Autism Knows No Borders

Job Coaching for Autistic Individuals, with Stephanie De Kremer and Russell Botting | Autism Tips & Tools

Mon, 11 May 2026 20:10:32 +0200

How can a job coach support and empower an autistic employee?

In this clip, Autistic Self-Advocate Stephanie De Kremer and her job coach Russell Botting share their ideas on this topic. At the time of this recording, Stephanie and Russell were employees at Auticon, a company that employs over 200 adults on the autism spectrum as IT consultants.

Welcome to Autism Tips & Tools, where we highlight the best practical guidance from previous episodes of Autism Knows No Borders. Whether you’re a self-advocate, a family member, or a service provider, there’s something here for you!

This conversation with Stephanie De Kremer and Russell Botting was originally released on December 3, 2020.

Would you like to hear about how companies can make the hiring process more inclusive? Click the link below for the full conversation and be sure to subscribe to hear more from people connected to autism inspiring change and building community.

Auticon UK: Another Perspective on IT Consultancy, with Stephanie De Kremer and Russell Botting

Let’s work together to transform how the world relates to autism.

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SCERTS: Social Communication, Emotional Regulation, and Transactional Support, Part 1 with Dr. Barry Prizant

Thu, 07 May 2026 19:21:35 +0200

Discover what’s possible when you learn to regulate – and you regulate to learn.

How do you regulate your emotions?

Whether you’re autistic or not, if you’re curious about practical strategies for emotional regulation, you’ll want to listen to this episode with Dr. Barry Prizant.

Dr. Barry Prizant is a Speech-Language Pathologist, clinical scholar, consultant, and researcher. He co-developed the SCERTS Model, SCERTS standing for Social Communication-Emotional Regulation-and Transactional Support. This framework is designed to support individuals of all ages who experience or are at-risk for social-communicative and emotional regulatory difficulties. Dr. Prizant’s book, Uniquely Human: A Different Way of Seeing Autism, has been the best selling book on autism since 2015. Barry also co-hosts Uniquely Human: The Podcast.

This episode is part one of our conversation, and we discuss:

Historical misconceptions about autism
The impact of social media on the neurodiversity movement
Gestalt language processing and echolalia, which is the involuntary repetition of words and sounds spoken by another person
Why emotional regulation is central to development
How the SCERTS Model is different from more traditional intervention approaches
Practical emotional regulation techniques that you can apply today

To learn more about Dr. Barry Prizant and his work, please visit: Dr. Barry Prizant

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Community Benefits of Homeschooling, with Hattie-Angelys Fox | Autism Tips & Tools

Mon, 04 May 2026 18:14:34 +0200

What are different types of community engagement and social learning that can come out of homeschooling?

In this clip, Autistic Self-Advocate Hattie-Angelys Fox shares her ideas on this topic. Angelys is a certified teacher, a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, and the mother of two neurodivergent children.

This conversation with Hattie-Angelys Fox was originally released on August 8, 2024.

Would you like to hear tips on how to embrace a growth mindset? Click the link below for the full conversation and be sure to subscribe to hear more from people connected to autism inspiring change and building community.

Self-Development & Accountability, with the Global Autism Community

Let’s work together to transform how the world relates to autism.

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Building a Healthy Relationship With Your Autistic Child, Part 2 with Lafaya Mitchell

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 18:39:58 +0200

Discover what’s possible when your responses are truly aligned with your intentions.

What is the key to understanding and connecting with your child?

If you’re the parent of a neurodivergent child, you’ll want to listen to this episode with Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Lafaya Mitchell. Lafaya is the mother of three children, two of whom are autistic.

In this conversation, we discuss:

The different levels of autism acceptance and how they are tied to a parent’s personal growth
Common struggles of parents trying to understand their child’s needs
Hidden effects of family dynamics
Why the expression “problem child” is itself problematic
Cultural sensitivity and how the Black American community responds to Lafaya’s program
One of the most rewarding experiences she’s ever had while working with children on the spectrum

To learn more about Lafaya Mitchell, please visit lafayaway.com.

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Autistic Strengths in Music, with Rawan Tuffaha and Spenser Murray | Autism Tips & Tools

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 04:56:02 +0200

How might autism affect someone’s musical strengths?

Rawan Tuffaha and Spenser Murray from The ASD Band share their personal experiences as well as tips for other autistic people who may be interested in joining a band.

The ASD Band is comprised of musicians on the autism spectrum who use their talents to raise awareness and break stereotypes.

This conversation with Rawan Tuffaha and Spenser Murray was originally released on March 4, 2021.

Would you like to hear the story of how the ASD Band came together? Click the link below for the full conversation and be sure to subscribe to hear more from people connected to autism inspiring change and building community.

Behind the Music: ASD Band, with Rawan Tuffaha, Spenser Murray, and Andrew Simon

Let’s work together to transform how the world relates to autism.

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Building a Healthy Relationship With Your Autistic Child, Part 1 with Lafaya Mitchell

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 20:11:21 +0200

Discover what’s possible when your responses are truly aligned with your intentions.

How can understanding family dynamics transform parent-child relationships?

If you’re the parent of a neurodivergent child, you’ll want to listen to this episode with Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Lafaya Mitchell, where she shares her innovative relational approach to supporting neurodiverse children and their families. Lafaya is also the mother of three children, two of whom are autistic.

In this conversation, we discuss:

The four core strategies of The Lafaya Way
What she calls the “emotion soaking phenomenon”
How a parent’s experiences from the past can affect their decision-making now
How to set boundaries with kids
Navigating parental expectations

To learn more about Lafaya Mitchell, please visit lafayaway.com.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community

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Motivation and Setting Goals, with the Global Autism Community | Autism Tips & Tools

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 21:18:12 +0200

What are some strategies to stay motivated when trying to reach your goals?

In this clip, Global Autism Community members share their ideas on this topic. This roundtable discussion about Self-Development and Accountability was hosted by community moderator Michelle Vinokurov, and participants included Christina Kaspersen, Robert Schmus, Danielle Terrell, Andrew Bennett, and Corben Havener.

This conversation with our Global Autism Community was originally released on November 3, 2022.

Self-Development & Accountability, with the Global Autism Community

Let’s work together to transform how the world relates to autism.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

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What Predicts Positive Outcomes in Autism? Part 2 with Dr. Catherine Lord

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 18:18:37 +0200

Discover what’s possible when you support from the start.

What factors make the biggest difference in the quality of life of autistic individuals? Whether you’re autistic yourself, or care for an autistic loved one, you’ll want to listen to this episode with Dr. Catherine Lord. She shares some of the findings from her own groundbreaking longitudinal study, which began in 1990 and continues to follow a community sample of over 200 autistic individuals. This is one of the largest and longest-running studies of autism ever conducted

Dr. Lord is an American psychologist and researcher credited for co-developing the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) and the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R).

This episode is part two of our conversation, and we discuss:

Dr. Lord’s research tracking autistic individuals over decades
Factors which predict positive outcomes in autism
Autism across the lifespan when it comes to employment, relationships, and independence
The importance of community support
What’s next for autism research and what areas need more attention
Tips for clinicians working with autistic children

To learn more about Dr. Catherine Lord and her work, please visit: Dr. Catherine Lord UCLA Profile

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Misconceptions About AAC, with Tiffany Joseph | Autism Tips & Tools

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 20:17:44 +0200

What are some misconceptions about AAC and speech development?

AAC user Tiffany Joseph shares her ideas on this topic and discusses how to empower non-speaking autistic individuals.

Tiffany Joseph is the digital creator behind the IG account Nigh Functioning Autism. She uses her platform to promote the changes she wants to see in the world regarding disability and intersectionality. The voice you’ll hear in this clip comes mostly from Tiffany’s Alternative Augmentative Communication device, or AAC for short. And, in instances when she wanted to add more to her response or answer a follow-up question, you’ll hear her actual voice.

This conversation with Tiffany Joseph was originally released on October 13, 2022.

Would you like to hear Tiffany discussing what communication apps are most useful depending on each situation? Click the link below for the full conversation and be sure to subscribe to hear more from people connected to autism inspiring change and building community.

My AAC Journey, with Tiffany Joseph

Let’s work together to transform how the world relates to autism.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

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Diagnosing Autism using ADOS, Part 1 with Dr. Catherine Lord

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 21:07:24 +0200

Discover what’s possible when diagnosis opens doors.

What are considered the “gold standard” tools for diagnosing autism?

If you’re curious about the history of autism diagnoses and observational assessments, you’ll want to listen to this episode with Dr. Catherine Lord.

Dr. Lord is an American psychologist and researcher. She currently serves as a member of the International Advisory Board for The Lance Psychiatry, co-chair of the Scientific Research Council of the Child Mind Institute, and the George Tarjan Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry and Education at UCLA’s Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior.

Credited for co-developing the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) and the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R), Dr. Lord is also known for leading one of the largest and longest-running longitudinal studies of autism in modern research, which began in 1990 and continues to follow a community sample of over 200 individuals.

Dr. Lord has authored numerous books about autism and hundreds of peer-reviewed journal articles, as well as received a considerable number of awards and professional recognitions.

This episode is part one of our conversation, and we discuss:

Shortcomings of early autism diagnosis
Why autism was so hard to diagnose consistently
How the ADOS assessment tool was developed
What it actually does and does not measure
Common misunderstandings of the ADOS
Why a diagnosis involves more than a single test
Training and cultural considerations for professionals who administer the ADOS
The evolution of autism categories in the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) and why these changes matter
How families can explain an autism diagnosis to their child
Early detection in infants
Misconceptions about regressive autism
Self-diagnosis and access to autism assessments

To learn more about Dr. Catherine Lord and her work, please visit: Dr. Catherine Lord UCLA Profile

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

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Autism in Rwanda, with Evas Kyomugisha | Autism Tips & Tools

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 18:00:00 +0200

What’s the understanding and level of awareness of autism in Rwanda?

Evas Kyomugisha, our Global Autism Project Partner from Rwanda, talks about the stigma around autism in Rwanda, the different levels of autism acceptance among parents at her center, and how she tries to inspire hope for their children’s futures.

Evas is the founder and owner of Silver Bells, an autism center in Kigali. Silver Bells offers comprehensive services for families, including Applied Behavior Analysis, Speech Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, and Music Therapy.

This conversation with Evas Kyomugisha was originally released on July 21, 2022.

Would you like to hear Evas talk about how the Rwandan government has helped provide services for families? Click the link below for the full conversation and be sure to subscribe to hear more from people connected to autism inspiring change and building community.

Inspiring Hope for Parents in Rwanda, with Evas Kyomugisha

Let’s work together to transform how the world relates to autism.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

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A Collectivist Approach to Services, Part 2 with Mari Cerda

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 18:00:00 +0200

Discover what’s possible when values inform the method.

How can we bridge the gap between autistic communities and traditional therapies?

If you’ve ever wondered, you’ll want to listen to part two of my conversation with Autistic BCBA Mari Cerda, which was originally released on April 22, 2021.

Mari provides professional-development training for teachers and schools on various neurodiversity-affirming topics. She is the co-founder of The LEAP Institute, a US-based non-profit whose mission is to increase equitable access of marginalized groups to ABA (applied behavior analysis).

Among other things, we discuss:

Mari’s collectivist approach to providing services
Ethical considerations and addressing the harm historically caused by ABA practices
The importance of approaching services from a neurodiversity-affirming perspective
Strategies for inclusive, community-based support
Ideas to bridge the divide between the Autistic community and ABA

To learn more about Mari Cerda, please visit her Instagram account @autie.analyst, where she aims to educate and mediate between the worlds of autism and ABA.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community

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Affirming Autistic Identity, with Andrew Bennett | Autism Tips & Tools

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 19:17:00 +0200

What does it mean to affirm someone’s identity?

Here’s Andrew talking about the importance of affirming autistic identity and supporting people who might be masking.

Andrew has been a dedicated member of our community since 2019. He served as a moderator in our online Global Autism Community, contributed to our Responsive Skills Training, and traveled on two SkillCorps® volunteer trips, first to the Czech Republic and later to Kenya.

This conversation with Andrew Bennett was originally released on June 29, 2023.

Would you like to hear more about accessible technology? Click the link below for the full conversation and be sure to subscribe to hear more from people connected to autism inspiring change and building community.

SkillCorps Spotlight: Inclusion and Affirmation, with Andrew Bennett

Let’s work together to transform how the world relates to autism.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

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A Collectivist Approach to Services, Part 1 with Mari Cerda

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 16:38:59 +0100

Discover what’s possible when values inform the method.

What does a culturally-informed approach to ABA look like?

If you’re interested in the intersection between neurodiversity, race, and community, you’ll want to listen to this conversation with Autistic BCBA Mari Cerda, which was originally released on April 22, 2021.

Mari provides professional development training for teachers and schools on various neurodiversity-affirming topics. As a Latina Mestiza, she’s passionate about supporting migrant families and their children with disabilities trying to enroll in the American school system. Mari is also the co-founder of The LEAP Institute, a non-profit organization whose mission is to increase equitable access for marginalized groups entering the field of ABA, or applied behavior analysis.

This episode is part one of our conversation, and we discuss:

Mari’s process of discovering and accepting her late diagnosis
Cultural perspectives on autism in Native American and Latinx cultures
The intersection between neurodiversity and race
How Mari’s family reacted to her diagnosis
How her husband acts as her social compass
The Double Empathy Problem

To learn more about Mari Cerda, please visit her Instagram account @autie.analyst, where she aims to educate and mediate between the worlds of autism and ABA.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

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Implicit vs Explicit Autistic Characters, with Corben Havener | Autism Tips & Tools

Mon, 23 Mar 2026 19:25:00 +0100

What’s the difference between explicit and implicit autistic characters?

Here’s Corben Havener discussing explicit and implicit (or “coded”) autistic characters as two different ways of portraying neurodiversity in media.

The following clip is from a roundtable discussion with our Global Autism Community, where Autistic self-advocates shared their opinions on how autism is represented in the media.

This conversation with our Global Autism Community was originally released on April 14, 2022.

Representation in the Media, with the Global Autism Community

Let’s work together to transform how the world relates to autism.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

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Neuroinclusive Strategies for Organizations, Part 2 with Grant Harris

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 17:00:00 +0100

Discover what’s possible when you foster inclusion.

How can companies create a neurodiverse-friendly working environment? What should autistic employees look for in a job? Whether you’re an employer or a job seeker, you’ll want to listen to this episode with Grant Harris.

Grant Harris is an Autistic Self-Advocate, consultant, speaker, and author. He helps organizations achieve organizational excellence through neurodivergent practices.

This episode is part two of our conversation, and we discuss:

Common mistakes employers make when trying to be neuroinclusive
Practical accommodations for neurodivergent employees
The positive impact of neurodiversity on workplace culture
Business gains from neurodiverse workforces
First steps for companies wanting to become neuroinclusive
Tips for neurodivergent job seekers

To learn more about Grant Harris and his work, please visit: compliancetocommunity.com

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community

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Accessible Technology with Human-Computer Interactions, with Austin Lubetkin | Autism Tips & Tools

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 21:41:53 +0100

How can someone control a computer with their mind?

In this episode, Austin Lubetkin talks about his patent for the first interface that would allow a fully paralyzed individual to type and control a computer with their brain.

Austin is an Autistic artist, aerospace-software engineer, and inventor. He has synesthesia, a phenomenon in which stimuli that would typically activate one sense can stimulate other senses at the same time. This has allowed him to create unique and accessible art experiences, some meant to make people even touch and hear colors. Austin uses his art to spread awareness of various mental conditions.

This conversation with Alexis and Austin Lubetkin was originally released on November 10, 2022.

Art, Synesthesia, and Software Engineering, with Austin Lubetkin

Let’s work together to transform how the world relates to autism.

I’m Not Anti-Social – I’m an Introvert, Part 1 with Grant Harris

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 18:37:34 +0100

Discover what’s possible when you leverage your strengths.

What’s the difference between being an introvert, an ambivert, or an omnivert—and how might these identities show up in autistic individuals?

Grant Harris, an Autistic Self-Advocate, consultant, speaker, and author, shares his personal autism journey with us. He helps companies achieve organizational excellence through neurodivergent practices.

This episode is part one of our conversation, and we discuss:

Grant receiving his autism diagnosis as an adult, and his family’s reaction
The stigma of autism in the Black American community
Navigating a neurodivergent relationship with his wife, who has ADHD
How Grant’s autistic traits have contributed to his success
The difference between being an introvert and being antisocial

To learn more about Grant Harris and his work, please visit: https://tr.ee/8IniXywirG

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

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Understanding My Autistic Sibling, with Alexis & Anthony Sevieri | Autism Tips & Tools

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 20:20:48 +0100

How is a sibling relationship influenced when one is autistic?

In this episode, Alexis Sevieri talks about how her brother Anthony’s autism influenced their family dynamic growing up, and Anthony describes his journey of self-awareness and acceptance.

This conversation with Alexis and Anthony Sevieri was originally released on September 28, 2023.

Would you like to hear more about Alexis and Anthony’s family dynamics and how communities can provide better support for autistic families? Click the link below for the full conversation and be sure to subscribe to hear more from people connected to autism inspiring change and building community.

A Strong Sibling Bond, with Anthony and Alexis Sevieri

Let’s work together to transform how the world relates to autism.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

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Dating & Relationships, Part 2 with the Global Autism Community

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 18:04:28 +0100

Discover what’s possible when love begins with acceptance.

This episode is part 2 of our Global Autism Community roundtable discussion about Dating and Relationships, originally released on March 17, 2022.

Among other things, we discuss:

Memorable dates our community members have been on
Common challenges autistic people face when it comes to dating
The importance of clear and direct communication
Dealing with breakups and moving on

Round-table discussions like the one you’ll hear today are open exclusively for members of our online Global Autism Community. If you’d like to attend and participate in any of our future events, sign up today at community.globalautismproject.org.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

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What Makes a Strong Leader? with Molly Ola Pinney | Autism Tips & Tools

Mon, 02 Mar 2026 18:21:42 +0100

Leadership training has always been at the foreground of support provided by the Global Autism Project. We believe that everyone has the potential to be a leader in their own lives, and we foster this mindset with our international partners to ensure that they continue to lead the movement of autism awareness and acceptance in their own communities.

In this episode, the CEO of the Global Autism Project, Molly Ola Pinney, defines what strong leadership is and what values are important to her as a leader.

This conversation with Molly Pinney was originally released on November 25, 2020.

Would you like to hear how Molly stopped being afraid of becoming a leader and what she’s learned about leadership over the years? Click the link below for the full conversation and be sure to subscribe to hear more from people connected to autism inspiring change and building community.

Leadership Lessons Learned, with our CEO Molly Ola Pinney

Let’s work together to transform how the world relates to autism.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

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Dating & Relationships, Part 1 with the Global Autism Community

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 21:28:06 +0100

Discover what’s possible when love begins with acceptance.

What challenges do autistic people face when it comes to dating?

If you’re interested in hearing the autistic perspective on dating and relationships, you’ll want to listen to this roundtable discussion with our Global Autism Community, which was originally released on March 17, 2022.

Participating in this event were autism self-advocates Olivia Hops, Thomas Iland, Mary Johnston, Scott Edgar, Taylor Duncan, and David Sharif, as well as community members Danielle Terrell, Ben Sharif, and Kia Burton.

In part 1 of this conversation, we discuss:

Different ways to meet people
Transitioning from friendship to romance
How to have a healthy relationship when one person is neurotypical and the other is neurodivergent
Long-distance relationships

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

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How to Improve Your Child’s Language Skills, with Lenora Edwards | Autism Tips & Tools

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 19:58:01 +0100

How can families encourage the use of Alternative Augmentative Communication devices with their autistic loved ones?

Lenora Edwards, a Speech Language Pathologist with over 10 years of experience helping children and adults, shares her ideas in this episode.

Lenora is the Chief Knowledge Officer at Better Speech, a US-based, online service provider with 150 speech therapists working with individuals of all ages.

This conversation with Lenora Edwards was originally released on April 6, 2023.

Would you like to know how speech therapy can benefit autistic individuals? Click the link below for the full conversation and be sure to subscribe to hear more from people connected to autism inspiring change and building community.

Facilitating Better Speech, with Lenora Edwards

Let’s work together to transform how the world relates to autism.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

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Parenting Strategies for Neurodivergent Teens, Part 2 with Jheri South

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 17:39:06 +0100

Discover what’s possible when self-esteem saves lives.

Are you looking for tools and to help your neurodivergent teen feel supported in this important phase in life? Whether that’s your case or you’re curious about behavioral parenting strategies, you’ll want to listen to this episode with Jheri South.

Jheri South is a behavioral coach and the mother of seven neurodivergent children, five being on the autism spectrum. Diagnosed with ADHD herself at age 40, Jheri specializes in coaching teens and parents to navigate ADHD, autism, anxiety, and parenting with mindset, strategy, and community.

This episode is part two of our conversation, and we discuss:

Common struggles for parents of neurodivergent teens
The importance of being consistent as parents
How to help autistic teens build confidence and self-esteem
How Jheri successfully helped an autistic teen to stop cutting herself
Tips to set realistic expectations for autistic adolescents

To learn more about Jheri South and her work, please visit: IG @msjherisouth

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Training the Police to Interact with Autistic People, with Camille Proctor | Autism Tips & Tools

Mon, 16 Feb 2026 17:51:47 +0100

What’s the best way to educate police officers about autism?

Camille Proctor, the mother of an adolescent autistic boy, shares how she teaches her son to interact with police officers, and vice versa, how she trains police officers to interact with autistic people.

Camille Proctor is the founder of The Color of Autism, a non-profit organization committed to educating and assisting African American families with autistic children.

This conversation with Camille Proctor was originally released on December 2, 2021.

Would you like to hear Camille’s ideas about how to include Black families in research studies? Click the link below for the full conversation and be sure to subscribe to hear more from people connected to autism inspiring change and building community.

Building Efficacy in the African American Community, with Camille Proctor

Let’s work together to transform how the world relates to autism.

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How Multiple Diagnoses Impact Family Dynamics, Part 1 with Jheri South

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 18:59:43 +0100

Discover what’s possible when understanding leads to acceptance.

Have you ever wondered how ADHD and autism can affect family dynamics? Whether you’re part of a neurodiverse family or know someone who is, you’ll want to listen to this episode with Jheri South.

Jheri South is a behavioral coach and the mother of seven neurodivergent children, five being on the autism spectrum. Diagnosed with ADHD at age 40, Jheri specializes in coaching teens and parents to navigate ADHD, autism, parenting, and anxiety with mindset, strategy, and community.

This episode is part one of our conversation, and we discuss:

Jheri’s journey of understanding her ADHD
How her experience with her own neurodivergent children shapes her coaching approach
The importance of education and awareness in fighting the stigma surrounding autism and ADHD
How societal misconceptions can make it hard for parents to accept their children’s diagnoses
Overlapping characteristics of ADHD and autism
Why ADHD and Autism are underdiagnosed in females
Mental health and suicidal ideation among neurodivergent adolescents

To learn more about Jheri South and her work, please visit: IG @msjherisouth

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Driving with Autism, with Andrew Arboe | Autism Tips & Tools

Mon, 02 Feb 2026 19:14:31 +0100

How can autistic people limit sensory overload and manage fatigue while driving?

Andrew Arboe, Autistic Self-Advocate and Founder of Driving with Autism, shares his ideas on these topics. Driving with Autism is an educational program that guides autistic individuals and their families on their way from the passenger’s seat to becoming drivers.

This conversation with Andrew Arboe was originally released on May 19, 2022.

Would you like to hear Andrew’s tips on what to do when you get pulled over? Click the link below for the full conversation and be sure to subscribe to hear more from people connected to autism inspiring change and building community.

Tips for Autistic Drivers, with Andrew Arboe

Let’s work together to transform how the world relates to autism.

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Visual Thinking and Problem Solving, Part 2 with Dr. Temple Grandin | TBT

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 18:00:00 +0100

Discover what’s possible when all minds are put to use.

This episode is part two of our conversation with pioneering autism advocate and internationally recognized leader in animal handling innovations, Dr. Temple Grandin, which was originally released on December 15, 2022.

In this episode, we discuss:

How parents can encourage the development of skills in visual thinkers
Life skills and executive functioning
Graphic novels
How to solve the world’s biggest problems
Dr. Grandin’s advice for other visual thinkers

For more information about Dr. Grandin and her work, please visit:

https://www.templegrandin.com/

https://www.grandin.com/

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Eating Disorders and Autism, with Livia Sara | Autism Tips & Tools

Mon, 26 Jan 2026 18:00:00 +0100

How can autism affect eating disorders?

Livia Sara, Autistic Self-Advocate and eating disorder survivor, talks about how to reframe eating disorders when they’re intertwined with autism.

Livia is an author and the host of the podcast Liv Label Free. Her publications include Rainbow Girl, a memoir, and a cookbook titled Nourishing Neurodiversity. She is also a 1:1 coach for autistic people recovering from an eating disorder.

This conversation with Livia Sara was originally released on January 25, 2024.

Would you like to know what eating disorders can be linked to autism, and hear Livia’s tips for autistic people recovering them? Click the link below for the full conversation and be sure to subscribe to hear more from people connected to autism inspiring change and building community.

Eating Disorder Recovery, with Livia Sara

Let’s work together to transform how the world relates to autism.

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Visual Thinking and Problem Solving, Part 1 with Dr. Temple Grandin | TBT

Thu, 22 Jan 2026 19:42:20 +0100

Discover what’s possible when all minds are put to use.

What’s the difference between object visualizers and visual-spatial thinkers? And how can these two kinds of brains work together?

In this episode, Dr. Temple Grandin discusses these and other topics featured in her book Visual Thinking: The Hidden Gifts of People Who Think in Pictures, Patterns, and Abstractions.

This episode is part one of our conversation with Dr. Temple Grandin, which was originally released on December 15, 2022.

Dr. Temple Grandin is well known for both her pioneer work as an autism advocate and her lifelong dedication to animal welfare. Through groundbreaking research aimed at understanding her own autistic mind, and by being one of the first adults to publicly disclose that she was autistic, Dr. Grandin propelled the awareness of autism during a time when very little was known of it. She is an incredible source of hope for children with autism, their parents, and anyone with a dream.

In this conversation, we discuss:

Object visualizers vs visual-spatial thinkers
Temple’s ability to think in pictures
The importance of hands-on learning
How to screen for visual thinkers at school
The need for skilled workers
How complementary thinking styles can work together
How to improve the school system and properly educate different kinds of thinkers

For more information about Dr. Grandin and her work, please visit:

https://www.templegrandin.com/

https://www.grandin.com/

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Why the World Needs All Kinds of Minds, Part 1 with Dr. Temple Grandin | TBT

Wed, 21 Jan 2026 16:53:06 +0100

Discover what’s possible when different brains come together.

Dr. Temple Grandin is well known for both her pioneer work as an autism advocate and her lifelong dedication to animal welfare. Through groundbreaking research aimed at understanding her own autistic mind, Dr. Grandin propelled the awareness of autism during a time when very little was known of it. She is an incredible source of hope for children with autism, their parents, and anyone with a dream.

Dr. Grandin became an internationally recognized leader in animal handling innovations after developing a corral that improved the quality of life of cattle by reducing stress. She has consulted with the USDA and major corporations such as McDonald’s, Wendy’s, Burger King, Whole Foods, and Chipotle. Today, half of the cattle in North America are handled in facilities she designed.

Dr. Grandin is also a prominent author, having written several books on autism and animal behavior. She has been featured on various media outlets and programs, including NPR, BBC, Larry King Live, 2020, Sixty Minutes, and TED, to name a few. In 2010, HBO produced an Emmy Award-winning movie about her life, and later that year, she was highlighted in TIME magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the World. In 2016, she was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. These days, Dr. Grandin continues to write and teaches Animal Science at Colorado State University.

In this conversation, we discuss:

How her ability to think in pictures helped her to empathize with animals early in her career
Why society needs different brains to work together
Animal welfare and sustainable practices
The dangers of genetic modification — in animals and humans
Challenges she has faced as an autistic woman
How to increase employment opportunities for autistic adults
How to cultivate curiosity and imagination in children
The importance of hands-on learning

For more information about Dr. Grandin and her work, please visit:

https://www.templegrandin.com/

https://www.grandin.com/

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This conversation with Dr. Temple Grandin was originally released on December 10, 2020.

Dr. Grandin’s most recent book Autism and Education: The Way I See It: What Parents and Teachers Need to Know was published in April 2023.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

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A Success Story in Indonesia, with Maharani Putri Kusuma | Autism Tips & Tools

Mon, 19 Jan 2026 18:00:00 +0100

How can a student who was once abused in classrooms learn to become comfortable in them?

Maharani Putri Kusuma, Rani for short, shares this success story about one of her students.

Rani is the owner and co-founder of Rumah Tiara, an autism center in Jakarta, Indonesia. A former Global Autism Project Partner, Rani had been receiving training from us since 2013. Over the years, we have sent 13 SkillCorps® volunteer teams to Rumah Tiara to provide sustainable hands-on training.

For this interview, Rani was joined by Vya Mawarni, a former therapist at Rumah Tiara who interpreted from Bahasa to English for us.

This conversation with Maharani Putri Kusuma was originally released on July 2, 2020.

Would you like to know what autism services are available for families in countries like Indonesia? Click the link below for the full conversation and be sure to subscribe to hear more from people connected to autism inspiring change and building community.

Community Outreach in Indonesia, with Maharani Putri Kusuma

Let’s work together to transform how the world relates to autism.

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Parenting a Disabled Child, Part 2 with Kelley Coleman

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 18:00:00 +0100

Discover what’s possible when challenges are weaved with joys.

How do you find balance in caregiving? Whether you know from personal experience or through someone else in your life, you’ll want to listen to this episode with Kelley Coleman.

Kelley Coleman is the mother of two boys, one of whom has multiple disabilities (including a yet-undiagnosed genetic syndrome, cerebral palsy, autism, CVI, epilepsy, and more). Her book Everything No One Tells You About Parenting a Disabled Child: Your Guide to the Essential Systems, Services, and Supports offers practical tips for parenting a disabled child.

This episode is part two of our conversation, and we discuss:

- Tips for parents going out in public with their disabled children
- The role of community support
- How to find balance between juggling the paperwork and still enjoying being a mom
- Insights for policymakers
- Empowering parents with expertise
- Encouragement for parents who are just starting on their journey of disability

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Photographing Animal Emotion, with Alfie Bowen | Autism Tips & Tools

Mon, 12 Jan 2026 17:41:03 +0100

What are some autistic characteristics that can be strengths in photography?

Alfie Bowen, an Autistic Self-Advocate, wildlife photographer, author and activist, talks about how to capture the perfect shot and how nature has positively impacted his mental health. Alfie uses art to highlight animal emotion and help people to connect with the natural world.

This conversation with Alfie Bowen was originally released on August 5, 2021.

Would you like to know how, as a child, Alfie overcame feeling like an alien, and the social skills he’s had to teach himself? Click the link below for the full conversation and be sure to subscribe to hear more from people connected to autism inspiring change and building community.

Connecting to Nature Through Wildlife Photography, with Alfie Bowen

Let’s work together to transform how the world relates to autism.

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Parenting a Disabled Child, Part 1 with Kelley Coleman

Thu, 08 Jan 2026 19:35:40 +0100

Discover what’s possible when challenges are woven with joys.

Have you found it challenging to navigate all the paperwork to get the support your autistic child needs? Whether you know from personal experience or through someone else in your life, you’ll want to listen to this episode with Kelley Coleman.

Kelley Coleman is the mother of two boys, one of whom has multiple disabilities (including a rare genetic syndrome, cerebral palsy, autism, CVI, epilepsy, and more). Her book Everything No One Tells You About Parenting a Disabled Child: Your Guide to the Essential Systems, Services, and Supports offers practical tips for parenting a disabled child.

This episode is part one of our conversation, and we discuss:

Kelley’s journey of understanding disability
How to explain disability to siblings
What Kelley has learned about herself as a mother
The importance of celebrating small victories
What inspired Kelley to write her book
Surprising facts about the healthcare system
Mistakes Kelley has made that other parents can learn from

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Why I Sought an Autism Diagnosis, with Sara Bradford | Autism Tips & Tools

Mon, 05 Jan 2026 18:57:50 +0100

Are you a late-diagnosed autistic, or are you considering getting an evaluation?

Autistic Self-Advocate and podcast host Sara Bradford talks about why she decided to seek an autism diagnosis as one of her new year’s goals.

The following clip is from a roundtable discussion with our Global Autism Community where community members shared their personal and professional goals for the new year.

This conversation with our Global Autism Community was originally released on February 11, 2022.

Would you like to learn new strategies to stay motivated and meet your milestones? Click the link below for the full conversation and be sure to subscribe to hear more from people connected to autism inspiring change and building community.

Setting Goals, with the Global Autism Community

Let’s work together to transform how the world relates to autism.

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Ready, Set, Sleep! with Emily Varon | TBT

Fri, 02 Jan 2026 18:32:01 +0100

Discover what’s possible when a great day starts at bedtime.

Have you ever struggled with poor sleep? Or do you know of anyone who does? Whether you’re autistic or not, this episode with sleep specialist Emily Varon can help you sleep better, starting tonight.

Emily Varon is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst from California who focuses on sleep-related behavior. With more than 20 years in the field, Emily offers families and clinicians a broader, long-view perspective of sleep, which can produce more sustainable results over time.

Today’s conversation was originally released on June 9, 2022. We discuss:

The link between autism and poor sleep
Common sleep-related behaviors
Myths about poor sleep
How a sleep-deprived child can affect your family as a whole
How sleep contributes to learning and memory consolidation
Why you shouldn’t set an alarm clock to wake up
The importance of consistent bedtime routines
Tips to avoid screen dependency
The benefits of day-time napping
Recovering from sleep-debt

To learn more about Emily and her work, please visit our show notes at autismknowsnoborders.com.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

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How My Autistic Son Inspired a Pixar Film, with Bobby Rubio | Autism Tips & Tools

Mon, 29 Dec 2025 17:38:00 +0100

Have you had to learn to accept your child’s autism? What was that journey like for you?

Bobby Rubio talks about how accepting his son’s autism led to the inspiration for his award-winning Pixar SparkShort film, Float.

This conversation with Bobby Rubio was originally released on February 10, 2022.

Would you like to hear more about how Bobby’s journey of accepting his son’s autism inspired him to produce an award-winning film? Follow the link in the show notes for the full conversation.

The Inspiration for Pixar’s SparkShort ”Float,” with Bobby Rubio

Let’s work together to transform how the world relates to autism.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

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Communication with My Son Using AAC, with Vidya Banerjee | TBT

Fri, 26 Dec 2025 14:25:05 +0100

Discover what’s possible when communication is properly aided.

Are you the parent of an autistic child with an Augmentative and Alternative Communication device? Or maybe you’re just curious about how AAC devices can help? If either applies to you, you’ll want to listen to this conversation with Vidya Banerjee, an autism mother and the creator of the Autism Family Story blog and podcast.

Today’s conversation was originally released on August 4, 2022. We discuss:

Do’s, don’ts, and common misconceptions about AAC devices
The Landau Kleffner syndrome, a rare childhood neurological disorder affecting Vidya’s son which causes loss of speech
Vidya’s mission as a blogger and podcaster
What she hopes for her son’s future
Tips for parents of non-speaking autistic children

To learn more about Vidya, please visit our show notes at autismknowsnoborders.com.
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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

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The Benefits of Yoga for Autistic Children, with Cheryl Albright | Autism Tips & Tools

Mon, 22 Dec 2025 17:38:17 +0100

How can children on the spectrum benefit from practicing yoga?

Cheryl Albright, an occupational therapist, certified yoga instructor, and autism sibling, shares how she uses yoga to help her autistic clients learn new skills.

This conversation with Cheryl Albright was originally released on September 24, 2020.

Would you like to learn how to self-regulate and balance your nervous system? Click the link below for the full conversation and be sure to subscribe to hear more from people connected to autism inspiring change and building community.

Occupational Therapy and Yoga for the Special Child, with Cheryl Albright

Let’s work together to transform how the world relates to autism.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

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Autism and Crime, with Tom Oliver | Autism Tips & Tools

Thu, 18 Dec 2025 18:00:00 +0100

What are some autistic traits that can be underlying causes of crime among people on the spectrum?

Tom Oliver, an autism self-advocate, TEDx Speaker, and aspiring lawyer from Australia, shares his ideas on this topic. Tom has dedicated his career to helping autistic individuals who got caught up in the justice system.

This conversation with Tom Oliver was originally released on October 14, 2021.

Would you like to hear more about the struggle for authenticity directly from autistic voices? Click the link below for the full conversation and be sure to subscribe to hear more from people connected to autism inspiring change and building community.

Autistic Traits vs. Criminal Law, with Tom Oliver

Let’s work together to transform how the world relates to autism.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

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How to Manage Finances, with Andrew Komarow | Autism Tips & Tools

Mon, 15 Dec 2025 18:18:21 +0100

Do you struggle with managing your finances?

Listen to how Andrew Komarow helps his autistic clients with budgeting, encouraging them to acknowledge their present financial capabilities and maintain a positive attitude.

Andrew Komarow is a Certified Financial Planner and Certified Neurodiversity Professional. He’s also the Founder of Planning Across the Spectrum, a company that specializes in helping individuals, families, and employers of people with autism and other disabilities to pursue financial independence.

This conversation with Andrew Komarow was originally released on May 6, 2021.

Would you like to hear more tips on how to manage your finances? Click the link below for the full conversation and be sure to subscribe to hear more from people connected to autism inspiring change and building community.

Financial Planning Across the Spectrum, with Andrew Komarow

Let’s work together to transform how the world relates to autism.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

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Highlights of 2025 | Part 2 with the Global Autism Community

Thu, 11 Dec 2025 17:32:17 +0100

Discover what’s possible when a fresh start brings a new perspective.

This week’s episode is part 2 of our 2025 Highlights. Today we’ll continue to review some of our favorite moments from this year’s episodes, specifically from 230-240.

As we were reflecting on these past episodes from 2025, we were overcome with immense gratitude for our community. A huge thank you to our guests for sharing their stories, to you, our listeners, for your continued support, and to our team for all the work behind the scenes.

If you didn’t listen to part 1 of this year’s highlights, or are curious about what we were up to in previous years, you can find links to all of our highlight series below.

From all of us at the Global Autism Project, we wish you a happy and safe holiday season, and hope you can spend some quality time with your loved ones.

Related episodes:

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Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community

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Friendship as Stress Relief, with David Sharif | Autism Tips & Tools

Mon, 08 Dec 2025 18:16:41 +0100

What strategies do you have in place to deal with stressful situations?

The late David Sharif talks about managing conflicts and how he found a group of friends who supported him through tough times.

The following clip is from a roundtable discussion with our Global Autism Community where Autistic self-advocates shared how they cope with stress and sensory overload.

This conversation with our Global Autism Community was originally released on November 18, 2021.

Would you like to hear more tips on how to manage stress? Click the link below for the full conversation and be sure to subscribe to hear more from people connected to autism inspiring change and building community.

Coping with Stress and Sensory Overload, with the Global Autism Community

Let’s work together to transform how the world relates to autism.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

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Highlights of 2025 | Part 1 with the Global Autism Community

Thu, 04 Dec 2025 19:53:57 +0100

Discover what’s possible when a fresh start brings new perspectives.

We’ve reached the end of 2025! To celebrate, we’ll be reviewing some of our favorite moments from this year. Part 1 will highlight episodes 216 through 228, and Part 2, episodes 230 through 240.

We want to thank you for your support and patience during the first half of the year, when we released throwbacks due to my maternity leave. This pause allowed me to both spend quality time with my family and plan ahead for the podcast. I was eager to jump back in last summer with our new Autism Tips and Tools segment, hoping that these bite-size episodes would bring you helpful strategies that you could implement right away.

In September, we re-launched Autism Knows No Borders with our regular weekly schedule of brand new episodes – and with them, new perspectives on more important topics related to autism.

If you’ve been with us for a while, this 2025 recap will bring you back to each of our guests’ heartfelt stories. And if you’re joining us for the first time, welcome! This should give you a good idea of what Autism Knows No Borders is all about.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community

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Sex Education for Autistics, with Michael John Carley | Autism Tips & Tools

Mon, 01 Dec 2025 19:15:08 +0100

Why are autistic people given a censored version of sex education?

Michael John Carley shares his thoughts on this topic as well as the influence that culture has over attitudes towards sexuality. Michael John Carley is an Autistic Self-Advocate, author, and consultant. He was the Founder of GRASP — the largest organization in the world comprised of adults on the autism spectrum — and the Founding Executive Director of ASTEP, now called Integrate, whose mission is to help organizations identify, recruit, and retain professionals on the autism spectrum.

This conversation with Michael John Carley was originally released on August 6, 2020.

Would you like to hear more about the struggle for authenticity directly from autistic voices? Follow the link in the show notes for the full conversation.

Rethinking Unemployment and Sex Education, with Michael John Carley

Let’s work together to transform how the world relates to autism.

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Thanksgiving Special 2025, with the Global Autism Community

Thu, 27 Nov 2025 20:35:48 +0100

Discover what’s possible when what you give makes a difference.

This time each year, our team at the Global Autism Project takes some time to reflect on what we’re grateful for. First of all, we’re grateful for you, our listeners, and your continued support. We’re also grateful for our podcast guests and their willingness to share their stories with us. And of course, we’re grateful for our growing Global Autism Community, whose members stay commited to our mission to transform how the world relates to autism.

We’re also grateful for the launch of our new International Mentorship Program. This valuable training, which used to be offered exclusively to our partners, is now available to a wider range of service providers looking to enhance and scale their programs. Our mentees have access to training across various pillars, from clinical and leadership skills to organizational development and outreach.

Programs like our International Mentorship are possible thanks to a larger community of generous donors. We are grateful to each and every one of the people who have ever made a donation. And if you’re thinking about supporting our programs and initiatives, enabling us to improve the lives of autistic individuals and their families around the world, stay with us for this episode, where our CEO Molly Ola Pinney explains how you can get involved as a monthly-giving Compass member.

You’ll also hear from members of our International Mentorship Program and SkillCorps volunteers, who will be providing in-person training to our partners in 2026.

Lastly, we hope that this Thanksgiving special will inspire you to reflect on what you’re grateful for during this holiday season. From all of us at the Global Autism Project, we wish you a Happy Thanksgiving, and hope you can spend some time with your loved ones this weekend.

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Become a Compass member today and create sustainable change around the world! Every contribution leaves a meaningful impact and expands our reach to underserved communities worldwide.

Click here to join Compass!

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

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Turning My Passion for Animation into a Career, with Dani Bowman

Mon, 24 Nov 2025 19:04:55 +0100

How can you turn your passion into a career?

Dani Bowman, an Autistic Self-Advocate, animator, illustrator, teacher, and public speaker, talks about how she empowers her autistic students to turn their passion for animation into a career.

The following clip is from a roundtable discussion with our Global Autism Community where Autistic self-advocates shared their ideas on how to prepare autistic youth for adulthood.

This conversation with our Global Autism Community was originally released on October 21, 2021.

Would you like to hear more ideas about successfully transitioning into adulthood? Follow the link in the show notes for the full conversation.

Preparing for Adulthood, with Dani Bowman, Robert Schmus, Cammie McGovern, and Cheryl Albright

Let’s work together to transform how the world relates to autism.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

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Black Men in Behavior Analysis, with Jeron Trotman, Andre Anderson, Kelly Baird, and Marquii Jacobs

Thu, 20 Nov 2025 20:50:15 +0100

Discover what’s possible when representation opens the door.

What are the biggest factors influencing why Black men are underrepresented in the field of applied behavior analysis and what can be done to increase that?

Stick around for this episode and listen to Jeron Trotman share his ideas.

Jeron Trotman is a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and the Founder and President of Black Men in Behavior Analysis (BMBA), and the host of the Beyond the Science podcast.

Last September, the Global Autism Project was the title sponsor at the BMBA summit in Atlanta, Georgia. BMBA is a professional organization dedicated to fostering diversity, inclusion, and leadership in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA).

In this episode, among other things, Jeron and I discuss:

Why Black men are under-represented in the field of behavior analysis
The role of race and cultural identity in the practice of behavior analysis
What organizations can do to be more inclusive and welcoming towards professionals of color
Challenges and misconceptions of autism within the Black American community
Systemic changes needed in the field of ABA
Tips for young Black men interested in entering the field of behavior analysis

Additionally, you’ll hear clips from a few participants at the BMBA summit (Andre Anderson, Kelly Baird, and Marquii Jacobs) sharing their hopes for the field of ABA and the Black autistic community.

To learn more about BMBA, please visit: bmbanetwork.org

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

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Autistic Masking and Identity, with Terra Vance | Autism Tips & Tools

Tue, 18 Nov 2025 20:26:40 +0100

How does masking affect autistic mental health and well-being?

Terra Vance shares her ideas about autistic masking and identity. Terra is an Autistic Self-Advocate and the Founder of NeuroClastic, an autistic-led non-profit organization that publishes articles by autistic writers and professionals advocating for autistic representation and human rights.

The following clip is from a roundtable discussion with our Global Autism Community where Autistic self-advocates shared their experiences with masking, the emotional toll it takes, and the journey towards authenticity.

This conversation with our Global Autism Community was originally released on December 9, 2021.

Would you like to hear more about the struggle for authenticity directly from autistic voices? Follow the link in the show notes for the full conversation.

Masking and Authenticity, with the Global Autism Community

Let’s work together to transform how the world relates to autism.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

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How to Be a Grounding Presence for Your Autistic Child, with Lisa Candera

Thu, 13 Nov 2025 18:11:31 +0100

Discover what’s possible when your calm becomes their anchor.

Does your autistic child struggle with regulating themselves?

If you’d like to learn how to stay calm in order to help your child in stressful situations, stick around for part two of my conversation with autism-mom coach Lisa Candera, where she talks about what it means to be a solid object for your child.

Among other things, we discuss:

Techniques for staying calm and grounded when your child is stressed
Common struggles and invisible challenges faced by autism parents
How therapists, friends, and extended family members can support autism parents
How to filter out unsolicited parenting advice
Tips for mothers who might be feeling overwhelmed or alone

To learn more about Lisa Candera and her work, please visit: The Autism Mom Coach----more----

We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

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Being Autistic and Societal Expectations, with Russell Lehmann | Autism Tips & Tools

Mon, 10 Nov 2025 17:40:25 +0100

Do you struggle dealing with the pressure of societal expectations?

Russell Lehmann, an Autistic Self-Advocate, motivational speaker, author, and poet, talks about how being autistic makes this pressure uniquely challenging.

Russell is an Autistic Self-Advocate, motivational speaker, author, and poet. He travels the world spreading hope, awareness, and compassion, while striving to erase the stigma and stereotypes associated with having a disability.

This conversation with Russell Lehmann was originally released on May 14, 2020.

Would you like to hear Russell talk about how public speaking has helped him grow? Follow the link in the show notes for the full conversation.

Finding Strength in Adversity, with Russell Lehmann

Let’s work together to transform how the world relates to autism.

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Blaming Mothers for Autism is Wrong, with Lisa Candera

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 17:21:11 +0100

Discover what’s possible when you shift from blame to resilience.

Although many myths about the causes of autism have been thoroughly debunked, misinformation continues to take a toll on mothers. Whether you know from personal experience or through an autism mom in your life, you’ll want to listen to this episode with Lisa Candera.

Lisa Candera is a single mom, attorney, ADHD-er, autism-mom coach, and the host of The Autism Mom Podcast. She helps parents of autistic children regulate themselves first, so they can show up for their kids with compassion, clarity, and strength.

This episode is part one of our conversation, and we discuss:

Lisa’s journey of understanding and accepting her son’s autism and OCD diagnoses
What she envisions for her son’s future
The importance of shared experiences and support groups
Misinformation about autism, including recent unfounded claims that it can be caused by Tylenol
The debunked “refrigerator mom” theory
Working through blame and guilt after learning that your child is autistic
How parents can protect themselves from misinformation fatigue
Cultural expectations of motherhood
Unspoken pressures placed on autism moms

To learn more about Lisa Candera and her work, please visit: The Autism Mom Coach

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

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How to Cultivate a Meaningful Life, with Gwen Palafox | Autism Tips & Tools

Mon, 03 Nov 2025 18:17:25 +0100

How can autistic individuals cultivate a meaningful life?

Gwen Palafaox, a licensed psychologist, talks about how autistic individuals can find a sense of belonging and cultivate a meaningful life across employment and relationships.

With a focus on helping teens and young adults find their most fulfilled and joyful lives, Gwen has been supporting disabled and neurodivergent individuals for over two decades. She also hosts the podcast Dr. Gwen Empowered.

This conversation with Gwen Palafox was originally released on June 22, 2023.

Would you like to hear Gwen talk about how neurotypicals can interact with autistic people from a trauma-informed perspective? Follow the link in the show notes for the full conversation.

Empowering Autistic Adolescents, with Dr. Gwen Palafox

Let’s work together to transform how the world relates to autism.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

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How to Better Understand Your Autistic Loved One, with Meghan Ashley

Thu, 30 Oct 2025 16:39:43 +0100

Discover what’s possible when you really put yourself in someone else’s shoes.

Are you the parent of an autistic child? Or are you in a relationship with an autistic partner?

If you’d like to learn about how to better understand and support them, stick around for part two of my conversation with licensed professional counselor Meghan Ashley, where she talks about taking the autistic perspective.

Among other things, we discuss:

The consequences of disclosing her and her two sons’ autism to their extended family
Common struggles parents face when trying to understand their autistic children
How to create an autism-friendly home environment
The complexity of unmasking in different situations
Tips for non-autistics when interacting with autistic individuals

To learn more about Meghan Ashley and her work, you can follow her on Instagram @mperfectconsulting.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

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How to Build an Inclusive World, with Sangeeta Jain | Autism Tips & Tools

Mon, 27 Oct 2025 16:43:00 +0100

What are some action steps towards true inclusion?

Sangeeta Jain, an autism mother from India and one of our partners at the Global Autism Project, shares her thoughts on this topic.

The following clip is from a roundtable discussion with our Global Autism Community, which also featured Autistic Self-Advocate Anthony Ianni and autism sibling Vanessa Lista. This conversation was originally released on September 30, 2021.

Would you like to hear more about how to navigate social situations? Click the link below for the full conversation and be sure to subscribe to hear more from people connected to autism inspiring change and building community.

Navigating Social Situations, with Anthony Ianni, Sangeeta Jain, and Vanessa Lista

Let’s work together to transform how the world relates to autism.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

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Breaking the Stigma Around Autism, with Meghan Ashley

Thu, 23 Oct 2025 18:55:21 +0200

Discover what’s possible when dialogue opens the door.

Unfortunately, cultural stigma around autism still exists. Whether you know from personal experience, or through someone who has been impacted by it, you’ll want to listen to this episode with Meghan Ashley. Meghan is a licensed professional counselor who has her own private practice, MPerfect Consulting, where she provides support to women, people of color, autistic individuals, and clients with intersectional identities.

This episode is part one of our conversation, and we discuss:

The validity of self-diagnosis when you don’t have access to a formal diagnosis
How Meghan uses what she describes as “neurodivergent life equations” to make her everyday life easier
Parenting autistic children
How to break the stigma around autism within the Black community
Teaching her Black autistic sons about police interactions
How to avoid misinformation when searching for autism resources online

To learn more about Meghan Ashley and her work, you can follow her on Instagram @mperfectconsulting.----more----

We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

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Reading Strategies for Autistic Children, with Lois Letchford | Autism Tips & Tools

Mon, 20 Oct 2025 17:43:19 +0200

What are some changes educators need to make when teaching autistic kids how to read?

Reading specialist Lois Letchford talks about her teaching philosophy: MAPS, which stands for Mindset, Active learning, Play, and Student success.

This conversation with Lois Letchford was originally released on November 11, 2021.

Would you like to hear Lois talk more about how to think outside of the box when teaching autistic children how to read? Click the link below for the full conversation and be sure to subscribe to hear more from people connected to autism inspiring change and building community.

How to Teach Autistic Children to Read, with Lois Letchford

Let’s work together to transform how the world relates to autism.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

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Safe and Person-Centered Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), Part 2 with Dr. Shelby Dorsey

Thu, 16 Oct 2025 17:32:35 +0200

Discover what’s possible when you give room to grow.

Can Applied Behavior Analysis ever be done safely?

Dr. Shelby Dorsey –a BCBA, late-diagnosed autistic ADHDer and mother of two neurodivergent children– believes so. If you’d like to learn about a safe and personalized approach to autism services, stick around for part two of my conversation with Shelby.

Among other things, we discuss:

The harm that can arise from traditional ABA practices
What it means to be happy, relaxed and engaged when learning
How being autistic herself helps Shelby relate to her clients
Setting goals for her clients only when they’re an issue for themselves, not just for society
How to create safe and effective ABA interventions
The importance of welcoming new and diverse ideas
Resources for clinicians seeking to improve their practice

To learn more about Dr. Shelby Dorsey and her work, you can follow her on Instagram @drshelbydorsey.

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A Letter to My Autism, with Mary Johnston | Autism Tips & Tools

Mon, 13 Oct 2025 17:44:04 +0200

Did you go through a process to accept your autism diagnosis? What was it like to understand that autism is a part of who you are?

Autistic Self-Advocate Mary Johnston shares a very moving poem she wrote, titled “A Letter to My Autism” that describes her experience.

In Autism Tips & Tools, we highlight the best practical guidance from previous episodes of Autism Knows No Borders. Whether you’re a self-advocate, a family member, or a service provider, there’s something here for you!

This conversation with Mary Johnston was originally released on August 25, 2022.

Would you like to hear Mary talk about derealization and how she processes her feelings? Click the link below for the full conversation and be sure to subscribe to hear more from people connected to autism inspiring change and building community.

Derealization and Processing Feelings, with Mary Johnston

Let’s work together to transform how the world relates to autism.

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Navigating Neurodivergence, Part 1 with Dr. Shelby Dorsey

Thu, 09 Oct 2025 19:27:10 +0200

Discover what’s possible when you speak your truth.

How do autism and ADHD interact in everyday life?

Whether you know from personal experience, or you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to live with both diagnoses, you’ll want to listen to this episode with BCBA Dr. Shelby Dorsey, a late-diagnosed autistic ADHDer and mother of two neurodivergent children.

This episode is part one of our conversation with Shelby Dorsey, and we discuss:

What it was like for Shelby to receive her diagnoses later in life
How she felt misunderstood growing up
Understanding autistic strengths and challenges
How society responds differently to people with autism vs ADHD
Thriving in social interactions and personal relationships as an autistic individual
Why Shelby values authenticity over social pleasantries
How her family operates in a flexible, non-traditional way to accommodate their neurodivergent needs

To learn more about Dr. Shelby Dorsey and her work, you can follow her on Instagram @drshelbydorsey.

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Black Women in ABA, with Crystal Thompson and Brandy Collins | Autism Tips & Tools

Mon, 06 Oct 2025 18:10:59 +0200

Are you or anyone you know a woman entrepreneur, or a Black-American business owner? Have you or they ever felt like you’ve had to prove yourself in your field?

Crystal Thompson and Brandy Collins talk about their experiences as female, Black-American business owners in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis.

This conversation with Crystal Thompson and Brandy Collins was originally released on May 25, 2023.

Crystal and Brandy are members of our SkillCorps® Alumni community. If you’d like to learn more about our SkillCorps® program, please visit globalautismproject.org/skillcorps. We’re currently accepting applications for travel in 2026!

Would you like to hear Brandy and Crystal discuss the stigma around autism within the Black-American community? Click the link below for the full conversation and be sure to subscribe to hear more from people connected to autism inspiring change and building community.

Growth, Diversity, and Cultural Humility, with Brandy Collins and Crystal Thompson

Let’s work together to transform how the world relates to autism.

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Autism in the Arts, with the Global Autism Community

Thu, 02 Oct 2025 17:52:11 +0200

Discover what’s possible when art becomes your voice.

Whether through visual arts, music, dance, or theatre, art can foster community, self-expression, and personal growth. In today’s roundtable discussion, Global Autism Community members share their experiences with art. This roundtable was facilitated by community moderator Adrian Sanchez, and features Autistic Self-Advocates Robert Schmus and Sara van Koningsveld.

Among other things, we discuss:

Art as a vital outlet for self-expression
How creativity can help autistic individuals articulate their feelings
Famous autistic artists paving the way for representation in the arts
Ways to turn art into a career
Imposter syndrome as a common challenge for artists
Accessibility in art education
Art as a tool for positive change

Join us today at community.globalautismproject.org. Let’s work together to transform how the world relates to autism.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

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Why Do With Not For, with Molly Ola Pinney | Autism Tips & Tools

Mon, 29 Sep 2025 17:47:25 +0200

What does it mean to do with and not for?

The CEO of the Global Autism Project, Molly Ola Pinney, talks about how creating sustainable change begins with listening – from building local capacity of autism services with our international partners to understanding the needs of the Autistic community.

This conversation with Molly Ola Pinney was originally released on April 15, 2021.

Would you like to get more practical insights into our framework for decision-making? Click the link below for the full conversation and be sure to subscribe to hear more from people connected to autism inspiring change and building community.

Do With Not For, with Our CEO Molly Ola Pinney

Let’s work together to transform how the world relates to autism.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

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Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Part 2 with Dr. Steven C. Hayes

Thu, 25 Sep 2025 16:37:48 +0200

Discover what’s possible when you flex your mind.

How can we stay in the present moment and open our mind to difficult thoughts and feelings?

If you want to know how to enhance your emotional and cognitive flexibility, stay with us for this episode with Dr. Steven C. Hayes.

Steven Hayes is a clinical psychologist, a researcher, the originator of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Relational Frame Theory, and a co-developer of Process-Based Therapy. He has spent the past four decades studying how to ease human suffering and is one of the most cited psychologists in the world, having published 47 books and nearly 700 scientific articles.

This episode is part two of my conversation with Steven Hayes. We discuss:

How Acceptance and Commitment Therapy can help autistic people
Where the concept of “normal” came from and how it’s been harmful to the autistic community
Why Steven thinks Behavior Analysts should care about ACT
How ACT can help families
Tips for clinicians seeking to integrate ACT into their practice

To learn more about Dr. Steven Hayes and his work, please visit advocacy work, please visit stevenchayes.com.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

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Autism in the Basketball Weight Room, with Anthony Ianni | Autism Tips & Tools

Mon, 22 Sep 2025 19:36:27 +0200

How might autism change team dynamics in sports?

Anthony Ianni talks about how being autistic affected his relationship with his teammates. Anthony Ianni is an Autistic Self-Advocate, motivational speaker, and former basketball star. Anthony was the first ever NCAA Division I college basketball player with autism, playing for Michigan State University.

This conversation with Anthony Ianni was originally released on October 29, 2020.

Would you like to hear about how Anthony’s experiences being bullied compelled him to become a motivational speaker? Click the link below for the full conversation and be sure to subscribe to hear more from people connected to autism inspiring change and building community.

Bullying, Breakthroughs, and Basketball, with Anthony Ianni

Let’s work together to transform how the world relates to autism.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

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Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Part 1 with Dr. Steven C. Hayes

Thu, 18 Sep 2025 18:00:00 +0200

Discover what’s possible when you flex your mind.

How can we navigate life’s inevitable challenges more effectively?

If you’d like to know how to be flexible and adapt to changing circumstances, instead of rigidly resisting them, stick around for this episode with Dr. Steven C. Hayes.

Steven Hayes is a clinical psychologist, a researcher, the originator of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Relational Frame Theory, and a co-developer of Process-Based Therapy. He has spent the past four decades studying how to ease human suffering and empower people towards a life based on their own values.

With 47 books and nearly 700 scientific articles published, Dr. Hayes is one of the most cited psychologists in the world, and his work has been celebrated with several prestigious awards.

This episode is part one of my conversation with Steven Hayes. We discuss:

How Acceptance and Commitment Therapy works
The true meaning of acceptance
Psychological flexibility and self-awareness as key to well-being and personal growth
The importance of honoring your own personal journey

To learn more about Dr. Steven Hayes and his work, please visit advocacy work, please visit stevenchayes.com.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

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What Does “Neurodiversity-Affirming” Mean? with the Global Autism Community | Autism Tips & Tools

Mon, 15 Sep 2025 18:00:00 +0200

Our Global Autism Community members talk about what affirming means to them, and how masking affects autistic individuals.

This roundtable discussion was originally released on October 5, 2023.

Would you like to hear about best practices, client dignity, and how to create inclusive environments that respect the autonomy and individuality of autistic individuals? Click the link below for the full conversation and be sure to subscribe to hear more from people connected to autism inspiring change and building community.

Neurodiversity-Affirming Practices, with the Global Autism Community

Let’s work together to transform how the world relates to autism.

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Life with Profound Autism, Part 2 with Eileen Lamb

Thu, 11 Sep 2025 19:22:07 +0200

Discover what’s possible when you acknowledge those who can’t speak for themselves.

Does the social model of disability work for people with profound autism?

Stay with us if you’d like to hear Eileen Lamb, an Autistic Self-Advocate and the mother of a boy with profound autism, share her ideas on this topic.

This episode is part 2 of my conversation with Eileen, and we also discuss:

Her role as the Senior Director of Social Media at Autism Speaks
The controversy around Autism Speaks and how this organization has evolved in the last decade
Why Eileen thinks it’s important to make a distinction between different degrees of autism
Black-and-white thinking
Eileen’s tips for other autistic self-advocates

To learn more about Eileen Lamb and her advocacy work, please visit The Autism Cafe.

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Autism Awareness in Ecuador, with Mafer Chang | Autism Tips & Tools

Mon, 08 Sep 2025 19:14:53 +0200

What does autism awareness look like in Ecuador?

Our Global Autism Project partner from Ecuador, Mafer Chang, talks about how World Autism Awareness Day events in Ecuador have evolved to include more community participation and how she and her team keep parents engaged in services at Centro Enigma.

This conversation with Mafer Chang was originally released on May 27, 2020.

Would you like to hear more about Mafer and the work she does in Ecuador? Click the link below for the full conversation and be sure to subscribe to hear more from people connected to autism inspiring change and building community.

Parent Engagement in Ecuador, with Mafer Chang

Let’s work together to transform how the world relates to autism.

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Life with Profound Autism, Part 1 with Eileen Lamb

Thu, 04 Sep 2025 18:12:20 +0200

Discover what’s possible when you acknowledge those who can’t speak for themselves.

How does having a son with profound autism shape family dynamics?

Eileen Lamb, an Autistic Self-Advocate and the mother of three children including a boy with profound autism, is back on the show to share some updates about her family and advocacy work. Eileen is also a writer, photographer, podcast host, and the founder of The Autism Cafe, a blog with articles and resources for other parents of children on the spectrum.

This episode is part one of our conversation with Eileen. We discuss:

Her children’s development, progress and challenges, including her daughter’s selective mutism
Eileen’s two most recent books: And Yet - Here You Are and Be the One
Lessons in motherhood
Personal growth and self-discovery
Advice Eileen would give to her younger self

To learn more about Eileen Lamb and her advocacy work, please visit The Autism Cafe.

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Autism Services for Black American Families, with Maria Davis-Pierre | Autism Tips & Tools

Tue, 02 Sep 2025 17:00:00 +0200

How does the experience of Black families with autistic loved ones differ from that of other cultures?

Maria Davis-Pierre shares how to develop culturally-responsive treatment plans, as well as how stress and burnout might impact Black families differently.

Maria is the mother of an autistic young girl, a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, and the Founder and CEO of Autism in Black Inc., a Florida-based organization dedicated to raising autism awareness and reducing the stigma within the Black community.

This conversation with Maria Davis-Pierre was originally released on September 4, 2021.

Would you like to hear about how religion, misunderstanding autism, and distrust of the health care system contribute to misdiagnosis in Black American children? Click the link below for the full conversation and be sure to subscribe to hear more from people connected to autism inspiring change and building community.

Autism in the Black American Community, with Maria Davis-Pierre | TBT

Let’s work together to transform how the world relates to autism.

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How to Prevent Bullying in the Workplace, with Jim Hogan | TBT

Thu, 28 Aug 2025 17:46:00 +0200

Discover what’s possible when you transform others with kindness.

Have you ever been mistreated at work for being autistic? Or do you have autistic coworkers whom you’d like to help feel included?

If either applies to you or anyone you know, you’ll want to listen to this conversation with Jim Hogan, an autistic computer scientist who has helped Google be more neuroinclusive.

Among other things, we discuss:

Jim losing his brother at a young age
Being bullied both as a child and as an adult
How autism affects Jim’s everyday life
Traumatic experiences working in a hostile environment
Finding a place to belong at Google
Fostering psychological safety in the workplace
The key to innovation in tech
Examples of accessible technology
Disclosing your autism and asking for accommodations at the workplace
Advice for people who want to be better allies of autistic people

—---------

This conversation with Jim Hogan was originally released on August 4, 2022.

Jim is both the Principal Innovation Strategist at Google Cloud and the VP of Accessibility in Technology for Google’s Disability Alliance.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

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Benefits of Music Therapy, with Pamela Fisher | Autism Tips & Tools

Mon, 25 Aug 2025 18:13:23 +0200

What are the benefits of music therapy for autistic people?

Listen to Registered Music Therapist Pamela Fisher demonstrate different goals she may work on in a session.

This conversation with Pamela Fisher was originally released on August 13, 2020.

Would you like to hear Pamela Fisher talk about a musical kit she’s created to target the different sensory needs a child may have? Click the link below for the full conversation and be sure to subscribe to hear more from people connected to autism inspiring change and building community.

Music Therapy and Autism in Australia, with Pamela Fisher | TBT

Let’s work together to transform how the world relates to autism.

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Autism in Females, Part 2 with Olivia Hops | TBT

Thu, 21 Aug 2025 19:52:48 +0200

Discover what’s possible when you mix your own batter.

Do you know any recently-diagnosed autistic women trying to figure out what support they need?

This episode is part two of my conversation with Olivia Hops, a late-diagnosed Autistic Self-Advocate and YouTuber from California. She talks about how she’s learned to manage anxiety and meltdowns since receiving her autism diagnosis.

Among other things, we discuss:

Selective mutism during meltdowns
The importance of coping mechanisms and support systems
Olivia’s autistic strengths
Resources for other autistic business owners
Tips for newly diagnosed autistic females

To learn more about Olivia Hops and her work, please visit https://oliviahops.org/.

—---------

This episode is part one of our conversation with Olivia Hops, which was originally released on March 3, 2022.

Olivia is the owner of Unbaked Bar, an online edible cookie dough shop, and her mission is to help autistic adults become successful business owners. She also uses her YouTube channel to spread awareness of how autism presents differently for females.

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How to Improve Interdisciplinary Collaboration in the Classroom, with Sasha Long | Autism Tips & Tools

Mon, 18 Aug 2025 18:01:13 +0200

How can professionals in the school setting work together to improve student outcomes?

Sasha Long has a unique perspective, given her experience on both sides of collaborative efforts. Listen to her ideas on how to improve collaboration between teachers and specialists.

This conversation with Sasha Long was originally released on October 8, 2020.

Would you like to hear Sasha Long talk about common challenges teachers face and ways to empower paraprofessionals in the classroom? Click the link below for the full conversation and be sure to subscribe to hear more from people connected to autism inspiring change and building community.

Classroom Tips and Strategies from The Autism Helper, with Sasha Long | TBT

Let’s work together to transform how the world relates to autism.

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Autism in Females, Part 1 with Olivia Hops | TBT

Thu, 14 Aug 2025 18:30:00 +0200

Discover what’s possible when you mix your own batter.

Why are so many autistic females late-diagnosed?

If you’ve ever asked this question yourself, listen to Olivia Hops, a late-diagnosed Autistic Self-Advocate and YouTuber from California, explain some of the possible reasons.

Among other things, we discuss:

Olivia’s journey of being diagnosed with autism at age 24
The underdiagnosis of females on the spectrum
Some ways in which Olivia masked while growing up
How autism affects her daily life
Building a business as an autistic adult

To learn more about Olivia Hops and her work, please visit https://oliviahops.org/.

—---------

This episode is part one of our conversation with Olivia Hops, which was originally released on March 3, 2022.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

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Bridging the Gap Between Autistics and Non-Autistics, with Eren Niederhoffer | Autism Tips & Tools

Mon, 11 Aug 2025 18:00:00 +0200

Do social interactions sometimes feel like they come with an unwritten rulebook you never received?

Listen to these tips from Eren Niederhoffer, an Autistic Self-Advocate, community networker, and public speaker.

This conversation with Eren Niederhoffer was originally released on June 27, 2024.

Would you like to hear Eren talk about how to establish safe social environments? Click the link below for the full conversation and be sure to subscribe to hear more from people connected to autism inspiring change and building community.

Networking and Friendship Circles | Part 2 with Eren Niederhoffer

Let’s work together to transform how the world relates to autism.

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Self-Awareness and Emotional Intelligence, Part 2 with Paul Micallef | TBT

Thu, 07 Aug 2025 18:00:00 +0200

Discover what’s possible when you dare to be self-aware.

Do you find it difficult to develop authentic relationships?

This episode is part two of my conversation with Paul Micallef. He talks about the importance of listening and self-awareness when managing relationships.

Among other things, we discuss:

Why it’s important to teach emotional intelligence
Navigating neurodivergent relationships
Disclosing your autism vs. keeping it private
The need to change people’s perceptions about autism
Misconceptions about autism
The Double Empathy Problem
Tips for autistic people who are struggling to build relationships

To learn more about Paul Micallef and his work, please visit autismfromtheinside.com.au.

—---------

This conversation with Paul Micallef was originally released on September 15, 2022.

A former aerospace engineer with a passion for teaching, Paul Micallef publishes videos about autism on his YouTube channel Autism From The Inside. He also offers an autism-friendly online course on emotional intelligence, as well as relationship coaching for autistic people and their loved ones.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

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How to Help Adolescents Transition into Adulthood, with Robert Schmus | Autism Tips & Tools

Tue, 05 Aug 2025 17:46:10 +0200

Do you want to help your autistic teen transition into adulthood?

Listen to these tips from Robert Schmus, an Autistic Self-Advocate, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and blogger for The Mighty. As a therapist, he provides individual and group sessions at a residential home for adolescents with autism and other co-occurring diagnoses.

This conversation with Robert Schmus was originally released on July 22, 2021.

Would you like to hear Robert talk about how to help autistic people find jobs? Click the link below for the full conversation and be sure to subscribe to hear more from people connected to autism inspiring change and building community.

Transitioning into Adulthood, with Robert Schmus

Let’s work together to transform how the world relates to autism.

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Self-Awareness and Emotional Intelligence, Part 1 with Paul Micallef | TBT

Mon, 04 Aug 2025 12:45:00 +0200

Discover what’s possible when you dare to be self-aware.

Do you struggle with regulating your emotions?

Stick around and listen to Paul Micallef, an Autistic Self-Advocate and YouTuber from Australia, share how he learned emotional intelligence and understood himself, and others, better.

Among other things, we discuss:

Paul discovering his autism
Ways in which he feels misunderstood
What made Paul decide drastically change his appearance
Masking and burnout
Misconceptions about autism
How to read subtle social cues and understand mixed messages
The importance of developing self-awareness and regulating emotions
How to manage relationships

To learn more about Paul Micallef and his work, please visit autismfromtheinside.com.au.

—---------

This conversation with Paul Micallef was originally released on September 15, 2022.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

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How to Improve Your Clinical Skill Sets, with Dr. Megan DeLeon | Autism Tips & Tools

Mon, 28 Jul 2025 17:58:54 +0200

Are you a clinician looking to improve your practice?

Dr. Megan DeLeon, a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and the founder of the Do Better Movement, a professional development initiative for behavior analysts aimed at developing humane, culturally-informed, and compassionate interventions, talks about how behavior analysts can do better in the areas of early intervention and addressing challenging behaviors.

This conversation with Dr. Megan DeLeon was originally released on November 12, 2020.

Would you like to hear Megan talk about how to improve collaboration with parents or other professionals and provide services with compassion? Click the link below for the full conversation and be sure to subscribe to hear more from people connected to autism inspiring change and building community.

The Do Better Movement, with Dr. Megan DeLeon | TBT

Let’s work together to transform how the world relates to autism.

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How to be a Better Ally to the Autistic Community, Part 3 with Terra Vance and Kate Jones | TBT

Thu, 24 Jul 2025 18:00:00 +0200

Discover what’s possible when you listen to autistic voices.

Do you want to learn how you can better support your autistic friends, family members, or co-workers?

Terra Vance is the founder of NeuroClastic, an autistic-led non-profit organization that publishes articles by autistic writers and professionals advocating for autistic representation and human rights. Kate Jones is an artist and visual designer at NeuroClastic.

In this episode, we discuss:

Why some autistic people are against ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis)
How to teach neurotypical children to interact with autistic peers
Utilizing special interests to optimize learning
Collectivism and interdependence as crucial for supporting autistic people
Advice for non-autistics on how to be better allies to the autistic community

—---------

This conversation with Terra Vance & Kate Jones was originally released on October 7, 2021.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

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What to Look for in a Service Provider, with Kathryn Peterson | Autism Tips & Tools

Mon, 21 Jul 2025 17:57:54 +0200

Has your child recently been diagnosed with autism? Are you feeling lost or overwhelmed with exploring what services are available?

Kathryn Peterson, a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and the Founder of 2 Steps Forward Consulting, a company offering early-intervention coaching to help parents navigate the system, shares what to look for in a service provider and how parents can collaborate in setting and prioritizing goals.

This conversation with Kathryn Peterson was originally released on March 29, 2024.

Would you like to hear what the autism-diagnosis process typically looks like for parents, from recognizing early signs in their children to receiving services? Click the link below for the full conversation and be sure to subscribe to hear more from people connected to autism inspiring change and building community.

Your Child Has Received an Autism Diagnosis, Now What? | Part 1 with Kathryn Petersen

Let’s work together to transform how the world relates to autism.

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Autistic Empathy, Part 2 with Terra Vance and Kate Jones | TBT

Thu, 17 Jul 2025 18:18:06 +0200

Discover what’s possible when communication breaks down both ways.

Do you ever feel misunderstood?

In this episode, we discuss:

Damien Milton’s theory, ‘The Double Empathy Problem’
Why Terra and Kate don’t feel the need to uphold hierarchies and the status quo
How autistic people show empathy differently from non-autistic people
How abstract communication can be confusing and lead to misunderstandings

—---------

This conversation with Terra Vance & Kate Jones was originally released on October 7, 2021.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

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Special Interests, with Thomas Iland | Autism Tips & Tools

Mon, 14 Jul 2025 19:10:51 +0200

What’s your special interest?

Thomas Iland, an Autistic Self-Advocate and public speaker, talks about how his special interest in Batman helped him accept his autism diagnosis and overcome hardships.

This roundtable discussion with our Global Autism Community was originally released on December 29, 2023.

Would you like to hear the rest of the group talk about their special interests and the role they play in their lives? Click the link below for the full conversation and be sure to subscribe to hear more from people connected to autism inspiring change and building community.

Special Interests, with the Global Autism Community

Let’s work together to transform how the world relates to autism.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

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Autistic Burnout, Part 1 with Terra Vance and Kate Jones | TBT

Thu, 10 Jul 2025 20:03:04 +0200

Discover what’s possible when you love someone as they are.

Have you ever experienced burnout and anxiety? Do you feel exhausted from having to constantly mask in social situations.

Terra Vance is the Founder of NeuroClastic, an autistic-led non-profit organization that publishes articles by autistic writers and professionals advocating for autistic representation and human rights. Kate Jones is an artist and visual designer at NeuroClastic.

In this episode, we discuss:

NeuroClastic’s mission
Being diagnosed later in life and growing up without proper support
Autistic burnout and anxiety
Why saying someone is “high-functioning” or “low-functioning” doesn’t describe what’s really happening
The medical vs social models of disability
The consequences of masking
A piece of art by Kate that describes the autistic experience when heavy demands are placed, and an alternative piece that displays permissions and positive affirmations

To learn more about Terra, Kate, and NeuroClastic, please visit neuroclastic.com.

This episode is part one of my conversation with Terra Vance & Kate Jones, which was originally released on October 7, 2021.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

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Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project

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The Glass Child, with Ali Carbone | Autism Tips & Tools

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 18:00:00 +0200

What’s your relationship with your siblings?

Ali Carbone, a Brooklyn-based writer and the oldest sibling to three autistic brothers, talks about how being the non-autistic sibling shaped her identity and what it means to be the glass child.

The following clip is from our conversation with Ali Carbone, originally released on November 3, 2023.

Would you like to hear Ali talk about her breakthroughs in therapy and how she reconnected with her true identity? Click the link below for the full conversation and be sure to subscribe to hear more from people connected to autism inspiring change and building community.

Finding My Own Identity, with Ali Carbone

Let’s work together to transform how the world relates to autism.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

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What are the Four A’s of Autism? Part 2 with Dr. Stephen Shore | TBT

Thu, 03 Jul 2025 18:21:30 +0200

Discover what’s possible when A is for action.

What does autism support look like across the globe?

In part two of our conversation with Dr. Stephen Shore, he delves into how to move from autism awareness to autism acceptance.

We discuss:

Autism awareness around the world
Challenges in autism acceptance
Practicing cultural humility
The need for strength-based approaches and recognizing diverse abilities within the autistic community
Meaningful inclusion strategies
Disclosure and self-advocacy

To learn more about Dr. Stephen Shore, please visit: https://drstephenshore.com/.

—---------

This conversation with Dr. Stephen Shore was originally released on August 19, 2021.

Dr. Stephen Shore has written several books, including College for Students with Disabilities, Understanding Autism for Dummies, Ask and Tell, and Beyond the Wall. Currently, Dr. Shore serves on the boards of Autism Speaks, the Asperger Syndrome and High Functioning Autism Association, the US Autism and Asperger Association, the Scientific Council of OAR, and other autism related organizations. He formerly headed the Asperger’s Association of New England and was on the board of the Autism Society of America.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project

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Travel Strategies, with Dawn Barclay | Autism Tips & Tools

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 18:00:00 +0200

Want to prepare your child for an upcoming vacation?

Dawn Barclay, a travel writer, shares travel tips for families with autistic loved ones, some creative vacation ideas, and the importance of building itineraries that include your children’s special interests.

The following clip is from our conversation with Dawn Barclay, originally released on March 23, 2023.

Would you like to hear Dawn talk about how to create a supportive travel environment for children with sensitivities? Click the link below for the full conversation and be sure to subscribe to hear more from people connected to autism inspiring change and building community.

Traveling Different, with Dawn Barclay

Let’s work together to transform how the world relates to autism.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

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What are the Four A's of Autism? Part 1 with Dr. Stephen Shore | TBT

Thu, 26 Jun 2025 18:10:00 +0200

Discover what’s possible when A is for action.

Dr. Stephen Shore is an autistic professor of special education at Adelphi University. He has written several books, including College for Students with Disabilities, Understanding Autism for Dummies, Ask and Tell, and Beyond the Wall.

Currently, Dr. Shore serves on the boards of Autism Speaks, the Asperger Syndrome and High Functioning Autism Association, the US Autism and Asperger Association, the Scientific Council of OAR, and other autism-related organizations. He formerly headed the Asperger’s Association of New England and was on the board of the Autism Society of America.

In this conversation, we discuss:

Stephen’s background and how his parents helped in his development
How autism affects his everyday life
His strengths related to autism
Benefits of music for autistic people
What Stephen describes as “The 4 A's of Autism”
The controversies surrounding ABA therapy and Autism Speaks
Awareness of autism around the world
Meaningful inclusion strategies
Disclosure and self-advocacy

For more information about Dr. Shore and his work, please visit drstephenshore.com.

This episode with Dr. Stephen Shore was originally released on August 19, 2021.

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If you’re a self-advocate wanting to share your life experiences, or a professional working in the field of autism education, our SkillCorps® volunteer program is an opportunity you don’t want to miss!

Work alongside our Global Autism Partners to help ensure that all autistic individuals around the world have access to quality education and services.

To learn more about our SkillCorps® program, check out episodes 4, 17, 53, and 66, featuring SkillCorps® volunteers that have been to our partner sites in India, The Netherlands, Indonesia, Dominican Republic, and Kenya, to name a few. Listen to them talk about their transformative experiences and see what SkillCorps® can offer you!

Begin your journey today at globalautismproject.org/skillcorps. As a listener of our show, take advantage of the coupon code AUTISMPODCAST to waive the application fee.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project

We would love to hear your feedback about the show. Please fill out this short survey to let us know your thoughts: Listener Survey.

Dating on the Spectrum, with Kaelynn Parlow | Autism Tips & Tools

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 18:00:00 +0200

Why do some autistic people struggle to find love?

Kaelynn Parlow, an Autistic Self-Advocate and participant on the second season of the Netflix reality series, Love on the Spectrum, shares her ideas on this topic. Kaelynn is also a Registered Behavior Technician, or RBT for short.

The following clip is from our conversation with Kaelynn Parlow, originally released on January 12, 2023.

Would you like to hear Kaelynn talk about her work in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis and how she teaches her clients impactful social skills? Click the link below for the full conversation and be sure to subscribe to hear more from people connected to autism inspiring change and building community.

’Love on the Spectrum’ and Teaching Social Skills, with Kaelynn Partlow

Let’s work together to transform how the world relates to autism.

----more----

We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project

We would love to hear your feedback about the show. Please fill out this short survey to let us know your thoughts: Listener Survey

Social Thinking, with Michelle Garcia Winner | TBT

Thu, 19 Jun 2025 18:00:00 +0200

Discover what’s possible when we relate through emotions.

A globally recognized thought leader, author, speaker, and social-cognitive therapist, Michelle Garcia Winner is the Founder and CEO of Social Thinking, a company devoted to helping individuals gain stronger social awareness and social functioning skills through the Social Thinking Methodology.

Across her 30-year career, Michelle has created numerous evidence-based strategies, treatment frameworks, and curricula to help interventionists develop social competencies in those they support.

In today’s conversation, we discuss:

Grouping students based on social needs rather than diagnostic labels
How to increase social competence through 4 main steps: attend, interpret, problem-solve, and respond
Complex social concepts, like nuanced perspective taking
What a typical session at Michelle’s clinic might look like
Why small talk is embedded in most social situations
Autistic empathy
Navigating the dating world
Maintaining friendships
Tips for autistic people going into a job interview

To learn more about Michelle and her work, please visit our show notes at socialthinking.com.

This episode with Michelle Garcia Winner was originally released on March 2, 2023.

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Accommodations in the Workplace, with Maxwell Huffman and Jen Goubeaud | Autism Tips & Tools

Mon, 16 Jun 2025 19:20:35 +0200

What are commonly requested accommodations in the workplace? How can employers successfully hire and train neurodiverse staff?

Maxwell Huffman and Jen Goubeaud of Aspiritech, Aspiritech, a quality-assurance company with over 90% of autistic employees, share their insights on these topics.

Maxwell is Autistic himself and oversees operations across Aspiritech’s program lines, including software quality assurance, accessibility, and data services. And Jen, who has ADHD, is the program manager for the company’s accessibility program line.

The following clip is from our conversation with Maxwell Huffman and Jen Goubeaud, originally released on February 15, 2024.

Would you like to hear Jen and Maxwell talk about accessibility in digital spaces and how to create opportunities for neurodivergent employees to thrive? Click the link below for the full conversation and be sure to subscribe to hear more from people connected to autism inspiring change and building community.

How to Increase Neurodiversity in the Workplace | Part 1 with Maxwell Huffman and Jen Goubeaud

Let’s work together to transform how the world relates to autism.

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Why the World Needs All Kinds of Minds, Part 2 with Dr. Temple Grandin | TBT

Thu, 12 Jun 2025 18:00:00 +0200

Discover what’s possible when different brains come together.

Dr. Temple Grandin is well known for both her pioneer work as an autism advocate and her lifelong dedication to animal welfare. Through groundbreaking research aimed at understanding her own autistic mind, Dr. Grandin propelled the awareness of autism during a time when very little was known of it. She is an incredible source of hope for children with autism, their parents, and anyone with a dream.

In this episode, we discuss:

The spectrum of autism needs
The evolution of diagnostic criteria
Dr. Grandin’s opinion on the removal of Asperger's syndrome from the DSM-5 and the classification of autism under a single umbrella
The neurodiversity movement
ABA therapy
Teaching autism awareness in schools
Mental health challenges faced by autistic individuals
Tips for autistic self-advocates, encouraging targeted advocacy and constructive action to make a difference in their communities

For more information about Dr. Grandin and her work, please visit:

https://www.templegrandin.com/

https://www.grandin.com/

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This conversation with Dr. Temple Grandin was originally released on December 10, 2020.

Dr. Grandin’s most recent book Autism and Education: The Way I See It: What Parents and Teachers Need to Know was published in April 2023.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

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Older Autistic Adults, with Ryan Litchfield | Autism Tips & Tools

Mon, 09 Jun 2025 18:00:00 +0200

What are special challenges that older autistic adults face?

Ryan Litchfield, an Autism and Disability Self-Advocate, job developer, and grant and administrator writer, shares his ideas on this topic.

The following clip is from our conversation with Ryan Litchfield, originally released on May 13, 2021.

Would you like to hear Ryan’s experience receiving ABA therapy and how professionals can provide better support for their clients? Click the link below for the full conversation and be sure to subscribe to hear more from people connected to autism inspiring change and building community.

Receiving ABA and the Need for Research in Older Adults, with Ryan Litchfield

Let’s work together to transform how the world relates to autism.

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#ActuallyAutistic, with Rachel Barcellona | Autism Tips & Tools

Mon, 02 Jun 2025 18:00:00 +0200

What is the #ActuallyAutistic Movement? How can labels change our perspectives about people?

Rachel Barcellona, an Autistic Self-Advocate, model, author, and pageant winner, shares her ideas on these topics, as well as the puzzle piece symbol, person-first or identity-first language, and autism representation in the media.

Welcome to Autism Tips &Tools, where we highlight the best practical guidance from previous episodes of Autism Knows No Borders. Whether you’re a self-advocate, a family member, or a service provider, there’s something here for you!

The following clip is from our conversation with Rachel Barcellona, originally released on May 28, 2020.

Would you like to hear Rachel talking about how pageantry helped her express herself and build confidence? Click the link below for the full conversation and be sure to subscribe to hear more from people connected to autism inspiring change and building community.

The Ability Beyond Disabilities, with Rachel Barcellona | TBT

Let’s work together to transform how the world relates to autism.

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The Neurodiversity Movement, Part 2 with Brian Middleton | TBT

Thu, 29 May 2025 18:00:00 +0200

Discover what’s possible when you acknowledge your mistakes.

Brian Middleton is an Autistic Self-Advocate, a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, and the creator of the Bearded Behaviorist, an initiative dedicated to the dissemination of behavior science and the inclusion of trauma-informed care standards in applied behavior analysis and other human services.

In this episode, we talk about:

Receiving an autism diagnosis as an adult
Why Brian thinks autism can be seen as both a disorder and a neurotype
The disagreement between the neurodiversity movement and the field of ABA
Why stimming and self regulation are important
The need for trauma-informed care in behavior analysis
Striving for a more compassionate approach to supporting autistic individuals

This episode is part two of our conversation with Brian Middleton, which was originally released on October 22, 2020.

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What is Ableism? with Haley Moss | Autism Tips & Tools

Mon, 26 May 2025 18:00:00 +0200

What is ableism? How can someone who means well actually end up harming people with disabilities?

Haley Moss, an autistic attorney, author, and artist, shares her ideas on these topics.

The following clip is from our conversation with Haley Moss, originally released on July 16, 2020.

Would you like to hear Haley talking about what a sensory overload feels like for her and how her autistic strengths have advanced her career? Click the link below for the full conversation and be sure to subscribe to hear more from people connected to autism inspiring change and building community.

Accessibility at the Forefront, with Haley Moss | TBT

Let’s work together to transform how the world relates to autism.

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Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Part 1 with Brian Middleton | TBT

Thu, 22 May 2025 20:54:25 +0200

Discover what’s possible when you beard the lion in his den.

In this episode, we talk about:

What it was like for Brian to be bullied in school
Why he decided to enter the field of behavior analysis
The basic components of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Relational Frame Theory and its connection to ACT
The intersection of ACT and Behavior Analysis

This episode with Brian Middleton was originally released on October 22, 2020.

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Overcoming Obstacles, with the Global Autism Community

Thu, 15 May 2025 22:25:57 +0200

Discover what’s possible when obstacles become opportunities.

This week’s episode is a recording of one of our Global Autism Community exclusive events!

The topic of this roundtable discussion was Overcoming Obstacles. Participating in this event were autism self-advocates Stephanie De Kremer, Cassidy Hooper, Jeff Snyder, and David Sharif, as well as community members Kia Burton and Karen Shapiro.

As with previous live event recordings, the sound quality is a bit inconsistent because we hadn’t originally planned it as a podcast episode. However, I assure you that the stories and perspectives shared are really worth listening to.

In today’s conversation, we discuss:

Setting boundaries
Finding a job
Making friends
Dating
Maintaining relationships

This episode with The Global Autism Community was originally released on November 4, 2021.

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Roundtable discussions like the one you’ll hear today are open exclusively for members of our online Global Autism Community. We select a different theme each month, and our moderators monitor posts daily to ensure that our online space remains safe and respectful. If you’d like to attend and participate in any of our future events, you can sign up today at community.globalautismproject.org.

To learn more about the participants in this discussion, please visit:

Stephanie De Kremer - IG @kiara_wrestler

Cassidy Hooper - The Diverse Butterfly Podcast

Jeff Snyder - Going the Distance Blog

David Sharif - IG @david_thetraveler

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

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A Path to a Quality Autistic Life, with Becca Lory Hector | TBT

Thu, 08 May 2025 19:30:34 +0200

Discover what’s possible when you live a life you don’t need a vacation from.

Diagnosed on the autism spectrum as an adult, Becca Lory Hector is an active autism and neurodiversity advocate, consultant, public speaker, and author. She offers a 3-unit personal development course for autistic adults called Self-Defined Living: A Path to a Quality Autistic Life. Becca also posts weekly live streams on her YouTube channel to encourage others to share both their challenges and what they’re grateful for.

In today’s conversation, we discuss:

Becca’s emotional roller coaster of finding out about her autism
Growing up misdiagnosed and heavily medicated
Unmasking and prioritizing self-care
The evolutionary benefit of difference
What society can do to make life easier for autistic people
Building on autistic strengths
Why she decided to develop her course
How to get out of autistic inertia
Advice for newly diagnosed autistic adults

To learn more about Becca Lory Hector and her work, please visit beccalory.com.

This episode with Becca Lory Hector was originally released on July 1, 2021.

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Are you a self-advocate willing to share your experiences and educate others? Are you a professional seeking to hear directly from autistic voices and improve your practice? Are you a family member hoping to support and empower your loved one? Whatever your role related to autism is, you can join our Global Autism Community to connect and collaborate with people all over the world.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project

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Parenting Made Special in Singapore, with Ayu Suparman | TBT

Thu, 01 May 2025 18:00:00 +0200

Discover what’s possible when safety invites honesty.

Ayu Suparman is a mother to two young boys, the eldest being on the autism spectrum. Living in Singapore, she and her husband host a podcast called Parents Made Special, in which they share information and resources for families in their community.

In today’s conversation, Ayu talks about the different levels of autism awareness across Singapore’s cultural landscape, the types of services available for families, the questions she asks herself regarding her son’s future, how she and her husband work as a team, and why they started their podcast.

For more information about Ayu Suparman, please follow her journey on Instagram @hitaandayu.

This episode with Ayu Suparman was originally released February 18, 2021.

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Celebrating Five Years, with Global Autism Community

Thu, 24 Apr 2025 18:00:00 +0200

Discover what’s possible when what you have to say matters.

Would you like to share your experiences with like-minded people who can relate to the same struggles? Are you looking for an easy way to form friendships and not feel isolated?

If so, you’ll want to listen to this episode, where members of our Global Autism Community talk about how being part of our online space has helped them feel support, connection, and a sense of belonging.

This week we are celebrating the 5-year anniversary of this podcast, as well as the 4-year anniversary of our online Global Autism Community!

It’s been an eye-opening journey that continues to surprise, inspire, and move us. We’ve learned so much from self-advocates sharing their experiences, family members talking about acceptance, and professionals discussing best practices in the field of autism services.

We’ve covered a wide range of topics, such as ableism, bullying, masking, the neurodiversity movement, intersectionality, disability rights, dating, communication, personal growth, cultural humility, and international collaboration, and even controversial topics like person-first vs. identity-first language, the puzzle-piece symbol, and ABA therapy.

Five years after launching Autism Knows No Borders, we are more energized than ever to keep going. There are still countless meaningful stories out there, and we want to bring them to you. We will continue to elevate autistic voices. We want their stories to keep traveling across the world, so that more and more people can join us in the cause for autism awareness, acceptance, and hope.

A huge thank you to all of our guests for educating us with their unique perspectives, as well as to our team members who keep making this podcast happen: our visual creator, social media manager, and community moderator, Danielle Terrell; our administrative associate, Aldjun Medenilla; and our sound designer and editor, Marc Aliana.

And, of course, many thanks to you, our dedicated listeners, for tuning in each week, sharing your takeaways, and ultimately giving meaning to what we’re doing.

If you’re a new listener, we’d like to welcome you as well!

Our online Global Autism Community has been growing over the past few years. This is a space where members have the possibility to share insights, listen to different perspectives, and create real change in their own communities – whether they’re autistic individuals, family members, or service providers.

Special shout out to our community moderators, Danielle Terrell, Hattie-Angelys Fox, Adrian Sanchez, and Bob Schmus. Our moderators monitor posts daily to ensure that our online space remains safe and respectful. If you’re interested in joining our moderator team, you can send me a direct message in the community.

Last week, some members of our community got together virtually to celebrate our anniversary and reflect on the podcast’s impact over the years. Today you’ll hear an excerpt from that special event, featuring our CEO Molly Pinney and Autistic Self-Advocates Hattie-Angelys Fox, Amira Collantes, Adrian Sanchez, Mary Johnston, and Corben Havener.

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Whatever your connection to autism is, we’d love to hear your takeaways from this episode in our online Global Autism Community, where hundreds of people from all over the world come together to support each other and know that they’re not alone.

Join us today at community.globalautismproject.org. Let’s work together to transform how the world relates to autism.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project

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Stress Management, with the Global Autism Community

Fri, 18 Apr 2025 17:09:22 +0200

Discover what’s possible when you put out the fire before burning out.

Are you looking for tips on how to alleviate stress? Stick around, because today’s episode is a Global Autism Community roundtable about Stress Management, featuring Autistic Self-Advocates Hattie-Angelys Fox, Adrian Sanchez, Mary Johnston, and Corben Havener. The CEO of the Global Autism Project, Molly Pinney, also joined us at the end.

Among other things, we discuss:

Various stress triggers, including personal responsibilities, societal pressures, and the impact of social media
Effective strategies for managing stress
Engaging in self-care practices
Creativity as a tool for stress relief
Physical activities to improve mental clarity
Shifting your perspective through positive thinking
The importance of sharing experiences with your community and feeling supported by them

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Join us today at community.globalautismproject.org. Let’s work together to transform how the world relates to autism.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project

We would love to hear your feedback about the show. Please fill out this short survey to let us know your thoughts: Listener Survey

Defining Love, with the Global Autism Community

Thu, 10 Apr 2025 18:00:00 +0200

Discover what’s possible when you love yourself first.

Do you struggle with expressing love for others, whether in friendships or romantic relationships? Do you ever feel pressure to live up to unrealistic ideas of love as represented in the media? How would you describe your own relationship with yourself?

If you’d like to hear about the many facets of love, particularly in the context of autism and neurodiversity, stick around for today’s episode. The following roundtable about Defining Love was facilitated by Global Autism Community moderator Bob Schmus, and it features Autistic Self-Advocates Hattie-Angelys Fox and Adrian Sanchez, as well as community member Danielle Terrell.

Among other things, they discuss:

Personal definitions of love and its various forms
Challenges of expressing love
The impact of media on perceptions of love
Self-love as a foundation for healthy relationships
The complexities of love in neurodivergent communities
Wanting vs. needing someone
Respecting differences in relationships
Accepting one’s own autism
Love from parents to children

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Join us today at community.globalautismproject.org. Let’s work together to transform how the world relates to autism.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project

We would love to hear your feedback about the show. Please fill out this short survey to let us know your thoughts: Listener Survey

Encouraging Acceptance in Saudi Arabia, with Nora Alharbi | TBT

Thu, 03 Apr 2025 18:00:00 +0200

Discover what’s possible when a mother learns her child’s language.

Nora Alharbi is a teacher and a mother to four children in Saudi Arabia. Her second child, Fares, is autistic. Fares receives services at Namaee Center, our partner site in Riyadh.

In this conversation, we discuss:

The level of autism awareness in Saudi Arabia and what services are available for families there
How Nora came to accept her son’s autism
Fares’ autistic strengths and relationship with his siblings
How his communication skills have developed since attending Namaee Center
Advice for other parents who may be struggling with accepting their child’s diagnosis

Are you a parent wanting to connect with other parents who may be going through similar experiences? You can find support and resources in our Global Autism Community.

Just a reminder, our community is open to anyone related to autism. Whether you’re a self-advocate, a family member, or a professional in the field, you can participate in these important conversations on our platform.

This episode with Nora Alharbi was originally released on May 20, 2021.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project

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Neurodiversity in Popular Cartoon Characters, with Jeff Snyder | TBT

Thu, 27 Mar 2025 18:00:00 +0100

Discover what’s possible when fiction comes to life.

Jeff Snyder is an autism self-advocate from Massachusetts. As a public speaker, he is passionate about bringing awareness to special education and employment support. In 2020, Jeff contributed to This is Autism, a book by Jessica Leictweisz and Aidan Allman Cooper in which he gave his account of growing up with autism. Jeff is also a moderator of our Autism Knows No Borders Facebook group.

Some of the topics we discuss in today’s conversation include neurodiversity in movie characters, dealing with sensory issues, and accommodations during school safety drills. Jeff also offers advice about how to respond to someone experiencing a sensory overload.

For more information about Jeff Snyder, please visit:

Jeff Snyder, Disabilities Self-Advocate

This episode with Jeff Snyder was originally released on February 11, 2021.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

Join our Facebook group: Autism Knows No Borders

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project

We would love to hear your feedback about the show. Please fill out this short survey to let us know your thoughts: Listener Survey.

Sibling Support and Physical Therapy, with Vanessa Lista | TBT

Thu, 20 Mar 2025 18:00:00 +0100

Discover what’s possible when relationships are strengthened by listening.

Vanessa Lista's autistic older brother, Billy, has been her inspiration her whole life. Currently studying kinesiology and psychology in college, Vanessa’s goal is to become a pediatric physical therapist.

In this conversation, we discuss:

How Vanessa’s relationship with her brother has evolved over the years
Why she admires Billy
How she’s been advocating for him from a young age
Her experiences as a behavior therapist
What physical therapy is and example goals that can be targeted
Advice to other siblings of autistic individuals

This episode with Vanessa Lista was originally released on June 10, 2021.

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Are you a sibling wanting to connect with others going through similar experiences? You can find a supportive network of family members, professionals, and self-advocates in our Global Autism Community. Whatever your role is related to autism, you can participate in these important conversations on our platform.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project

We would love to hear your feedback about the show. Please fill out this short survey to let us know your thoughts: Listener Survey.

New Year, New Routines, with the Global Autism Community

Thu, 13 Mar 2025 18:00:00 +0100

Discover what’s possible when you stick to healthy habits.

The start of a new year usually motivates people to realign priorities and establish new routines. Some even pick a guiding word for the year to provide focus. What intentions did you set at the beginning of 2025? Are you staying on track to reach your goals?

If you’d like to learn about creating and maintaining habits, stick around for today’s episode. The following roundtable was facilitated by Global Autism Community moderator Danielle Terrell, and it features Autistic Self-Advocates Hattie Angelys-Fox, Bob Schmus and Eren Neiderhoffer.

Among other things, they discuss:

Strategies to set and achieve goals for the new year, which can actually be applied at any other time
The importance of community
Finding accountability partners and support systems
Setting boundaries for well-being

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Join us today at community.globalautismproject.org. Let’s work together to transform how the world relates to autism.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project

We would love to hear your feedback about the show. Please fill out this short survey to let us know your thoughts: Listener Survey

Therapeutic Tennis at Love Serving Autism, with Lisa Pugliese-LaCroix | TBT

Thu, 06 Mar 2025 18:00:00 +0100

Discover what’s possible when skills are transferred off the court.

Lisa Pugliese-LaCroix is a Speech-Language Pathologist, a former collegiate tennis player, and the Founder and CEO of Love Serving Autism, a non-profit organization that provides specialized therapeutic tennis instruction for individuals with autism. Love Serving Autism’s mission is to expand life skills, increase community inclusion, and promote independence for individuals on the spectrum.

In this conversation, we discuss:

How Lisa fuses tennis and speech therapy
Benefits of playing tennis for autistic individuals
Strategies and accommodations to help her students succeed
What she’s learned about the autistic population from teaching tennis
Adapting services online due to the pandemic
Advice for parents interested in tennis for their autistic children

For more information about Lisa and her work, please visit loveservingautism.org.

This episode with Lisa Pugliese-LaCroix was originally released on August 12, 2021.

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If, like Lisa, you’re a professional working in the field of autism education, or a self-advocate wanting to share your life experiences, our SkillCorps® volunteer program is an opportunity you don’t want to miss!

Work alongside our Global Autism Partners to help ensure that all autistic individuals around the world have access to quality education and services.

Begin your journey today at globalautismproject.org/skillcorps. As a listener of our show, take advantage of the coupon code AUTISMPODCAST (no space and all caps) to waive the application fee.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project

We would love to hear your feedback about the show. Please fill out this short survey to let us know your thoughts: Listener Survey.

Extending the Reach of Services in the Netherlands, with Catherine Verhoeff-Schauf, Enesa Muratovic, and Moji Swartjes | TBT

Thu, 27 Feb 2025 18:00:00 +0100

Discover what’s possible when the world says no, but mothers say yes.

Our guests today are Catherine Verhoeff Shauf, Enesa Muratovic, and Moji Swartjes. These three strong and determined women are mothers of children on the autism spectrum. Another thing they all have in common is that they are ex-pats living in the Netherlands. Catherine is from the US, Enesa is from Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Moji is originally from Nigeria but has also lived in the US and Scotland.

Catherine is the founder and owner of Stichting REACH, an autism center in The Hague that applies a multidisciplinary approach based on the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis. Both Enesa’s son and Moji’s receive services there.

The Global Autism Project partnered with REACH from 2017 to 2019. We sent five SkillCorps volunteer teams to provide hands-on training to their therapists. As the Global Autism Project’s Regional Coordinator in Europe last year, it was exciting for me to witness the center’s growth.

In today’s conversation, our guests discuss the attitudes around autism in the Netherlands compared to those in their respective home countries, the challenges they have faced in accessing proper services, and their ideas on how to promote autism inclusion within their community.

Catherine talks about her journey of creating REACH and how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected services at the center. Catherine, Enesa, and Moji also comment on how they dealt with managing stress during the quarantine and offer advice for parents to combat burnout.

For more information about Stichting REACH, please visit http://stichtingreachholland.nl/

This episode with Catherine, Enesa and Moji was originally released on October 10, 2020.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community

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The Diverse Butterfly, with Cassidy Hooper | TBT

Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:49:00 +0100

Discover what’s possible when a butterfly spreads her wings.

Cassidy Hooper is a 27-year-old autistic self-advocate from Mississippi who also has a rare genetic condition called Turner Syndrome. As the President of The Arc of Northeast Mississippi Autism Now Division, she mentors other autistic people and connects them with resources in their area. Some of her other advocacy work includes volunteering for Autism Grown Up and the Turner Syndrome Foundation. Cassidy also hosts her own podcast called The Diverse Butterfly, in which she spreads awareness about Turner Syndrome and aims to inspire others to follow their goals.

Sadly, shortly after we recorded this interview, Cassidy’s mother passed away from a sudden heart attack. This episode is in memory of Regina Hooper.

Mrs. Hooper was a strong advocate for Cassidy throughout her life, always fighting for what she thought was best for her family. She was a sweet and caring mother, wife, grandmother, and teacher’s assistant who loved children. Regina Hooper will be missed by Cassidy and so many others whose lives were touched by her kind and tender spirit.

In today’s conversation, we discuss:

What Turner Syndrome is and how it affects Cassidy’s life
Receiving her autism diagnosis at 17
Her learning style and special interests
The lack of support for adults with disabilities in rural areas of the US
Advice for other girls and women with Turner Syndrome

To learn more about Cassidy Hooper and Turner Syndrome, you can listen to her podcast The Diverse Butterfly.

This episode with Cassidy Hooper was originally released on May 27, 2021.

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The Impact of Seasonal Changes on Mental Health, with the Global Autism Community

Fri, 14 Feb 2025 17:40:22 +0100

Discover what’s possible when every change brings a new opportunity.

Do you struggle with social engagements during the holiday season? What boundaries do you set in order to preserve your mental well-being?

If you’d like to learn how to navigate the challenges of seasonal shifts, stick around for today’s episode. The following roundtable was facilitated by Global Autism Community moderator Hattie Angelys Fox, and it features Autistic Self-Advocates and new community moderators Bob Schmus and Adrian Sanchez.

Among other things, they discuss:

Transitioning from summer to winter
The challenges and joys of the holiday period
How to balance your social interactions
The importance of identifying and setting personal boundaries
Sharing food and cultural traditions to enhance community bonds
Preparing for travel during the busy holiday period
Strategies to maintain mental well-being throughout seasonal changes

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Join us today at community.globalautismproject.org. Let’s work together to transform how the world relates to autism.

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Support Across the Lifespan at Jake's House in Canada, with David Bodanis | TBT

Thu, 06 Feb 2025 18:00:00 +0100

Discover what’s possible when everyone has a place they belong.

David Bodanis is a father to three young men, two of which are on the autism spectrum. David and his wife Irene are the founders of Jake’s House, a charitable organization based in Canada whose mission is to support individuals on the spectrum throughout their lifespans. They offer four core initiatives: annual holiday parties, the Legends Mentoring Program, employment mentoring, and inclusive housing solutions.

In this conversation, David talks about the dynamic between his three sons growing up, how the understanding of autism in Canada has changed over the last 20 years, and why he and his wife decided to start Jake’s House.

David also describes a recent, exciting project at Jake’s House in which they formed the band ASD, comprised of young musicians with autism.

For more information about Jake’s House, please visit jakeshouse.ca.

This episode with David Bodanis was originally released on January 21, 2021.

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Animation for All Abilities, with Dani Bowman | TBT

Thu, 30 Jan 2025 18:20:00 +0100

Discover what’s possible when inclusion is animated.

Dani Bowman is an autism self-advocate, animator, illustrator, teacher, and public speaker from California. Dani founded her company, DaniMation Entertainment LLC, at age 11, and has worked professionally in the animation industry since age 14. Her company has produced nine award-winning animated shorts, a PSA for Autism Society of America, and a music video that premiered at San Diego Comic-Con. DaniMation Entertainment has also illustrated six children’s books and numerous commercial works. Dani teaches animation to teens and young adults with autism and other disabilities at summer camps around the world, in-person and online.

As part of her advocacy work, Dani speaks at autism and neurodiversity conferences about inclusion in the workforce. She has been a keynote speaker at events such as OCALICON (by the Ohio Center for Autism and Low Incidence) in Columbus, OH, the Oklahoma Statewide Autism Conference, Temple Grandin and Friends in Los Angeles, CA, and the Alaska Autism Resource Center Speaker Series (AARC), among others.

In today’s conversation, we discuss:

How autism affects Dani’s everyday life
What she loves about her autism
Some of the ways in which she feels misunderstood
What inspires her as an animator
DaniAcademy workshops and camps
The skills needed to succeed as an animator
Advice for other autistics entering the animation industry

To learn more about Dani Bowman and her work, please visit danibowman.com.

This episode with Dani Bowman was originally released on July 15, 2021.

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Isolation vs Community with The Global Autism Community

Thu, 16 Jan 2025 18:00:00 +0100

Discover what’s possible when social engagement and self-care are balanced.

Do you find it challenging to be surrounded by too many people? What do you prefer: spending time alone or with others? Or do you just struggle to make deeper connections?

If any of this resonates with you or anyone you know, stick around for today’s episode. The following roundtable is about Isolation vs Community. It was facilitated by Autistic Self-Advocate and Global Autism Community moderator Hattie-Angelys Fox, and it features Autistic Self-Advocates Adrian Sanchez and Eren Niederhoffer. Our Global Autism Community is an online space where anyone connected to autism can share their perspectives on various topics.

Among other things, they discuss:

Isolation as a restorative choice
The dual nature of isolation
How slowing down can help you to understand yourself
Tools to balance community and self-care
Navigating social situations and the role of humor in connecting with others
Public spaces as a neutral ground for social interactions
Trust as a prerequisite to meaningful relationships
Cultural sensitivity in communication and humor
The importance of self-time for mental and emotional well-being
Observing social dynamics to enhance one’s ability to connect

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Join us today at community.globalautismproject.org. Let’s work together to transform how the world relates to autism.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

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Technology and Applied Behavior Analysis in China, with Michael Huang | TBT

Thu, 09 Jan 2025 18:00:00 +0100

Discover what’s possible when innovative technology empowers parents to interact with their children in new, creative ways.

Michael Huang is the president and co-founder of UPlus Academy, an autism center in Nanjing, China.

With a background in IT, Michael describes the moment when he discovered he could utilize his multi-media technologies to help children with autism. It was fascinating to learn about the ways he and his staff are using 3-D mapping rooms to teach communication and generalization in the natural environment.

The Global Autism Project partnered with UPlus in January 2019. Since then, we have sent three SkillCorps® volunteer teams to provide sustainable clinical training to their teachers. We have also created an authorized curriculum to administer the six courses required by the Behavior Analysis Certification Board.

Earlier this year, we learned of the impact the coronavirus was having on our partners in China. We immediately scheduled video calls and closely worked together to create solutions for their students in quarantine.

Now, three months after they were forced to close their centers, Michael shares the current situation in his region, as well as his determination to not lay off any of his staff amidst the crisis. By offering online parent training, the staff at UPlus have motivated parents to transition to home programming. They even created an app for parents to track their children’s progress.

You can learn more about Michael Huang and UPlus Academy here: UPlus.

This episode with Michael Huang was originally released on April 28, 2020.

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Do With Not For, with Our CEO Molly Ola Pinney | TBT

Thu, 02 Jan 2025 18:00:00 +0100

Discover what’s possible when instead of teaching someone to fish, you ask them what they like to eat.

The CEO and Founder of the Global Autism Project, Molly Ola Pinney, is back on the show to talk about the motto that drives our work: #DoWithNotFor.

For almost 20 years, the Global Autism Project has been providing sustainable clinical, administrative, and leadership training to autism centers seeking guidance around the world. Our SkillCorps volunteer program is an opportunity for self-advocates and professionals to travel to our international partner sites and collaborate with their local teachers and therapists.

If you’d like to learn more about the Global Autism Project’s history and mission, please listen to my conversation with Molly in episode 2.

In today’s conversation, we discuss:

The meaning of doing with others and not for them
The "Essential, Preferable, Preferable to Me" framework
Doing with the Autistic community
The importance of listening

We also make two big announcements that we think will have a huge impact on the autism community. Stay tuned until the end to hear them!

To learn more about our organization and the work we do, please visit globalautismproject.org.

Watch Molly explain on the TEDx stage why doing things for others doesn't help.

This episode with Molly Ola Pinney was originally released on April 15, 2021.

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Self-Care for Parents, with Maggie Nunez | TBT

Thu, 26 Dec 2024 18:00:00 +0100

Discover what’s possible when taking care of yourself lets you take care of others.

This week's guest is Maggie Nunez. Originally from Dominican Republic and currently living in New Jersey, Maggie is a mother of three, two of whom are autistic. Her sons Dariel and Alvin are 16 and 13 years old. As a cancer survivor, Maggie hopes to encourage other parents to prioritize their own health in order to effectively take care of their children.

In today’s conversation, we discuss:

Maggie's two sons’ autistic strengths
Challenges her son Dariel has overcome
Thinking about her children’s future
What motherhood has taught her about herself
Autism acceptance in Dominican culture
Her family’s supportive attitude
How she takes care of herself

This episode with Maggie Nunez was originally released on July 8, 2021.

If you’re a parent, how do you practice self-care? You can connect with other parents going through experiences similar to yours, as well as find support and self-care resources, in our Global Autism Community.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

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Highlights of 2024 Part 2

Thu, 19 Dec 2024 18:00:00 +0100

Discover what’s possible when we build bridges together.

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This week’s episode is part 2 of our 2024 Highlights. Today we’ll continue to review some of our favorite moments from this year’s episodes, specifically from 177 to 192.

Related episodes:

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Highlights of 2024 Part 1

Thu, 12 Dec 2024 18:00:00 +0100

Discover what’s possible when we build bridges together.

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We’ve reached the end of 2024! To celebrate, we’ll be reviewing some of our favorite moments from this year. Part 1 will highlight episodes 161 through 176, and Part 2 highlights episodes 177 through 192.

Since we started working on this podcast almost five years ago, we’ve brought on a wide range of guests, including prominent self-advocates, such as Dr. Temple Grandin, Dr. Stephen Shore, Dr. Kerry Magro, Rachel Barcellona, and Anthony Ianni; parents like Tiffany Hammond and Bobby Rubio; some of our Global Autism Project partners, such as Mafer Chang from Ecuador and Pooja Panesar from Kenya; and other professionals in the field, such as Michelle Garcia Winner from Social Thinking and Harald Neerland from Autism Europe.

If you’ve been listening to our podcast for a while, this 2024 recap will bring you back to the heartfelt stories we’ve been hearing from our guests. And if you’re joining us for the first time, welcome! This episode will give you a good idea of what Autism Knows No Borders is all about.

Special thanks to our SkillCorps Alumni for helping to put this episode together: Adriana Garcia, Kelly Cotter, Marianne Spiotta, Colleen Dorsey, Danielle Terrell, and Yina Perez.
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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

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Connecting to Nature Through Wildlife Photography, with Alfie Bowen | TBT

Thu, 05 Dec 2024 18:00:00 +0100

Discover what’s possible when you focus your lens beyond the surface.

Alfie Bowen is an autism self-advocate, wildlife photographer, author, and activist based in Suffolk, England. He uses his art to highlight animal emotion and connect people with the natural world.

At just 23 years old, Alfie was recently signed by the UK’s biggest art gallery network, Castle Fine Art. His debut collection Call of the Wild was launched earlier this year, and his first book will be released in September. The documentary An Eye for Detail tells the story of how Alfie’s passion for animals and photography helped him cope with childhood bullying.

In this conversation, we discuss:

Alfie growing up feeling like an alien on Earth
His attempts at suicide
Social skills he’s had to teach himself
Feeling misunderstood
His inspiration for becoming a photographer
How nature has positively impacted his mental health
Autistic strengths related to photography
Advice for other autistic photographers

For more information about Alfie and his work, please visit alfiebowen.com.

This episode with Alfie Bowen was originally released on August 5, 2021.

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Thanksgiving Special, with the Global Autism Community

Wed, 27 Nov 2024 18:38:37 +0100

Discover what’s possible when you give to transform lives.

This episode is being released a day early in observance of Thanksgiving in the US.

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Each year our team reflects on what we’re grateful for. First of all, we’re grateful for you, our listeners, and your continued support. We’re also grateful for our podcast guests and their willingness to share their story with us. And of course, we’re grateful for our growing Global Autism Community, whose members keep showing up in our online space with commitment to our mission to transform how the world relates to autism.

We’re also grateful for our larger community of generous donors who help make our work at the Global Autism Project possible. If you’d like to directly support our programs and initiatives, and help us to improve the quality of life of autistic individuals and their families around the world, stay with us for this episode, where our CEO Molly Ola Pinney explains how you can get involved as a monthly-giving Compass member.

You’ll also hear a few excerpts from members of our Global Autism Community sharing their personal gratitudes.

In other news, we also wanted to let you all know that our host Rachel will be going on maternity leave for a few months, starting in December. We’ll still be releasing episodes featuring our Global Autism Community roundtable discussions, as well as throwbacks with relevant insights which we think are worth bringing back from the early days of the podcast. And of course, as tradition follows, we’ll soon review and celebrate the year with our 2024 highlights episode.

For now, we hope that this Thanksgiving special will inspire you to reflect on what you’re grateful for during this holiday season. From all of us at the Global Autism Project, we wish you a Happy Thanksgiving, and hope you can spend some time with your loved ones this weekend.

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Become a Compass member today and create sustainable change around the world! Every contribution leaves a meaningful impact and expands our reach to underserved communities worldwide.

Click here to join Compass!

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Community Outreach and Self-Advocacy, with Cassie Harden Scott and Russell Hornig-Rohan | TBT

Thu, 21 Nov 2024 18:35:00 +0100

Discover what’s possible when community outreach begins with empowerment.

Our guests today are two members of our Global Autism Project family: Cassie Harden Scott and Russel Hornig-Rohan, or Rusty for short.

Cassie and Rusty have been involved with the Global Autism Project for over 6 years. Both of them began as volunteers on SkillCorps trips to several of our partner sites – including Centro ACAP in the Dominican Republic, which you may remember from Episode 20. SkillCorps is an opportunity for self-advocates and professionals to visit autism centers around the world, working directly with their local teachers and therapists while providing sustainable training. If you’d like to know more about our SkillCorps volunteer program, please listen to episodes 4 and 17, featuring round table discussions with a few other members of our community.

Over time, Cassie and Rusty each stepped into roles related to outreach and advocacy. Cassie is currently our Director of Outreach and works closely with our partners to help spread autism awareness and acceptance in their communities. Rusty is an autism self-advocate, as well as a polyglot whose impressive abilities have helped his teams cross language barriers while abroad.

In today’s conversation, Cassie and Rusty share how they got involved with the organization and why they’re passionate about its mission. They also reminisce about trip highlights and recount fun stories from when they were working together at our office in Brooklyn, New York.

We discuss some of the different outreach initiatives that can be carried out, from supporting parents and professionals to giving presentations at universities. Stay tuned until the end of the episode to hear about ways to engage in advocacy work from your own home.

For more information about our work, please visit globalautismproject.org.

This episode with Cassie Harden Scott and Russell Hornig-Rohan was originally released on August 20, 2020.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

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Music Therapy and Autism in Australia, with Pamela Fisher | TBT

Thu, 07 Nov 2024 18:00:00 +0100

Discover what’s possible when music unlocks hidden strengths.

Pamela Fisher is a Registered Music Therapist from Sydney, Australia. She is skilled in voice, guitar, piano, improvisation, and clinical supervision. With over 15 years of experience specializing in groups and individuals with autism, Pam provides music therapy services both in-person and online.

In today’s conversation, Pam gives us a brief history of autism awareness in Australia and explains which services are covered by government funding. She defines what music therapy is and shares how she got involved in the field. We talk about different populations who can benefit from services and discuss some common misconceptions.

Through simulating various musical interventions, Pam demonstrates different goals she may work on in a session. We also point out the benefits of collaborating with behavior analysts and speech therapists when writing programs.

Pam has created a musical kit to target different sensory needs a child may have. You can purchase a kit and inquire about her online music therapy services here: The Musical Nest.

For more information about Pamela Fisher and her work, please visit her website: musicalmonkeys.com.au.

This episode with Pamela Fisher was originally released on August 13, 2020.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

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Late Diagnosis, with the Global Autism Community

Thu, 31 Oct 2024 20:00:00 +0100

Discover what’s possible when you embrace your true identity.

Are you a late-diagnosed autistic person, or do you know someone who is? If this resonates with you, you’ll want to listen to today’s conversation, where we touch on how acceptance of one’s autism can change over time.

The following Global Autism Community roundtable was facilitated by community moderator Hattie-Angelys Fox, and it features Autistic Self-Advocates Brian MIddleton, Corben Havener, Mary Johnston, Bob Schmus, Amira Collantes, and Adrian Sanchez, as well as community moderator Danielle Terrell.

Among other things, we discuss:

Finding out about an autism diagnosis at different stages in life
How autism presents differently in males and females
Whether language matters when identifying as autistic
Common challenges that autistics experience in childhood –like socialization, anxiety, and depression– and how to deal with them
Whether masking is ever good
Disclosing your autism with friends and family
The Pathology Paradigm

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Join us today at community.globalautismproject.org. Let’s work together to transform how the world relates to autism.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community

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Leadership Lessons Learned, with our CEO Molly Ola Pinney | TBT

Thu, 24 Oct 2024 19:00:00 +0200

Discover what’s possible when you engage your inner leader.

Do you want to learn how to communicate and collaborate effectively, identify the root causes of roadblocks in your life, and embrace your role as a leader?

Everyone has the potential to be a leader in their own lives. If you’re interested in personal and professional growth, stick around for this episode with the CEO and Founder of the Global Autism Project, Molly Ola Pinney where she talks about all things leadership.

The Global Autism Project accredits autism centers worldwide and provides sustainable clinical, administrative, and leadership training to service providers seeking guidance. Our SkillCorps ® volunteer program is an opportunity for self-advocates, family members, and professionals to travel to Global Autism Project’s international partner sites and collaborate with local stakeholders on outreach initiatives in their communities.

In today’s conversation, among other things, we discuss:

Why leadership training has always been at the foreground of support provided by the Global Autism Project
What values are important to Molly as a leader and how her leadership skills have evolved over the years
Molly’s fears in the early days of the organization and how she’s learned to overcome them
What 2020 taught her
Why decisive action is only one aspect of strong leadership

This episode with Molly Ola Pinney was originally released on November 25, 2020.

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We’d like to give a shout out to our SkillCorps® 2024 Title Sponsor, Action Behavior Centers. We’re excited to be partnering with businesses to create opportunities for employee development and growth through our SkillCorps® program. SkillCorps® Business Partners endorse employee participation in our SkillCorps® volunteer program and provide support to selected employees through granting time-off, providing funds to help team members fundraise, and more!

Thank you, Action Behavior Centers, for being a model organization in the industry.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community

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Organizational & Environmental Management, with the Global Autism Community

Thu, 17 Oct 2024 23:07:36 +0200

Discover what’s possible when your environment fits your needs.

Do you struggle with organizing your physical space? Or have you found systems that work well for your needs? Organization can be a sensitive topic, especially if you feel any shame for not being as organized as you’d want to be.

If you’re looking for tips on how to design a space that works for you, stick around, because today’s episode is a Global Autism Community roundtable discussion about Organizational and Environmental Management, featuring Autistic Self-Advocates Hattie-Angelys Fox, Amira Collantes, Adrian Sanchez, and Eren Denburg, as well as community member Cheryl Albright.

Among other things, we discuss:

Decluttering small vs large spaces
Organizational styles to support executive-functioning skills
How to find tools and systems that work for your brain
Sharing spaces with others who have organizational styles different from yours
Micro- vs macro-organization
How to let go of things that no longer serve you

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Would you like to share your own perspectives by participating in roundtables like this one? Join our online Global Autism Community, a safe and judgment-free space where all kinds of people connected to autism regularly discuss important topics like autistic identity, dating on the spectrum, coping strategies, and many, many more. We’d love to see you over at community.globalautismproject.org.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project

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Functional Communication Training in Saudi Arabia, with Yaser Aljaaidi | TBT

Fri, 11 Oct 2024 19:30:00 +0200

Discover what’s possible when every child is given a voice.

In many countries around the world, autistic students are effectively excluded from the education system, as schools often lack adequate resources to accommodate their needs.

The work that our Global Autism Project Partners are doing around the world is fundamental to overcoming these challenges. By presuming competence, we can avoid setting unnecessary limits and instead build on each child’s capabilities.

Today’s guest is Yaser Aljaaidi, the Co-Founder and Clinical Director of Namaee Center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and also the first Registered Behavior Technician to become certified in his country. The Global Autism Project partnered with Namaee from 2018 to 2023, and we sent several SkillCorps® volunteer teams to provide sustainable hands-on training.

Our SkillCorps ® volunteer program is an opportunity for self-advocates, family members, and professionals to travel to Global Autism Project’s international partner sites and collaborate with local stakeholders on outreach initiatives in their communities.

In today’s conversation, among other things, we discuss:

How autism is understood in Saudi Arabia and what services are available for families, from diagnosis to adulthood
How Yaser began working with the autistic population
Why he created the Give Me A Voice program targeting communication skills
The challenges Yaser had faced and what he’s learned about leadership
Advice for other practitioners who are thinking of starting their own centers
Namaee’s partnership with the Global Autism Project and why Yaser admires our SkillCorps® volunteers

This conversation with Yaser Aljaaidi was originally released on September 3, 2020.

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Thank you, Action Behavior Centers, for being a model organization in the industry.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community

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SkillCorps® Journey, with Team Peru

Thu, 03 Oct 2024 18:00:00 +0200

Discover what’s possible when you show up better for the world.

In today’s episode, we’re highlighting our recent SkillCorps® trip to Peru. Our SkillCorps® volunteer program is an opportunity for self-advocates, family members, and professionals to travel to Global Autism Project’s international partner sites and collaborate with local stakeholders on outreach initiatives in their communities.

This carefully curated 10-day journey includes developing culturally-relevant and sustainable training with our partner staff, listening to local Autistic Self-Advocates and family members to learn about their lived experiences, sharing meals with community members to brainstorm ideas and solutions, and executing a high-impact project to build on existing work being done in the country.

On the ground, this SkillCorps® team worked diligently on a range of tasks for our first ever Latin America Autism Summit, from preparing group presentations to fine-tuning logistical details. We collaborated with our partners at Centro Enigma, from Ecuador, and our local host sponsors at Centro Ann Sullivan del Peru, in order to put together an unforgettable event that forged long-term connections that will last a lifetime. The Latin America Autism Summit is the biggest project a SkillCorps® team has taken on so far.

We also visited several businesses employing autistic adults in the community, hosted a self-advocate dinner to listen to their needs, and built relationships with our new partners at MADI while laying the groundwork for future collaboration.

In this week’s episode, you’ll hear some of our SkillCorps® Peru team members’ personal experiences and takeaways. Special shout out to SkillCorps® Alum and leader Adriana Garcia, who helped guide this professionally diverse team of 23 global visionaries on their transformational journey.

Coming up, you’ll hear about:

Memorable moments from the trip
Global collaboration
Sustainability
The Global Autism Project’s model of Do With Not For
Personal and professional growth

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Thank you, Action Behavior Centers, for being a model organization in the industry.

The Latin America Autism Summit in Lima, Peru

Thu, 26 Sep 2024 23:11:07 +0200

Discover what’s possible when you make lifelong connections.

For almost 20 years, the Global Autism Project has been providing sustainable clinical, administrative, and leadership training to autism centers around the world seeking guidance. We’ve also hosted global and regional summits over the last several years, but we were forced to pause these projects during the pandemic.

Last July, we were thrilled to get back into the field and host our first ever Latin America Autism Summit in Lima, Peru. We collaborated with our partners from Centro Enigma, in Ecuador, and our local host sponsors at Centro Ann Sullivan del Peru in order to put together an unforgettable event that inspired connections that will last a lifetime.

On the ground, our SkillCorps® team worked diligently on a range of tasks for this 3-day summit, from preparing group presentations to fine-tuning logistical details. Our SkillCorps® volunteer program is an opportunity for self-advocates, family members, and professionals to travel to our international partner sites and engage with local stakeholders on outreach initiatives specific to their communities. The Latin America Autism Summit is the biggest project a SkillCorps® team has taken on so far.

In today’s episode, you’ll hear from our CEO, Molly Pinney; our partner at Centro Enigma, Mafer Chang; the founder of Centro Ann Sullivan del Peru, Dr. Liliana Mayo; a Peruvian self-advocate, Amira Collantes; and a QABA representative from Honduras, Nestor Mercadal.

Next week, you’ll hear from some of our SkillCorps® team members about their personal experiences and takeaways.

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Are you a professional eager to stay at the forefront of current best practices and expand your services to reach even more families in need? Or maybe you’re a parent looking for support from others who understand your needs? Or maybe you’re a self-advocate wanting to share your story and educate others?

Look no further! The European Autism Summit is THE event tailored to address these pressing questions and more. Mark your calendar for April 23rd-25th in 2025, as we gather in Italy, immersed in a dynamic atmosphere buzzing with insightful presentations, invaluable networking opportunities, and hands-on workshops led by industry experts.

Join us at the European Autism Summit! ->>> Call for Sponsors

Behavioral Science 101, with Ryan O'Donnell | TBT

Thu, 19 Sep 2024 18:00:00 +0200

Discover what’s possible when behavioral science is creatively broadcasted.

Have you ever heard of Applied Behavior Analysis? Have you ever wondered how it came to be used in autism services?

If you’re curious about the true story behind the origins of Applied Behavior Analysis, or ABA for short, you’ll want to listen to this episode with Ryan O’Donnell, where he shares his passion for disseminating behavioral science.

Ryan O’Donnell is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, videographer, and entrepreneur. Through quick and easy-to-digest YouTube videos, he makes behavioral science publicly accessible so that people of all ages can experience their version of success. Ryan’s recent film, The History of Applied Behavior Analysis, is available for free exclusively at thebehavioracademy.com.

In the summer of 2019, Ryan collaborated with the Global Autism Project to document our training approach and highlight our partners at Kaizora Center for Neurodevelopmental Disabilities, in Kenya. You can watch these videos on his YouTube channel, The Daily BA.

In this conversation, among other things, we discuss:

A condensed history of behavioral science, from early controversial practices of behavior modification to modern ABA used in autism services
Relatable examples of practical ABA in every day
Ryan’s experiences working with the adult population
Different services that are available for families

This conversation with Ryan O'Donnell was originally released on June 18, 2020.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take a moment to rate the show and leave a review. You’ll be helping us to continue spreading autism awareness and acceptance around the world.

Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project

We would love to hear your feedback about the show. Please fill out this short survey to let us know your thoughts: Listener Survey

Sensory Challenges, with the Global Autism Community

Thu, 12 Sep 2024 23:59:00 +0200

Discover what’s possible when you’re prepared for the environment.

Are you or anyone you know either over-sensitive or under-sensitive to specific sights, sounds, smells, or textures? While this can sometimes be an asset, it can also cause distress or discomfort.

If you’re familiar with difficulties in processing everyday sensory information, stick around, because today’s episode is a roundtable discussion where we talk about Sensory Challenges, featuring Autistic Self-Advocates Hattie-Angelys Fox, Amy Smith and Adrian Sanchez, as well as fellow members of our online Global Autism Community, Cheryl Albright, Tj Larum and Danielle Terrell.

Among other things, we discuss:

Human sensory systems and needs
Hyper- and hypo-sensitivities
Levels of burnout and how to recover from it
Regulatory strategies for various environments and situations
Teaching children how to cope and ask for help
Examining someone’s overall health to support their sensory issues
The importance of collaborating with specialists when writing treatment plans
Speech processing and interpreting
Supports across the lifetime

Sensory Differences - A Guide for All Audiences

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Are you a self-advocate willing to share your story and educate others? Or a professional seeking to hear directly from autistic voices and improve your practice? Or maybe you’re a family member hoping to support and empower your loved one? Whatever your connection to autism is, we’d love to hear your takeaways from this episode in our online Global Autism Community, where hundreds of people from all over the world come together to support each other and know that they’re not alone.

Join us today at community.globalautismproject.org. Let’s work together to transform how the world relates to autism.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project

We would love to hear your feedback about the show. Please fill out this short survey to let us know your thoughts: Listener Survey

Requesting Accommodations at School and in the Workplace, with Thomas Iland and David Sharif | TBT

Thu, 05 Sep 2024 18:00:00 +0200

Discover what’s possible when you acknowledge your needs.

Have you ever needed to ask for help but didn’t know how? Were you afraid of seeming weak or being rejected?

Whether you’re an autistic student or employee, you’ll want to listen to this episode with Thomas Iland and David Sharif, where they encourage autistic people to speak up about their needs, emphasizing there is no shame in asking for help.

Tom Iland is an Autistic Self-Advocate, Toastmasters International Accredited Speaker, Certified Human Potential Coach, Professional Diversity & Inclusion Consultant, and TEDx speaker. He’s the author of two books, Come To Life! Your Guide to Self-Discovery and My Glass Is Full: Stories of Putting Mental Health First. Tom also holds a Guinness World Record as "The Oldest Person With Autism To Finish a Full Ironman Triathlon," which highlights his commitment to transcending limits.

Also an Autistic Self-Advocate, David Sharif was a dedicated and beloved member of our community who unfortunately passed away in April 2021 due to an epileptic seizure. David was a Magna Cum Laude graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Peace and Justice Studies. He worked as a job coach supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in building fulfilling, independent lives.

In this conversation, among other things, we discuss:

How to request accommodations, both at school and in the work environment
How a tutor or job coach can offer extra support
Examples of reasonable accommodations, such as day-to-day guidance and feedback, establishing long- and short-term goals, assigning tasks by priority, and being notified in advance about meetings and topics
The benefits of traveling and learning about different cultures

This conversation with Tom and David was first released on September 10, 2020.

For more information about Thomas Iland, listen to:

My Journey of Becoming a Public Speaker, with Thomas Iland

For more information about David Sharif, listen to:

Honoring the Memory of David Sharif, with the Global Autism Community

----more----Resources:

https://www.autismspeaks.org/tool-kit-excerpt/accommodations-job

https://daivergent.com/blog/neurodiversity-in-the-workplace

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project

We would love to hear your feedback about the show. Please fill out this short survey to let us know your thoughts: Listener Survey

Individualized Education, with the Global Autism Community

Thu, 29 Aug 2024 23:59:00 +0200

Discover what’s possible when the student has a seat at the table.

You might have heard the saying, “Nothing about us without us.” This expression has its origins in Central European political traditions and became popular in disability activism during the 1990s. According to the United Nations, it relies on the principle of full participation, and it has been used by disabled people’s organizations throughout the years as part of the global movement to equalize opportunities for, by, and with persons with disabilities.

In today’s episode, you’ll hear about how “Nothing about us without us” can be applied in special education settings. This Global Autism Community roundtable discussion was led by Michael Gilberg, an autistic special-education and disability-rights attorney based in New York and Connecticut. Other participants were Autistic Self-Advocates Sara Bradford, Corben Havener, Mary Johnston, Jonathan Gardner, and Sara van Koningsveld, as well as fellow community members, Nancy Gardner, Colleen Dorsey, Tj Larum and Danielle Terrell.

Among other things, we discuss:

What is special education
Social-emotional learning
The difference between an Individualized Education Program and a 504
How attorneys and advocates can support parents
The importance of including students at school meetings about them

Are you a self-advocate willing to share your story and educate others? Or a professional seeking to hear directly from autistic voices and improve your practice? Or are you a family member hoping to support and empower your loved one? Whatever your connection to autism is, we’d love to hear your takeaways from this episode in our online Global Autism Community, where hundreds of people from all over the world come together to support each other and know that they’re not alone.

Join us today at community.globalautismproject.org. Let’s work together to transform how the world relates to autism.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project

We would love to hear your feedback about the show. Please fill out this short survey to let us know your thoughts: Listener Survey

Sibling Advocacy and a Reservoir of Resources in India, with Shreya Jain | TBT

Fri, 23 Aug 2024 18:15:00 +0200

Discover what’s possible when you approach conversations with an open heart.

Have you ever had to advocate for yourself or an autistic loved one in public? Did you find those conversations difficult to handle?

Whether you’re autistic, a family member, or someone who wants to learn about how to advocate for others, you’ll want to listen to this episode with Shreya Jain, where she describes how she supports her autistic younger brother, Suvrat, who is also her inspiration.

Shreya Jain is the CEO and founder of Reservoir, India’s largest digital community of people with developmental and intellectual disabilities. Still in her 20s, Shreya has already built a safe space to connect families with resources and professionals. The team at Reservoir is driven by a passion to make India a truly inclusive country for people who are differently-abled.

Shreya’s mother, Sangeeta Jain, has been working closely with the Global Autism Project for several years. In 2010, we partnered with SOREM, a school in Chandigarh, and have since sent over 20 SkillCorps® volunteer teams to provide hands-on training to their staff. To learn more about our SkillCorps® volunteer program, you can listen to episode 151 from last September with Team India.

In this conversation, among other things, we discuss:

How autism is understood in India
Shreya’s relationship with her autistic brother Suvrat
What it was like for Shreya’s family to have her brother be repeatedly rejected by multiple schools
Shreya’s first lessons of advocacy and why it’s important to educate children about autism at an early age
Why Shreya left the pharmaceutical industry for a path of entrepreneurship

This episode with Shreya Jain was first released on May 7, 2020.

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SkillCorps® Business Partners endorse employee participation in our SkillCorps® program and provide support to selected sponsored employees through granting time-off, providing funds to support team member fundraising, and more!

Thank you, Action Behavior Centers, for being a model organization in the industry.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project

We would love to hear your feedback about the show. Please fill out this short survey to let us know your thoughts: Listener Survey

Naturally Effective Behavior | Part 2 with Hattie-Angelys Fox

Fri, 16 Aug 2024 03:19:34 +0200

Discover what’s possible when you find your values.

Have you ever struggled to meet a goal? Was it maybe because you weren’t exactly clear on what it was that you wanted in the first place?

If so, you’ll want to listen to this episode, which is part 2 of my conversation with Hattie-Angelys Fox. She talks about how she teaches her clients and families to adopt behaviors that align with their goals and values.

Recently diagnosed as autistic, Hattie-Angelys Fox is a certified teacher, a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, and the mother of 2 neurodivergent children. Through her consulting services at Naturally Effective Behavior, Angelys offers a variety of support for individuals and families, including ABA, behavioral support, education & advocacy, educational enrichment, parent training and professional development.

In this conversation, among other things, we discuss:

How working with an autistic student as a teacher’s assistant influenced Angelys’ career path early on
Different ways she works with families
Angelys’ approach to caregiver training
Advice for other neurodivergent parents

If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take a moment to rate the show and leave a review. You’ll be helping us to continue spreading autism awareness and acceptance around the world.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project

We would love to hear your feedback about the show. Please fill out this short survey to let us know your thoughts: Listener Survey

Why I Homeschool My Children | Part 1 with Hattie-Angelys Fox

Thu, 08 Aug 2024 18:00:00 +0200

Discover what’s possible when you can make mistakes safely.

Have you ever wondered what the benefits of homeschooling are? Have you ever thought that children who are homeschooled are missing out on socialization with their peers?

If you’ve ever been curious about homeschooling, you’ll want to listen to this episode with Hattie-Angelys Fox where she talks about why homeschooling was the right choice for her family.

In this conversation, among other things, we discuss:

What it was like for Angelys to receive her autism diagnosis as an adult
Struggles with her peers growing up
A toxic relationship from high school
Finding true partnership in her husband
Why Angelys decided to homeschool her children

Do you know anyone else who might benefit from this episode? Maybe a parent who is considering if homeschooling is right for their child? I encourage you to share this episode if you’d like to help them out. By doing so, you’ll be helping us to improve access to autism services around the world.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project

We would love to hear your feedback about the show. Please fill out this short survey to let us know your thoughts: Listener Survey

Global Autism Accreditation, with our CEO Molly Ola Pinney

Thu, 01 Aug 2024 20:26:17 +0200

Discover what’s possible when children have a safe place to learn.

In many places around the world where autism services and awareness are limited, center owners have to compete with other businesses who claim to provide certain therapies while, in reality, they’re not qualified. Oftentimes, legitimate autism centers must also deal with increasing turnover rates because they can’t properly compensate their certified clinicians for the high demands of their job.

Meanwhile, parents feel overwhelmed and confused as they try to distinguish quality services from those that can be ineffective at best, and harmful at worst — sometimes, unfortunately, making the wrong choice.

After witnessing first-hand this hugely consequential problem over the last two decades, The Global Autism Project has come up with a solution.

Whether you’re a center owner, a professional looking for a job, or a family member of an autistic loved one, you’ll want to listen to this episode, where our CEO Molly Ola Pinney makes our most exciting announcement to date, the launch of Global Autism Accreditation! She also explains how this opportunity for centers to become accredited through the only internationally-focused accreditor will revolutionize autism services on a global scale.

In this conversation, among other things, we discuss:

How over 20 years of working internationally has prepared us for this moment
What defines a Global Autism Center of Distinction
Why accreditation matters
The path to accreditation and who should apply

Do you own or manage an autism center committed to providing high-quality services? By meeting specific standards of excellence, your center can be identified as a regional leader in autism services while building local capacity in your community.

Apply for Global Autism Accreditation today and become a Center of Distinction! Details can be found at globalautismproject.org/accredtitaiton.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project

We would love to hear your feedback about the show. Please fill out this short survey to let us know your thoughts: Listener Survey

The Double Empathy Problem | Part 2 with Brian Middleton

Thu, 25 Jul 2024 23:34:38 +0200

Discover what’s possible when empathy is a two-way street.

Have you ever struggled to empathize with someone who experiences the world very differently from you? Maybe because you don’t share an interest, or even a first language with them?

If so, you’ll want to listen to this episode, which is part 2 of my conversation with Brian Middleton. He talks about how a lack of mutual understanding between autistic and non-autistic people can lead to breakdowns in communication.

This conversation was part of a special event for our community or SkillCorps volunteers. Other participants include Danielle Terrell, Tara Hannan-Bruecken, Shannon Haynes, Marianne Spiotta, Hailee Perez, and Christina Cairoli.

In this conversation, among other things, we discuss:

The Double Empathy Problem
The unfair expectation for autistic people to adapt to non-autistic communication
How Brian created an adventure room for his students to take a break and feel safe
Where the terms “neurodiversity” and “neurotypical” originated
Neurodiversity-affirming as an attitudinal approach
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

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Do you know anyone else who might benefit from this episode? Maybe a non-autistic person looking for better ways to communicate with their autistic loved one? We encourage you to share this episode if you’d like to help them out. By doing so, you’ll also be helping us to improve access to autism services around the world.

----more----

We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project

We would love to hear your feedback about the show. Please fill out this short survey to let us know your thoughts: Listener Survey

The Medical vs Social Models of Disability | Part 1 with Brian Middleton

Thu, 18 Jul 2024 19:54:40 +0200

Discover what’s possible when disability is viewed as a whole.

Have people ever based their perception of you solely on your deficits? Are your strengths and abilities sometimes overlooked because of your differences?

If so, stay with us for this episode, where Brian Middleton talks about how the biopsychosocial model of disability shifts perspectives from a purely medical approach to a more comprehensive one.

This conversation was part of a special event which we hosted for our community of SkillCorps® volunteers. Other participants include Danielle Terrell, Tara Hannan-Bruecken, Shannon Haynes, Marianne Spiotta, Hailee Perez, and Christina Cairoli.

In this conversation, among other things, we discuss:

How Brian attempts to build bridges across both sides of the ABA divide
The biopsychosocial model of disability
Why pathologizing autism can be harmful
Person-first vs identity-first language
Transforming the puzzle piece symbol
How radical behaviorism wasn’t originally developed to “fix” autistic people

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Whatever your connection to autism is, we’d love to hear your takeaways from this episode in our online Global Autism Community, where hundreds of people from all over the world connect to support each other and know that they’re not alone.

Join us today at community.globalautismproject.org. Let’s work together to transform how the world relates to autism.

----more----

We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project

We would love to hear your feedback about the show. Please fill out this short survey to let us know your thoughts: Listener Survey

Neurodivergent Moms: SkillCorps Spotlight, with Sarah Glass and Eliza Cagle | TBT

Sat, 13 Jul 2024 20:48:00 +0200

Discover what’s possible when you get the right support.

Have you ever wondered about the overlap between ADHD and autism? Or how being neurodivergent might affect parenting?

If so, you’ll want to listen to this episode with Sarah Glass and Eliza Cagle. Although they’ve never met in person, Sarah and Eliza have several things in common. They’re both late-diagnosed neurodivergent women, mothers to their respective boys on the spectrum, and Board Certified Behavior Analysts. Sarah has ADHD and Eliza is autistic. They’re also both members of our SkillCorps® Alumni community.

SkillCorps® is a carefully curated 10-day journey that includes developing culturally-relevant and sustainable training with our partner staff, listening to local Autistic Self-Advocates and family members to learn about their lived experiences, sharing meals with community members to brainstorm ideas and solutions, and executing a high-impact project to build on existing work being done in the country.

In this conversation, we discuss:

Sarah and Eliza finding out about their diagnoses as adults
Support and strategies to reduce sensory overload and improve executive functioning skills
Strengths related to thinking out of the box and being hyper focused on certain subjects
Disclosing diagnoses at work and requesting accommodations
How Sarah and Eliza talk about autism to their kids
Personal and professional growth from volunteering with SkillCorps®
Inspiring moments with our Global Autism Partners
Advice for mothers and other applicants interested in going on a SkillCorps® trip

This episode with Sarah and Eliza was first released on June 24, 2021.

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Thank you, Action Behavior Centers, for being a model organization in the industry.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project

We would love to hear your feedback about the show. Please fill out this short survey to let us know your thoughts: Listener Survey

Community Outreach in Indonesia, with Maharani Putri Kusuma | TBT

Sun, 07 Jul 2024 07:15:39 +0200

Discover what’s possible when awareness spreads one step at a time.

Do you ever wonder about the level of autism awareness around the world? Are you curious about what services are available for families in countries like Indonesia?

If so, you’ll want to listen to this episode with Maharani Putri Kusuma, or Rani for short, where she shares all about the work she does to spread autism awareness in her country.

Rani is the co-founder and owner of Rumah Tiara, an autism center in Jakarta, Indonesia. A former Global Autism Project Partner, Rani had been receiving training from us since 2013. Over the years, we have sent 13 SkillCorps® volunteer teams to Rumah Tiara to provide sustainable hands-on training.

For this interview, Rani was joined by Vya Mawarni, a former therapist at Rumah Tiara who interpreted from Bahasa to English for us. I want to give a special thank you to Vya for all of the effort she put into making sure Rani’s important message was understood.

In today’s episode, we discuss:

The level of autism awareness in Indonesia and the stigma associated with the diagnosis
Types of services available for Indonesian families
How Rani began working with children with autism and why she loves her job
Some of the challenges she’s had to face as a business owner
How knowing that they’re helping children who might otherwise not have access to therapy helps Rani’s staff stay positive
Some of Rani’s favorite moments from hosting our SkillCorps® volunteers
Aspects of Indonesian culture she is most excited to share with them when they visit

This episode with Maharani Putri Kusuma was originally released on July 2, 2020.

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Thank you, Action Behavior Centers, for being a model organization in the industry.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project

We would love to hear your feedback about the show. Please fill out this short survey to let us know your thoughts: Listener Survey

Networking and Friendship Circles | Part 2 with Eren Niederhoffer

Thu, 27 Jun 2024 23:59:00 +0200

Discover what’s possible when community deepens understanding.

Do you find social situations difficult to navigate? Have you ever been confused when trying to engage in a conversation?

Whether you’re autistic or not, you’ll want to listen to this episode, which is part 2 of my conversation with Eren Niederhoffer. He talks about how he’s created networking events to help autistic and non-autistic people understand each other better.

Eren Niederhoffer is an Autistic Self-Advocate, community networker, and public speaker.

In this conversation, among other things, we discuss:

Useful Communication strategies for autistic people
Some of Eren’s rules for social events
How learning about friendships can help you learn about romantic relationships
The need to replicate Eren’s community model with young children
Tips for autistic and non-autistic people about how they can learn from each other

Do you know anyone else who might benefit from listening to this episode? Maybe an autistic person seeking to expand their social circles? I encourage you to share this episode with them if you’d like to help them out. By doing so, you’ll also be helping us to improve access to autism services around the world.

----more----

We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project

We would love to hear your feedback about the show. Please fill out this short survey to let us know your thoughts: Listener Survey

Processing My Family’s Abuse | Part 1 with Eren Niederhoffer

Thu, 20 Jun 2024 23:59:00 +0200

Discover what’s possible when you lift yourself up to help others.

Have you or anyone you know ever been bullied or abused because of being autistic?

If so, you’ll want to listen to this episode with Eren Niederhoffer, where he talks about how he’s learned to overcome many years of abuse at the hands of his own family.

Eren Niederhoffer is an Autistic Self-Advocate, community networker, and public speaker. He is a Board Member of the Atlanta Autism Consortium and the NeuroDiversity TaskForce, as well as the former President of Atlanta Autism Self-Advocacy Network, where he co-created the Atlanta's All-Women's Autism Panel and African-American Autism Panel.

In this conversation, among other things, we discuss:

Eren’s tumultuous relationship with his father and siblings
Common struggles autistic people face in social situations, like reading facial cues and nonverbal language
When to mask and unmask
How Eren has helped his colleagues understand his autism

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Thank you Izzy0826 for reviewing the show on Apple Podcasts! They said: “Thank you for having conversations that will help people grow and think beyond stigmas and misinformation.”

5-star reviews help us continue spreading autism awareness and acceptance around the world. If, like Izzy, you’re finding value in Autism Knows No Borders, please leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project

We would love to hear your feedback about the show. Please fill out this short survey to let us know your thoughts: Listener Survey

Financial Planning Across the Spectrum, with Andrew Komarow | TBT

Sat, 15 Jun 2024 17:45:00 +0200

Discover what’s possible when financial freedom is in your pocket.

Have you ever struggled with managing money? Do you sometimes feel ashamed because you find it hard to reach your financial goals?

While this can be a very common challenge among autistic people, today’s guest, Andrew Komarow, encourages his clients to acknowledge themselves for their present financial capabilities and maintain a positive attitude. Small and simple steps can go a long way towards bigger goals.

Andrew Komarow is a Certified Financial Planner and Certified Neurodiversity Professional. He’s also the Founder of Planning Across the Spectrum, a company based out of Connecticut that specializes in helping individuals, families, and employers of those with autism and other disabilities to pursue financial independence.

In this conversation, we discuss:

Andrew discovering his own autism as an adult and how it affects his life
Common struggles with financial planning that autistic individuals face
Services offered by Andrew’s team at Planning Across the Spectrum
Alternatives to guardianship
Benefits of hiring neurodiverse staff

This episode with Andrew Komarow was originally released on May 2, 2021.

Do you know anyone else who might find value in this episode? Maybe you know of an autistic person who might be interested in learning new strategies to stay on top of their finances. You can help them by sharing this episode. By doing so, you’ll also be helping us to improve access to autism services around the world.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community

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Employment and Career Development, with the Global Autism Community

Thu, 06 Jun 2024 23:26:31 +0200

Discover what’s possible when you know your worth.

Have you ever had a difficult time securing a stable job? Do you find that accommodations just don’t matter if you’re not being treated respectfully?

If you or anyone you know has ever had these experiences, stick around, because today’s episode is a roundtable discussion where we talk about Employment and Career Development, featuring Autistic Self-Advocates Brian Middleton, Corben Havener, Stephanie De Kremer, Bob Schmus, Adrian Sanchez, Amy Smith and Christina Kaspersen, as well as fellow members of our online Global Autism Community, Christina Cairoli, Tj Larum and Danielle Terrell.

Among other things, we discuss:

Challenges autistic people face when looking for a job
Masking in the workplace
The medical vs. the social model of disability
Utilizing strengths and interests in the workplace
Assumptions and expectations regarding social norms
Autism self-advocacy and disclosure
Tips for Autistic people wanting to prepare for employment

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Join us today at community.globalautismproject.org. Let’s work together to transform how the world relates to autism.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project

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Autism in Egypt and the International Mental Health Conference

Fri, 31 May 2024 01:12:45 +0200

Discover what’s possible when awareness improves access.

Have you ever wondered about the level of autism awareness in countries like Egypt? Are you curious about what governments are doing for their autistic citizens?

If so, you’ll want to listen to these conversations I had at the 8th International Mental Health Conference in Alexandria, Egypt.

You’ll hear from several people whom I connected with there, including the Conference President and Secretary General of Mental Health and Addiction Treatment, Menan AbdElmaksoud; the Head of Child & Adolescent Administration, Iman Gaber; the President of the Egyptian Autistic Society, Dahlia Soliman; self-advocate Rami Alhadinziden Sayed; as well as several family members and professionals in the field of autism services.

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Conferences are a great way to network with like-minded advocates while learning new strategies to help your autistic children, clients or students. Are you a professional eager to stay at the forefront of current best practices and wondering how to expand your services to reach even more families? Or a parent looking for support from others who understand your needs? Or maybe you’re a self-advocate wanting to share your story and educate others?

Our Latin America Autism Summit is THE event tailored to address these pressing questions and much, much more. Mark your calendar for July 10th-12th, when we’ll gather in the heart of Lima, Peru, immersed in a dynamic atmosphere buzzing with insightful presentations, invaluable networking opportunities, and hands-on workshops led by industry experts.

Join us at the Latin America Autism Summit, where together we'll live unforgettable moments and forge connections to last a lifetime.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project

We would love to hear your feedback about the show. Please fill out this short survey to let us know your thoughts: Listener Survey

Empowering Parents in China, with Jie Bing Zhang | TBT

Fri, 24 May 2024 19:00:00 +0200

Discover what’s possible when a mother’s love transcends her own home.

Do you envision a community where Autistic children have a safe place to learn and Autistic adults are integrated in society? Do you know any parents of autistic individuals who might need some encouragement as they advocate for their children?

If so, you’ll want to listen to this episode where one of our global partners, Jie Bing Zhang talks about empowering other parents by teaching them how to create opportunities for their children to thrive.

Mrs. Zhang is the founder of Huicong Children Rehabilitation Center in Nanchang, China, and the mother of a 24-year-old autistic man.

For this interview with Mrs. Zhang, our podcast intern, Linda Zheng, interpreted from Chinese to English for us. Thank you, Linda, for your effort to ensure Mrs. Zhang’s message is understood.

In this conversation, we discuss:

Autism awareness in China
What it was like for Mrs. Zhang to receive her son’s diagnosis
Why she started her own autism center and the types of services they offer
Their partnership with Global Autism Project

This episode with Jie Bing Zhang was originally released on April 1, 2021.

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We are also thrilled to announce that, in collaboration with our partners from Centro Enigma in Ecuador, The Global Autism Project is hosting the Latin America Autism Summit this July in Lima, Peru!

Are you a professional eager to stay at the forefront of current best practices? Or a parent looking for support from others who understand your needs? Or a self-advocate wanting to share your story and educate others? Look no further! The Latin America Autism Summit is THE event tailored to address these pressing questions and more.

Mark your calendar for July 10th-12th, as we gather in the heart of Lima, Peru, immersed in a dynamic atmosphere buzzing with insightful presentations, invaluable networking opportunities, and hands-on workshops led by industry experts.

Join us at the Latin America Autism Summit, where together, we'll create unforgettable moments and forge connections that last a lifetime.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project

We would love to hear your feedback about the show. Please fill out this short survey to let us know your thoughts: Listener Survey

Supported Decision Making | Part 2 with Jonathan Gardner

Thu, 16 May 2024 20:16:43 +0200

Discover what’s possible when you are in charge of your life.

Do you sometimes wish you had a team of supporters to guide you in the right direction? Maybe you already have trusted friends and family in your close circles.

Either way, you’ll want to listen to this episode, which is part 2 of my conversation with Jonathan Gardner. He talks about how supported decision making helped him get through his cancer treatment.

Jonathan Gardner is an Autistic Self-Advocate, cancer survivor, supported decision maker, and motivational speaker.

In this conversation, among other things, we discuss:

Jonathan being treated as a human being by his medical team
Supported decision making as an alternative to guardianship
Overcoming the fear of public speaking
Tips for other autistic people about not being defined by autism

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project

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Surviving Cancer | Part 1 with Jonathan Gardner

Fri, 10 May 2024 23:59:00 +0200

Discover what’s possible when you find joy in every day.

Have you ever had to pull through something you thought would be impossible to overcome? Or let go of control in an overwhelming situation?

If you can relate, you’ll want to listen to this episode with Jonathan Gardner, where he shares the lessons that helped him through his cancer journey.

Jonathan Gardner is an Autistic Self-Advocate, cancer survivor, supported decision maker, and motivational speaker.

In this conversation we discuss:

Jonathan’s strengths and special interests
How bullying pushed him to homeschooling
What it was like to diagnosed with a rare cancer at only 18 years old
Jonathan’s emotional journey of receiving treatment
His road to recovery

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

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Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project

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The 7 Steps to Successful Parenting and ABA in Germany, with Robert and Nadine Schramm | TBT

Fri, 03 May 2024 18:00:22 +0200

Discover what’s possible when motivation leads to positive relationships.

Are you struggling with finding ways to motivate your child or client? Do you want to build and maintain positive relationships while making learning fun?

If so, you’ll want to listen to this episode with Robert and Nadine Schramm where they discuss how to work with autistic individuals while keeping their dignity at the forefront.

Robert Schramm is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, a former special education instructor, and a published author. Nadine Schramm is an Applied Behavior Analysis and Verbal Behavior Consultant and leads their Knospe-ABA office in Germany. Robert and Nadine offer consultation, education, and workshop services to families.

In this conversation, among other things, we discuss:

Autism services currently available for families in Germany
How the attitudes towards autism in Germany have changed over the years
Key takeaways from Robert’s books Motivation and Reinforcement: Turning the Tables on Autism and The 7 Steps to Earning Instructional Control
Why the principles behind the 7 steps are useful for anyone interested in creating a strong learning environment

This episode with Robert and Nadine Schramm was originally released on November 19, 2020.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project

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Celebrating Four Years, with the Global Autism Community

Sat, 27 Apr 2024 12:53:21 +0200

Discover what’s possible when humans connect.

Do you want to feel a sense of belonging and express yourself freely and without judgment? Are you looking for a safe space where people accept you for who you are and support you on your journey of advocacy?

If so, you’ll want to listen to this episode, where members of our Global Autism Community talk about how being part of our online space has helped them grow.

This week we are celebrating the 4-year anniversary of this podcast, as well as the 3-year anniversary of our online Global Autism Community!

Four years after launching Autism Knows No Borders, we are more energized than ever to keep going. There are still countless meaningful stories out there, and we want to bring them to you. We will continue to elevate autistic voices. We want their stories to keep traveling across the world, so that more and more people can join us in the cause for autism awareness, acceptance, and hope.

And, of course, many thanks to you, our dedicated listeners, for tuning in each week, sharing your takeaways, and ultimately giving meaning to what we’re doing.

If you’re a new listener, we’d like to welcome you as well!

Special shout out to another one of our community moderators, Christina Kaspersen who monitors posts daily to ensure that our online space remains safe and respectful. If you’re interested in joining our moderator team, you can send me a direct message in the community.

Last week, some members of our community got together virtually to celebrate our anniversary. We played games and got to know each other in a more casual setting. Today you’ll hear an excerpt from that special event, featuring Autistic Self-Advocates Sara Bradford, Stephanie De Kremer, Adrian Sanchez, and Christina Kaspersen, as well as fellow community members Cheryl Albright, TJ Larum, and Danielle Terrell.

Are you a self-advocate willing to share your experiences and educate others? Are you a professional seeking to hear directly from autistic voices and improve your practice? Are you a family member hoping to support and empower your loved one? Whatever your role related to autism is, you can join our online Global Autism Community to connect and collaborate with people all over the world.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project

We would love to hear your feedback about the show. Please fill out this short survey to let us know your thoughts: Listener Survey

SkillCorps® Journey | Part 2 with Team Kenya

Thu, 18 Apr 2024 18:00:00 +0200

Discover what’s possible when you lean into curiosity.

Do you feel trapped in your daily routine and want to feel inspired again? Do you think there's something more you're meant to be doing in the world for the autistic community? Are you a self-advocate or professional looking to develop as a leader, build confidence in your own abilities, and help others do the same?

If so, you’ll want to listen to this episode because our SkillCorps® volunteers share how they reconnected with their passion in the field from going on their trip to Kenya.

Just a recap, in case you missed part 1 from last week, SkillCorps® is carefully curated 10-day journey includes developing culturally-relevant and sustainable training with our partner staff, listening to local Autistic Self-Advocates and family members to learn about their lived experiences, sharing meals with community members to brainstorm ideas and solutions, and executing a high-impact project to build on existing work being done in the country.

Last October, we sent a SkillCorps® team to visit our partners at Kaizora in Nairobi, Kenya. In part 2 of this special SkillCorps® Journey episode, you’ll hear Team Kenya talk about:

Personal growth
Professional development in the field of autism services
How traveling with the Global Autism Project inspired the team to create change in their own communities
Tips for future SkillCorps® travelers

As you probably know if you follow our work closely, we’re also sending teams out in the field this July, and we’re currently taking SkillCorps® applications for travel in October!

Join us today at skillcorps.globalautismproject.org and use the coupon code “AUTISMPODCAST” to waive the application fee.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project

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SkillCorps® Journey | Part 1 with Team Kenya

Fri, 12 Apr 2024 17:32:02 +0200

Discover what’s possible when collaboration inspires change.

Do you have a personal or professional connection to autism? Are you looking to collaborate with others and help the autistic community in a meaningful, sustainable way? Do you want to share your insights and make a positive impact on a global scale but don’t know where to start?

If so, you’ll want to listen to this episode because our SkillCorps® volunteers share how they collaborated with a global team of autism professionals and advocates on their trip to our partner site in Kenya.

Last October, we sent a SkillCorps® team to visit our partners at Kaizora in Nairobi, Kenya. Kaizora offers comprehensive services for families, including speech therapy, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, vocational training, special education, and social skills.

In this episode you’ll hear from Maureen Gathogo, or “Moh” for short, the Operations Manager at Kaizora, Jessie Sheahan, our staff member who led the SkillCorps® team, and the SkillCorps® volunteers themselves. Next week, you’ll hear the team talk about their personal growth and takeaways.

In today’s episode, we discuss:

Clinical training and outreach initiatives completed during the trip
Collaboration between professionals from different backgrounds
The Global Autism Project’s model Do With Not For
Cultural humility
Sustainable practices in international development

As you probably know if you follow our work closely, we’re also sending teams out in the field this July, and we’re currently taking SkillCorps® applications for travel in October!

Join us today at skillcorps.globalautismproject.org and use the coupon code “AUTISMPODCAST” to waive the application fee.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project

We would love to hear your feedback about the show. Please fill out this short survey to let us know your thoughts: Listener Survey

Overcoming Prejudice & Breaking Stigma, with the Global Autism Community

Fri, 05 Apr 2024 16:46:48 +0200

Discover what’s possible when you belong.

Have you ever heard the phrases, “You don’t look autistic,” or “Everyone’s a little bit autistic,” or “You can’t (fill in the blank) because you’re autistic”?

If you or anyone you know has ever felt that their autistic experiences don’t matter, this is one episode you’ll want to listen to.

We’re kicking off Autism Awareness & Acceptance Month with this roundtable discussion about overcoming prejudices and breaking the stigma around autism, facilitated by community moderator Danielle Terrell, and featuring Autistic Self-Advocates Thomas Iland, Brian Middleton, Corben Havener, Mary Johnston, Bob Schmus, Sara Bradford, and Amy Smith, as well as fellow community members, Rosetta Walker and Tj Larum.

Among other things, we discuss:

Ableism in the form of gaslighting
Masking as a defense mechanism
Breaking stereotypes
The Medical vs. the social model of disability
Autism in legal situations
Limitations set by some medical professionals

Would you like to share your own perspectives by participating in roundtables like the this one? Join our online Global Autism Community, a safe and judgment-free space where all kinds of people connected to autism regularly discuss important topics like autistic identity, dating on the spectrum, coping strategies, and many, many more.

Let’s work together to transform how the world relates to autism.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project

We would love to hear your feedback about the show. Please fill out this short survey to let us know your thoughts: Listener Survey

Music, Art & Creativity, with the Global Autism Community

Thu, 28 Mar 2024 18:00:00 +0100

Discover what’s possible when you let the creative juices flow.

Have you ever experienced a flow state when using music or visual arts as a creative outlet? Or maybe you’ve been inspired by someone else’s work?

If you like music and art, stick around, because today’s episode is a roundtable discussion where we talk about all things creativity, facilitated by community moderator Danielle Terrell, and featuring Autistic Self-Advocates Andrew Bennett, Stephanie De Kremer, and Christina Kaspersen, as wells as fellow members of our online Global Autism Community, Melissa Badertscher and Tj Larum.

Among other things, we discuss:

How creative projects can enrich lives
Different outlets for creativity
Interpretation vs improvisation
Using creativity to accentuate autistic strengths and develop areas of need
Challenges of self-promotion
How to overcome imposter syndrome when showcasing work in front of others

Let’s work together to transform how the world relates to autism.

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Related episodes:

22. Music Therapy and Autism in Australia, with Pamela Fisher

149. Special Needs Music, with Stephen Flinn

123. Art, Synesthesia, and Software Engineering, with Austin Lubetkin

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project

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My Journey of Becoming a Public Speaker, with Thomas Iland | TBT

Thu, 21 Mar 2024 18:00:00 +0100

Discover what’s possible when you come to life.

Are you looking for ways to share your story and make a difference for others, but you get nervous speaking in front of a crowd? Or maybe you already have the confidence but don’t know where to start looking for paid speaking engagements?

If so, you’ll really want to listen to today’s episode where our guest shares his tips on public speaking.

Tom is an Autistic Self-Advocate, Toastmasters International Accredited Speaker, Certified Human Potential Coach, Professional Diversity & Inclusion Consultant, and TEDx speaker. He’s the author of two books, Come To Life! Your Guide to Self-Discovery, and My Glass Is Full: Stories of Putting Mental Health First. Tom also holds a unique Guinness World Record as "The Oldest Person With Autism To Finish a Full Ironman Triathlon," emphasizing his commitment to transcending limits.

In this conversation, we discuss:

Strategies for delivering a good speech
How autism influences can influence public speaking
The importance of parents accepting their child’s autism diagnosis
How autistic people can learn to empathize with others
Tips for other self-advocates who may want to pursue a career in public speaking

This episode with Thomas Iland was originally released on April 8, 2021.

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Join us today at community.globalautismproject.org. Let’s work together to transform how the world relates to autism.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

Join our Facebook group: Autism Knows No Borders

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project

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Professional Development in the Dominican Republic, with Maricarmen Hazoury | TBT

Fri, 15 Mar 2024 21:13:00 +0100

Discover what’s possible when quality care is cultivated from within.

Have you ever looked for a service provider in a rural area, and had a hard time finding just one professional near you with a certification established by a board? How would you know if those other, non-credentialed service providers have completed proper, systematic training?

In today’s episode, we address these topics and much, much more.

When this conversation was recorded, the Behavior Analysts Certification Board had just announced that they would discontinue international certification for behavior analysts. Although the decision initially caused some upset, confusion, and disappointment, other organizations like the IBAO and QABA have since stepped up to fill the space.

Maricarmen Hazoury is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and the co-founder of Centro ACAP, an autism center in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. The Global Autism Project partnered with Centro ACAP in 2018, and we have since sent three SkillCorps volunteer teams to provide sustainable hands-on training.

In this conversation, among other things, we discuss:

Autism awareness in the Dominican Republic and the types of autism services currently available
How Kaki became involved in the field and why she is passionate about using Applied Behavior Analysis to help families
The need for a Spanish-speaking certification board
Why the current Code of Ethics for Behavior Analysts is not completely relevant to Dominican culture
What Kaki has learned from partnering with the Global Autism Project
Which aspects of Dominican culture she is most excited to share with our SkillCorps volunteers when they visit

This episode with Maricarmen Hazoury was originally released on July 30, 2020.

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Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community

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Parents Are the Experts of Their Children | Part 2 with Kathryn Petersen

Thu, 07 Mar 2024 23:58:00 +0100

Discover what’s possible when you trust your gut.

Has anyone close to you needed support after receiving their child’s autism diagnosis? Or maybe you yourself are the parent of a child with autism? If so, you might have felt overwhelmed or isolated when trying to decide what’s best for their future.

Professionals like today’s guest, Kathryn Petersen, empower parents to recognize that they are the true experts of their children so that they can confidently make the best decisions for their family.

Kathryn is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and the Founder of 2 Steps Forward Consulting, a company offering early-intervention coaching to help parents navigate the system.

In this second half of this conversation with Kathryn, we discuss:

How Kathryn determines her client’s success
Kathryn’s involvement with the Global Autism Project, and what she’s learned about leadership
How she applies the Global Autism Project’s motto “Do With Not For” in her current practice
Tips for families starting their autism journeys

Do you know anyone else who might benefit from this episode? For instance, a parent in the early stages of receiving an autism diagnosis for their child?

We encourage you to share this episode with at least one other person. By doing so, you’ll help them feel supported, and help us improve access to services worldwide.

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Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project

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Your Child Has Received an Autism Diagnosis, Now What? | Part 1 with Kathryn Petersen

Thu, 29 Feb 2024 18:00:00 +0100

Discover what’s possible when someone holds your hand.

Have you ever tried to look for autism services and found the process long, stressful, or confusing? If you’re the parent of a child with autism, you’ve probably found that the path to available resources is often far from clear.

However, professionals like today’s guest, Kathryn Petersen, are committed to making this journey easier.

Kathryn is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and the Founder of 2 Steps Forward Consulting, a company offering early-intervention coaching to help parents navigate the system.

In this conversation, among other things, we discuss:

Why Kathryn decided to start her consulting company
What the autism-diagnosis process typically looks like for parents (from recognizing early signs in their children to receiving services)
Common struggles parents face within the system
How parents can collaborate in setting and prioritizing goals
What to look for in a service provider

Do you know anyone else who might benefit from this episode? For instance, a parent in the early stages of receiving an autism diagnosis for their child?

We encourage you to share this episode with at least one other person. By doing so, you’ll help them feel supported, and help us improve access to services worldwide.

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Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project

We would love to hear your feedback about the show. Please fill out this short survey to let us know your thoughts: Listener Survey

Accessibility in Digital Spaces | Part 2 with Maxwell Huffman and Jen Goubeaud

Thu, 22 Feb 2024 23:59:00 +0100

Discover what’s possible when accessibility goes beyond a checklist.

Have you ever come across a website that was difficult to navigate? Were you frustrated that you couldn’t accomplish what you wanted to do, whether it was pay a bill, schedule a doctor’s visit, or attend a zoom call?

Well, you’re definitely not alone. It’s not uncommon for neurodivergent people to feel left out of digital spaces. The good news is accessibility guidelines already exist to ensure websites can be easily navigated.

If you want to know about how these standards are upheld, listen to this conversation I had with Maxwell Huffman and Jen Goubeaud, where we delve deep into the work that they do at Aspiritech, a quality-assurance company with over 90% of autistic employees.

Maxwell is Autistic himself and oversees operations across all of Aspiritech’s program lines, including software quality assurance, accessibility, and data services. And Jen, who has ADHD, is the program manager for the company’s accessibility program line.

In this conversation, among other things, we discuss:

Accessibility criteria that websites needs to meet
Using screen readers for the visually impaired
How a neurodiverse team can help to assess user experience
Moments that make Maxwell and Jen feel proud to be working at Aspiritech
Tips for employers wanting to increase neurodiversity in the workplace

Do you know anyone else who might find value in this episode? Maybe your boss or coworkers would also like to learn how to make your workplace more neurodivergent-friendly.

If you’d like to help improve employment conditions for autistic individuals, please take just a few seconds to share this episode with one person who you think will appreciate it.

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Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project

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How to Increase Neurodiversity in the Workplace | Part 1 with Maxwell Huffman and Jen Goubeaud

Thu, 15 Feb 2024 23:59:00 +0100

Discover what’s possible when your work environment helps you flourish.

Have you ever been at work and felt like your colleagues just didn’t understand you, or maybe didn’t even try? Or have you ever worked up the courage to request accommodations, only to then have your needs minimized?

If you want to hear about a company with a work environment just the opposite of that, stay tuned for today’s conversation with Maxwell Huffman and Jen Goubeaud, where we discuss how Aspiritech creates opportunities for their neurodivergent employees to thrive.

In this conversation, among other things, we discuss:

How Brenda and Moshe Weitzberg founded Aspiritech to help their son find suitable employment, scaling it up from a kitchen-table start-up to a company with over 100 employees, 90% of which are Autistic
Common accommodations, such as written instructions and hybrid work options
Aspiritech’s hiring and training process
How to match skill sets to a job

If you’re enjoying this episode and you don’t want to miss part 2, where we’ll talk about digital accessibility for neurodivergent individuals, be sure to hit the subscribe button! It will help you stay up-to-date, and it will also help us continue to bring you great guests, like Jen and Maxwell.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project

We would love to hear your feedback about the show. Please fill out this short survey to let us know your thoughts: Listener Survey

Dyslexia, Speech Therapy, and AAC, with Jeannette Washington | TBT

Thu, 08 Feb 2024 23:59:00 +0100

Discover what’s possible when communication operates beyond words.

Have you ever heard anyone say that speech therapy is only for children who need to learn how to talk? Or that dyslexia only affects the ability to read and write? Or that an AAC device might hinder language development?

In today’s throwback episode, we revisit these common misconceptions and many, many more.

A certified teacher, speech pathologist, coder and author, and the digital creator behind Bearly Articulating, Jeannette has many years of experience providing services to people with autism, ADHD, and dyslexia.

In this conversation, among other things, we discuss:

Who can benefit from speech therapy
How autism and dyslexia overlap
Why collaboration between professionals from different fields is essential for progress
Ways in which an AAC device can improve communication
How differently-minded individuals can – and should – contribute to the tech industry
Helpful tips for parents trying to increase their child’s communication skills

This episode with Jeannette Washington was originally released on July 23, 2020.

Would you like to submit your own questions for our upcoming guests? Follow us on Instagram @autismpodcast and watch out for posts asking for contributions! We want you to get the most out of our podcast, so your input is always appreciated.

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Is Autism Representation in the Media Accurate? | Roundtable with the Global Autism Community

Thu, 01 Feb 2024 18:00:00 +0100

Discover what’s possible when autism representation in the media is accurate.

Have you ever been disappointed by the representation of autism in movies, TV shows, or other media? Or, on the other hand, have you ever resonated with some of the characters with autistic traits that you’ve seen on screen?

Whether you’ve had one of these experiences or both, stick around, because today’s episode is a roundtable discussion where we address the question, “How can the entertainment industry improve their representation of autism?”

I’m sure you’ll find this conversation as engaging as I did. Among other things, we talked about:

How movies like Rainman and other early representations of autism led to inaccurate stereotypes
The ethics of Autistic characters being played by Autistic vs. non-Autistic actors
Implicit vs. explicit Autistic characters in shows like Extraordinary Attorney Woo, Atypical and The Big Bang Theory
The need to increase representation of non-speaking Autistics

Participants in this roundtable include Autistic Self-Advocates Andrew Bennett, Michelle Vinokurov, Corben Havener, Mary Johnston, and Christina Kaspersen, and fellow members of our online Global Autism Community Ali Carbone, Cheryl Albright, Tj Larum and Danielle Terrell.

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We’ll see you there at community.globalautismproject.org!

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

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Eating Disorder Recovery, with Livia Sara

Thu, 25 Jan 2024 18:00:00 +0100

Discover what’s possible when you live label free.

Livia Sara is an Autistic Self-Advocate, eating disorder survivor, author, and the host of the podcast Liv Label Free. Livia is currently working on her fifth book, and her publications include a memoir, Rainbow Girl, and a cookbook titled Nourishing Neurodiversity. She is also a 1:1 coach for autistic people recovering from an eating disorder.

In this conversation, we discuss:

Livia’s autistic strengths
How having an eating disorder led to the journey of discovering her autism
Why Livia thinks her eating disorder was a way of masking
How to disentangle autistic traits from eating-disorder behaviors
Examples of eating disorders that can be linked to autism
Tips for autistic people suffering an eating disorder

To learn more about Livia Sara please visit livlabelfree.com.

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SkillCorps® Journey, with Team Rwanda

Thu, 18 Jan 2024 18:09:00 +0100

Discover what’s possible when passion drives purpose.

In today’s episode, we’re continuing to highlight our recent SkillCorps® trip to Rwanda. Our SkillCorps® volunteer program is an opportunity for self-advocates, family members, and professionals to travel to our international partner sites and collaborate with local stakeholders on outreach initiatives in their communities.

In this week’s episode, you’ll hear our SkillCorps® Rwanda team members’ personal experiences and takeaways. Special shout out to SkillCorps® Alum and leader Kelly Cotter, who helped me guide this professionally diverse team of 10 global visionaries on this transformational journey. Even though the team members were complete strangers before they met in New York for orientation, by the end of our trip they had formed friendships that will last a lifetime.

Apart from collaborating with our partners at Silver Bells, our SkillCorps® team also took in Rwandan culture through a range of activities, such as shopping at a night market, learning a local dance, and visiting an important historical museum. Each day left us surprised, inspired, and moved.

The team had a virtual reunion two weeks after returning from our trip. We reviewed what we had learned and reminisced about some of our experiences.

In today’s conversation, we discuss:

Memorable moments from the trip
Global collaboration
Sustainability
The Global Autism Project’s model of Do With Not For
Personal and professional growth
Leadership
Each team member’s post-trip commitment to their own community
Tips for future SkillCorps® travelers

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We’re currently taking SkillCorps® applications for travel in October 2024!

Join us today at skillcorps.globalautismproject.org and use the coupon code “AUTISMPODCAST” to waive the application fee.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

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SkillCorps | Autism Awareness in Rwanda, with Silver Bells

Fri, 12 Jan 2024 17:44:54 +0100

Discover what’s possible when awareness spreads.

These next two episodes will highlight takeaways from our SkillCorps® volunteer trip to Rwanda last October!

For the last 20 years, the Global Autism Project has been providing sustainable clinical, administrative, and leadership training to autism centers around the world seeking guidance. Our SkillCorps® volunteer program is an opportunity for self-advocates, family members, and professionals to travel to our international partner sites and collaborate with local stakeholders on outreach initiatives specific to their communities.

Last October, I led our SkillCorps® team to visit our partners at Silver Bells in Kigali, Rwanda. Silver Bells offers comprehensive services for families, including speech therapy, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, and vocational training.

In today’s episode, you’ll hear the Founder of Silver Bells, two of the clinical department heads, and several community members who attended the three outreach events we hosted in Kigali.

Next week, you’ll hear some of our SkillCorps® volunteers talk about their personal experiences and takeaways.

As you probably know if you follow our work closely, we’re also sending teams out in the field this March, and we’re currently taking applications for travel in October 2024!

Join us today at skillcorps.globalautismproject.org and use the coupon code “AUTISMPODCAST” to waive the application fee.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

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Setting Goals, with the Global Autism Community | TBT

Fri, 05 Jan 2024 18:30:00 +0100

Discover what’s possible when a goal is set into action.

This week’s episode is a recording of one of our Global Autism Community exclusive events!

The topic of this roundtable discussion was Setting Goals. Participating in this event were autism self-advocates Thomas Iland, Mary Johnston, Scott Edgar, Andrew Arboe, Jeff Snyder, David Sharif, and Sarah Bradford, as well as community members, Karen Shapiro, Ben Sharif, and Kia Burton.

In today’s conversation, we discuss:

Proud moments from 2021
Personal and professional goals for this year
Staying motivated
Tips and strategies to meet milestones

This roundtable discussion with our Global Autism Community was originally released on February 17, 2022.

If you’d like to attend and participate in any of our future events, you can sign up today at community.globalautismproject.org.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

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Special Interests, with the Global Autism Community | TBT

Fri, 29 Dec 2023 21:00:00 +0100

Discover what’s possible when you trust your interests.

Happy New Year!

I want to kick off 2022 with a fun episode about special interests. This week’s release is a recording of one of our Global Autism Community exclusive events, featuring autism self-advocates Thomas Iland, Mary Johnston, Ryan Litchfield, Jeff Snyder and David Sharif, as well as community moderator Kia Burton.

In today’s conversation, we discuss:

Fanfiction
Animals
Painting
Traveling
Advocacy
Batman
Star Wars

This roundtable discussion with our Global Autism Community was originally released on January 20, 2022.

What are some of your special interests? We’d love to hear from you over in our online Global Autism Community!

If you’d like to attend and participate in any of our future events, you can sign up today at community.globalautismproject.org.

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Resources:

The Benefits of Special Interests in Autism

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Highlights of 2023: Part Two, with the Global Autism Community

Thu, 21 Dec 2023 18:00:00 +0100

Discover what’s possible when we learn together.

This week’s episode is part 2 of our 2023 Highlights! Today we’ll continue to review some of our favorite moments from this year’s episodes, specifically from 145 to 158.

As we were reflecting on these past episodes from 2023, we were overcome with immense gratitude for our community. A huge thank you to our guests for sharing their stories, to you, our listeners, for your continued support, and to our team for all the work behind the scenes.

Special thanks to Anh Ngoc and Danielle Terrell for helping to manage guest communications and social media, and to all of our community moderators this year: Andrew Bennett, Cassidy Hooper, Stephan Guidon, Korey Taylor, and Christina Kasperson for monitoring posts and keeping our online space safe and respectful.

From all of us at the Global Autism Project, we wish you a happy and safe holiday season, and hope you can spend some quality time with your loved ones.

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Related episodes:

159. Highlights of 2023: Part One, with the Global Autism Community

127. Highlights of 2022: Part One, with the Global Autism Community

128. Highlights of 2022: Part Two, with the Global Autism Community

90. Highlights of 2021: Part One, with the Global Autism Community

91. Highlights of 2021: Part Two, with the Global Autism Community

41. Highlights of 2020, with the Global Autism Community

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

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Highlights of 2023: Part One, with the Global Autism Community

Sat, 16 Dec 2023 22:56:01 +0100

Discover what’s possible when we learn together.

We’ve reached the end of 2023! To celebrate, we'll be reviewing some of our favorite moments from this year’s episodes – there are so many that this will have to be a two-parter! Part 1 will highlight episodes 129 through 144, and next week 145 through 158.

Since we started working on this podcast almost four years ago (which is unbelievable to say out loud!), we’ve brought on a wide range of guests, including prominent self-advocates, such as Dr. Temple Grandin, Dr. Stephen Shore, Dr. Kerry Magro, Rachel Barcellona, and Anthony Ianni; parents like Tiffany Hammond and Bobby Rubio; some of our Global Autism Project partners, such as Sangeeta Jain from India and Evas Kyomugisha from Rwanda; and other professionals in the field, such as Michelle Garcia Winner from Social Thinking and Harald Neerland from Autism Europe.

If you’ve been listening to our podcast for a while, this 2023 recap will bring you back to the heartfelt stories we’ve been hearing from our guests. And if you’re joining us for the first time, welcome! This episode will give you a good idea of what Autism Knows No Borders is all about.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

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The Do Better Movement, with Dr. Megan DeLeon | TBT

Thu, 07 Dec 2023 19:00:00 +0100

Discover what’s possible when you welcome different perspectives.

Dr. Megan Miller is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst based in Florida. She is the founder of the Do Better Movement, a professional development initiative for behavior analysts aimed at creating humane, culturally-informed, and compassionate interventions. Megan also co-wrote the book The Seven Steps to Earning Instructional Control with Robert Schramm, which was published in 2014.

In today’s conversation, we discuss:

How Megan became involved in the field
What she’s learned from working internationally
Why Megan decided to start the Do Better Movement
Three examples of areas she believes behavior analysts should focus on to improve their clinical skill sets

This conversation with Dr. Megan DeLeon was originally released on November 12, 2020.

For more information about Dr. Megan Miller and her work, please visit the following links:

Do Better Movement Do Better Collective Facebook: Do Better Movement ABA Instagram: @dr_dobetter

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

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Self-Advocacy and Parenting at The Autism Cafe, with Eileen Lamb | TBT

Thu, 30 Nov 2023 23:59:00 +0100

Discover what’s possible when an Autistic Self-Advocate courageously shares her stories online.

Eileen Lamb is an Autistic Self-Advocate whose two sons are also on the spectrum. Eileen hosts a blog called The Autism Cafe, where she posts articles and resources for parents. She published her first book in August 2019, called All Across the Spectrum. You can also find her photographs on Instagram @theautismcafe.

In this conversation, we discuss:

Eileen’s son’s diagnosis and his progress from receiving Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) services
Her experiences growing up feeling different
Receiving a diagnosis as an adult
The surprising differences in attitudes towards autism between France and the US
A traumatic incident that involved Child Protective Services and left Eileen feeling betrayed by her son’s ABA team
The controversy of ABA therapy and the myths surrounding it
How hard it’s been for Eileen to receive online attacks from other self-advocates and how she handles those criticisms today

This conversation with Eileen Lamb was originally released on April 28, 2020.

Eileen is currently the Director of Social Media at Autism Speaks. Her second book, Be The One, was released in March 2021. She also gave birth to her third child in 2022, a little girl named Billie.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

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Thanksgiving Special | Celebrating 20 Years, with the Global Autism Project Team

Wed, 22 Nov 2023 21:00:00 +0100

Discover what’s possible when you attend to gratitude.

This episode is being released a day early in observance of Thanksgiving in the US.

Each year our team reflects on what they’re grateful for, both personally and professionally. This year we have many reasons to count our blessings, including one special milestone to celebrate: the Global Autism Project’s 20-year anniversary!

In this episode our CEO, Molly Ola Pinney, and our Head of University and Training Programs, Ann Beirne, discuss:

The Global Autism Project’s origin
How we evolved to be what we are today
How autism awareness has increased around the world over the last 20 years
How the field of ABA has embraced the neurodiversity movement
Our motto “Do With Not For” as the foundation to our work
Cultivating ownership vs buy-in with a team
What Molly and Ann are grateful for during this special occasion

You’ll also hear a few special excerpts of our staff members sharing their personal gratitudes. We hope that this episode will inspire you to reflect on what you’re grateful for this holiday season.

From all of us at the Global Autism Project, we wish you a Happy Thanksgiving and hope you can spend some time with your loved ones this weekend.

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Related episodes:

2. Global Autism Project: Our Mission, with Molly Ola Pinney

56. Do With Not For, with Our CEO Molly Ola Pinney

139. Responsive Skills Training: An Autistic-Informed Curriculum, with Molly Ola Pinney and Ann Beirne

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Accessibility and Accommodations, with the Global Autism Community

Thu, 16 Nov 2023 23:03:00 +0100

Discover what’s possible when you ask for help.

This week’s episode is a recording of one of our Global Autism Community exclusive events! The topic of this roundtable was Accommodations and Accessibility at School and Work.

The participants were Autistic Self-Advocate Andrew Bennett, mothers Karen Shapiro and Neena Wagh, and community members Tj Larum and Brenda Canas, and the discussion was facilitated by community moderator Danielle Terrell.

We want to acknowledge Danielle for her commitment to our mission at the Global Autism Project. Soon after discovering our podcast, Danielle joined our online Global Autism Community, participated in our Virtual Leadership Academy course, became a member of our Affiliate program, traveled with us on a SkillCorps® trip to India, and most recently stepped into a role as community moderator. Danielle is also now managing our podcast Instagram and guest communications.

Thank you, Danielle, for all that you do. Your hard work and dedication are helping this podcast and our community grow!

In today’s conversation, we discuss:

The importance of knowing your rights when it comes to accommodations
How to determine what reasonable accommodations are
How accommodations can vary across different cultures
Advocacy skills and why they should be taught
Empowering parents and students
The freedom to disclose or not

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

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Special Education and Disability Rights, with Michael Gilberg | TBT

Thu, 09 Nov 2023 23:30:00 +0100

Discover what’s possible when education is measured beyond grades.

Michael Gilberg is an autistic special education and disability rights attorney based in New York and Connecticut. Growing up with undiagnosed Asperger’s Syndrome, he offers his clients a level of insight and empathy that is unique to his personal experience.

In today’s conversation, we discuss:

Michael’s lack of educational services as a child
What he’s learned about friendship
Misconceptions about autism
Feeling stuck between autistic and neurotypical
The challenge of defining what “normal” means
The right to an appropriate education

This conversation with Michael Gilberg was originally released on February 25, 2021.

For more information about Michael Gilberg and his work, please visit michaelgilbergesq.com.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

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Finding My Own Identity, with Ali Carbone

Fri, 03 Nov 2023 00:34:11 +0100

Discover what’s possible when the glass child heals.

Ali Carbone is a Brooklyn-based writer, and the oldest sibling to three autistic brothers. In her most recent book, What Are You Looking At?, she writes about her journey of finding herself and rewiring her own brain.

In this conversation, we discuss:

Ali’s caretaker role from a young age
Her relationship with her parents
How being the non-autistic sibling affected her psyche
The catalyst to understanding her lost identity
Ali’s breakthroughs in therapy
Her brothers’ transition into a group home
Tips for other siblings

To learn more about Ali Carbone you can read her memoir or follow her on IG @aliicarbone.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

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The Power of Social Stories, with Sivan Hong

Thu, 26 Oct 2023 19:55:23 +0200

Discover what’s possible when stories shape behavior.

Sivan Hong is the author and illustrator of the best-selling children’s book series Super Fun Day Books, which celebrates the triumphs of neurodiverse children as they face challenges with determination and courage. Her titles include Benny J. and the Horrible Halloween, George J. and the Miserable Monday, Emily D. and the Fearful First Day, and Avery G. and the Scary End of School. Sivan is also the mother of two neurodiverse children, and she herself has ADHD.

In this conversation, we discuss:

Sivan’s discovery of her neurodivergence at age 47
How audiobooks opened her up to the world of reading
Neurodivergent traits that help her writing
The difference between social stories and traditional children’s books
Why social stories are effective in teaching neurodiverse children to navigate challenging situations
The benefits of social stories for every student in the classroom, including neurotypicals
An excerpt from one of Sivan’s books about Halloween
Why she focuses on strengths with her family
Tips for other parents

To learn more about Sivan Hong, please visit her website at sivanhong.com.

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Resources:

A Novel Mind - A database for educators and parents who are looking for the right book for the right child.

Dyslexia Linked to Visual Strengths Useful in Astronomy - The study Sivan mentions during the conversation.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

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SkillCorps Trip Reflections, with Andrew Bennett, Brittney Paye, and Jessie Sheahan | TBT

Thu, 19 Oct 2023 23:59:00 +0200

Discover what’s possible when you step outside of your comfort zone and embrace the unknown.

Andrew Bennett, Brittney Paye, and Jessie Sheahan have all traveled with the Global Autism Project over the years on SkillCorps® volunteer trips to our various partner sites, including ABA Centrum in the Czech Republic and SOREM in India.

As our CEO Molly mentioned in episode 2, SkillCorps® is an opportunity for professionals and self-advocates to provide meaningful training to our partners around the world.

We send out teams of up to 15 people twice a year for 10 days at a time. The team members are complete strangers when they meet for orientation in NY, and by the end of their two-week trip, oftentimes they’ve become best friends. I still keep in touch with many of my teammates that I’ve traveled with.

So far, over 1,000 volunteers are part of our Skillcorps® Alumni community, and many are repeat travelers. Time and again, SkillCorps® alumni have expressed to us that their two-week trips have transformed their lives and relationships.

Each SkillCorps® team has a trip leader and sometimes a leader-in-training. Andrew, Brittney, and Jessie have all attended Leadership Academy, which is an intensive multi-day workshop that we offer for future trip leaders to discover their leadership style.

All three guests have different backgrounds related to autism. Andrew is an autism self-advocate and BCaBA, working with children on the spectrum. Brittney is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst who implements Applied Behavior Analysis to train dogs. Jessie is a licensed school psychologist and has used ABA strategies in her daily work.

In this conversation, we discuss:

What Andrew, Brittney, and Jessie have learned about themselves and how they continue to apply these insights to their personal and professional growth
An inspiring story Andrew shares about his outreach initiatives on a SkillCorps® trip to the Czech Republic
How Brittney’s leadership skills have empowered her to take a stand in different aspects of her life
Jessie’s takeaways from collaborating with a diverse team of professionals
The clinical training model that is implemented on our SkillCorps® trips
Why it’s important to always prioritize sustainability
How using the Socratic approach fosters critical thinking skills in the learner
Cultural humility and how it’s practiced on SkillCorps® trips
Helpful tips for future SkillCorps® volunteers

This conversation with Andrew Bennett, Brittney Paye, and Jessie Sheahan was originally released on April 28, 2020.

You can find more information about our SkillCorps® program at globalautismproject.org.

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Neurodiversity-Affirming Practices, with the Global Autism Community

Thu, 05 Oct 2023 23:19:00 +0200

Discover what’s possible when the person is at the center.

This week’s episode is a recording of one of our Global Autism Community exclusive events! This roundtable was facilitated by community moderator Korey Taylor, and its topic of discussion was Neurodiversity-Affirming Practices.

The participants were Autistic Self-Advocates Thomas Iland, Brian Middleton, Andrew Bennett, Corben Havener, and Robert Schmus, and community members Rosetta Walker, Danielle Terrell, and Tj Larum.

In today’s conversation, we discuss:

What “affirming” means
The harms of being forced to mask
Best practices across disciplines
Client dignity
Autonomy
Assent
How to identify an individual’s values

If you’d like to attend and participate in any of our future events, you can sign up today at community.globalautismproject.org.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

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A Strong Sibling Bond, with Anthony and Alexis Sevieri

Thu, 28 Sep 2023 23:59:00 +0200

Discover what’s possible when bonds are rebuilt.

Anthony Sevieri is autistic and Alexis, his older sister, is neurotypical. Some of Anthony’s special interests include music and roller coasters.

Alexis is a member of our SkillCorps Alumni community, having traveled with the Global Autism Project to India and Kenya. To learn more about our SkillCorps program, check out episodes 150 & 151.

In this conversation, we discuss:

How Anthony and Alexis’ parents explained autism to them when they were children
Their family dynamics growing up
How Anthony would feel during moments of aggression
An incident from high school that led Anthony to writing music
Anthony’s journey of self-awareness and self-acceptance
Alexis’s experiences as a sibling
How they came to understand each other’s perspectives as adults
Fun activities they like to do together
The risks of using food as a coping mechanism
Autistic strengths that Anthony uses at his YMCA job
His recent album, including a teaser of one of his songs
Alexis’ goals to help families with autistic loved ones
Tips for autistic and non-autistic siblings

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

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Cubbie: Personalised Sensory Regulation, with David McIntyre

Thu, 21 Sep 2023 19:31:53 +0200

Discover what’s possible when sensory needs are met.

David McIntyre is the Founder and CEO of Cubbie, an immersive personal space of sound and vision that uses Personalized Sensory Regulation (PSR) technology to regulate people with autism and sensory needs. Based in Ireland, David is the father of two autistic girls and also neurodivergent himself, diagnosed with dyslexia.

In this conversation, we discuss:

Autism awareness, acceptance, and services in Ireland
David’s early fears of being diagnosed and how he came to accept his dyslexia
How autism presents differently for David’s two daughters
The potential problem of with using diagnoses as excuses
David’s inspiration for developing Cubbie
The four different types of sensory needs the Cubbie team has identified
How occupational therapists use Cubbie to regulate student sensory-processing systems
What kinds of audiovisual media come with a Cubbie experience
Tips for other parents of autistic children

To learn more about David McIntyre and Cubbie, please visit cubbie.ie.

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SkillCorps Journey, with Team India

Mon, 11 Sep 2023 22:42:56 +0200

Discover what’s possible when you take the leap.

We’re continuing to highlight our recent SkillCorps® trip to India! Our SkillCorps® volunteer program is an opportunity for self-advocates, family members, and professionals to travel to our international partner sites and collaborate with local stakeholders on employment initiatives in their communities.

In this week’s episode, you’ll hear from some of our SkillCorps® team members about their personal experiences and takeaways. I led this professionally diverse team of 21 global visionaries who were complete strangers before they met for orientation in New York. During our trip, they formed friendships that will last a lifetime.

The following testimonies are from Abi Chambers, Cheryl Albright, Danielle Terrell, Hailee Perez, Melissa Badertscher, Morgan Ferguson, Natalie Woods, Belen BuenRostro, Kelsey Larsh, TJ Larum, Jennee Niemeijer-Heaton, and Angie Gilmore.

In today’s episode, you’ll hear excerpts about:

Moments from the trip that surprised, inspired and moved our SkillCorps® volunteers
Global collaboration
Sustainability
The Global Autism Project’s model of Do With Not For
Personal and professional growth
Leadership
Each team member’s post-trip commitment to their own community
Tips for future SkillCorps® travelers

We’re currently taking SkillCorps® applications for travel in 2024!

Join us today at skillcorps.globalautismproject.org and use the coupon code “AUTISMPODCAST” to waive the application fee.

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SkillCorps | Accessible Employment in India

Fri, 01 Sep 2023 13:03:46 +0200

Discover what's possible when employment is made accessible.

We’ve made it to episode 150! To celebrate this huge milestone, we are dedicating the next two episodes to our SkillCorps® volunteer program.

For almost 20 years, the Global Autism Project has been providing sustainable clinical, administrative, and leadership training to autism centers around the world seeking guidance. Our SkillCorps® volunteer program is an opportunity for self-advocates, family members, and professionals to travel to our international partner sites and collaborate with local stakeholders on outreach initiatives specific to their communities.

Last July, I led our SkillCorps® team to visit our partners at SOREM in Chandigarh, India. SOREM has been a partner with the Global Autism Project since 2010. For this trip, we focused on employment initiatives for autistic adults.

In today’s episode, you’ll hear from our CEO, Molly Pinney, our partner at SOREM, Sangeeta Jain, and several community members who attended two outreach events we hosted in Delhi. There, we met with Autistic Self-Advocates and their family members, as well as various NGO representatives who are doing incredible work in order to make employment accessible for Autistic adults in India.

Next week, you’ll hear from some of our SkillCorps® team members about their personal experiences and takeaways.

As you probably know if you follow our work closely, we’re sending two teams out in the field this October to collaborate with our partners in Kenya and Rwanda, and we’re currently taking applications for travel in 2024!

Join us today at skillcorps.globalautismproject.org and use the coupon code “AUTISMPODCAST” to waive the application fee.

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Autism Services in the Czech Republic, with Katerina Cizkova | TBT

Thu, 24 Aug 2023 18:53:00 +0200

Discover what’s possible when someone fosters motivation by encouraging autonomy.

Today’s guest is Katerina Cizkova. Katerina is a psychologist and a previous Clinical Director at ABA Centrum, an autism center in Prague, Czech Republic.

In this conversation, we discuss:

The types of services available for individuals with autism in the Czech Republic
The potential harm of implementing interventions that are not evidence-based
Some of the ethical considerations to review when designing programs
How Katerina became involved in the field of ABA
Why ABA is sometimes misunderstood by parents and professionals
How she views the changes to the BACB’s international credentialing
ABA Centrum's transition to online services and how they keep parents engaged from a distance

Here is a link to view the documentary Katerina mentions about autism in the Czech Republic: Children of the Full Moon.

For more information about Katerina Cizkova and ABA Centrum, please visit their website: ABA Centrum.

This conversation with Katerina Cizkova was originally released on June 11, 2020.

Since this recording, Katerina co-founded a therapy center for children with neurodevelopmental disorders in her community. Two years later, she decided to work in a different sphere, but she still collaborates with the therapists occasionally on a supervision level.

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Shining a Light on Autism, with Timothy Boykin | TBT

Thu, 17 Aug 2023 23:59:00 +0200

Discover what’s possible when the shadow of stereotypes is illuminated by humor and art.

Timothy Boykin is an autism self-advocate, author, singer, and influencer. With almost 40K followers on TikTok, Tim uses his platform to promote autism acceptance and bring attention to racial inequality.

In today’s conversation, we discuss:

What it was like for Tim to learn about his diagnosis
How he dealt with bullies throughout school
Why he wants to shine a positive light on autism
Strategies Tim’s mother taught him to stay safe during encounters with police officers
Experiences in which Tim felt he was discriminated against because of his race

This conversation with Timothy Boykin was originally released on June 25, 2020.

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Resources:

Anxiety and Autism

Depression and Anxiety by Race

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Special Needs Music, with Stephen Flinn

Thu, 10 Aug 2023 21:46:44 +0200

Discover what’s possible when students lead the beat.

Stephen Flinn has been teaching music for over three decades. As a master trainer of the Rhythmic Arts Project curriculum, Stephen facilitates percussion-ensemble classes to students of all diagnoses.

He has been featured in many international publications, including the Modern Drummer and DownBeat magazines, and published his first book, Contemporary Urban Percussion, in 2016. Stephen has also appeared on over 40 commercial releases of creative music and has toured extensively throughout Europe, Japan, and the United States.

In this conversation, we discuss:

The benefits of learning a musical instrument, such as increased focus, listening, communication, confidence, motor strength, stress management, and cognitive development
Generalizing skills outside music class
Stephen’s alternative notation system on piano
How to use drums to communicate with non-speakers
What Stephen has learned from working with autistic students
Why he decided to spend 6 months as a monk in Thailand and how that experience influenced his teaching
The biggest mistake many musicians make

To learn more about Stephen Flinn, please visit specialneedsmusic.com.

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A Place to Learn and Thrive in India, with Sangeeta Jain | TBT

Thu, 03 Aug 2023 23:59:00 +0200

Discover what’s possible when you create what you’re looking for.

Sangeeta Jain is the mother of a 21-year-old young man with autism, Suvrat. Her older daughter Shreya was featured in episode 6 of this podcast, where she talked about growing up with a sibling on the spectrum. Sangeeta is also the principal at SOREM, a school for children with disabilities in Chandigarh, India.

The Global Autism Project partnered with SOREM in 2010. We have since sent close to 30 SkillCorps volunteer teams to provide hands-on sustainable training to their teachers and staff.

In this conversation, we discuss:

The level of understanding of autism in India and the lack of standardization in the services available there
What Sangeeta envisions for Suvrat's future
The relationship between her two children
How SOREM has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic
What Sangeeta has learned about leadership over the years
A special anecdote from when a particular SkillCorps volunteer team visited India

For more information about SOREM, please visit their website http://soremspecialchildren.org and follow them on Instagram @soremcare36.

This conversation with Sangeeta Jain was originally released on November 5, 2020.

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Autistic Identity, with the Global Autism Community

Thu, 20 Jul 2023 23:59:00 +0200

Discover what’s possible when identity is fluid.

This week’s episode is a recording of one of our Global Autism Community exclusive events! This roundtable was facilitated by community moderator Andrew Bennett, and its topic of discussion was Autistic Identity.

The participants were Autistic Self-Advocates Thomas Iland, Sara Bradford, and Michael Gilberg, and community members Rosetta Walker, Vanya Umenjoh, and Korey Taylor.

In today’s conversation, we discuss:

What is identity and what gives us ours
Person-first vs. identity-first language
Autistic with a capital “A”
Why autistics value identity
What is “normal”
Respecting someone else’s identity
Masking
The difference between fitting in and belonging
How to encourage society to be more inclusive
The importance of empowering young autistics to become self-advocates

If you’d like to attend and participate in any of our future events, you can sign up today at community.globalautismproject.org.

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The International Behavior Analysis Organization, with Dr. Michael Mueller and Our CEO Molly Ola Pinney

Thu, 13 Jul 2023 23:59:00 +0200

Discover what’s possible when certification is just the beginning.

The CEO of Global Autism Project, Molly Ola Pinney, is joined by the Co-Founder of the International Behavior Analysis Organization, Dr. Michael Mueller. The IBAO certifies practitioners to ensure ethical practices, protect consumers, and maintain appropriate educational standards in the field of ABA around the world.

A board certified behavior analyst, Mike has authored 11 books, including Behavior Analytic Consultation to Schools, and the Assessment of Functional Living Skills (AFLS), a seven-volume series to guide in the assessment of teaching everyday life skills to learners of all ages. He has also published dozens of research articles and served on the editorial board of several prestigious journals, including the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, the School Psychology Review, and the Journal of Evidence Based Practices for Schools, to name a few.

In this conversation, we discuss:

What prompted the start of the IBAO
Former barriers to certification, including cost and accessibility
How the IBAO makes certification more attainable for practitioners who don’t hold a Master’s degree
Ethical considerations to addressing cultural differences
The distinction between certification and licensure
Collaboration between Global Autism Project and the IBAO
Tips for ABA practitioners

To learn more about Dr. Michael Mueller and the IBAO, please visit theibao.com.

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Social Media and Intersectional Advocacy, with Tiffany Hammond | TBT

Thu, 06 Jul 2023 23:59:00 +0200

Discover what’s possible when your life is not defined by a single identity.

Tiffany Hammond is an autism self-advocate, a mother to two boys on the spectrum, and the voice behind the blog Fidgets and Fries. As a Black and autistic woman, Tiffany aims to educate others about autism and intersectional advocacy.

In this conversation, we discuss:

How Tiffany became aware of her differences
The guilt she felt after her first son was diagnosed
How Tiffany finally accepted her own autism
The journey of her advocacy work
How she feels about being an Instagram influencer
Why Tiffany felt conflicted about her sudden social media growth after the death of George Floyd
The division within the autism community
The overlap between intersectionality and neurodiversity

To learn more about Tiffany Hammond, please visit:

Instagram: @fidgets.and.fries

Twitter: fidgetsandfries

Website: fidgetsandfries.com

Patreon: patreon.com/tiffanyhammond

This conversation with Tiffany Hammond was originally released on January 14, 2021.

Tiffany's book A Day With No Words was released this last May and has since reached The New York Times #1 Best Seller for Children’s Picture Books. This colorful and engaging picture book for young readers shares what life can look like for families who communicate in a nonverbal way, utilizing tools (like tablets) to embrace their unique method of "speaking."

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SkillCorps Spotlight: Inclusion and Affirmation, with Andrew Bennett

Thu, 29 Jun 2023 23:59:00 +0200

Discover what’s possible when belonging allows us to be who we are.

An Autistic Self-Advocate and BCaBA from Texas, Andrew Bennett has been a dedicated member of our community since 2019, and currently serves as a moderator in our online Global Autism Community. He contributed to our Responsive Skills Training as a committee member, and has traveled on two SkillCorps® volunteer trips, first to the Czech Republic and more recently to Kenya.

Our SkillCorps® volunteer program is an opportunity for self-advocates, family members, and professionals to travel to our international partner sites and collaborate with local stakeholders to ensure that all autistic individuals around the world have access to quality education, services, and employment.

Responsive Skills Training, or RST, is a curriculum co-created with the Autistic community to transform the way in which services are provided across the world. If you’d like to learn more about RST, please listen to episode 139 with co-creator Ann Beirne and our CEO Molly Pinney.

In this conversation, we discuss:

Andrew’s special interests, which include cooking and writing poetry
Why Andrew decided to join the RST committee
His definitions of “inclusion” and “affirming,” and how they apply to neurodiversity-affirming practice in ABA
How to help an autistic person unmask
Situations in which Andrew has felt “dis-affirmed”
Andrew’s experience as an autistic SkillCorps® volunteer
Tips for other self-advocates thinking of going on a SkillCorps® trip

To learn more about our SkillCorps® program, check out episodes 100 and 132, featuring SkillCorps® volunteers that have been to our partner sites in Saudi Arabia and India. Listen to them talk about their transformative experiences and see what SkillCorps® can offer you!

Begin your journey today at globalautismproject.org/skillcorps. As a listener of our show, take advantage of the coupon code AUTISMPODCAST (no space and all caps) to waive the application fee.

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Empowering Autistic Adolescents, with Dr. Gwen Palafox

Thu, 22 Jun 2023 18:00:00 +0200

Discover what’s possible when you seek to understand.

Dr. Gwen Palafox is a licensed psychologist with a focus on helping teens and young adults find their most fulfilled and joyful lives. She has been supporting disabled and neurodivergent individuals for over two decades, and is also the host of the podcast Dr. Gwen Empowered.

In today’s conversation, we discuss:

Why Gwen is passionate about working with autistic individuals
Some common challenges autistic adolescents face when forming their identity
How to find a sense of belonging in the right environments
How neurotypicals can interact with autistic people from a trauma-informed perspective
Characteristics of dually-diagnosed autism and ADHD
Self-acceptance, masking and burnout
The medical model vs the social model of disability
Gwen’s podcast Dr. Gwen Empowered
Her ideas to cultivate a meaningful life, including employment and relationships

To learn more about Dr. Gwen Palafox, please visit meaningfulgrowth.com.

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The Inspiration for Pixar’s SparkShort ”Float,” with Bobby Rubio | TBT

Thu, 15 Jun 2023 19:00:00 +0200

Discover what’s possible when a child can fly free.

Bobby Rubio is the writer and director of the Pixar SparkShort Float, which is a short animated film inspired by his relationship with his autistic son, Alex. Float is available for streaming on Disney+.

Bobby is known for his work on Hercules, Atlantis: The Lost Empire, and Incredibles 2, which earned him an Annie Awards nomination for Outstanding Achievement for Storyboarding in an Animated Feature Production. Bobby is also the creator and owner of his independent comics and intellectual properties: Alcatraz High, 4 Gun Conclusion, and Neighborhood Legend.

In today’s conversation, we discuss:

Bobby’s journey of accepting his son’s autism
The creative process of producing Float
The stigma of mental health within the Filipino community
Tips for parents whose children have received an autism diagnosis

To learn more about Bobby Rubio, you can check out his Instagram: @bobbyrubio.

This conversation with Bobby Rubio was originally released on March 11, 2021.

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Family Dynamics, with the Global Autism Community

Thu, 08 Jun 2023 23:57:00 +0200

Discover what’s possible when family comes first.

This week’s episode is a recording of one of our Global Autism Community exclusive events! The topic of this roundtable discussion was Family Dynamics.

Participating in this event were Autistic Self-Advocates Mary Johnston and Corben Havener, as well as autism sibling and occupational therapist Cheryl Albright.

In today’s conversation, we discuss:

Parent-child relationships
What it’s like to have neurodivergent or neurotypical parents
Why divorce rates are high among parents of autistic children
Sibling relationships
How to support adolescents transitioning into adulthood
Choosing a life partner
Starting your own family
Taking care of aging parents
The importance of creating plans for elder adulthood

If you’d like to attend and participate in any of our future events, you can sign up today at community.globalautismproject.org.

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Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community

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Assent Based Treatment, with Liz Lefebre and Amy Evans

Thu, 01 Jun 2023 23:59:00 +0200

Discover what’s possible when you listen before you practice.

Both Liz Lefebre and Amy Evans are Board Certified Behavior Analysts with specializations in Precision Teaching, Fluency Based Instruction, Instructional Design, and Assent Based Treatment. They are also the Co-Founders of Octave, an organization dedicated to improving skill sets of behavior analysts, teachers, and instructional designers.

In today’s conversation, we discuss:

Why Liz and Amy decided to start Octave
What Octave’s values and mission are
What Precision Teaching, Instructional Design, and Assent Based Treatment are
What Liz and Amy have learned from listening to autistic voices and how that has affected their programming
Why practitioners should move away from “traditional ABA" and undo the training that they might have undergone
What some of the potential barriers to ethical practices in ABA are
How to increase a client’s appetite for learning
Advice for other practitioners

To learn more about Liz Lefebre and Amy Evans, please visit octavetraining.com.

Related episodes:

139. Responsive Skills Training: An Autistic-Informed Curriculum, with Molly Ola Pinney and Ann Beirne

35. The Do Better Movement, with Dr. Megan Miller

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Growth, Diversity, and Cultural Humility, with Brandy Collins and Crystal Thompson | TBT

Thu, 25 May 2023 20:00:00 +0200

Discover what’s possible when cultural humility prompts curiosity and understanding.

This week's guests are Brandy Collins and Crystal Thompson.

Brandy is the founder and owner of Guiding Light Concepts, an autism center in Killeen, Texas. She is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, or BCBA, and a Certified Brain Injury Specialist with over 12 years of counseling experience. Brandy has dedicated her life to advocating for children and young adults in her community.

Crystal is the founder and owner of Believe Autism in Jacksonville, Florida. Also a BCBA, Crystal combines her passion to help children with autism and their families with her love for dance, as well as provides various opportunities through art classes, tutoring, and support groups.

Brandy and Crystal are members of our SkillCorps® Alumni community, having traveled with the Global Autism Project on SkillCorps volunteer trips to several of our partner sites, including SOREM in India and Rumah Tiara in Indonesia — which you may remember from episodes 6 and 16.

SkillCorps® is an opportunity for self-advocates, professionals, and family members to travel to our partner sites around the world and work directly with local communities on initiatives around outreach, awareness, and employment for autistic adults.

You’ll hear us mention Leadership Academy, which is a workshop our organization provides to prepare future SkillCorps trip leaders. Another term I use in the interview is RBT, which stands for Registered Behavior Technician. This is the direct-care level position that usually works 1:1 with clients.

In today's episode, Brandy and Crystal candidly share their experiences as Black women in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis, In this conversation, we discuss:

How Brandy and Crystal have grown both personally and professionally from participating in our SkillCorps volunteer trips
Their takeaways on supervision, teamwork, and cultural humility
Brandy and Crystal’s experiences as Black women in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis
Their views on how the stigma around disabilities makes it harder for families in under-resourced areas to access services
Some of their ideas to make the field more diverse

This conversation with Brandy Collins and Crystal Thompson was originally released on July 9, 2020.

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Finding Joy in the Journey, with Ben & Sandy Hartranft

Thu, 18 May 2023 23:43:32 +0200

Discover what’s possible when kindness starts with one.

Our guests today are mother and son, Sandy and Ben Hartranft. An Autistic Self-Advocate and public speaker, Ben visits schools, businesses, and organizations with the message of spreading kindness and inclusion. Sandy's book Swinging From The Chandelier: Finding Joy In The Journey Through Autism was published in 2022.

In today’s conversation, we discuss:

Ben learning about his autism
How the right speech therapist opened up doors for communication
Ben’s special interests
His experience being a guest on The Ellen Show and participating in The Price is Right
Challenges autistic people face when looking for a job
What employers can do to accommodate autistic employees
Ben’s company Benergy and his takeaway messages for students
What Ben wishes people understood about him
His dating experiences
Why Sandy’s blog is titled “Ben’s Kite String”
What Sandy wishes she’d learnt sooner about motherhood

To learn more about Ben and Sandy Hartranft, please visit benergy1.com.

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From Awareness to Acceptance, with the Global Autism Community

Thu, 11 May 2023 23:32:59 +0200

Discover what’s possible when action is the path to acceptance.

This week’s episode is a recording of one of our Global Autism Community exclusive events!

After a few months of working behind the scenes on various projects, we’re happy to announce that our community events are back up and running. The topic of this roundtable discussion was Shifting From Awareness to Acceptance.

Participating in this event were Autistic Self-Advocates Stephanie De Kremer, Michelle Vinokurov, and Sara Bradford, as well as community members Danielle Terrell, Cheryl Albright, Laura Leonard, and Brenda Canas.

You’ll also hear from our new cohort of moderators, Andrew Bennett, Cassidy Hooper, Stephane Guidon, and Korey Taylor.

In today’s conversation, we discuss:

What acceptance means, including self-acceptance
How to educate the public about autism
The importance of community outings
Inclusion in society

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Auticon UK: Another Perspective on IT Consultancy, with Stephanie De Kremer and Russell Botting | TBT

Thu, 04 May 2023 23:59:00 +0200

Discover what’s possible when diversity strengthens the workplace.

Our guests today are Stephanie De Kremer and Russell Botting. Stephanie and Russell are employees at Auticon, which is an IT consulting business that employs over 200 adults on the autism spectrum as IT consultants. Stephanie is one of them, and Russell is her job coach. They work together at Auticon’s office in London, England.

With branches across the UK, US, Canada, Germany, France, Switzerland, and Australia, Auticon is an international social enterprise whose mission is to improve the employment prospects of autistic people. They aim to provide high-quality careers for skilled autistic adults, shift perceptions in the workplace by placing consultants into client teams, and act as a catalyst for clients to bring more neurodiversity to their wider workforce.

In this conversation, we discuss:

Stephanie and Russell's experiences working at Auticon
Ideas about how other companies could increase neurodiversity in the workplace
What services are available to families in the UK from diagnosis to adulthood
What it was like for Stephanie to find out about her autism later in life
What Stephanie wishes neurotypicals would consider when communicating with her
Stephanie's special interests and strengths related to autism

For more information about our guests and the work that they do, please visit Auticon UK. To learn more about Stephanie's wrestling career, you can follow her on Instagram @kiara_wrestler.

This conversation with Stephanie De Kremer and Russell Botting was originally released on December 3, 2020.

Stephanie currently works as a Data Analyst at Cognizant. She continues her professional wrestling career as "Kiara" and holds the following belts: Squared Circle British Champion and CPW Galaxy Champion.

Stephanie is also an active member of our online Global Autism Community and has served on the Committee of Contributors to our Responsive Skills Training.

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Related episodes:

18. Accessibility at the Forefront, with Haley Moss

21. Rethinking Unemployment and Sex Education, with Michael John Carley

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Celebrating Three Years, with the Global Autism Community

Thu, 27 Apr 2023 19:57:43 +0200

Discover what’s possible when you remember your why.

This week we are celebrating the 3-year anniversary of this podcast, as well as the 2-year anniversary of our online Global Autism Community!

We’ve covered a wide range of topics, such as ableism, bullying, masking, the neurodiversity movement, intersectionality, disability rights, dating, communication, personal growth, cultural humility, and international collaboration, as well as controversial topics like person-first vs. identity-first language, the puzzle piece symbol, and ABA therapy.

I recently went back and listened to episode 1. Honestly, I hadn’t listened to it since it was first released back in 2020. What a trip down memory lane! I was brought back to all of the preparation leading up to our launch: the nervousness I felt during my first interviews, the late nights spent editing, the fears of what people would think of the show…

Yet, listening back, I could also hear the optimism in my voice. I was reminded why I decided to start Autism Knows No Borders in the first place, and that why remains the same today. Through shared stories of struggles and breakthroughs, we hope to expand the reach of human connection and remind people that they are not alone.

Three years after launching Autism Knows No Borders, we are more energized than ever to keep going. There are many meaningful stories we still want to share with you. We will continue to elevate autistic voices and do our best to help them be heard. We want their stories to travel across the world, so that more people can join the cause for autism awareness, acceptance, and hope.

A huge thank you to all of our guests for openly sharing and educating us with their perspectives, as well as to our team members who keep making this podcast happen: our visual creator and social media manager, Anh Ngoc; and our sound designer and editor, Marc Aliana.

And, of course, many thanks to you, our dedicated listeners, for tuning in each week, sharing your takeaways, and ultimately giving meaning to what we’re doing. By the way, we’re honored to celebrate 100,000 downloads this month! So again, thank you for that — and cheers to the next 100,000!

If you’re a new listener, we’d like to welcome you as well!

Our online Global Autism Community has been growing over the past couple of years. This is a space where members have the possibility to share insights, listen to different perspectives, and create real change in their own communities — whether they’re autistic individuals, family members, or service providers. A huge thank you to our community moderators, who monitor posts daily to ensure that our online space remains safe and respectful.

Today you’ll hear from our new cohort of community moderators: Andrew Bennett, Cassidy Hooper, Stephane Guidon, and Korey Taylor.

Join us today at community.globalautismproject.org! Let’s work together to transform how the world relates to autism.

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Related episode:

1. An Introduction, with Rachel Harmon

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Responsive Skills Training: An Autistic-Informed Curriculum, with Our CEO Molly Ola Pinney and Ann Beirne

Thu, 20 Apr 2023 22:03:35 +0200

Discover what’s possible when you work kinder, not harder.

Today we’re bringing back the CEO and Founder of the Global Autism Project, Molly Ola Pinney, along with the organization’s Head of University and Training Programs, Ann Beirne.

For the past several months, Ann and I have been working together on a very special project. We’ve developed Responsive Skills Training, a curriculum for entry-level autism service providers that teaches the required skills for the RBT, IBT, and ABAT credentials.

This course was co-created with the Autistic community to transform the way in which services are provided across the world. Our committee of contributors included prominent self-advocates, such as Temple Grandin and Stephen Shore, different family members, like parents and siblings, and a wide range of professionals, including speech therapists, occupational therapists, and transition specialists.

Our purpose with Responsive Skills Training, or RST for short, is to give entry-level service providers a more well-rounded understanding of autism by hearing directly from those with lived experiences.

In today’s conversation, we discuss:

Why we decided to create RST
The needs of the international community
The importance of listening to autistic voices
Reforming Applied Behavior Analysis to include neurodiversity-affirming practices
The process of co-creating RST with a committee of contributors

After the conversation with Molly and Ann, you’ll also hear testimonies from several RST contributors about why they decided to join this project. These were recorded in the field during our last SkillCorps volunteer trip to Kenya in March.

Featured RST contributors:

Andrew Bennett, Autistic Self-Advocate, BCaBA (US)

Mafer Chang, Director/Founder of Centro Enigma (Ecuador)

Alexis Sevieri, Sibling Advocate, RBT (US)

Laura Leonard, BCBA (US)

Sangeeta Jain, Vice Principal of SOREM (India)

To learn more about the Global Autism Project’s Responsive Skills Training, please visit globalautismproject.org/rst.

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Related episodes:

109. Stop the Shock, with Anne Beirne and Brian Middleton

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Rethinking Unemployment and Sex Education, with Michael John Carley | TBT

Thu, 13 Apr 2023 18:00:00 +0200

Discover what’s possible when education is informed by science.

Michael John Carley is an autism self-advocate, author, and consultant. This pioneer in the world of autism advocacy was one of two people on the spectrum to address the US Congress in their first-ever hearings on autism. The truth is I could spend the rest of this episode listing Michael’s accolades, but I really want you to listen to our conversation, so here’s my best effort to sum up his career highlights.

Michael was the Founder of GRASP — the largest organization in the world comprised of adults on the autism spectrum — and the Founding Executive Director of ASTEP, now called Integrate, whose mission is to help organizations identify, recruit, and retain professionals on the autism spectrum. He has presented at almost 150 conferences, hospitals, universities, health care organizations, school districts, and Fortune 1000 companies.

Michael has appeared in a wide variety of media outlets such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, BBC News, and NPR, to name a few. He has participated in a TED Talk and was featured in the documentaries On the Spectrum and Off the Rails. His articles and columns have been published in magazines such as Autism Spectrum News, the Huffington Post, and Sinkhole. He has also published two books and is currently waiting to publish a third. His first book is titled Asperger’s from the Inside Out, and the second, Unemployed on the Autism Spectrum: How to Cope Productively with the Effects of Unemployment and Jobhunt with Confidence.

Before his career in autism advocacy, Michael was a playwright in New York, as well as the United Nations Representative of Veterans for Peace, having spent time in Cuba, Bosnia, and Iraq.

In this conversation, we discuss:

Michael’s journey of discovering his diagnosis, which came shortly after his son’s
How autism impacts his daily life
What Michael thinks is the only detriment for people on the spectrum
The importance of support groups being led by autistic people
How to process unemployment in a healthy way
The need for a comprehensive sexual education curriculum for young people with autism

For more information about Michael John Carley and his work, please visit michaeljohncarley.com.

This conversation with Michael John Carley was originally released on August 6, 2020.

Michael's latest publication, The Book Of Happy, Positive, And Confident Sex For Adults On The Autism Spectrum And Beyond! was released in 2021 and has since been globally celebrated. This is a book that gives autistic people permission to seek pleasure without shame.

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Resources:

Autism Without Fear: Schools Need to Bring Back Skilled Trades—A Conversation with Temple Grandin, Ph.D.

The Ethical Slut

Savage Lovecast

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

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Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project

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Facilitating Better Speech, with Lenora Edwards

Thu, 06 Apr 2023 19:28:56 +0200

Discover what’s possible when progress starts at home.

Lenora Edwards is a Certified Speech Language Pathologist with over 10 years of experience treating children and adults. She is the Chief Knowledge Officer at Better Speech, a US-based, online service provider with 150 speech therapists working with individuals of all ages.

In today’s conversation, we discuss:

Benefits and considerations of delivering services online
What a typical online session looks like
The various populations Lenora works with
The difference between a speech delay and a speech disorder
Common speech difficulties among autistic people
What Lenora enjoys about working with autistic people
Common misconceptions about speech therapy
How to encourage families to use Alternative Augmentative Communication with their autistic loved ones
Advice for parents who want to improve their children’s language skills at home

To learn more about Lenora Edwards and her work, please visit: betterspeech.com

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project

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Autism Representation in the Media, with Dr. Kerry Magro | TBT

Thu, 30 Mar 2023 18:00:00 +0200

Discover what’s possible when authenticity gets the part.

Dr. Kerry Magro is an autism self-advocate, international motivational speaker, best-selling author, entertainment consultant, and non-profit founder.

Kerry is the author of the Amazon Best-Seller Defining Autism From The Heart, Autism and Falling in Love, and I Will Light It Up Blue. He also contributed to College for Students with Disabilities: We Do Belong (featuring other prominent advocates such as Temple Grandin and Stephen M. Shore), presented a TEDx talk titled “What happens to children with autism when they become adults?”, and currently blogs for several organizations, including Autism Speaks and The Mighty.

As an entertainment consultant, Kerry has worked on the films Jane Wants a Boyfriend and Joyful Noise, starring Queen Latifah and Dolly Parton, as well as on the HBO series Mrs. Fletcher.

His non-profit organization, KFM Making a Difference, aims to break down barriers for people with special needs by granting college scholarships to adults with autism.

In this conversation, we discuss:

How autism has impacted Kerry’s life
How to prepare for transitioning to adulthood
Autism representation in the media
Common challenges people on the spectrum face when looking for a partner

For more information about Kerry and his work, please visit:

Kerry's website: kerrymagro.com

Kerry's FB page: Kerry’s Autism Journey

This conversation with Dr. Kerry Magro was originally released on March 18, 2021.

Kerry's latest book, Autistics on Autism: Stories You Need to Hear About What Helped Them While Growing Up and Pursuing Their Dreams was released last year and has reached the Amazon Best-Seller List for Special Needs Parenting.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

Join our Facebook group: Autism Knows No Borders

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Traveling Different, with Dawn Barclay

Thu, 23 Mar 2023 18:40:05 +0100

Discover what’s possible when travel is made accessible.

Dawn Barclay has dedicated over 30 years to working in different areas of the travel industry. Her recent book, Traveling Different: Vacation Strategies for Parents of the Anxious, the Inflexible, and the Neurodivese, offers helpful tips to soothe children’s travel anxieties. Dawn also writes fiction as D. M. Barr and holds leadership roles in several writer organizations.

In today’s conversation, we discuss:

Why Dawn thinks everyone should travel
Common struggles families face when traveling
Practical tips to create a sense of routine, minimize sensory overload, and make a trip enjoyable for the whole family
Advice for traveling by plane, cruise ship, or car
Uncommon vacation ideas that might be suitable for families with autistic loved ones
The importance of building itineraries that include special interests
Lessons Dawn learned from traveling with her own children
The difference between a ‘Certified Autism Center’ and an ‘Autism Friendly’ establishment
How to introduce the idea of traveling and prepare children for a trip ahead of time

To learn more about Dawn Barclay, please visit dawnbarclayink.com.

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Related episodes:

93. Autism-Friendly Travel, with Dina Farmer

115. RTD | Summer Travel and Holidays, with the Global Autism Community

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project

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Autism Europe and Improving Lives, with Harald Neerland

Thu, 16 Mar 2023 22:32:25 +0100

Discover what’s possible when you share the end goal.

Harald Neerland is the President of Autism Europe, an international association whose main objective is to advance the rights of autistic people and their families and help them improve their quality of life. Originally from Norway, Harald is also a father of a young autistic woman.

In today’s conversation, we discuss:

Harald’s daughter’s strengths, interests, and living situation
How Harald assesses her quality of life
The level of awareness and services available in Norway
Inclusion vs integration
Describing autism based on level of need rather than diagnostic criteria
Autism Europe’s mission, policy work, and research initiatives
Why researchers and practitioners need to work together
Bringing mental and somatic health to the forefront of the political discussion
Objectives Harald wants to complete before the end of his term

To learn more about Harald Neerland and his work, please visit autismeurope.org.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project

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Meaningful International Collaboration, with Our CEO Molly Ola Pinney and Pooja Panesar | TBT

Thu, 09 Mar 2023 23:59:00 +0100

Discover what’s possible when sustainability is made essential.

Today we’re bringing back our CEO Molly Ola Pinney and our first Global Autism Project partner, Pooja Panesar from Kaizora in Nairobi, Kenya.

For almost 20 years, the Global Autism Project has been providing sustainable clinical, administrative, and leadership training to autism centers around the world seeking guidance. Our SkillCorps® volunteer program is an opportunity for self-advocates and professionals to travel to our international partner sites and collaborate with their local communities.

If you’d like to learn more about the Global Autism Project’s history and mission, please listen to our conversation with Molly in episode 2. To learn more about Pooja and her work at Kaizora, listen to episode 9 with her co-director Brooke Jedidah.

In this conversation, we discuss:

The early days of partnership between Molly and Pooja
Sustainable support
How SkillCorps® is different from voluntourism or white saviorism
What Pooja likes to share about Kenyan culture with SkillCorps® teams
Advice for future SkillCorps® travelers

To learn more about our organization and the work we do, please visit globalautismproject.org.

This conversation with Molly and Pooja was originally released on August 26, 2021.

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Related episodes:

56. Do With Not For, with Our CEO Molly Ola Pinney

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project

We would love to hear your feedback about the show. Please fill out this short survey to let us know your thoughts: Listener Survey.

Peer Support Groups, with Stephane Guidon

Thu, 23 Feb 2023 23:59:00 +0100

Discover what’s possible when peers connect.

Originally from France, Stephane Guidon is an Autistic Self-Advocate currently living in the UK. He works for the National Autistic Society as a Senior Branch Engagement officer and Project Lead. The National Autistic Society is the largest autism charity in the UK, dedicated to creating a society that works for autistic people.

In today’s conversation, we discuss:

Stephane’s journey of self-discovery
His autistic strengths
How he relates to his autistic son
Autism awareness in France
Stephane’s role at the National Autistic Society
Key components of a successful peer group

To learn more about Stephane Guidon and his work, please visit our show notes at autism.org.uk.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project

We would love to hear your feedback about the show. Please fill out this short survey to let us know your thoughts: Listener Survey

Autism in the Black American Community, with Maria Davis-Pierre | TBT

Thu, 16 Feb 2023 18:03:00 +0100

Discover what’s possible when you start to examine your own biases.

Maria Davis-Pierre is a mother to an 8-year-old girl on the autism spectrum, a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, and the Founder and CEO of Autism in Black Inc., an organization dedicated to raising autism awareness and reducing the stigma within the Black community. Maria is also a coach, speaker, advocate, and author. She has been featured in Forbes, the New York Times, and Counseling Today, and her book The Self-Care Affirmation Journal was published in 2018.

In today’s conversation, we discuss:

The challenges Maria faced when receiving her daughter’s diagnosis
Why Maria started Autism in Black
How Parent-Child Interaction Therapy can benefit families who are dealing with behavioral challenges
How religion, misunderstanding of autism, and distrust of the health care system contribute to misdiagnosis
The lack of research on autism in the Black community and why this problem leads to culturally-insensitive assessments and treatment plans
Maria's experiences as a Black parent, including dealing with stress and being judged according to stereotypes

For more information about Maria Davis-Pierre, please visit autisminblack.org and follow her on Instagram @autisminblack.

This conversation with Maria Davis-Pierre was originally released on February 4, 2021.

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Resources:

Racialized Emotion Recognition Accuracy and Anger Bias of Children’s Faces ----more----

Related Episodes:

17. Growth, Diversity, and Cultural Humility, with Brandy Collins and Crystal Thompson

43. Social Media and Intersectional Advocacy, with Tiffany Hammond

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project

We would love to hear your feedback about the show. Please fill out this short survey to let us know your thoughts: Listener Survey

Transitioning into College, with the Global Autism Community

Thu, 09 Feb 2023 23:59:00 +0100

Discover what’s possible when you move towards independence.

This week’s episode is a recording of one of our Global Autism Community exclusive events!

The topic of this roundtable discussion was Transitioning into College, and it was hosted by community moderator Liz Castillo.

Liz began her involvement with the Global Autism Project in 2017 as a SkillCorps volunteer in Kenya, followed by trips to India, Nigeria, Czech Republic, and Poland. She has also completed our Leadership Academy program, served as a SkillCorps mentor to future travelers, and managed our social media and donor communications. Thank you, Liz, for your dedication to our mission and our community.

Also participating in this event were Autistic Self-Advocates Corben Havener and Andrew Bennett, and community member Sofia Matalonga.

What you’ll hear today is the first half hour of this roundtable discussion. Unfortunately, there was a technical error and the rest of the event wasn’t recorded. We thought it was still worth releasing, and I believe you’ll find many of the participant’s insights interesting.

In today’s conversation, we discuss:

Transitioning from living at home to living in dorms
Support available at school

If you’d like to attend and participate in any of our future events, you can sign up today at community.globalautismproject.org.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project

We would love to hear your feedback about the show. Please fill out this short survey to let us know your thoughts: Listener Survey

SkillCorps Journey, with Team Bangalore, India

Thu, 02 Feb 2023 23:59:00 +0100

Discover what’s possible when you trust the process.

In today’s episode, we’re continuing to share our recent SkillCorps trip to ASHA, our Global Autism Project partners in Bangalore, India. In our previous episode, I spoke with the staff at the school, and this week you’ll hear from our SkillCorps volunteers.

Our team had a virtual reunion three weeks after returning from our trip. We reviewed what we had learned and reminisced about some of our experiences.

In today’s conversation, we discuss:

Moments from the trip that surprised, inspired or moved our SkillCorps volunteers
How we immersed ourselves in Indian culture
Community outreach
Each team member’s personal and professional growth
Advice for future SkillCorps travelers

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Related Episodes:

131. Meet Our Global Autism Project Partners in Bangalore, India

71. Changing Perspectives in India, with Jayashree Ramesh

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Our SkillCorps program is evolving into something new and exciting! If you’d like to be the first to know what SkillCorps will look like in 2023, make sure to join our waitlist at skillcorps.globalautismproject.org.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project

We would love to hear your feedback about the show. Please fill out this short survey to let us know your thoughts: Listener Survey

Meet Our Global Autism Project Partners in Bangalore, India

Thu, 26 Jan 2023 23:59:00 +0100

Discover what’s possible when every child becomes your own.

These next two episodes will highlight our Global Autism Project partner site ASHA, from Bangalore, India. ASHA means “hope” in their local language, and it also stands for Academy for Severe Handicaps and Autism. The Global Autism Project has been partners with ASHA since 2018.

For almost 20 years, the Global Autism Project has been providing sustainable clinical, administrative, and leadership training to autism centers around the world seeking guidance. Our SkillCorps® volunteer program has been an opportunity for self-advocates and professionals to travel to our international partner sites and collaborate with their local teachers and therapists.

If you follow our work closely, you may already know that last October we sent 8 teams back in the field for the first time since the start of the pandemic. We were thrilled to see our partners all over the world again!

Our host Rachel led the SkillCorps trip to ASHA and documented some moments throughout the trip. Next week, we'll share stories from our SkillCorps volunteers.

In today’s episode, you’ll hear excerpts from conversations with ASHA's staff about:

Services provided at ASHA
Collaboration among local staff
Teaching Indian culture through art, music, and dance

Related Episodes:

71. Changing Perspectives in India, with Jayashree Ramesh

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As our organization continues to evolve and innovate, so does our SkillCorps program. We’ve co-created something new and exciting with our community, and we’ll be making some big changes to trips this year.

If you’d like to be the first to know what SkillCorps will look like in 2023, make sure to join our waitlist at skillcorps.globalautismproject.org.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project

We would love to hear your feedback about the show. Please fill out this short survey to let us know your thoughts: Listener Survey

A Father’s Path to Autism Acceptance, with Jamiel Owens | TBT

Thu, 19 Jan 2023 20:30:00 +0100

Discover what’s possible when love transforms grief into acceptance.

Jamiel Owens is the host and creator of The Ausome Show, a co-host of The Ben & Jay Show, and an all-around public server. As the father of a 12-year-old boy with autism, Jamiel encourages other fathers to open up about their feelings regarding their children’s diagnoses.

In today’s conversation, discuss:

What it was like for Jamiel to learn about his son’s autism
How he’s evolved as a father
What Jamiel's son has taught him about life
The challenges of raising an autistic child in the Black community
Possible solutions that could help improve communication between law enforcement and families impacted by disabilities

For more information about Jamiel Owens and his work, please visit his Instagram accounts @theausomeshow and @benandjshow.

This conversation with Jamiel Owens was originally released on August 27, 2020.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project

We would love to hear your feedback about the show. Please fill out this short survey to let us know your thoughts: Listener Survey

’Love on the Spectrum’ and Teaching Social Skills, with Kaelynn Partlow

Thu, 12 Jan 2023 23:59:00 +0100

Discover what’s possible when social barriers are removed.

Kaelynn Partlow is an Autistic Self-Advocate and a Registered Behavior Technician, or RBT for short. She recently appeared on the second season of the Netflix reality series, Love on the Spectrum.

In this conversation, we discuss:

How autism affects Kaelynn’s everyday life
Kaelynn’s thoughts on how autism was represented on Love on the Spectrum
Why she thinks autistic people struggle to find love
What Kaelynn learned about herself from her experience on the show
Tips for other autistic people in the dating scene
Kaelynn’s job as an RBT
Social skills programs
Neurodiversity-affirming practices
Greg Hanley’s Skill-Based Treatment
Kaelynn’s ideas to improve the field
Advice for other practitioners working with autistic individuals

To learn more about Kaelynn Partlow, follow her on Instagram: @kaelynnvp.

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Related episodes:

52. Autism Representation in the Media, with Dr. Kerry Magro

99. RTD | Dating & Relationships, with the Global Autism Community

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project

We would love to hear your feedback about the show. Please fill out this short survey to let us know your thoughts: Listener Survey

New Year Intentions and Open Application, with the Global Autism Community Moderators

Thu, 05 Jan 2023 19:59:57 +0100

Discover what’s possible when connections go deeper.

This week’s episode features our recent cohort of Global Autism Community moderators: Self-Advocates Michelle Vinokurov, Corben Havener, and Mary Johnston.

In June 2022, Michelle, Corben, and Mary joined our team of moderators, which also included Liz Castillo, who was unable to join this recording. The team usually meets to discuss the community’s monthly theme and decide which subtopics they will post about each week. Throughout each month, the moderators take turns monitoring posts daily to ensure that our online space remains safe and respectful.

We are currently taking applications for our next round of moderators to join our team! If you’re interested in developing your leadership skills, expanding your network as an advocate, and stepping outside of your comfort zone, follow the link below to join our team.

In today’s conversation, we discuss:

Proud moments of 2022
The team’s experiences as community moderators
Goals and priorities for 2023
Advice for future moderators of our community

Apply to join our team here ->>> Global Autism Community Moderator Application

This is a unique opportunity to grow personally, develop professionally, and make meaningful connections!

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project

We would love to hear your feedback about the show. Please fill out this short survey to let us know your thoughts: Listener Survey

Highlights of 2022: Part Two, with the Global Autism Community

Thu, 29 Dec 2022 20:05:17 +0100

Discover what’s possible when we grow stronger together.

This week’s episode is part 2 of our 2022 Highlights. Today we’ll continue to review some of our favorite moments from this year’s episodes, specifically from 110 to 126.

A huge thank you to our guests for sharing their stories, to our listeners for your continued support, and to our team for all the work behind the scenes.

Special thanks to podcast team member Anh Ngoc for helping put this highlights episode together, and to our Global Autism Community moderators, Liz Castillo, Michelle Vinokurov, Corben Havener, and Mary Johnston for monitoring posts daily and keeping our online space safe and respectful.

From all of us at the Global Autism Project, we wish you a happy and safe holiday season, and hope you can spend some quality time with your loved ones.

Related episodes:

127. Highlights of 2022: Part One, with the Global Autism Community

90. Highlights of 2021: Part One, with the Global Autism Community

91. Highlights of 2021: Part Two, with the Global Autism Community

41. Highlights of 2020, with the Global Autism Community

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project

We would love to hear your feedback about the show. Please fill out this short survey to let us know your thoughts: Listener Survey

Highlights of 2022: Part One, with the Global Autism Community

Thu, 22 Dec 2022 19:54:55 +0100

Discover what’s possible when we grow stronger together.

We reached the end of 2022! To celebrate, we’ll be reviewing some of my favorite moments from this year’s episodes – there were so many that this will have to be a two-parter! Part 1 will highlight episodes 92 through 109, and next week 110 through 126.

Since we started working on this podcast almost three years ago, we’ve brought on a wide range of guests, including prominent self-advocates, such as Dr. Temple Grandin, Dr. Stephen Shore, Dr. Kerry Magro, Rachel Barcellona, and Anthony Ianni; parents like Tiffany Hammond and Bobby Rubio; some of our Global Autism Project partners, such as Yaser Aljaaidi from Saudi Arabia and Pooja Panesar from Kenya; and other professionals in the field, such as Dr. Megan Miller from the DoBetter Movement and Camille Proctor from The Color of Autism.

If you’ve been listening to our podcast for a while, this 2022 recap will bring you back to the heartfelt stories we’ve been hearing from our guests. And if you’re joining us for the first time, welcome! This episode will give you a good idea of what Autism Knows No Borders is all about.

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Visual Thinking and Problem Solving, with Dr. Temple Grandin

Thu, 15 Dec 2022 18:49:43 +0100

Discover what’s possible when all minds are put to use.

Today we’re bringing back a special guest, Dr. Temple Grandin. My first interview with Dr. Grandin was almost two years ago. She has since released a new book, Visual Thinking: The Hidden Gifts of People Who Think in Pictures, Patterns, and Abstractions.

Dr. Grandin is well known for both her pioneering autism advocacy and her lifelong dedication to animal welfare. Through groundbreaking research aimed at understanding her own autistic mind, Dr. Grandin propelled the awareness of autism during a time when very little was known of it. She is an incredible source of hope for children with autism, their parents, and, ultimately, anyone with a dream.

Dr. Grandin became an internationally recognized leader in animal-handling innovations after developing a corral that improved the quality of life of cattle by reducing stress. She has consulted with the USDA and major corporations such as McDonalds, Wendy’s, Burger King, Whole Foods, and Chipotle. Today, half of the cattle in North America are handled in facilities she designed.

Dr. Grandin is also a prominent author, having written several books on autism and animal behavior. She has been featured on various media outlets and programs, including NPR, the BBC, Larry King Live, 2020, Sixty Minutes, and TED, to name a few. In 2010, HBO produced an Emmy Award-winning movie about her life, and later that year, she was highlighted in TIME magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the World. In 2016, she was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. These days, Dr. Grandin continues to write and teaches Animal Science at Colorado State University.

In this conversation, we discuss:

Object visualizers vs visual-spatial thinkers
Temple’s ability to think in pictures
How to screen for visual thinkers at school
The loss of skilled workers
How complementary thinkers can work together
How to improve the school system and properly educate different thinkers
How parents can encourage the development of skills in visual thinkers
Executive functioning
Reading graphic novels
How to solve the world’s biggest problems
Advice for visual thinkers

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Occupational Therapy and Yoga for the Special Child, with Cheryl Albright | TBT

Thu, 08 Dec 2022 18:00:00 +0100

Discover what’s possible when you balance your body and stretch your mind.

Cheryl Albright is an occupational therapist, certified yoga instructor, and autism sibling. She is the owner of Soul to Soul Yoga, a studio offering yoga therapy for adults and children of all abilities.

In today’s conversation, we discuss:

What occupational therapy is
How Cheryl became involved in the field
Why she applies a trauma-informed approach when treating children with autism
The benefits of practicing yoga and self-regulation techniques

For more information about Cheryl Albright and her work, please visit her websites:

Special Sib

Soul to Soul Yoga

This conversation with Cheryl Albright was originally released on September 24, 2020.

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Integrating a Neurosequential Approach in the Treatment of Traumatized Children

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Bullying, Breakthroughs, and Basketball, with Anthony Ianni | TBT

Thu, 01 Dec 2022 18:56:00 +0100

Discover what’s possible when you relentlessly shoot for your goals.

Anthony Ianni is an Autistic Self-Advocate, a sought-after motivational speaker, and a former basketball star.

As the NCAA’s first Division 1 college basketball player with autism, playing for Michigan State University, Anthony surpassed all limitations that doctors had predicted for his life. He currently works for the Michigan Department of Civil Rights and travels the country as part of the Relentless Tour, advocating against bullying and educating students about autism. Anthony’s memoir, Centered, was released last year.

In this conversation, we discuss:

How Anthony coped with bullies growing up
The moment his parents told him about his autism
Why he was driven to prove others wrong
Anthony's basketball career and how his autism affected his relationships with his teammates
Advice for parents who may be concerned that their child is being bullied

For more information about Anthony Ianni and his work, please visit his website Relentless Tour and follow him on Instagram @aigamechanger44.

This conversation with Anthony Ianni was originally released on October 29, 2020.

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IAN Research Report: Bullying and Children with ASD

Investigating Bullying as a Predictor of Suicidality in a Clinical Sample of Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder

The 3 R’s for Bullying Prevention: Recognize, Respond and Report

A Helpful Online Safety Guide for People With Autism Spectrum Disorders

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Whatever your role related to autism is, you can join our online Global Autism Community to connect and collaborate with people all over the world.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

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Thanksgiving Special, with the Global Autism Community

Wed, 23 Nov 2022 18:14:37 +0100

Discover what’s possible when you count your blessings.

This episode is being released a day early in observance of Thanksgiving in the US.

Thanksgiving is a time of togetherness and gratitude. The more you can bring your attention to things you feel grateful for, the more you’ll notice other things to feel grateful for.

According to research conducted at the Greater Good Science Center in Berkeley, California, gratitude is linked to a wide range of benefits, including strengthening your immune system, improving sleep patterns, feeling optimistic and experiencing more joy and pleasure, being more helpful and generous, and feeling less lonely and isolated.

Our podcast team has been reflecting on many things to be grateful for. First of all, we’re grateful for you, our listeners, and your continued support. We’re also grateful for our podcast guests and their willingness to share their story with us. And of course, we’re grateful for our growing Global Autism Community, whose members keep showing up in our online space with commitment to our mission.

We've decided to put together a special Thanksgiving episode about — that’s right, you guessed it, gratitude!

Here’s a compilation of responses from different members of our Global Autism Community, including prominent self-advocates like Dr. Temple Grandin and Thomas Iland. We hope this episode leaves you feeling inspired to reflect on what you’re grateful for this holiday season.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

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Health & Wellness, with the Global Autism Community

Thu, 17 Nov 2022 20:23:34 +0100

Discover what’s possible when health extends beyond the body.

This week’s episode is a recording of one of our Global Autism Community exclusive events!

The topic of this roundtable discussion was Health and Wellness. It was hosted by community moderator Mary Johnston.

A 21-year-old Autistic Self-Advocate from New Hampshire, Mary hosts a blog called Autistic Rainbow 15 where she shares LGBTQ+ and disability-friendly tips, as well as information about inclusion and disability rights. A long-time member of our online Global Autism Community, Mary joined the moderator team last summer to help ensure our space remains safe and respectful.

Also participating in this event were Autistic Self-Advocate Michelle Vinokurov, and community members D’John Greer and Liz Castillo.

In today’s conversation, they discuss:

Mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual health
Self-care
How to reduce stress levels
Maintaining routines
Why sleep is important
Accepting an autism diagnosis
Changing habits for self-improvement

Round-table discussions like the one you’ll hear today are open exclusively for members of our online Global Autism Community. We select a different theme each month, and our moderators monitor posts daily to ensure that our online space remains safe and respectful. If you’d like to attend and participate in any of our future events, you can sign up today at community.globalautismproject.org.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

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Art, Synesthesia, and Software Engineering, with Austin Lubetkin

Thu, 10 Nov 2022 21:15:57 +0100

Discover what’s possible when art is in the eye of the beholder… and a few other senses.

Austin Lubetkin is an Autistic artist, aerospace-software engineer, and inventor. Austin has synesthesia, a perceptual phenomenon in which stimuli that would typically stimulate one sense can activate other senses at the same time. This has allowed him to create unique and accessible art experiences, some even meant to make people touch and hear colors. He uses his art to spread awareness of various mental conditions.

Austin has already earned a patent as a software engineer, and has filed another patent for one of the first human brain computer interfaces that would allow a fully paralyzed individual to type and control a computer.

In today’s conversation, we discuss:

How Austin’s synesthesia influences his art
His series about mental health
The future of art and Machine Learning
Some of Austin’s inventions, including a sensory overload simulator
Accessible technology
Misconceptions about autism that he wants to break through his art
Advice for other autistic artists

To learn more about Austin Lubetkin and his work, please his IG @bocaaust.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

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Self-Development & Accountability, with the Global Autism Community

Thu, 03 Nov 2022 17:50:56 +0100

Discover what’s possible when you step into who you can be.

This week’s episode is a recording of one of our Global Autism Community exclusive events!

The topic of this roundtable discussion was Self-Development and Accountability. It was hosted by community moderator Michelle Vinokurov. Based in Florida, Michelle is an Autistic Self-Advocate, a paraprofessional and a Registered Behavior Technician.

Participating in this event were Autistic Self-Advocates Corben Havener, Andrew Bennett, Christina Kaspersen, Robert Schmus, and community member Danielle Terrell.

In today’s conversation, we discuss:

Mental health
Self-care routines
Goal setting and expectations
Motivation and insecurities
Responding to diagnoses
Growth mindset

Round-table discussions like the one you’ll hear today are open exclusively for members of our online Global Autism Community. We select a different theme each month, and our moderators monitor posts daily to ensure that our space remains safe and respectful. If you’d like to attend and participate in any of our future events, you can sign up today at community.globalautismproject.org.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

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Multidisciplinary Teams in Kenya and Tanzania, with Pooja Panesar and Brooke Jedidah | TBT

Thu, 27 Oct 2022 18:00:00 +0200

Discover what’s possible when team members effectively collaborate to transform people’s lives.

Pooja Panesar is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, and the first professional to practice Applied Behavior Analysis in East Africa. Brooke Jedidah is a Speech and Language Pathologist, Psychologist and Clinical Child Neuropsychologist. Both of these phenomenal leaders are Co-Directors of Kaizora Center for Neurodevelopmental Therapies in Nairobi, Kenya and Kaizora Child Development Center in Dar Es Salam, Tanzania.

Over the years, Kaizora has established itself as the leading autism center in Africa. In April of 2019, Pooja and Brooke merged their services to provide affordable packages under one roof. Today, both of their centers in Kenya and Tanzania offer a range of services, including Applied Behavior Analysis, Speech Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Special Education, and Vocational Training.

Back in 2010, when Kaizora was just Pooja, and the Global Autism Project was just our CEO Molly Ola Pinney, the two entrepreneurs supported each other to create what partnership with the Global Autism Project looks like today. You can hear Molly’s side of the story in episode 2.

In this conversation, we discuss:

The understanding of autism in Kenya and Tanzania
The challenges of educating families about evidence-based interventions
The importance of interdisciplinary collaboration
Pooja and Brooke’s leadership styles and how they work together to balance out their strengths
Insights on how to run a business with the right mindset and an open heart
The impact of Covid-19 on services offered at Kaizora

Click here to learn more about Pooja, Brooke, and their team: Kaizora.

This conversation with Pooja Panesar and Brooke Jedidah was originally released on May 14, 2020.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

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Parent Engagement in Ecuador, with Mafer Chang | TBT

Thu, 20 Oct 2022 20:21:04 +0200

Discover what’s possible when parents mobilize to build a community of ambassadors.

Mafer Chang is the founder of Centro Enigma, an autism center in Ecuador.

The Global Autism Project has been partnered with Centro Enigma since 2018. We have since sent 4 SkillCorps teams to collaborate with their teachers and provide training in Applied Behavior Analysis, or ABA.

Since opening her first center in Guayaquil in 2015, Mafer has expanded her reach to two other cities, Samborondon and Manta. She had plans to open a fourth center in Portoviejo this April, however that has been put on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic.

When this episode was recorded on March 20th, Ecuador was on their 5th day of mandated lockdown. Mafer had just closed Centro Enigma a few days before and was transitioning to offer online services for families.

In this episode, we discuss:

What services are available for children with autism in Ecuador
How it’s not easy for parents to differentiate between services that are evidence based and those that are not
Some of the myths surrounding ABA in her community
How Mafer’s journey to become a certified Behavior Analyst has been affected by the international process changes made by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (or BACB)
Some of the breakthroughs Mafer had during the early years of developing Centro Enigma, including learning how to motivate and retain therapists
Community outreach across Ecuador
How Mafer empowers parents to be involved in their children’s therapy from day one

You can learn more about Mafer Chang and her work here: Centro Enigma.

This conversation with Mafer Chang was originally released on May 27, 2020.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

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My AAC Journey, with Tiffany Joseph

Thu, 13 Oct 2022 20:12:02 +0200

Discover what’s possible when capabilities are more than meets the eye.

Tiffany Joseph is an Autistic Self-Advocate, a single mother of three, and the digital creator behind the IG account Nigh Functioning Autism. She uses her platform to promote the changes she wants to see in the world regarding disability and intersectionality. Tiffany sometimes uses an Alternative Augmentative Communication device, or AAC for short.

Before our interview, I sent Tiffany a list of questions so she could prepare her responses in writing. The voice you’ll hear for most of Tiffany’s side of the conversation is her AAC reading her responses out loud. In instances when she wanted to add more to her response, or answer a follow-up question I asked, you’ll hear Tiffany using her spoken voice, or "mouth words."

After the recording, Tiffany mentioned that her mouth words work better some days than others, and that that day happened to be one that she felt comfortable answering some questions off-script.

In today’s conversation, we discuss:

Internalized ableism
Coping with bullying
The inclusion of Asperger’s diagnosis under the umbrella of autism
Aspie supremacy
Finding community online
Tiffany’s AAC journey
The different apps she uses depending on the situation
Misconceptions about AAC
Some of Tiffany’s ideas to improve the education system
Why she chose her IG account name Nigh Functioning Autism
The intersectionality of being Black and Autistic
What she thinks true inclusion should look like

To learn more about Tiffany and her work, please visit Nigh.Functioning.Autism.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

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How to Start or Scale an Autism Organization, with Our CEO Molly Ola Pinney

Thu, 06 Oct 2022 22:42:00 +0200

Discover what’s possible when you turn your vision into reality.

Today we’re bringing back the CEO and Founder of the Global Autism Project, Molly Ola Pinney.

For almost 20 years, the Global Autism Project has been providing sustainable training, coaching, and community for center directors, therapists, and caregivers around the world.

As we enter our second decade, our organization is opening its doors to new forms of collaboration!

In today’s conversation, we discuss:

The Global Autism Project’s new Affiliate program and what affiliates will get access to
A sneak peek into the training we’re offering for free
The four pillars of success for any autism center or school
How Molly herself has experienced transformation from implementing some of the lessons included in our training
Advice for service providers who want to start or scale their business

Do you work with autistic individuals? Are you thinking of starting your own center, or maybe wanting to scale your business to be able to serve more families?

Click here to discover your impact and join us for a FREE TRAINING!

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

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Accessibility at the Forefront, with Haley Moss | TBT

Thu, 29 Sep 2022 19:24:42 +0200

Discover what’s possible when difference becomes an asset.

Haley Moss is an attorney, author, artist, speaker, and autism self-advocate. At only 30 years old, she has already published four books. The first is titled Middle School: The Stuff Nobody Tells you About, the second is A Freshman Survival Guide for College Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders: The Stuff Nobody Tells you About, the third is Great Minds Think Differently, and her most recent is The Young Autistic Adult's Independence Handbook.

Her writing and artwork have been featured throughout media outlets such as The Huffington Post, Teen Vogue, and CNN, to name a few. Haley also hosts a podcast called Spectrumly Speaking, with Dr. Lori Butts.

In this conversation, we discuss:

How Haley navigated social norms during her school days
What a sensory overload experience feels like for her
How her strengths as an autistic person have advanced her career
The history of the Americans with Disabilities Act
Why employers need to strive for inclusion and accessibility in the workplace
Benevolent ableism
The effects of social media on the neurodiversity movement
Whether autism is a disorder or a difference
The dangers of eugenics

To learn more about Haley Moss and her work, please visit her website haleymoss.net and follow her on Instagram @haleymossart.

This conversation with Haley Moss was originally released on Jul 16, 2020.

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Resources:

Autism in the Workplace (2016)

Why is the Autistic Unemployment Rate So High (2018)

Labor Force Statistics for People with Disabilities (2019)

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

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Controversial Topics, with the Global Autism Community

Thu, 22 Sep 2022 18:14:51 +0200

Discover what’s possible when conversations move forward.

This week’s episode is a recording of one of our Global Autism Community exclusive events.

The theme of this roundtable discussion was Controversial Topics. It was hosted live at The 1 in 44 Tour virtual summit, organized by Sara Bradford of The SJ Childs Show.

Participating in this event were Autistic Self-Advocates Stephanie De Kremer, Ryan Litchfield, Michael Gilberg, Jeff Snyder, and Robert Schmus, along with community members Karen Shapiro, Ben Sharif, and Danielle Terrell.

In today’s conversation, we discuss:

Person-first (vs.) identity-first language
The puzzle piece symbol
Applied Behavior Analysis, or ABA for short

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

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The Ability Beyond Disabilities, with Rachel Barcellona | TBT

Thu, 08 Sep 2022 19:00:00 +0200

Discover what’s possible when someone lifts her mask and embraces true beauty.

Rachel Barcellona is an Autism Self-Advocate, model, author, singer, actress, and pageant winner. She is also a SkillCorps Alumni, having traveled with the Global Autism Project on a volunteer trip to the Czech Republic in 2018.

Since getting diagnosed at three years old, Rachel tried to fit in with neurotypical society. However, she always felt that she was different. Encounters with bullies throughout her life, and many years of suffering from depression, motivated her to create an online platform called The Ability Beyond Disabilities. Rachel encourages others to focus on what they can do rather than on what they can not.

As a multi-title beauty queen, Rachel wants to change people’s views on pageantry, from the image of brainless barbie dolls to that of strong women striving to make a difference.

In this episode, Rachel and I discuss some of the different perspectives within the #ActuallyAutistic movement. We also talk about the appropriateness of the puzzle piece symbol, the use of person-first or disability-first language, and the media’s portrayal of autism.

To learn more about Rachel Barcellona, you can follow her on Instagram @rachelbarcellona and visit her website: rachelbarcellona.com. ----more----

This conversation with Rachel Barcellona was originally released on May 28, 2020.

Rachel is now a Flutie Fellow with the Doug Flutie Foundation for Autism, and she recently won a Hero award from KultureCity in New York. She received the gold medal from the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award and was one of six individuals chosen to represent the United States this summer in Toronto, Canada.

Continuing her pageantry and modeling, Rachel won 2nd runner up for Miss New York and will be participating in Runway of Dreams, an all-inclusive fashion show incorporating several brands that are adapting fashion to give individuals with disabilities a chance to be seen and heard. Rachel has also been actively pursuing her acting career by performing in movies and theater roles.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

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PicSeePal: Communication for Everyone Everywhere, with Chris McDonald

Thu, 01 Sep 2022 21:38:01 +0200

Discover what’s possible when communication is made available.

An educator, designer, and social entrepreneur from Sydney, Australia, Chris McDonald is the Founder and CEO of PicSeePal, a light-tech communication tool for all ages, abilities, and settings.

In today’s conversation, we discuss:

The level of autism acceptance and inclusion in Australia
Why Chris is passionate about working with the autistic population
PicSeePal’s mission and overall vision
Communication as a human right
Limitations of high-tech devices
Some do’s and don’ts of using Augmentative Alternative Communication, or AAC
Advice for parents and teachers who feel stuck when their students aren’t progressing

To learn more about Chris and his work, please visit picseepal.com.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

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Derealization and Processing Feelings, with Mary Johnston

Thu, 25 Aug 2022 18:00:00 +0200

Discover what’s possible when you learn to accept yourself.

Mary Johnston is a 21-year-old Autistic Self-Advocate from New Hampshire. She hosts a blog called Autistic Rainbow 15 where she shares LGBTQ+ and disability-friendly tips, as well as information about inclusion and disability rights. A long-time member of our online Global Autism Community, Mary recently joined the moderator team to help ensure our space remains safe and respectful.

In today’s conversation, we discuss:

Mary receiving her diagnosis at 12 years old
Receiving occupational therapy and speech therapy in school
Coping with bullying and how she processes her feelings
Her autistic strengths
A poem she wrote titled “A Letter to My Autism”
Service animals and our shared love for dogs
Sensory struggles related to lights, sounds, and close proximity to other people
Challenges with finding employment
Her dream job
Derealization, anxiety, and depression
What she likes about being a community moderator for the Global Autism Community
Puzzle piece representation
Advice for other autistic women

To learn more about Mary, please visit Autistic Rainbow 15.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

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Classroom Tips and Strategies from The Autism Helper, with Sasha Long | TBT

Thu, 18 Aug 2022 18:00:00 +0200

Discover what’s possible when the learning environment is set up for growth and success.

Sasha Long is a former special education teacher, a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, and the Founder and President of The Autism Helper, a company that shares resources and strategies online for parents and teachers of children with autism. Sasha has a unique perspective with experience on both sides of collaborative efforts.

In this conversation, we discuss:

How to improve communication between teachers and specialists
Her leadership style as a business owner
Some of the common challenges faced by teachers
The importance of empowering paraprofessionals in the classroom

For more information about Sasha Long and her work, please visit: The Autism Helper.

This conversation with Sasha Long was originally released on October 8, 2020.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community

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Summer Travel and Holidays, with the Global Autism Community

Thu, 11 Aug 2022 19:25:44 +0200

Discover what’s possible when you’re ready to have fun.

This week’s episode is a recording of one of our Global Autism Community exclusive events!

The topic of this roundtable discussion was Summer Travel and Holidays. It was hosted by community moderator Corben Havener. Corben is an Autistic Self-Advocate from Indiana who joined our moderator team this last June.

Participating in this event were community members Danielle Terrell, Liz Castillo, and myself.

In today’s conversation, we discuss:

Dealing with hot weather and changing temperatures
Amusement parks and roller coasters
Accommodations such as sensory-processing break areas
Tips for traveling by plane and car
Challenges with fireworks during holidays
Interruptions in routines
Summer camps

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

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The SJ Childs Show and a Virtual Summit, with Sara Bradford

Thu, 28 Jul 2022 20:16:40 +0200

Discover what's possible when you're on the inside looking out.

Sara Bradford is an Autistic Self-Advocate, children’s book author, and the CEO of SJ Childs LLC, an autism-consulting business that supports families. She also hosts her own podcast, The SJ Childs Show. Her husband and their three children are also on the spectrum.

In today’s conversation, we discuss:

Sara’s recent discovery of her autism and how it affects her everyday life
Masking and learning to unmask
Having a deeper connection with her husband and children post diagnosis
How autism might present differently for men and women
Important considerations when teaching non-autistic children about autism
Ideas to promote inclusion and acceptance
What Sara’s learned about autism advocacy from doing her podcast
The 1 in 44 Tour Virtual Summit
Advice for other newly diagnosed autistic women

The 1 in 44 Tour is a virtual summit hosted by Sara Bradford and Maria Daniels. This event will be a great way to hear different perspectives on important topics from a variety of speakers. We’ll be hosting our next community roundtable discussion live at the summit on August 12th at 12:45 pm EST.

If you would like to participate in the community roundtable and go live with us at the summit, please join our online community at community.globalautismproject.org and RSVP to the event.

To learn more about Sara and her work, please visit sjchilds.org.

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Inspiring Hope for Parents in Rwanda, with Evas Kyomugisha | TBT

Thu, 21 Jul 2022 18:00:00 +0200

Discover what’s possible when stigma is shattered by courage.

Evas Kyomugisha is the founder and owner of Silver Bells, an autism center in Kigali, Rwanda. Silver Bells offers comprehensive services for families, including Applied Behavior Analysis, Speech Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, and Music Therapy.

The Global Autism Project partnered with Silver Bells in April 2019. We have since sent two SkillCorps volunteer teams to provide hands-on training to their staff.

In today’s conversation, we discuss:

The stigma around autism in Rwanda
The lack of services in her community
Having to turn away families who cannot afford to pay for services
Rwanda’s progress in social reform since the genocide in 1994
What Evas has learned from working with autistic children
How she leads her multidisciplinary team
How the COVID-19 crisis has affected services at her center

For more information about Evas Kyomugisha and her work, please visit: Silver Bells.

This conversation with Evas Kyomugisha was originally released on October 15, 2020.

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Inclusion & Acceptance, with the Global Autism Community

Thu, 14 Jul 2022 18:13:47 +0200

Discover what’s possible when you choose acceptance.

This week’s episode is a recording of one of our Global Autism Community exclusive events.

The topic of this roundtable discussion was Inclusion and Acceptance. It was hosted by community moderator David Sharif, just a few days before his sudden passing last April. I was unable to attend this event, so I had asked David to fill in for me. He did an amazing job facilitating this discussion, and I’m glad he had the opportunity to step up in this way.

Participating in this event were autism self-advocates Jeff Snyder, Mary Johnston, Corben Havener, Olivia Hops, Scott Edgar, and Michelle Vinokurov, as well as community members Danielle Terrell, Ben Sharif, Karen Shapiro, and Liz Castillo.

In today’s conversation, they discuss:

Coping with different situations
Teammates or other people that helped the participants feel accepted
Bullying perseverance
School assemblies and fire drills
Teaching non-autistic children about inclusion from a young age

Related episodes:

104. Honoring the Memory of David Sharif, with the Global Autism Community

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Redesigning the Global Autism Project, with Cassie Harden Scott

Thu, 07 Jul 2022 18:00:00 +0200

Discover what’s possible when curiosity sparks creation.

Today Cassie Harden Scott is back on the show. You may remember her from episode 23 with Rusty Hornig-Rohan and episode 42 with the rest of the Global Autism Project staff.

As our Director of Outreach, Cassie works closely with our international partners to help spread autism awareness and acceptance in their communities. She also designs all of our organization’s branding to make sure our messaging is consistent across our programs.

In today’s conversation, we discuss:

Why logos are important
Different iterations of the Global Autism Project’s branding over the years
The puzzle piece controversy
Cassie’s creative process designing our new logo and the meaning behind it
Two upcoming series of this podcast led by Molly and Cassie

To learn more about Cassie and her work, please visit globalautismproject.org.

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Behind the Music: ASD Band, with Rawan Tuffaha, Spenser Murray, and Andrew Simon | TBT

Thu, 30 Jun 2022 18:00:00 +0200

Discover what’s possible when all notes are heard.

Today we’re featuring two members of the ASD Band, lead vocalist Rawan Tuffaha and drummer Spenser Murray, joined by their manager, Andrew Simon.

Comprised of musicians on the autism spectrum, the ASD Band was formed by Canadian charity Jake’s House to raise awareness and highlight strengths related to autism. If you’d like to learn more about Jake’s House, please listen to episode 44 featuring its co-founder, David Bodanis: Support Across the Lifespan at Jake's House in Canada.

The ASD Band has performed with Roger Hodgson of Supertramp, and their covers of Shawn Mendes, Sonny & Cher, and Marvin Gaye are available on streaming platforms. In the intro, you'll hear a short sample of the band performing “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.”

In today’s conversation, we discuss:

The serendipitous creation of the ASD Band
Rawan and Spenser's musical influences
How autism helps their musical abilities
Misconceptions about autism
Tips for people on the spectrum who may be interested in joining a band

For more information about the ASD Band, please visit:

Jake's House

ASD Band “I Got You Babe”

Spenser's Band: Lime Ricky

Spenser’s YouTube: PlayerPunk6

Rawan’s YouTube: Rawan Singer 77

This conversation with ASD Band was originally released on March 4, 2021.

The band's story has been made into a feature-length documentary called OKAY! (The ASD Band Film).

The film premiered at the Hot Docs International Festival last April, where it came in 2nd place for Rogers Audience Award for Best Canadian Documentary, and was also accepted and presented at Doc Edge Festival in New Zealand.

Since then, ASD Band has been performing in a Canadian-wide tour thanks to one of the festival’s sponsors.

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Support for Ukrainian Families, with Our CEO Molly Ola Pinney and Anna Tuzova

Thu, 23 Jun 2022 20:03:40 +0200

Discover what’s possible when you're given a hand to hold.

Today we are joined by the CEO of the Global Autism Project, Molly Ola Pinney, and Sensory Integration Therapist, Anna Tuzova. Anna is a Ukrainian refugee currently living in Poland.

If you've been following our work closely, you'll know that a few weeks ago Molly visited Poland with a small team to learn how to best support Ukrainian families with autistic loved ones. Since then, we’ve been in direct communication with hundreds of families who need help. Families who have spent weeks in bomb shelters with their children, have had harrowing experiences trying to escape to safety, and are now just wanting to get their children back on track.

The stats are staggering. Over 105,000 families with autistic loved ones are fleeing Ukraine. The immediate needs of this community include housing and specialized services for their children. Unfortunately, the capacity of nearby countries to support these needs is extremely limited, and as such, families are left with little to no resources or hope.

Sadly, this war is not over. In a lot of ways, the struggles of these families have just begun, as they work to rebuild their lives in a new place.

There is a small window of time in which we can easily connect with those who fled Ukraine. Each day that these families are left in limbo, the children experience severe regression and the parents continue to feel lost, helpless, and powerless.

Families are constantly requesting educational services and continuation of care for their autistic loved ones. These would allow parents to start work and provide a routine and basic sense of normalcy for the entire family.

Our organization is on a mission to solve this urgent need now. We have several projects already in the works that will allow us to begin services and recreation opportunities for hundreds of Ukrainian families right away.

You can donate directly to our podcast community fundraising page at: give.globalautismproject.org/podcast

In today’s conversation, Molly, Anna, and I discuss:

Anna’s life before the war
Leaving Ukraine and settling in Poland
Anna’s hopes for the future
How the Global Autism Project is taking action
Opportunities for those who want to get involved
Advice for Ukrainian families with autistic loved ones

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Stop the Shock, with Anne Beirne and Brian Middleton

Thu, 16 Jun 2022 18:00:00 +0200

Discover what’s possible when learning doesn’t hurt.

Ann Beirne is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst with over two decades of experience working with children and families in a variety of settings. She is the co-author of Understanding Ethics in Applied Behavior Analysis: Practical Applications, now in its second edition. The book invites the perspectives of those within and outside the field of behavior analysis to offer commentary on topics including collective bargaining, moral philosophy, neurodiversity, compassionate care, and ethics in research.

Brian Middleton is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst as well as an Autistic Self-Advocate. He is the creator of the Bearded Behaviorist, an initiative dedicated to the dissemination of behavior science and the inclusion of trauma-informed care standards in applied behavior analysis and other human services.

In today’s conversation, we discuss:

The history of the Judge Rotenberg Center
The use of contingent electric skin shock
Physical and psychological side effects caused by receiving contingent electric shock
Behavioral principles of reinforcement and punishment
The Stanford Prison Experiment
A timeline of legal events leading up to the recent conference at ABAI Boston
Advice for people who are eager to take action

The Global Autism Project unequivocally condemns the use of painful aversive procedures under any circumstances, including the use of contingent electric skin shock. In accordance with the United Nations, we believe that the use of CESS is torturous and inhumane, and we advocate for the discontinuation of this concerning and unethical practice.

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Ready, Set, Sleep! with Emily Varon

Thu, 09 Jun 2022 20:54:24 +0200

Discover what’s possible when wellness starts at bedtime.

In today’s conversation, we discuss:

The correlation between autism and poor sleep
Common sleep-related behaviors
Myths about sleep struggles
How a sleep-deprived child can affect the family as a whole
How sleep contributes to learning and memory consolidation
Why we shouldn’t set alarm clocks to wake up
The importance of a consistent bedtime routine
Tips to help balance screen dependency
Day-time napping
Recovering from sleep-debt

To learn more about Emily and her work, please visit readysetsleep.com.

What tips are you taking away from this episode? Let us know over in our online Global Autism Community.

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Tech, Innovation, and Career Opportunities, with Richard Schreiber

Thu, 02 Jun 2022 23:23:22 +0200

Discover what’s possible when innovation brings connection.

Richard Schreiber is the father of a 16-year-old autistic girl, Katarina, and the Founder of the NYC Autism Community Group in Manhattan, which was created to help parents with children on the spectrum navigate their day-to-day challenges. With a background in tech, Richard’s passion is to bring innovation and career opportunities to autistic individuals so they can better themselves and live the lives they deserve.

In today’s conversation, we discuss:

Richard receiving his daughter’s diagnosis
Services she received growing up, including ABA and medical intervention
A memorable moment when Katarina proved others around her wrong
How Richard and his wife are preparing their daughter for adulthood
What he’s learned about himself from being a father
How society can move towards more acceptance and inclusion
Support and resources offered at the NYC Autism Community Group
The NYC Autism Tech, Careers & Innovation Expo, which, due to unforeseen circumstances, has been postponed until September this year

To learn more about Richard and his work, please visit nycautismcommunity.org.

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Related episodes:

65. Neurodiversity Training International, with Jude Morrow

78. Avatars for Autism, with Gary Jesch and Leslie Baldwin

5. Technology and Applied Behavior Analysis in China, with Michael Huang

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project

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Finding Strength in Adversity, with Russell Lehmann | TBT

Thu, 26 May 2022 18:00:00 +0200

Discover what’s possible when walls are broken down with vulnerability.

Russell Lehmann is a motivational speaker, poet, author, and autism self-advocate. In 2018, Russell was awarded Reno-Tahoe’s “Most Outstanding Young Professional Under 40.” He has already published two books. The first is called Inside Out: Stories and Poems from an Autistic Mind, and the second is On the Outside Looking In. Russell leans on writing as an outlet for his pain. Stay tuned until the end of the conversation to hear him recite one of his poems.

Growing up as a social recluse with no one to trust, Russell decided to use the stories of his struggles to connect with an audience and initiate vulnerable dialogue. Public speaking gave him a purpose to be a voice for the unheard.

Russell travels the world spreading hope, awareness, and compassion, while also striving to erase the stigma and stereotypes associated with having a disability. Individuals diagnosed with autism are at a higher risk of developing co-morbid mental health disorders. Russell aims to shift society’s perspective on invisible disabilities.

In this conversation, we discuss:

Ableism
Identity labels
What he's learned about himself through public speaking
How he feels misunderstood
How his obsessive-compulsive disorder impacted his life as a child
How he copes with his symptoms today

To learn more about Russell Lehmann and his work, please visit: The Autistic Poet.

This conversation with Russell Lehmann was originally released on May 14, 2020.

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Tips for Autistic Drivers, with Andrew Arboe

Thu, 19 May 2022 18:40:23 +0200

Discover what’s possible when you’re the one behind the wheel.

Andrew Arboe is an autistic self-advocate and the Founder of Driving with Autism, an educational program that helps autistic individuals and their families navigate the way towards becoming a driver. Andrew is also the Director of Community Outreach of Planning Across the Spectrum. You might remember episode 59 with their Founder, Andrew Komarow.

In today’s conversation, we discuss:

Andrew learning about his diagnosis
Andrew’s autistic strengths and how autism affects his everyday life
Why he decided to start Driving with Autism
Common barriers autistic people face when it comes to driving
How to limit sensory overload while driving
Tips for autistic drivers, including what to do if you get pulled over
Advice for parents whose autistic adolescents are getting ready to drive

To learn more about Andrew Arboe, please visit autismdriving.com.

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Celebrating Two Years, with the Global Autism Community

Thu, 12 May 2022 18:00:00 +0200

Discover what’s possible when community becomes family.

This week we are celebrating the 2-year anniversary of our podcast, as well as the 1-year anniversary of our online community!

It’s been an eye-opening journey that continues to surprise, inspire, and move us. We’ve learned so much from self-advocates sharing their experiences, family members talking about accepting their children’s diagnoses, and professionals discussing best practices in the field of autism services.

We’ve covered a wide range of topics, such as ableism, masking, the neurodiversity movement, intersectionality, disability rights, cultural humility, and international collaboration. A huge thank you to all of our guests for openly sharing your stories and educating us with your perspectives.

Our online Global Autism Community has been alive and growing for one year! Whether they’re autistic individuals, family members, or service providers, our community members have the possibility to share insights, learn different perspectives, and gain momentum to create real change in their own communities. Most importantly, they continue to build strong relationships with each other and feel that they’re not alone.

Today you’ll hear about how the vision for the community came to be, along with direct testimonials from our community members about how they’ve benefited from engaging in our online space.

Thank you to our community moderators who monitor posts daily to ensure that our online space remains safe and respectful. This last year, our moderator team included David Sharif, Jeff Snyder, Kia Burton, and Liz Castillo.

Other team members who help make this podcast happen are our visual creators, Trang Tran and Anh Ngoc, and our sound designer and editor, Marc Aliana.

I’d like to take this moment to reset our intentions for the podcast. There are countless meaningful stories we still want to share with you. We’re going to continue elevating autistic voices and do our best to make sure their perspectives are heard. The world needs access to these important messages so that, together, we can spread awareness, acceptance, and hope.

We want to thank you for your continued encouragement. And, if you’re a new listener, Welcome!

We’ll be re-releasing older episodes throughout the next few months so that you can catch up on any episodes that you might have missed.

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Whatever your role related to autism is, you can join our online Global Autism Community to connect and collaborate with people all over the world.

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Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community

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Honoring the Memory of David Sharif, with the Global Autism Community

Fri, 06 May 2022 18:00:00 +0200

Discover what’s possible when you’re defined by your determination, dedication, and devotion.

It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that we release this episode. On April 23rd, we lost one of our most dedicated community members, David Sharif, to an epileptic seizure.

David made a huge positive impact in this world, inspiring everyone around him. He was a dear colleague, genuine friend, and all-around great human. David had a heart of gold and went out of his way to check on others’ comfort and well-being.

Graduating from high school as valedictorian, David prided himself on being a motivational speaker, world traveler, and basketball lover. David was committed to his work as an autistic self-advocate and loved to share his personal experiences to help educate others.

Taking on many roles over the past year in our Global Autism Community, David served as our community moderator, appeared several times as a guest on this podcast, and was preparing to travel to Kenya later this year as a volunteer with our SkillCorps® program.

Our team is still processing what it means to no longer have David here with us. We cannot express in words how much he will be missed. For now, we send our thoughts and support to David’s family.

Since first coming on the podcast in September 2020, David shared many insights and personal experiences with us. He was deeply passionate about empowering others through his own story.

To highlight David's advocacy, we’ve compiled several excerpts from various episodes that he was part of. Topics include:

Overcoming obstacles
Requesting accommodations at school and work
Coping with stress and sensory overload
Masking and authenticity
Special interests

Our Global Autism Community held a memorial event for David last Tuesday. In this episode, you'll also hear some stories and memories of David that we shared.

The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, friends and family of David make donations to the Global Autism Project. We are honored to continue David's advocacy efforts of promoting autism awareness and acceptance worldwide.

You can make a donation here: David Sharif Memorial Donation

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project

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Theater Acting, Playwriting, and Queer Identity, with Grace Everett

Thu, 21 Apr 2022 18:00:00 +0200

Discover what’s possible when you act yourself.

Our guest today is Grace Everett. An autistic self-advocate, Grace is also a second-year college student, a theater artist, and an award-winning playwright. Her work in musical theater includes playing the title role in Carrie and Jo March in Little Women.

The first play she wrote, The Last Sunrise of August 1973, won Texas Thespian Playworks in 2019, and several of her other plays have been performed across the US by various youth theaters and professional companies.

In today’s conversation, we discuss:

Grace finding out about her autism at age 18
Unmasking
Queer identity and self-acceptance
How Grace’s diagnosis influenced her acting
Increasing autistic representation in the arts
What Grace likes about writing and acting
Transitioning into college
Advice for autistic actors

To learn more about Grace, please visit graceeverett.org.

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Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project

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Representation in the Media, with the Global Autism Community

Thu, 14 Apr 2022 20:45:35 +0200

Discover what’s possible when representation is nuanced.

This week’s episode is a recording of one of our Global Autism Community exclusive events!

The topic of this round table discussion was Autism in the Media. Participating in this event were autism self-advocates Thomas Iland, Mary Johnston, Robert Schmus, Corben Havener, Andrew Arboe, and David Sharif, as well as community members Danielle Terrell, Ben Sharif, and Kia Burton.

In today’s conversation, we discuss:

Movies, TV shows, and books with autistic characters
Implied vs explicit portrayal of autism
Teaching acceptance through storytelling
How the media can improve autistic representation
Autistic writers and actors

If you’d like to attend and participate in any of our future events, you can sign up today at community.globalautismproject.org.

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Media described in this episode:

Movies

Please Stand By
Music
The Accountant
How to Dance in Ohio
Roman J. Israel, Esq.
The Reason I Jump
Adam
Life, Animated
Jane Wants a Boyfriend

TV Shows

Parenthood
Everything's Gonna Be Okay
Criminal Minds
Ghost Whisperer
As We See It
Big City Greens
Atypical

Books

American Girl by Wendy Walker
The Way I See It by Temple Grandin
Defining Autism From the Heart by Dr. Kerry Magro
My Brother Charlie by Holly Robinson Peete
Uniquely Human by Barry M. Prizant
Life, Animated by Ron Suskind
Centered by Anthony Ianni
The Reason I Jump by Naoki Higashida
The Empowerment of My Condition by David Sharif

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project

We would love to hear your feedback about the show. Please fill out this short survey to let us know your thoughts: Listener Survey

SkillCorps Journey, with Team Saudi Arabia: Part Two

Thu, 07 Apr 2022 18:42:56 +0200

Discover what’s possible when caring is enough to make a difference.

Today’s episode is part two of Team Saudi Arabia’s SkillCorps® journey. If you haven’t yet listened to part one, I encourage you to go back to episode 100 so that you can hear about the first half of the team’s trip.

If you have any personal or professional connection with autism — that is, if you’re a self-advocate, teacher, therapist, or another type of service provider — these two special episodes are meant for you.

Today, you’ll hear excerpts from conversations about:

Clinical training at our partner site Namaee
The Namaee therapists sharing insights about their culture
The impact of our work on future generations of autistic people
The Namaee staff’s takeaways from our collaboration
Our team’s personal and professional growth
Advice for future SkillCorps® travelers

Trips for July 2022 have filled up fast. We’re still taking applications for travel in October to Saudi Arabia and other partner sites, including Ecuador, Dominican Republic, China, India, Indonesia, Tanzania, Kenya, and Rwanda. Spots are limited so if you’re thinking about applying, now is the time.

Sign up today at skillcorps.globalautismproject.org and use the coupon code “autismpodcast” to waive the application fee.

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Related episodes:

100. SkillCorps Journey with Team Saudi Arabia: Part One

2. Global Autism Project: Our Mission, with Molly Ola Pinney

25. Functional Communication Training in Saudi Arabia, with Yaser Aljaaidi

56. Do With Not For, with Our CEO Molly Ola Pinney

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project

We would love to hear your feedback about the show. Please fill out this short survey to let us know your thoughts: Listener Survey

SkillCorps Journey, with Team Saudi Arabia: Part One

Fri, 01 Apr 2022 20:10:51 +0200

Discover what’s possible when caring is enough to make a difference.

We’ve made it to episode 100! To celebrate this huge milestone, we’ve put together this special episode taking you on a journey with our SkillCorps® Saudi Arabia team.

For almost 20 years, the Global Autism Project has been providing sustainable clinical, administrative, and leadership training to autism centers around the world seeking guidance.

Our SkillCorps® volunteer program is an opportunity for self-advocates and professionals to travel to our international partner sites and collaborate with their local teachers and therapists.

If you follow our work closely, you may already know that we recently sent two of our SkillCorps® teams back into the field for the first time since the start of the pandemic. We were thrilled to see our partners again in Saudi Arabia and Kenya.

We usually send out teams of up to 10 people three times a year for two weeks at a time. The team members are complete strangers when they meet for orientation in NY, and by the end of their two-week trip, oftentimes they’ve become close friends. I still keep in touch with many of the teammates that I’ve traveled with. So far, over 500 volunteers have joined our SkillCorps® Alumni community, and many are repeat travelers.

Each SkillCorps® team has a trip leader, and sometimes a leader-in-training, or LIT for short. I led the team in Saudi Arabia and was accompanied by an LIT, Korey Taylor.

I thought it would be really interesting to document moments throughout the two weeks, so that we could share the experience and give you a glimpse of what happens on a SkillCorps® trip.

After reviewing hours and hours of great content, we realized that trimming down too much would be a disservice to you. So, this episode will be a two-parter.

Today, you’ll hear excerpts from conversations about:

Learning and self-discovery
First impressions of Saudi culture
Openness and flexibility
Cultural humility
Building rapport with the staff at Namaee Center
Collaboration and teamwork
Community outreach
Making an impact

We’re currently taking applications for trips in July and October to Saudi Arabia and other partner sites, including Ecuador, Dominican Republic, China, India, Indonesia, Tanzania, Kenya, and Rwanda.

Join us today at skillcorps.globalautismproject.org and use the coupon code “autismpodcast” to waive the application fee.

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Related episodes:

2. Global Autism Project: Our Mission, with Molly Ola Pinney

25. Functional Communication Training in Saudi Arabia, with Yaser Aljaaidi

56. Do With Not For, with Our CEO Molly Ola Pinney

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

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Dating & Relationships, with the Global Autism Community | TBT

Thu, 17 Mar 2022 17:15:41 +0100

Discover what’s possible when love begins with acceptance.

What challenges do autistic people face when it comes to dating?

In part 1 of this conversation, we discuss:

Different ways to meet people
Transitioning from friendship to romance
How to have a healthy relationship when one person is neurotypical and the other is neurodivergent
Long-distance relationships

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

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Voice Acting and Special Olympics, with Scott Edgar

Thu, 10 Mar 2022 19:32:16 +0100

Discover what’s possible when winning comes second.

Scott Edgar is an autistic voice actor in Orlando, Florida, who has been recently featured in London’s Autism’s Got Talent. He has also participated in the Special Olympics, competing in basketball, bowling, and powerlifting.

In today’s conversation, we discuss:

How Scott found out about his diagnosis
How autism affects his life
Transitioning into independent living
Voice acting and where he gets his inspiration
Differences of autism awareness between England and the US
Participating in the Special Olympics

Are you also self-advocate willing to share your experiences and educate others? Or are you a professional seeking to hear directly from autistic voices and improve your practice? Are you a family member hoping to support and empower your loved one? Whatever your role related to autism is, you can join our Global Autism Community to connect and collaborate with people all over the world.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

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Tips from an Autistic Behavior Specialist, with Martin Slyngstad

Thu, 03 Feb 2022 20:47:10 +0100

Discover what’s possible when experience informs best practice.

Martin Slyngstad is an autistic behavior specialist from California and the co-author of Chatter Box: My Life with Autism, A Mother and Son’s Perspective.

In today’s conversation, we discuss:

Martin co-writing his autobiography with his mother
Coping with anxiety
Music, snowboarding, and other special interests
Martin’s work as a behavior specialist
Ideas to improve the field of Applied Behavior Analysis
Stimming in the classroom
Advice for other practitioners working with autistic children

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

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Autism-Friendly Travel, with Dina Farmer

Thu, 27 Jan 2022 18:00:00 +0100

Discover what’s possible when travel is for everyone.

Dina Farmer is a Certified Autism Travel Professional, the Founder of Lily & Magnolia Travel, and the mother of a 10-year-old autistic boy. Her goal is to help parents plan autism-friendly family vacations while avoiding stress and overwhelm.

In today’s conversation, we discuss:

Dina’s passion for traveling
How traveling with an autistic loved one benefits the world
Overcoming challenges on a trip
What it means for an establishment to be an Autism Certified Center
Requesting accommodations while away from home
Common questions families ask when thinking about a vacation
How to make kids feel more included in the planning process

To learn more about Dina and her work, please visit lilyandmagnoliatravel.com.

Other resources:

autismtravel.com

ibcces.org

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

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Highlights of 2021: Part Two, with the Global Autism Community

Thu, 23 Dec 2021 18:00:00 +0100

Discover what’s possible when community inspires change.

This week’s episode is part 2 of our 2021 Highlights. Today we’ll be covering some of my favorite moments from episodes 72 to 89. To listen to the highlights from episodes 42 to 71, you can check out part 1 of this special highlights series. And if you’re curious about episodes 1 to 40, you can also listen to our 2020 Highlights episode from last year.

As I was reflecting on these past episodes from 2021, I was overcome with immense gratitude for our community. A huge thank you to our guests for sharing their stories, to our listeners for your continued support, and to our team for putting it all together.

Special thanks to our Global Autism Community moderators, Kia Burton, Jeff Snyder, and David Sharif for monitoring posts daily and keeping our online space safe and respectful.

We’re taking an extended pause of releasing episodes to set goals and intentions for the upcoming year. We’ll be back on our regular release schedule on January 20th in 2022. This will give you some time to catch up on any episodes you might’ve missed or that have caught your interest from listening to our highlights.

From all of us at the Global Autism Project, we wish you a happy and safe holiday season and hope you can spend some quality time with your loved ones!

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

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Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project

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Highlights of 2021: Part One, with the Global Autism Community

Thu, 16 Dec 2021 23:59:00 +0100

Discover what’s possible when change inspires community.

We made it to the end of 2021! To celebrate, we’ll be reviewing some of my favorite moments from this year’s episodes. This will be a two-parter due to the volume of content. Part 1 will highlight episodes 42 to 71, and next week we’ll review from 72 to 89.

Since we started working on this podcast almost two years ago, we’ve brought on a wide range of guests, including prominent self-advocates, such as Dr. Temple Grandin, Dr. Stephen Shore, Dr. Kerry Magro, Dani Bowman, and Anthony Ianni; parents like Tiffany Hammond and Bobby Rubio; some of our Global Autism Project partners, such as Yaser Aljaaidi from Saudi Arabia and Pooja Panesar from Kenya; and other professionals in the field, such as Dr. Megan Miller from the DoBetter Movement and Camille Proctor from The Color of Autism.

If you’ve been listening to our podcast for a while, this 2021 recap will bring you back to the heartfelt stories we’ve been hearing from our guests. And if you’re joining us for the first time, welcome! This episode will give you a good idea of what Autism Knows No Borders is all about.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

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Masking and Authenticity, with the Global Autism Community

Thu, 09 Dec 2021 18:00:00 +0100

Discover what’s possible when you’re true to yourself.

This week’s episode is a recording of one of our Global Autism Community exclusive events.

The topic of this roundtable discussion was Masking and Authenticity. Participating in this event were autism self-advocates Thomas Iland, Michael Gilberg, Terra Vance, Kate Jones, Jeff Snyder, and David Sharif, as well as community members Colleen Dorsey, Danielle Terrell, and Kia Burton.

In today’s conversation, we discuss:

What masking means to different people and its potential dangers
Situations in which people might feel the need to mask
Autistic values
Being authentic

To learn more about the participants in this discussion, please visit:

Thomas Iland - thomasiland.com

Michael Gilberg - michaelgilbergesq.com

Terra Vance - neuroclastic.com

Kate Jones - neuroclastic.com

Jeff Snyder - Going the Distance Blog

David Sharif - IG @david_thetraveler

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project

We would love to hear your feedback about the show. Please fill out this short survey to let us know your thoughts: Listener Survey

Building Efficacy in the African American Community, with Camille Proctor

Thu, 02 Dec 2021 18:00:00 +0100

Discover what’s possible when information fuels advocacy.

Camille Proctor is the mother of a 15-year-old autistic boy and the founder of The Color of Autism, a non-profit organization committed to educating and assisting African American families with autistic children.

In this conversation, we discuss:

Camille’s son and his interests
Her ideas to reduce the stigma of autism in the Black community
Religion’s role in denying autism
The difficulty of getting a diagnosis
How to overcome distrust in the healthcare system
Harmful stereotypes of autistic black people
What made Camille decide to start the Color of Autism and the different programs they offer
Experiences specific to Black families
Ideas to include more Black people in autism research
How to successfully teach police officers about autism
Advice for parents who want to be better allies to their autistic children

To learn more about Camille Proctor and her work, please visit thecolorofautism.org.

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Just a reminder, our new Leadership Series courses are now available for professionals in the field of autism services. Check out the latest BONUS episode to learn about how our Leadership Series can help you become a better leader.

Grab your course today at leadership.globalautismproject.org. As a valued podcast listener, take advantage of the promo code autismpodcast for an extra 10% off!

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project

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BONUS: How to Make an Impact in the Field of Autism Services

Fri, 26 Nov 2021 18:28:03 +0100

Discover what’s possible when you become a better leader.

If you’re a professional in the field of autism services, or interested in leadership in general, this bonus episode is for you.

The Global Autism Project is committed to up-leveling the leadership capacity of those in this field. This is the only way we’re going to make the difference we want to see in the world: all children with autism having access to quality services.

Now, for the first time ever, our training is available completely online in our Leadership Series!

In this episode, you'll hear directly from other graduates how this training has transformed their lives.

Even if you’re still not sure these courses are for you, you can download the FREE Failproof Feedback Checklist so that you never have to fear feedback again.

Are you ready to take bold action to improve the way you lead? Are you ready to take charge of your life?

Grab your Leadership Series course today at leadership.globalautismproject.org!

As a valued podcast listener, take advantage of the promo code autismpodcast for an extra 10% off!

Global Autism Leadership Series, with Our CEO Molly Ola Pinney, Yaser Aljaaidi, and Dr. Megan Miller

Wed, 24 Nov 2021 19:15:36 +0100

Discover what’s possible when you break the overwhelm cycle.

Today we’re bringing back three special guests: the CEO of the Global Autism Project, Molly Ola Pinney; our partner from Saudi Arabia, Yaser Aljaaidi; and the founder of the DoBetter Movement, Dr. Megan Miller.

For almost 20 years, the Global Autism Project has been providing sustainable clinical, administrative, and leadership training to autism centers around the world seeking guidance.

Our SkillCorps® volunteer program is an opportunity for self-advocates and professionals to travel to our international partner sites and collaborate with their local teachers and therapists.

In today’s conversation, we discuss:

2019’s Global Summit in Bali, Indonesia
Yaser and Megan’s takeaways from that experience
Burnout and overwhelm in the field of autism services
Changing what’s not working in your life
The evolution of Leadership Academy, a leadership training program created by the Global Autism Project

To learn more about the Global Autism Project’s history and mission, please listen to my conversation with Molly Ola Pinney in episode 2.

To hear more about Yaser Aljaaidiand his work in Saudi Arabia, listen to episode 25.

For more information about Dr. Megan Miller and the DoBetter Movement, check out episode 35.

This week we will be offering Black Friday deals for the Global Autism Leadership Series! These unique courses will never be sold at this low price again! Be sure to visit leadership.globalautismproject.org to grab your course today!

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project

We would love to hear your feedback about the show. Please fill out this short survey to let us know your thoughts: Listener Survey

Coping with Stress and Sensory Overload, with the Global Autism Community

Thu, 18 Nov 2021 18:23:06 +0100

Discover what’s possible when the right tools are in your box.

This week’s episode is a recording of one of our Global Autism Community exclusive events! The topic of this roundtable discussion was Coping with Stress and Sensory Overload.

Participating in this event were autism self-advocates Thomas Iland, Robert Schmus, Mary Johnston, and David Sharif, as well as community members Colleen Dorsey, Danielle Terrell, and Kia Burton.

In today’s conversation, we discuss:

Triggers in public spaces
Making stores more neurodiverse-friendly
Halloween for children with disabilities
Workplace stressors
Requesting accommodations
Conflicts with other people
The Spoon Theory
Tips for travelers

To learn more about the panelists in this discussion, please visit:

Thomas Iland - thomasiland.com

Robert Schmus - schmus898@gmail.com

Mary Johnston - IG @autisticrainbow15

David Sharif - IG @david_thetraveler

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project

We would love to hear your feedback about the show. Please fill out this short survey to let us know your thoughts: Listener Survey

How to Teach Autistic Children to Read, with Lois Letchford

Thu, 11 Nov 2021 19:06:35 +0100

Discover what’s possible when you redesign the approach.

Originally from Australia and currently living in the US, Lois Letchford is the mother of three young men, two of whom are on the autism spectrum. She has also personally struggled with dyslexia her entire life; however, she now uses it to her advantage as a literary spokesperson for learners who have fallen behind in the traditional classroom.

In her book Reversed: A Memoir, Lois tells the story of her son’s journey of learning to read. Through coaching and workshops at international conferences, TV appearances, and radio stations, she teaches educators and parents how to create flexible learning environments using comprehensive and innovative teaching methods.

In this conversation, we discuss:

What dyslexia is and how it affects Lois’ life
Her sons’ autism and their interests
How a teacher’s negative comment pushed her to become a reading specialist
Some of the biggest mistakes educators make when teaching kids how to read
The Deficit Theory
Her teaching philosophy: MAPS
Thinking outside of the box to teach autistic children how to read
Tips to identify trauma in the learning environment

To learn more about Lois Letchford, please visit loisletchford.com.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project

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Building Healthy Parent-Child Relationships, with Lafaya Mitchell

Thu, 28 Oct 2021 18:00:00 +0200

Discover what’s possible when your response is in line with your truest intentions.

With over 20 years of experience working with neurodiverse individuals, Lafaya Mitchell is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and the creator of The Lafaya Way, a relational approach that helps to build bridges for effective interactions in difficult relationships and social situations. She is also the mother of three children, two of whom are autistic.

In this conversation, we discuss:

The types of families that seek her services
The four core strategies of The Lafaya Way
What she calls the “emotion soaking phenomenon”
How a parent’s past experiences might impact their ability to make decisions now
The different levels of acceptance and how they are tied to a parent’s personal growth
Some common struggles of parents trying to understand their child’s needs
The hidden effects of family dynamics
Why the expression “problem child” is problematic
Cultural sensitivity and how the Black community responds to her program
One of the most rewarding experiences she’s ever had working with children on the spectrum

To learn more about Lafaya, please visit lafayaway.com.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project

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Preparing for Adulthood, with Dani Bowman, Robert Schmus, Cammie McGovern, and Cheryl Albright

Thu, 21 Oct 2021 18:52:56 +0200

Discover what’s possible when we expand the meaning of independence.

We’ve received great feedback about our previous Global Autism Community episodes, so we’ve decided to release another one!

The topic of this roundtable discussion was Preparing for Adulthood, and its diverse panel included Dani Bowman, Robert Schmus, Cheryl Albright, and Cammie McGovern.

Dani is an autism self-advocate, animator, illustrator, teacher, and public speaker; Robert is an autism self-advocate, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and writer; Cheryl is an occupational therapist, certified yoga instructor, and autism sibling. Cammie is the mother of a 25-year-old autistic adult and has recently published a book titled Hard Landings: Looking into the Future of a Child with Autism.

Other community members who participated in this event were Jeff Snyder, David Sharif, Kia Burton, and Karen Shapiro.

As with previous community-event recordings, the sound quality is a bit inconsistent because we hadn’t originally planned it as a podcast episode. However, we’ve done our best to improve it, and I assure you that the stories and perspectives shared are really worth listening to.

In today’s conversation, we discuss:

Support and programs to help transition into adulthood
Essential skills that children and adolescents ought to learn
Different adult services available across the US
Living independently versus in communities
Applying for college or a job
Financial planning and budgeting

To learn more about the panelists in this discussion, please visit:

Dani Bowman - danibowman.com

Robert Schmus - schmus898@gmail.com

Cheryl Albright - Soul to Soul Yoga

Cammie McGovern - cammiemcgovern.com

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project

We would love to hear your feedback about the show. Please fill out this short survey to let us know your thoughts: Listener Survey

Autistic Traits vs. Criminal Law, with Tom Oliver

Thu, 14 Oct 2021 18:00:00 +0200

Discover what’s possible when rehabilitation fits the crime.

Tom Oliver is an autism self-advocate, a TEDx Speaker, and an aspiring lawyer from Australia who has dedicated his career to helping autistic individuals caught up in the justice system.

In this conversation, we discuss:

Autism acceptance in Australia
Tom’s finding out about his diagnosis
How autism affects his everyday life
How Tom became interested in the law
Three characteristics that are underlying causes of crimes among autistic people
Challenges autistic people may face in the prison system
Ideas to mitigate injustices against autistic individuals

To learn more about Tom Oliver, please visit tomoliver.biz.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project

We would love to hear your feedback about the show. Please fill out this short survey to let us know your thoughts: Listener Survey

Navigating Social Situations, with Anthony Ianni, Sangeeta Jain, and Vanessa Lista

Thu, 30 Sep 2021 18:00:00 +0200

Discover what’s possible when everyone gets a chance.

This week’s episode is a recording of one of our Global Autism Community exclusive events. The topic of this roundtable discussion was Navigating Social Situations, and its diverse panel included Anthony Ianni, Sangeeta Jain, and Vanessa Lista.

Anthony is an autism self-advocate, a former NCAA Division 1 basketball player, and a motivational speaker; Sangeeta is the mother of an autistic young man and she is also our Global Autism Project partner in Chandigarh, India; and Vanessa has an autistic brother and is a kinesiology and psychology student.

Other community members who participated in this event were Mary Johnston, Andrew Bennett, Priya Vijayan, Beverly Sujit, Happy Arora, and Anshul Sharma.

As with previous community events, we hadn’t originally planned to produce a podcast episode from this discussion, but we later thought it would be great to make this conversation available to our podcast listeners as well. We apologize for the inconsistent sound quality, but I assure you that the stories and perspectives shared by our guests are really worth listening to.

In today’s conversation, we discuss:

Strategies to mitigate misunderstandings in social situations
Respecting personal space and boundaries
Teaching social skills to young autistic children
Teaching peers how to communicate with autistic children
Action steps towards true inclusion

To learn more about the panelists in this discussion, please visit:

Anthony Ianni

Sangeeta Jain

Vanessa Lista

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project

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Avatars for Autism, with Gary Jesch and Leslie Baldwin

Thu, 23 Sep 2021 19:52:45 +0200

Discover what’s possible when connection builds confidence.

Our guests this week are Gary Jesch and Leslie Baldwin. Gary is a live animation performer and the founder of Invirtua, a telehealth learning service that uses animated avatars to interact with autistic children. Leslie is Invirtua’s Senior Partner as well as a member of their Board of Advisors. She was previously a manager and special educator at Texas Children's Hospital.

In today’s conversation, we discuss:

Gary’s inspiration for designing his characters
Example goals they might target in a session
Generalizing skills into everyday life
Academic research that utilizes Invirtua’s technology
Tips for parents wanting to improve the lives of their autistic children

Gary and Leslie also demonstrate a live interaction with one of Invirtua’s avatars, a fish named Marley.

To learn more about Gary, Leslie, and Invirtua, please visit invirtua.com.

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Are you a professional seeking to hear directly from autistic voices and improve your practice? Are you a self-advocate willing to share your experiences and educate others? Are you a family member hoping to support and empower your loved one? Whatever your role related to autism is, you can join our Global Autism Community to connect and collaborate with people all over the world.

----more----

We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project

We would love to hear your feedback about the show. Please fill out this short survey to let us know your thoughts: Listener Survey

The Disability Cliff and Adult Services in the US, with Cammie McGovern

Thu, 16 Sep 2021 22:06:23 +0200

Discover what’s possible when success is measured in belonging.

Cammie McGovern is the mother of a 25-year-old autistic adult and has recently published a book titled Hard Landings: Looking into the Future of a Child with Autism. She has also authored three novels for adults, including Eye Contact; two books for young adults, Say What You Will and A Step Toward Falling; and two books for middle-grade readers, Just My Luck and Chester and Gus. All feature young people with a variety of disabilities at the center.

Cammie is also one of the founders of Whole Children and Milestones, a resource center for children and young adults with disabilities and their families in Hadley, Massachusetts.

In today’s conversation, we discuss:

The “Disability Cliff” for autistic adults who turn 22
Varying types of adult services available across the US
The movement away from institutional settings and sheltered workshops
The overlooked value of congregate settings
Skills parents should prioritize when preparing their kids for adulthood
Tips for parents whose children are approaching this stage in life
Sex education

To learn more about Cammie, please visit cammiemcgovern.com.

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Are you a family member hoping to support and empower your loved one? Are you a self-advocate willing to share your experiences and educate others? Are you a professional seeking to hear directly from autistic voices and improve your practice? Whatever your role related to autism is, you can join our Global Autism Community to connect and collaborate with people all over the world.

----more----

We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project

We would love to hear your feedback about the show. Please fill out this short survey to let us know your thoughts: Listener Survey

Safety in Public, with Rachel Barcellona, Thomas Iland, Jamiel Owens, and Maricarmen Hazoury

Thu, 02 Sep 2021 18:09:18 +0200

Discover what’s possible when awareness educates safety.

This week’s episode is a recording of one of our Global Autism Community exclusive events. The topic of this round table discussion is Safety in Public.

The diverse panelists include autism self-advocates Rachel Barcellona and Thomas Iland, autism father and host of The Ausome Show, Jamiel Owens, and our Global Autism Project partner from the Dominican Republic, Maricarmen (Kaki) Hazoury.

Other community members present at the event and part of the discussion are Jeff Snyder, David Sharif, Kia Burton, Karen Shapiro, and Ben Sharif.

We hadn’t originally planned to produce a podcast episode from this exclusive event, but we later thought it would be great to make this rich conversation available to our podcast listeners as well. We apologize for the inconsistent sound quality, but I assure you that the stories and perspectives shared by our guests are really worth listening to.

In today’s conversation, we discuss:

Navigating around the community
Autism-disclosure ID cards
Interactions with strangers and law enforcement
Setting boundaries on social media

If you’d like to attend and participate in any of our future events, you can sign up today at community.globalautismproject.org.

Also, just a heads up that next week we won’t be releasing a new episode in observance of Labor Day in the US. September is a good time of the year to reset and prioritize your own well-being, and our team will be taking the week off to do just that. I encourage you to find a moment for self-care during this weekend, whatever that means for you. For those of you living in the US, have a safe, happy, and restful holiday weekend. We’ll be back on our regular release schedule on Thursday, September 16th.

To learn more about the panelists in this discussion, please visit:

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project

We would love to hear your feedback about the show. Please fill out this short survey to let us know your thoughts: Listener Survey.

Changing Perspectives in India, with Jayashree Ramesh

Thu, 29 Jul 2021 18:19:16 +0200

Discover what’s possible when constraint unlocks opportunity.

Jayashree Ramesh is the Founder and Director of Academy for Severe Handicaps and Autism, ASHA for short, in Bangalore, India. The Global Autism Project partnered with ASHA in 2018 and we’ve since sent three SkillCorps® teams to their center.

Founded by Molly Ola Pinney in 2003, the Global Autism Project provides sustainable clinical, administrative, and leadership training to autism centers seeking guidance. SkillCorps® is a volunteer opportunity for self-advocates and professionals to travel to our partner sites around the world and work directly with their local teachers and therapists.

We are currently accepting SkillCorps® applications for travel in 2022. Begin your journey today at globalautismproject.org/skillcorps. As a listener of our show, take advantage of the coupon code AUTISMPODCAST (no space and all caps) to waive the application fee.

In this conversation, Jayashree and I discuss:

The varying perspectives of autism across India
How Indian mothers and fathers accept autism differently
What Jayashree loves about working with the autistic population
Barriers she’s had to overcome when developing ASHA
Leadership and encouraging teamwork among staff
Effects of the pandemic on services at her center
The partnership between the Global Autism Project and ASHA
What she likes to share about Indian culture with our SkillCorps® teams
Advice for other professionals interested in starting their own center

You’ll also hear us talk about Global Summit, which was our first annual conference held in Bali in 2019. It was a beautiful and inspiring week for all of our partners from around the world to connect and share ideas, stories, and resources. Global Summit was open for our SkillCorps® alumni to attend and receive continuing education credit as well. Watch our 2019 Global Summit video here.

To learn more about Jayashree and ASHA, please visit ashaforautism.com.

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If you’re a professional working in the field of autism education, or a self-advocate wanting to share your life experiences, SkillCorps® is an opportunity you don’t want to miss!

Work alongside our Global Autism Partners to help ensure that all autistic individuals around the world have access to quality education and services.

If you’d like to learn more about our SkillCorps® program, check out episodes 4, 17, 53, and 66, featuring SkillCorps® volunteers that have been to our partner sites in India, The Netherlands, Indonesia, Dominican Republic, and Kenya, to name a few. Listen to them talk about their transformative experiences and see what SkillCorps® can offer you!

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project

We would love to hear your feedback about the show. Please fill out this short survey to let us know your thoughts: Listener Survey.

Transitioning into Adulthood, with Robert Schmus

Thu, 22 Jul 2021 18:53:01 +0200

Discover what’s possible when a mentor guides by example.

Robert Schmus is an autism self-advocate, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in New Jersey, and a blogger for The Mighty. As a therapist, he currently provides individual and group sessions at a residential home for adolescents with autism and other co-occurring diagnoses.

In today’s conversation, we discuss:

How Robert learned about his diagnosis
His strengths related to autism
Dealing with anxiety and covid uncertainty
Dating on the spectrum
His responsibilities as a social worker
Ideas to help adolescents transition into adulthood and find a job
Disclosing his diagnosis to employers

To learn more about Robert and his work, you can contact him via email at schmus898@gmail.com.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project

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Neurodiversity Training International, with Jude Morrow

Thu, 17 Jun 2021 20:40:37 +0200

Discover what’s possible when autism is not viewed as just a broken version of normal.

Jude Morrow. Based in Ireland, Jude is an autism self-advocate, TEDx speaker, and author. He is also the founder of Neurodiversity Training International, an autism mentoring, training, consultancy, and motivational platform. NTI works with non-profit and Fortune 500 companies using a strengths-based approach to change perceptions and attitudes. Jude’s first book, Why Does Daddy Always Look So Sad?, was published in 2020, and his second book, Loving Your Place on the Spectrum, is scheduled to be released in September of 2021.

In this conversation, we discuss:

Autism awareness and acceptance in Ireland
What it was like for Jude to grow up feeling that something was wrong with him
Why society should move away from the medical model and embrace the neurodiversity movement
The problem with labels of disorders and disabilities
Consultation services offered at NTI
Advice for anyone interested in being an ally of the neurodiversity movement

To learn more about Jude Morrow and his work, please visit https://neurodiversity-training.net/.

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What are your thoughts on the neurodiversity movement? Do you view autism as a difference, as a disability, or as some gray area in between? We’d love to hear your perspective on these topics over in our Global Autism Community.

Just a reminder, the Global Autism Community is open to anyone related to autism. Whether you’re a self-advocate wanting to share your story and educate others, a professional seeking to hear directly from autistic voices and improve your practice, or a family member hoping to support and empower your loved one, you can join our Global Autism Community to connect and collaborate with people all over the world.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project

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Individualized Education Programs, with Brian Middleton, Colleen Dorsey, and Michael Gilberg

Thu, 03 Jun 2021 21:00:00 +0200

Discover what’s possible when the student’s interests lead the team.

This week’s episode is a recording of a roundtable discussion during one of our Global Autism Community exclusive events. The topic is Individualized Education Programs, or IEPs.

The panelists include Brian Middleton, an autistic Board Certified Behavior Analyst; Colleen Dorsey, a special education teacher; and Michael Gilberg, an autistic special education and disability rights attorney.

Other community members present at the event and part of the discussion are Jeff Snyder, Mary Johnston, Ryan Litchfield, Jessie Sheahan, and Morgan Ferguson.

In today’s conversation, we discuss:

The different roles on an IEP team
How to reduce combativeness between professionals at IEP meetings
Finding the sweet spot when writing goals and encouraging independence
How to best support families throughout the IEP process
Helpful accommodations suggested by self-advocates in the audience

Some acronyms mentioned in the conversation are IDEA, BCBA, and ABA. IDEA is the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, which is an American piece of legislation that ensures eligible students with a disability are provided with Free Appropriate Public Education that is tailored to their individual needs. BCBA stands for Board Certified Behavior Analyst, and ABA is Applied Behavior Analysis.

These monthly roundtable discussions are open exclusively to members of our Global Autism Community. A new topic is selected based on each month’s theme. If you’d like to attend and participate in any of our future events, you can sign up today at community.globalautismproject.org.

To learn more about the panelists in this discussion, you can visit:

Brian Middleton: https://beardedbehaviorist.com/

Colleen Dorsey: @autismausome

Michael Gilberg: https://www.michaelgilbergesq.com/

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project

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Receiving ABA and the Need for Research in Older Adults, with Ryan Litchfield

Thu, 13 May 2021 21:46:13 +0200

Discover what’s possible when support includes all ages.

Ryan Litchfield is an autism and disabilities self-advocate from Massachusetts. Diagnosed with autism at the age of two, Ryan underwent Applied Behavior Analysis therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy. Since his high school days, Ryan has been sharing his life journey with various agencies, communities, and organizations, and he is known by people around him to have a “fighting spirit.”

With a Bachelor’s degree in Human Services and Rehabilitation Studies and a Certificate in Aging Services, Ryan specializes in older adults with disabilities, guiding and supporting them to pursue their goals while promoting compassion, empathy, and kindness. Ryan has also had several blogs published in the Organization for Autism Research (OAR).

In today’s conversation, we discuss:

The services Ryan received growing up
His perspective on ABA therapy
How autism affects his life
Communication breakdowns in social situations
The need for research about older adults
How professionals can provide better support for their clients

To learn more about Ryan Litchfield and his work, please visit his website ryansvoice.blog.

Resources:

https://ryansvoice.blog/2019/03/09/gerontological-research-needed-to-gain-a-further-understanding-of-autism-in-older-adults/ https://ryansvoice.blog/2020/09/20/autism-and-mental-illness-connected-or-distinct-vlog-2/

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project

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Celebrating One Year, with Our Podcast Community

Thu, 29 Apr 2021 18:00:00 +0200

Discover what’s possible when the audience takes the mic.

This week, we are celebrating the one-year anniversary of our podcast! It’s been an eye-opening journey that continues to leave us surprised, inspired, and moved.

We’ve learned so much from self-advocates sharing their experiences, family members talking about accepting their children’s diagnoses, and professionals discussing best practices in the field of autism services.

In today’s episode, we’ll be highlighting some of our dedicated listeners who have continuously supported this podcast over the last year. We want to give our community a chance to express what they’ve taken away from listening to the show. You’ll hear from Cameron Burrell, Griffen Wharbolt, Swathi Srinivas, Mary Johnston, Carrin Whitehurst, Nicole Ezcurra, Colleen Dorsey, and Liz Castillo.

I’d like to give a special shout-out to Liz, who had been working as a Global Autism Project team member until the beginning of this month. She just recently had her second child and is busy embarking on a new chapter, but she’ll always be a part of the team. Liz had been cultivating relationships with our community on social media since we launched the podcast. Not only did she ensure our guests’ messages reached our followers, she also encouraged our audience to listen with an open mind. Liz has played an integral role in reminding us to do with the autistic community and not for them. This compilation episode was actually her idea. She’s been a trusted colleague, a dear friend, and just such a beautiful human all around. We wish you all the best in your new endeavors, Liz!

Other team members who help make this podcast happen are Trang Tran and Linda Zheng. Trang, thank you for creating our beautiful visuals and audiograms week after week. Linda, thank you for managing guest relations and keeping us organized. And of course, this podcast wouldn’t even be possible without Molly believing in the idea from day one.

Episodes mentioned:

39. Why the World Needs All Kinds of Minds, with Dr. Temple Grandin

33. Bullying, Breakthroughs, and Basketball, with Anthony Ianni

22. Music Therapy and Autism in Australia, with Pamela Fisher

11. The Ability Beyond Disabilities, with Rachel Barcellona

49. Special Education and Disability Rights, with Michael Gilberg

43. Social Media and Intersectional Advocacy, with Tiffany Hammond

8. Finding Strength in Adversity, with Russell Lehmann

47. Neurodiversity in Popular Cartoon Characters, with Jeff Snyder

46. Autism in the Black American Community, with Maria Davis-Pierre

28. Occupational Therapy and Yoga for the Special Child, with Cheryl Albright

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

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Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project

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A Collectivist Approach to Services, with Mari Cerda

Thu, 22 Apr 2021 19:47:51 +0200

Discover what’s possible when values inform the method.

Mari Cerda is an Autistic Board Certified Behavior Analyst who consults with teachers and schools to provide professional development training on various neurodiversity-affirming topics. She is also completing her doctoral program at Texas Tech University.

As a Latina Mestiza, Mari is passionate about supporting displaced migrant families and their children with disabilities who enter the school system. She is the co-founder of The LEAP Institute, a non-profit whose mission is to increase equitable access for marginalized groups entering into the field of applied behavior analysis, or ABA. Through her Instagram account @the.blingual.bcba, Mari hopes to educate and mediate between the worlds of autism and ABA.

In this conversation, we discuss:

Mari’s process of discovering and accepting her late diagnosis
How autism is understood in Native and Latinx cultures
The intersectionality of neurodiversity and race
Her collectivist approach to providing services
Ideas to bridge the divide between the Autistic community and ABA

Before we get into the interview, I’d like to clarify a couple of terms that came up in case you’re not familiar with them. The first one is “ableism,” which is discrimination or social prejudice against people with disabilities based on the belief that typical abilities are superior. Ableism can manifest as an attitude, stereotype, or offensive comment or behavior.

The second term is “extinction-based,” which refers to an ABA strategy used to reduce unwanted behaviors. For example, imagine a child is screaming because they want a piece of chocolate. We could give the child some chocolate so they would stop screaming, but that could actually have the opposite effect, leading the child to scream every time they want chocolate. In contrast, an extinction-based procedure would entail not giving the child any chocolate when they are screaming in order to reduce that behavior. Extinction-based procedures are controversial because they can be traumatic for learners. Side effects may include anger, frustration, and in some cases even depression.

I truly believe that, when implemented with a compassionate, client-centered approach, the science of ABA can help individuals reach goals that will enable them to live fulfilling lives. We have a lot of unlearning to do as a field, and we need guidance from autistic voices to ensure that our services are in line with neurodivergent values.

Are you a self-advocate willing to share your experiences and educate others? Are you a professional seeking to hear directly from autistic voices and improve your practice? Are you a family member hoping to support and empower your loved one? Join our Global Autism Community to connect and collaborate with people all over the world.

We already have a growing number of members with different roles related to autism getting to know each other and engaging in these important conversations.

You can sign up today at community.globalautismproject.org. Let’s work together to transform how the world relates to autism.

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Resources:

The Double Empathy Problem

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

Join our community on Mighty Networks: Global Autism Community

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project

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SkillCorps Alumni Spotlight, with Natalie Odio and Christina Flores

Thu, 25 Mar 2021 17:00:00 +0100

Discover what’s possible when collaboration journeys onward.

Today we’re featuring two members of our SkillCorps® Alumni community: Natalie Odio and Christina Flores.

Natalie is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, or BCBA, and Christina is a Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst, or BCaBa. Both from Miami, Natalie and Christina host a podcast called MOnday Morning Coffee, where they aim to ease Monday mornings by discussing topics related to emotional support for other professionals in the field.

The Global Autism Project provides sustainable clinical, administrative, and leadership training to autism centers seeking guidance. SkillCorps® is an opportunity for self-advocates and professionals to travel to our partner sites around the world and work directly with their local teachers and therapists.

In today’s conversation, we discuss:

Why Natalie and Christina are passionate about working with the autistic population
The reasons for starting their podcast
Personal and professional growth from doing SkillCorps®
Cultural humility
Fundraising for volunteer trips
Lessons applied to coping with the pandemic
Tips for future SkillCorps® travelers

To learn more about Natalie and Christina, please you can follow them on Instagram @onwardbehavior and check out their podcast MOnday Morning Coffee. ----more----

SkillCorps® is more than a two-week trip — it’s a movement for change. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, we’ve had to temporarily pause travel to our international partner sites. The exciting news is that our team is finally reassembling to explore what SkillCorps® will look like in the future.

If you’re a professional working in the field of autism education, and you’re looking to advance your life and career, SkillCorps® is an opportunity you don’t want to miss.

For more information about our SkillCorps® program, please listen to episodes 4 and 17, featuring round table discussions with other members of our community.

Join our waiting list at globalautismproject.org/skillcorps to be the first to know when applications open again and stay tuned for announcements coming up soon.

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too.

Join our Facebook group: Autism Knows No Borders

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project

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Channeling My Past into the Light of the Future, with Marcus Boyd

Thu, 28 Jan 2021 18:00:00 +0100

Discover what’s possible when you march to the beat of your own drum.

Marcus Boyd is an autism self-advocate, musician, professional DJ, and clothing line owner. As a music producer and composer, he has collaborated with artists such as Lil Wayne and Marques Houston. A short documentary about Marcus’ life, titled My First Word, was released in November of 2020.

In this conversation, Marcus opens up about the different layers of his childhood trauma, including growing up in abusive foster care homes, being admitted into several mental institutions, and not speaking until the age of 13. He talks about how he overcame his many obstacles, his autistic strengths that have helped his music career, and what made him decide to become an autism advocate.

It’s Marcus’ birthday this upcoming Sunday the 31st. So, from all of us at the Global Autism Project, happy birthday, Marcus!

For more information about Marcus Boyd, please visit autismactivistmarcusboyd.com.

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Join our Facebook group Autism Knows No Borders

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Meet the Global Autism Project Team

Thu, 07 Jan 2021 19:00:18 +0100

Discover what’s possible when a team is built on strong values.

Happy New Year!

I’d like to kick off 2021 with a special episode featuring our Global Autism Project team. I’m joined by our CEO and Founder, Molly Ola Pinney, as well as five other members of our core staff: Cassie Harden Scott, Mandy Childs, Liz Castillo, Trang Tran, and Aja Davis.

The seven of us have weathered through 2020 together and supported each other from different corners of the world, especially during a time when the organization was on very unstable ground. I think many people will agree that you learn a lot about someone when you go through a pandemic with them, and certain bonds can even be strengthened when put under pressure.

One thing I love about this team is our ability to communicate effectively and take action when needed. This has allowed us to shift our work and step into new possibilities with confidence.

I wanted you to get a sense of our true team culture, so we’ve left some parts unedited for you to hear for yourself how we really treat each other like family.

In this conversation, you’ll have a chance to meet the staff behind the scenes and learn some fun facts about us. We discuss which values of the organization we most connect with, some obstacles we’ve overcome together, and how the company culture came to be what it is today. We also talk about what we’ve learned from 2020 and what we look forward to in the coming year.

If you’d like to learn more about the Global Autism Project’s history and mission, please listen to episode 2 with Molly. You can also listen to episode 23 to hear more about Cassie’s role as Director of Outreach.

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We appreciate your time and look forward to sharing more stories with you this year. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too. You can also follow us on Instagram @autismpodcast and subscribe to our YouTube channel Global Autism Project.

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Highlights of 2020, with the Global Autism Community

Wed, 23 Dec 2020 22:43:10 +0100

Discover what's possible when stories from around the world inspire change.

We made it to episode 41! I know 41 doesn’t sound like a magical number, but this will be the last episode we’ll be releasing this year, so I thought it would be nice to review some of my favorite moments from our first 40 episodes.

Since we started working on this podcast almost a year ago, we’ve brought on a wide range of guests, including prominent self-advocates like Temple Grandin and Michael John Carley, autism parents like Eileen Lamb and Jamiel Owens, some of our Global Autism Project partners like Yaser Aljaaidi from Saudi Arabia and Sangeeta Jain from India, and other professionals in the field like Dr. Megan Miller and Robert and Nadine Schramm.

If you’ve been with us for a while, this 2020 recap will bring you back to the heartfelt stories we’ve been hearing from our guests. And if this is your first time listening to us, welcome! This episode will help you get a good idea of what Autism Knows No Borders is all about. Either way, I hope that you’re left feeling inspired to create some change in your own communities.

As I was reflecting on these past episodes from 2020, I was overcome with immense gratitude for our community. A huge thank you to our guests for sharing your stories, to our listeners for your continued support, and to our team for putting it all together. Special thanks to Linda, our podcast intern, for joining us at just the right moment when we needed you most, to Tarik Davis for lending us your voice for our intros and outros, to Tremayne Ebanks for video production, and to Marc Aliana for music, audio and text editing, and all-around moral support. Of course, none of this would have been possible if Molly hadn’t believed in my little idea last year.

From all of us at the Global Autism Project, we wish you a happy and safe holiday season and hope you can spend some quality time with your loved ones in some shape or form, even if it happens to be through a screen. We’ll be back on our regular release schedule on January 7th in 2021!

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We appreciate your time. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support our mission, please take just a few seconds to share it with one person who you think will find value in it too. You can also follow us on Instagram @autismpodcast and subscribe to our YouTube channel Global Autism Project.

We would love to hear your feedback about the show. Please fill out this short survey to let us know your thoughts: Listener Survey.

From Burnout to Thriving, with Jenny Llorca

Thu, 17 Dec 2020 18:00:54 +0100

Discover what’s possible when a company is led with care.

Jenny Llorca is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and the Chief Clinical Director of Early Autism Services. EAS is an international company that provides individualized ABA therapy to children with autism in the US, India, and Australia.

This year, after significant and impressive growth, EAS was facing challenges that are common with large companies that grow rapidly. They were struggling to cultivate company culture across their local branches, and levels of employee satisfaction were dipping. With a determination to shift their company environment, Jenny and the board of executives at EAS took action and hired the Global Autism Project to step in.

For close to 20 years, the Global Autism Project has been providing coaching and training to autism service providers and organizations worldwide to help them scale, thrive, and realize their visions. This summer, we worked with the EAS directors to make our Leadership Academy program accessible to over 90 members of their staff. We tailored our training to meet their needs and delivered the program as a 6-week online course that included video lessons, worksheets, downloads, live virtual classrooms, and small group coaching.

We recently released a case study that details the challenges EAS faced, our approach and design of Leadership Academy, and the outcomes measured through pre-and post-surveys. The results have been overwhelmingly positive. 100% of participants reported new skill acquisition in one or more of four key areas: time and task management, decision-making, integrity, and effective communication. Zero participants reported that they were in a state of burnout after Leadership Academy, compared to 24% from before. 94% of participants said that they would recommend Leadership Academy to other professionals in the field.

You can access the full case study here: EAS Case Study. We’re excited to announce that we’re looking for the right company to participate in our next case study. If you think yours would be a good fit, get in touch with us through the link on the page.

In this conversation, Jenny describes how attending Global Autism Project’s in-person Leadership Academy earlier this year inspired her to invest in her own team. We discuss some of her personal breakthroughs and the gains she’s noticed in her staff. Jenny explains how Leadership Academy has transformed the company culture at EAS and, most importantly, the services they provide families.

You’ll hear us mention SkillCorps, which is our volunteer program that has been put on hold due to COVID travel restrictions. For more information about the training we provide our international partners, please listen to episode 2 with our CEO, Molly Ola Pinney.

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Related episodes:

37. Leadership Lessons Learned, with Molly Ola Pinney

BONUS: Join the Training That Transformed My Life, with Rachel Harmon

BONUS: Join the Training that Transformed My Life, with Rachel Harmon

Fri, 27 Nov 2020 19:50:24 +0100

Discover what's possible when you uncover your blind spots.

In this bonus episode, I share how attending Global Autism Project's Leadership Academy shifted how I relate to work, relationships, and anything else that happens in my life.

Leadership Academy will empower you to lead with confidence in everything that you do — whether it’s improving staff retention in your business, having hard conversations with supervisees, or empowering others to take ownership of their work. The great news is, Leadership Academy now available for you to access online as a 6-week course!

Don’t miss out on these opportunities to elevate your leadership to the next level and plan for a successful new year.

If you’re still not sure if Leadership Academy is for you, take this 2-minute QUIZ to learn where you are in your leadership journey and what steps you need to take next.

Are you ready to take bold action that will help you improve the way you lead? Are you ready to take charge of your life?

I hope to see you in our virtual classroom!

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Although Black Friday is over, I wanted to let you know that we still have a few seats available at the next Global Autism Project Virtual Leadership Academy. Sign up today and use the promo code AUTISMPODCAST at check out to receive a special discount!

Live Stream COVID-19 Update, with Our Global Autism Partners

Thu, 17 Sep 2020 18:06:57 +0200

Discover what’s possible when a global community is built on resilience.

We have a very special episode today, featuring a few of our Global Autism Project staff and partners. Actually, more than a few... There are a total of 13 people in this episode! This conversation offers a glimpse into the deeply rooted relationships of our Global Autism Community.

Here’s a little bit of context:

For over 17 years, the Global Autism Project has partnered with international autism centers to provide sustainable clinical, administrative, and leadership training. Three times a year, we’ve sent SkillCorps volunteer teams to our partner sites around the world to work directly with their local teachers and therapists.

When COVID-19 hit, we were forced to cancel all international travel and innovate new programs to stay afloat as an organization. Throughout this time, we’ve continued to meet with our partners every month over large Zoom calls. It’s always fun to see a mosaic of faces from across the globe on a single screen.

We recently thought it would be exciting for our followers on social media to join a call with our partners. So, during our meeting last week, we went live on Facebook and our partners shared the impact that the pandemic has had on their centers, the current situation in their respective countries, and some positive takeaways they’ve gained from this crisis. The audience was able to follow along and contribute questions in real-time.

Our CEO and Founder, Molly Ola Pinney, led the discussion between some of our staff and eight of our partners, many of which you might recognize from previous episodes. They called in from Kenya, India, China, Ecuador, the Dominican Republic, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, and Rwanda.

We had originally scheduled a different episode for this week; however, right after we hung up, we realized that the content of our call was really worth sharing with you as well. As one could expect from a live call with 13 participants from 13 different locations across the world, we had some sound issues, but we have done our best to correct them for this podcast.

Just a reminder that you can find this conversation and all of our interviews on our YouTube channel: Global Autism Project.

For more information about our work, please visit globalautismproject.org.

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Since the start of the COVID-19 crisis, our partners have been adapting their services to support some of the most vulnerable children and their families. The unfortunate reality is that many of them are receiving little help from their governments, or none at all.

The good news is that you can help ensure their schools continue running services by making a donation today. 100% of your donations to the Partner Relief Fund go directly to our partners who need it most. You will be supporting internet access for remote teaching, educational materials, and protective equipment. You can make a difference today by supporting families and their children in our partners’ communities. Donations can be made at globalautismproject.org.

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We would love to hear your feedback about the show. Please fill out this short survey to let us know your thoughts: Listener Survey.

Inclusion of Autistic Values, with Joy Johnson

Fri, 05 Jun 2020 01:14:58 +0200

Discover what’s possible when communities are built on dignity, fairness, and respect.

This episode was originally scheduled to be released later in the month; however, in light of recent events, we have decided to move it forward.

Today’s guest is Joy Johnson, M.Ed, M.S. Joy is a behavior specialist, inclusion specialist, autism self-advocate, and leader in the black autistic community. As the mother of an individual with autism, and as someone on the spectrum herself, she offers an interesting perspective to individuals, families, and organizations who are looking to improve the lives of those impacted by autism.

Joy advises parents about the benefits of ABA therapy and the importance of teaching social skills, including how to interact with police officers. She empowers parents and children by promoting preparedness rather than fear.

In this conversation, Joy explains what services she received growing up, how she related to peers in high school, and why she struggled after having her first child.

Having lived in Germany for seven years, Joy talks about the country’s education system and attitudes towards autism.

We also discuss the functions of self-stimulatory behavior, the consequences of masking, and the frustrating lack of support for adults with autism in the US.

To learn more about Joy and the work she does, please visit: Autism Support Services.

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On behalf of the Global Autism Project, I would like to share our organization’s official statement in response to current events and racial equality:

“While it is hard to find the right words to describe the outrage and grief over the violent and senseless death of yet another black person, we understand the importance of taking a stand for justice in this moment. The Global Autism Project is founded on the values of inclusion and equity and we will not sit back in silence in the face of such intolerance and disregard for the lives of black people. We condemn all acts of hatred, prejudice, and racism.

As we join you in solidarity, we, as an organization will actively be supporting the black community by engaging in these important dialogues and not turning a blind eye to your pain. We are committed to working with you to create a world that is truly free, just, and equitable for all. Our very own CEO has started a social media group for all people who want to take action and learn.

Our hearts go out to everyone in our community dealing with the pain and fear over losing their lives and those of their loved ones. We are here to let you know that we acknowledge your feelings, we see you, we hear you, we value you and we stand with you – now and always!

Thank you for being part of our global community, committed to opportunity and safety for all people.”

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COVID-19 Relief Fund, with Molly Ola Pinney

Thu, 21 May 2020 15:00:00 +0200

Discover what’s possible when we extend a helping hand and truly make a difference.

The CEO and founder of the Global Autism Project, Molly Ola Pinney, is back on the show.

The Global Autism Project partners with autism centers around the world. Since the start of the COVID-19 crisis, our partners have been adapting their services to support some of the most vulnerable children and their families. These dedicated changemakers continue to inspire us with their perseverance and flexibility.

In previous episodes, we’ve featured our partners from China, Ecuador, Kenya, and Tanzania, among other guests. We’ll continue to bring you community leaders from all over the world, including Saudi Arabia, Czech Republic, and Indonesia, to name a few.

All of our partners are doing the best they can, yet their schools are in danger of permanent closure. In this episode, Molly shares an important announcement in response to these unprecedented circumstances. Watch Molly's video message to see our partners at their schools.

You can take bold action right now by making a donation here: COVID-19 Relief Fund.

If you’d like to learn more about the history of the Global Autism Project and the mission that drives our work, please listen to my conversation with Molly in episode 2.

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Global Autism Project: Our Mission, with Molly Ola Pinney

Thu, 23 Apr 2020 01:26:00 +0200

Discover what’s possible when the answer to how is YES.

Molly Ola Pinney is the CEO and founder of the Global Autism Project. She is also the #1 supporter of this podcast.

In this episode, you’ll hear Molly give a history of our organization, highlighting important turning points over the last 17 years. As an employee, it’s always fun for me to hear about how the organization has evolved — from the heart of a 23-year-old with a mission to change the world, to a global movement involving almost 20 countries.

Molly tells us of her early years in Ghana and also reflects on how the understanding of autism in Africa has changed since then. Although the stigma is still real, there has been an increase in the awareness that autism is not caused by evil spirits.

Molly explains how our SkillCorps® volunteer program works and why it differs from voluntourism. Watch Molly's TEDx Talk to learn why doing things for others doesn't help.

We describe the relationships we have with our partners and share stories from our first Global Summit held in August of 2019. Check out our Global Summit video to see our partners in action.

Molly illustrates how decisive action in leadership helped her to respond appropriately to the coronavirus crisis back in January. We discuss the impact this has had on the work we do as an organization, and why she sees this pause as an opportunity.

We also talk about how traveling internationally with SkillCorps® has actually prepared some of our volunteers to better cope with the current climate of uncertainty.

For more information about our work, please visit: globalautismproject.org.

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An Introduction, with Rachel Harmon

Thu, 23 Apr 2020 01:02:25 +0200

Discover what's possible for the Global Autism Community.

In this brief introduction, I want to give you an idea of what the Global Autism Project is, who I am, and what this podcast is about. For more information about our movement, please visit globalautismproject.org.

I recorded this episode on April 18th, 2020. Of the first five episodes released for the launch, this one just happened to be recorded last. It was done on a Saturday night, at around 8:15 pm. We had just come back from clapping alongside our neighbors on our balcony. Every night at 8:00 pm, all of Spain cheers for the healthcare practitioners working on the frontlines during this coronavirus pandemic. The homage also serves as a daily reminder that we are all in this together.

I waited for silence in the streets to record one last take. By this point, I was exhausted from a long day of editing. I gathered some energy and powered through, knowing that this introduction would be important. It would set the tone for the whole podcast, and our message needed to be delivered clearly.

As I was recording the last couple of minutes, I couldn’t help but feel a bit emotional. All of the months of preparation were soon coming to fruition. I was suddenly very aware of the impact this show may have on our community. I thought of my colleagues, our partners, our SkillCorps® family. I was inspired by the fact that, even though we have all been affected in different ways by the current global crisis, we still remain united to encourage compassion for the autistic population. This podcast is our platform in the world at this crucial moment in history.

You may hear me choke up at some point. I was torn about giving it another try, to present a cleaner ending without my voice quivering, but I decided to leave this take as is. This is me, raw and exposed. As you listen, I invite you to sense what I was feeling in those last couple of minutes. I hope you find inspiration through my story and understand why this mission means so much to me.

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