Autism Knows No Borders

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. 

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 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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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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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.

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 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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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/.

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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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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.

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 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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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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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.

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 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.

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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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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.

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 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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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 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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