78. Avatars for Autism, with Gary Jesch and Leslie Baldwin

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.

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. 

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

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