Autism Knows No Borders

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. 

Read the rest of this entry »

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. 

Read the rest of this entry »

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

Read the rest of this entry »

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. 

Read the rest of this entry »

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. 

Read the rest of this entry »

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. 

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. 

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

Read the rest of this entry »

Discover what’s possible when we build bridges together. 

Read the rest of this entry »

Discover what’s possible when we build bridges together. 

Read the rest of this entry »

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. 

Read the rest of this entry »

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. 

Read the rest of this entry »