Autism Knows No Borders

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.

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

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 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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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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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. 

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 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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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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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.

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 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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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

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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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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. 

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 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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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/.

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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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