Discover what’s possible when people connected to autism inspire change and build community
Episodes
Thursday Jul 21, 2022
Thursday Jul 21, 2022
*THROWBACK EPISODE*
This conversation with Evas Kyomugisha was originally released on October 15, 2020. We are re-releasing it today to bring attention to the great work being done at her center, Silver Bells in Rwanda.
One of our July SkillCorps teams is currently collaborating with the staff at Silver Bells. Follow us on IG @globalautismproject to see the team in action!
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Thursday Jul 14, 2022
Thursday Jul 14, 2022
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
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.
Related episodes:
104. Honoring the Memory of David Sharif, with the Global Autism Community
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Thursday Jul 07, 2022
Thursday Jul 07, 2022
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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Thursday Jun 30, 2022
Thursday Jun 30, 2022
*THROWBACK EPISODE*
This conversation with ASD Band was originally released on March 4, 2021. We are re-releasing it today to highlight that 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.
Thursday Jun 23, 2022
Thursday Jun 23, 2022
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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Thursday Jun 16, 2022
Thursday Jun 16, 2022
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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Thursday Jun 09, 2022
Thursday Jun 09, 2022
Discover what’s possible when wellness starts at bedtime.
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, producing more sustainable results over time.
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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Thursday Jun 02, 2022
Thursday Jun 02, 2022
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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Thursday May 26, 2022
Thursday May 26, 2022
*THROWBACK EPISODE*
This conversation with Russell Lehmann was originally released on May 14, 2020. We are re-releasing it today in observance of Mental Health Awareness Month.
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Thursday May 19, 2022
Thursday May 19, 2022
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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