a key role in observing, questioning and trying everything to help Blake feel better throughout the years, none of the help Rachelle provided is as key as Blake’s decision to accept it. Yes, it is courageous to stand by the person you love during the “for worse” part of the relationship and even more as a new vulnerable mother with an infant in her arms. But when staying alive through insufferable pain and medication-induced rage is a real concern, the braver one is the soul who fought through hell and is still around to tell the story. Both stories are important but we’re focused on Blake’s story and experiences here because he’s the person who can relate to others walking this same hellacious and brave journey.

There are two untold stories when a family member is diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. First and foremost, the individual who lived their entire life with the wrong life owners manual, an unhealthy self-esteem and usually a few co-existing diagnosis to go with it. The second untold story is the primary support family member(s) who’s lives also change in the same traumatic “relief & grief” strike of lightning, but for completely different reasons.

Knowing Declan’s official Autism diagnosis was imminent, she decided to refocus her life’s purpose to raise awareness and promote mental/emotional/physical health and help illuminate the neurodiversity hiding in plain sight for other families. Rachelle left her corporate career, returned to the treatment room as massage & craniosacral therapist by day and consults with families by night. She mentioned a podcast idea she had to Blake and came up with the name for the show and bravely offered to co-host and share his story directly. They launched You Don’t Sound Autistic (Podcast) in June 2021 and began the healing process for their family.

What’s next for Rachelle? You’ll find out when she does on future episodes of You Don’t Sound Autistic (YDSA).

Together Blake and Rachelle aspire to tackle the glaring lack of support for the exponential amount of adults being late-diagnosed with Autism, ADHD/ADD, Anxiety, Depression by boldly and transparently offering their journey to the world.

They were alone. You don’t have to be.

affiliates & distributorship programs

YDSA is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.

YDSA, via Rachelle Chandler, is a registered practitioner with Optimal Health Systems (OHS) and can earn commissions based on product sales, assist with product knowledge, direct customer one-time and auto-ship orders.

YDSA, via Rachelle Chandler, is an Independent Distributor with LifeVantage Corporation and can earn commissions based on product sales, assist with product knowledge, and direct customer one-time and subscription orders.

YDSA, via Rachelle Fertig, is a licensed healthcare practitioner with Xymogen, Inc. and can earn commissions based on product sales, assist with product knowledge, and direct customer one-time and auto-ship orders.

YDSA, via Rachelle Fertig, is a licensed healthcare practitioner with NeuroScience Inc. and can earn commissions based on product sales, assist with product knowledge, direct customer one-time orders and Neuro-Q.