Discover what’s possible when people connected to autism inspire change and build community
Episodes
Thursday Jan 22, 2026
Thursday Jan 22, 2026
Discover what’s possible when all minds are put to use.
What’s the difference between object visualizers and visual-spatial thinkers? And how can these two kinds of brains work together?
In this episode, Dr. Temple Grandin discusses these and other topics featured in her book Visual Thinking: The Hidden Gifts of People Who Think in Pictures, Patterns, and Abstractions.
This episode is part one of our conversation with Dr. Temple Grandin, which was originally released on December 15, 2022.
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, and by being one of the first adults to publicly disclose that she was autistic, 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.
In this conversation, we discuss:
- Object visualizers vs visual-spatial thinkers
- Temple’s ability to think in pictures
- The importance of hands-on learning
- How to screen for visual thinkers at school
- The need for skilled workers
- How complementary thinking styles can work together
- How to improve the school system and properly educate different kinds of thinkers
For more information about Dr. Grandin and her work, please visit:
https://www.templegrandin.com/
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Wednesday Jan 21, 2026
Wednesday Jan 21, 2026
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 conversation, we discuss:
- How her ability to think in pictures helped her to empathize with animals early in her career
- Why society needs different brains to work together
- Animal welfare and sustainable practices
- The dangers of genetic modification — in animals and humans
- Challenges she has faced as an autistic woman
- How to increase employment opportunities for autistic adults
- How to cultivate curiosity and imagination in children
- The importance of hands-on learning
For more information about Dr. Grandin and her work, please visit:
https://www.templegrandin.com/
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Monday Jan 19, 2026
Monday Jan 19, 2026
How can a student who was once abused in classrooms learn to become comfortable in them?
Maharani Putri Kusuma, Rani for short, shares this success story about one of her students.
Rani is the owner and co-founder of Rumah Tiara, an autism center in Jakarta, Indonesia. A former Global Autism Project Partner, Rani had been receiving training from us since 2013. Over the years, we have sent 13 SkillCorps® volunteer teams to Rumah Tiara to provide sustainable hands-on training.
For this interview, Rani was joined by Vya Mawarni, a former therapist at Rumah Tiara who interpreted from Bahasa to English for us.
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 Maharani Putri Kusuma was originally released on July 2, 2020.
Would you like to know what autism services are available for families in countries like Indonesia? 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.
Community Outreach in Indonesia, with Maharani Putri Kusuma
Let’s work together to transform how the world relates to autism.
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Thursday Jan 15, 2026
Thursday Jan 15, 2026
Discover what’s possible when challenges are weaved with joys.
How do you find balance in caregiving? Whether you know from personal experience or through someone else in your life, you’ll want to listen to this episode with Kelley Coleman.
Kelley Coleman is the mother of two boys, one of whom has multiple disabilities (including a yet-undiagnosed genetic syndrome, cerebral palsy, autism, CVI, epilepsy, and more). Her book Everything No One Tells You About Parenting a Disabled Child: Your Guide to the Essential Systems, Services, and Supports offers practical tips for parenting a disabled child.
This episode is part two of our conversation, and we discuss:
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- Tips for parents going out in public with their disabled children
- The role of community support
- How to find balance between juggling the paperwork and still enjoying being a mom
- Insights for policymakers
- Empowering parents with expertise
- Encouragement for parents who are just starting on their journey of disability
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Monday Jan 12, 2026
Monday Jan 12, 2026
What are some autistic characteristics that can be strengths in photography?
Alfie Bowen, an Autistic Self-Advocate, wildlife photographer, author and activist, talks about how to capture the perfect shot and how nature has positively impacted his mental health. Alfie uses art to highlight animal emotion and help people to connect with the natural world.
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 Alfie Bowen was originally released on August 5, 2021.
Would you like to know how, as a child, Alfie overcame feeling like an alien, and the social skills he’s had to teach himself? 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.
Connecting to Nature Through Wildlife Photography, with Alfie Bowen
Let’s work together to transform how the world relates to autism.
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Thursday Jan 08, 2026
Thursday Jan 08, 2026
Discover what’s possible when challenges are woven with joys.
Have you found it challenging to navigate all the paperwork to get the support your autistic child needs? Whether you know from personal experience or through someone else in your life, you’ll want to listen to this episode with Kelley Coleman.
Kelley Coleman is the mother of two boys, one of whom has multiple disabilities (including a rare genetic syndrome, cerebral palsy, autism, CVI, epilepsy, and more). Her book Everything No One Tells You About Parenting a Disabled Child: Your Guide to the Essential Systems, Services, and Supports offers practical tips for parenting a disabled child.
This episode is part one of our conversation, and we discuss:
- Kelley’s journey of understanding disability
- How to explain disability to siblings
- What Kelley has learned about herself as a mother
- The importance of celebrating small victories
- What inspired Kelley to write her book
- Surprising facts about the healthcare system
- Mistakes Kelley has made that other parents can learn from
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Monday Jan 05, 2026
Monday Jan 05, 2026
Are you a late-diagnosed autistic, or are you considering getting an evaluation?
Autistic Self-Advocate and podcast host Sara Bradford talks about why she decided to seek an autism diagnosis as one of her new year’s goals.
The following clip is from a roundtable discussion with our Global Autism Community where community members shared their personal and professional goals for the new year.
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 our Global Autism Community was originally released on February 11, 2022.
Would you like to learn new strategies to stay motivated and meet your milestones? 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.
Setting Goals, with the Global Autism Community
Let’s work together to transform how the world relates to autism.
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Friday Jan 02, 2026
Friday Jan 02, 2026
Discover what’s possible when a great day starts at bedtime.
Have you ever struggled with poor sleep? Or do you know of anyone who does? Whether you’re autistic or not, this episode with sleep specialist Emily Varon can help you sleep better, starting tonight.
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, which can produce more sustainable results over time.
Today’s conversation was originally released on June 9, 2022. We discuss:
- The link between autism and poor sleep
- Common sleep-related behaviors
- Myths about poor sleep
- How a sleep-deprived child can affect your family as a whole
- How sleep contributes to learning and memory consolidation
- Why you shouldn’t set an alarm clock to wake up
- The importance of consistent bedtime routines
- Tips to avoid screen dependency
- The benefits of day-time napping
- Recovering from sleep-debt
To learn more about Emily and her work, please visit our show notes at autismknowsnoborders.com.
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Monday Dec 29, 2025
Monday Dec 29, 2025
Have you had to learn to accept your child’s autism? What was that journey like for you?
Bobby Rubio talks about how accepting his son’s autism led to the inspiration for his award-winning Pixar SparkShort film, Float.
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 Bobby Rubio was originally released on February 10, 2022.
Would you like to hear more about how Bobby’s journey of accepting his son’s autism inspired him to produce an award-winning film? Follow the link in the show notes for the full conversation.
The Inspiration for Pixar’s SparkShort ”Float,” with Bobby Rubio
Let’s work together to transform how the world relates to autism.
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Friday Dec 26, 2025
Friday Dec 26, 2025
Discover what’s possible when communication is properly aided.
Are you the parent of an autistic child with an Augmentative and Alternative Communication device? Or maybe you’re just curious about how AAC devices can help? If either applies to you, you’ll want to listen to this conversation with Vidya Banerjee, an autism mother and the creator of the Autism Family Story blog and podcast.
Today’s conversation was originally released on August 4, 2022. We discuss:
- Do’s, don’ts, and common misconceptions about AAC devices
- The Landau Kleffner syndrome, a rare childhood neurological disorder affecting Vidya’s son which causes loss of speech
- Vidya’s mission as a blogger and podcaster
- What she hopes for her son’s future
- Tips for parents of non-speaking autistic children
To learn more about Vidya, please visit our show notes at autismknowsnoborders.com.