Discover what’s possible when people connected to autism inspire change and build community
Episodes
Thursday May 27, 2021
Thursday May 27, 2021
Discover what’s possible when a butterfly spreads her wings.
Cassidy Hooper is a 27-year-old autistic self-advocate from Mississippi who also has a rare genetic condition called Turner Syndrome. As the President of The Arc of Northeast Mississippi Autism Now Division, she mentors other autistic people and connects them with resources in their area. Some of her other advocacy work includes volunteering for Autism Grown Up and the Turner Syndrome Foundation. Cassidy also hosts her own podcast called The Diverse Butterfly, in which she spreads awareness about Turner Syndrome and aims to inspire others to follow their goals.
Sadly, shortly after we recorded this interview, Cassidy’s mother passed away from a sudden heart attack. This episode is in memory of Regina Hooper.
Mrs. Hooper was a strong advocate for Cassidy throughout her life, always fighting for what she thought was best for her family. She was a sweet and caring mother, wife, grandmother, and teacher’s assistant who loved children. Regina Hooper will be missed by Cassidy and so many others whose lives were touched by her kind and tender spirit.
In today’s conversation, we discuss:
- What Turner Syndrome is and how it affects Cassidy’s life
- Receiving her autism diagnosis at 17
- Her learning style and special interests
- The lack of support for adults with disabilities in rural areas of the US
- Advice for other girls and women with Turner Syndrome
To learn more about Cassidy Hooper and Turner Syndrome, you can listen to her podcast The Diverse Butterfly.
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Thursday May 20, 2021
Thursday May 20, 2021
Discover what’s possible when a mother learns her child’s language.
Nora Alharbi is a teacher and a mother to four children in Saudi Arabia. Her second child, Fares, is autistic. Fares receives services at Namaee Center, our partner site in Riyadh.
In this conversation, we discuss:
- The level of autism awareness in Saudi Arabia and what services are available for families there
- How Nora came to accept her son’s autism
- Fares’ autistic strengths and relationship with his siblings
- How his communication skills have developed since attending Namaee Center
- Advice for other parents who may be struggling with accepting their child’s diagnosis
Are you a parent wanting to connect with other parents who may be going through similar experiences? You can find support and 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.
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Thursday May 13, 2021
Thursday May 13, 2021
Discover what’s possible when support includes all ages.
Ryan Litchfield is an autism and disabilities self-advocate from Massachusetts. Diagnosed with autism at the age of two, Ryan underwent Applied Behavior Analysis therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy. Since his high school days, Ryan has been sharing his life journey with various agencies, communities, and organizations, and he is known by people around him to have a “fighting spirit.”
With a Bachelor’s degree in Human Services and Rehabilitation Studies and a Certificate in Aging Services, Ryan specializes in older adults with disabilities, guiding and supporting them to pursue their goals while promoting compassion, empathy, and kindness. Ryan has also had several blogs published in the Organization for Autism Research (OAR).
In today’s conversation, we discuss:
- The services Ryan received growing up
- His perspective on ABA therapy
- How autism affects his life
- Communication breakdowns in social situations
- The need for research about older adults
- How professionals can provide better support for their clients
To learn more about Ryan Litchfield and his work, please visit his website ryansvoice.blog.
Resources:
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Thursday Apr 29, 2021
Thursday Apr 29, 2021
Discover what’s possible when the audience takes the mic.
This week, we are celebrating the one-year anniversary of our podcast! It’s been an eye-opening journey that continues to leave us surprised, inspired, and moved.
We’ve learned so much from self-advocates sharing their experiences, family members talking about accepting their children’s diagnoses, and professionals discussing best practices in the field of autism services.
We’ve covered a wide range of topics, such as ableism, masking, the neurodiversity movement, intersectionality, disability rights, cultural humility, and international collaboration. A huge thank you to all of our guests for openly sharing your stories and educating us about your perspectives.
In today’s episode, we’ll be highlighting some of our dedicated listeners who have continuously supported this podcast over the last year. We want to give our community a chance to express what they’ve taken away from listening to the show. You’ll hear from Cameron Burrell, Griffen Wharbolt, Swathi Srinivas, Mary Johnston, Carrin Whitehurst, Nicole Ezcurra, Colleen Dorsey, and Liz Castillo.
I’d like to give a special shout-out to Liz, who had been working as a Global Autism Project team member until the beginning of this month. She just recently had her second child and is busy embarking on a new chapter, but she’ll always be a part of the team. Liz had been cultivating relationships with our community on social media since we launched the podcast. Not only did she ensure our guests’ messages reached our followers, she also encouraged our audience to listen with an open mind. Liz has played an integral role in reminding us to do with the autistic community and not for them. This compilation episode was actually her idea. She’s been a trusted colleague, a dear friend, and just such a beautiful human all around. We wish you all the best in your new endeavors, Liz!
Other team members who help make this podcast happen are Trang Tran and Linda Zheng. Trang, thank you for creating our beautiful visuals and audiograms week after week. Linda, thank you for managing guest relations and keeping us organized. And of course, this podcast wouldn’t even be possible without Molly believing in the idea from day one.
Episodes mentioned:
39. Why the World Needs All Kinds of Minds, with Dr. Temple Grandin
33. Bullying, Breakthroughs, and Basketball, with Anthony Ianni
22. Music Therapy and Autism in Australia, with Pamela Fisher
11. The Ability Beyond Disabilities, with Rachel Barcellona
49. Special Education and Disability Rights, with Michael Gilberg
43. Social Media and Intersectional Advocacy, with Tiffany Hammond
8. Finding Strength in Adversity, with Russell Lehmann
47. Neurodiversity in Popular Cartoon Characters, with Jeff Snyder
46. Autism in the Black American Community, with Maria Davis-Pierre
28. Occupational Therapy and Yoga for the Special Child, with Cheryl Albright
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Thursday Apr 22, 2021
Thursday Apr 22, 2021
Discover what’s possible when values inform the method.
Mari Cerda is an Autistic Board Certified Behavior Analyst who consults with teachers and schools to provide professional development training on various neurodiversity-affirming topics. She is also completing her doctoral program at Texas Tech University.
As a Latina Mestiza, Mari is passionate about supporting displaced migrant families and their children with disabilities who enter the school system. She is the co-founder of The LEAP Institute, a non-profit whose mission is to increase equitable access for marginalized groups entering into the field of applied behavior analysis, or ABA. Through her Instagram account @the.blingual.bcba, Mari hopes to educate and mediate between the worlds of autism and ABA.
In this conversation, we discuss:
- Mari’s process of discovering and accepting her late diagnosis
- How autism is understood in Native and Latinx cultures
- The intersectionality of neurodiversity and race
- Her collectivist approach to providing services
- Ideas to bridge the divide between the Autistic community and ABA
Before we get into the interview, I’d like to clarify a couple of terms that came up in case you’re not familiar with them. The first one is “ableism,” which is discrimination or social prejudice against people with disabilities based on the belief that typical abilities are superior. Ableism can manifest as an attitude, stereotype, or offensive comment or behavior.
The second term is “extinction-based,” which refers to an ABA strategy used to reduce unwanted behaviors. For example, imagine a child is screaming because they want a piece of chocolate. We could give the child some chocolate so they would stop screaming, but that could actually have the opposite effect, leading the child to scream every time they want chocolate. In contrast, an extinction-based procedure would entail not giving the child any chocolate when they are screaming in order to reduce that behavior. Extinction-based procedures are controversial because they can be traumatic for learners. Side effects may include anger, frustration, and in some cases even depression.
I truly believe that, when implemented with a compassionate, client-centered approach, the science of ABA can help individuals reach goals that will enable them to live fulfilling lives. We have a lot of unlearning to do as a field, and we need guidance from autistic voices to ensure that our services are in line with neurodivergent values.
Are you a self-advocate willing to share your experiences and educate others? Are you a professional seeking to hear directly from autistic voices and improve your practice? Are you a family member hoping to support and empower your loved one? Join our Global Autism Community to connect and collaborate with people all over the world.
We already have a growing number of members with different roles related to autism getting to know each other and engaging in these important conversations.
You can sign up today at community.globalautismproject.org. Let’s work together to transform how the world relates to autism.
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Thursday Apr 15, 2021
Thursday Apr 15, 2021
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.
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Thursday Mar 25, 2021
Thursday Mar 25, 2021
Discover what’s possible when collaboration journeys onward.
Today we’re featuring two members of our SkillCorps® Alumni community: Natalie Odio and Christina Flores.
Natalie is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, or BCBA, and Christina is a Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst, or BCaBa. Both from Miami, Natalie and Christina host a podcast called MOnday Morning Coffee, where they aim to ease Monday mornings by discussing topics related to emotional support for other professionals in the field.
The Global Autism Project provides sustainable clinical, administrative, and leadership training to autism centers seeking guidance. SkillCorps® is an opportunity for self-advocates and professionals to travel to our partner sites around the world and work directly with their local teachers and therapists.
In today’s conversation, we discuss:
- Why Natalie and Christina are passionate about working with the autistic population
- The reasons for starting their podcast
- Personal and professional growth from doing SkillCorps®
- Cultural humility
- Fundraising for volunteer trips
- Lessons applied to coping with the pandemic
- Tips for future SkillCorps® travelers
To learn more about Natalie and Christina, please you can follow them on Instagram @onwardbehavior and check out their podcast MOnday Morning Coffee.
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Thursday Feb 18, 2021
Thursday Feb 18, 2021
Discover what’s possible when safety invites honesty.
Ayu Suparman is a mother to two young boys, the eldest being on the autism spectrum. Living in Singapore, she and her husband host a podcast called Parents Made Special, in which they share information and resources for families in their community.
In today’s conversation, Ayu talks about the different levels of autism awareness across Singapore’s cultural landscape, the types of services available for families, the questions she asks herself regarding her son’s future, how she and her husband work as a team, and why they started their podcast.
For more information about Ayu Suparman, please follow her journey on Instagram @hitaandayu.
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Thursday Feb 11, 2021
Thursday Feb 11, 2021
Discover what’s possible when fiction comes to life.
Jeff Snyder is an autism self-advocate from Massachusetts. As a public speaker, he is passionate about bringing awareness to special education and employment support. In 2020, Jeff contributed to This is Autism, a book by Jessica Leictweisz and Aidan Allman Cooper in which he gave his account of growing up with autism. Jeff is also a moderator of our Autism Knows No Borders Facebook group.
Some of the topics we discuss in today’s conversation include neurodiversity in movie characters, dealing with sensory issues, and accommodations during school safety drills. Jeff also offers advice about how to respond to someone experiencing a sensory overload.
For more information about Jeff Snyder, please visit:
Jeff Snyder, Disabilities Self-Advocate
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Thursday Jan 28, 2021
Thursday Jan 28, 2021
Discover what’s possible when you march to the beat of your own drum.
Marcus Boyd is an autism self-advocate, musician, professional DJ, and clothing line owner. As a music producer and composer, he has collaborated with artists such as Lil Wayne and Marques Houston. A short documentary about Marcus’ life, titled My First Word, was released in November of 2020.
In this conversation, Marcus opens up about the different layers of his childhood trauma, including growing up in abusive foster care homes, being admitted into several mental institutions, and not speaking until the age of 13. He talks about how he overcame his many obstacles, his autistic strengths that have helped his music career, and what made him decide to become an autism advocate.
It’s Marcus’ birthday this upcoming Sunday the 31st. So, from all of us at the Global Autism Project, happy birthday, Marcus!
For more information about Marcus Boyd, please visit autismactivistmarcusboyd.com.
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