Discover what’s possible when people connected to autism inspire change and build community
Episodes
Thursday Dec 08, 2022
Thursday Dec 08, 2022
Discover what’s possible when you balance your body and stretch your mind.
Cheryl Albright is an occupational therapist, certified yoga instructor, and autism sibling. She is the owner of Soul to Soul Yoga, a studio offering yoga therapy for adults and children of all abilities.
In today’s conversation, we discuss:
- What occupational therapy is
- How Cheryl became involved in the field
- Why she applies a trauma-informed approach when treating children with autism
- The benefits of practicing yoga and self-regulation techniques
For more information about Cheryl Albright and her work, please visit her websites:
This conversation with Cheryl Albright was originally released on September 24, 2020.
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Thursday Dec 01, 2022
Thursday Dec 01, 2022
Discover what’s possible when you relentlessly shoot for your goals.
Anthony Ianni is an Autistic Self-Advocate, a sought-after motivational speaker, and a former basketball star.
As the NCAA’s first Division 1 college basketball player with autism, playing for Michigan State University, Anthony surpassed all limitations that doctors had predicted for his life. He currently works for the Michigan Department of Civil Rights and travels the country as part of the Relentless Tour, advocating against bullying and educating students about autism. Anthony’s memoir, Centered, was released last year.
In this conversation, we discuss:
- How Anthony coped with bullies growing up
- The moment his parents told him about his autism
- Why he was driven to prove others wrong
- Anthony's basketball career and how his autism affected his relationships with his teammates
- Advice for parents who may be concerned that their child is being bullied
For more information about Anthony Ianni and his work, please visit his website Relentless Tour and follow him on Instagram @aigamechanger44.
This conversation with Anthony Ianni was originally released on October 29, 2020.
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Wednesday Nov 23, 2022
Wednesday Nov 23, 2022
Discover what’s possible when you count your blessings.
This episode is being released a day early in observance of Thanksgiving in the US.
Thanksgiving is a time of togetherness and gratitude. The more you can bring your attention to things you feel grateful for, the more you’ll notice other things to feel grateful for.
According to research conducted at the Greater Good Science Center in Berkeley, California, gratitude is linked to a wide range of benefits, including strengthening your immune system, improving sleep patterns, feeling optimistic and experiencing more joy and pleasure, being more helpful and generous, and feeling less lonely and isolated.
Our podcast team has been reflecting on many things to be grateful for. First of all, we’re grateful for you, our listeners, and your continued support. We’re also grateful for our podcast guests and their willingness to share their story with us. And of course, we’re grateful for our growing Global Autism Community, whose members keep showing up in our online space with commitment to our mission.
We've decided to put together a special Thanksgiving episode about — that’s right, you guessed it, gratitude!
Here’s a compilation of responses from different members of our Global Autism Community, including prominent self-advocates like Dr. Temple Grandin and Thomas Iland. We hope this episode leaves you feeling inspired to reflect on what you’re grateful for this holiday season.
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Thursday Nov 17, 2022
Thursday Nov 17, 2022
Discover what’s possible when health extends beyond the body.
This week’s episode is a recording of one of our Global Autism Community exclusive events!
The topic of this roundtable discussion was Health and Wellness. It was hosted by community moderator Mary Johnston.
A 21-year-old Autistic Self-Advocate from New Hampshire, Mary hosts a blog called Autistic Rainbow 15 where she shares LGBTQ+ and disability-friendly tips, as well as information about inclusion and disability rights. A long-time member of our online Global Autism Community, Mary joined the moderator team last summer to help ensure our space remains safe and respectful.
Also participating in this event were Autistic Self-Advocate Michelle Vinokurov, and community members D’John Greer and Liz Castillo.
In today’s conversation, they discuss:
- Mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual health
- Self-care
- How to reduce stress levels
- Maintaining routines
- Why sleep is important
- Accepting an autism diagnosis
- Changing habits for self-improvement
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.
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Thursday Nov 10, 2022
Thursday Nov 10, 2022
Discover what’s possible when art is in the eye of the beholder… and a few other senses.
Austin Lubetkin is an Autistic artist, aerospace-software engineer, and inventor. Austin has synesthesia, a perceptual phenomenon in which stimuli that would typically stimulate one sense can activate other senses at the same time. This has allowed him to create unique and accessible art experiences, some even meant to make people touch and hear colors. He uses his art to spread awareness of various mental conditions.
Austin has already earned a patent as a software engineer, and has filed another patent for one of the first human brain computer interfaces that would allow a fully paralyzed individual to type and control a computer.
In today’s conversation, we discuss:
- How Austin’s synesthesia influences his art
- His series about mental health
- The future of art and Machine Learning
- Some of Austin’s inventions, including a sensory overload simulator
- Accessible technology
- Misconceptions about autism that he wants to break through his art
- Advice for other autistic artists
To learn more about Austin Lubetkin and his work, please his IG @bocaaust.
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Thursday Nov 03, 2022
Thursday Nov 03, 2022
Discover what’s possible when you step into who you can be.
This week’s episode is a recording of one of our Global Autism Community exclusive events!
The topic of this roundtable discussion was Self-Development and Accountability. It was hosted by community moderator Michelle Vinokurov. Based in Florida, Michelle is an Autistic Self-Advocate, a paraprofessional and a Registered Behavior Technician.
Participating in this event were Autistic Self-Advocates Corben Havener, Andrew Bennett, Christina Kaspersen, Robert Schmus, and community member Danielle Terrell.
In today’s conversation, we discuss:
- Mental health
- Self-care routines
- Goal setting and expectations
- Motivation and insecurities
- Responding to diagnoses
- Growth mindset
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 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.
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Thursday Oct 27, 2022
Thursday Oct 27, 2022
Discover what’s possible when team members effectively collaborate to transform people’s lives.
Pooja Panesar is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, and the first professional to practice Applied Behavior Analysis in East Africa. Brooke Jedidah is a Speech and Language Pathologist, Psychologist and Clinical Child Neuropsychologist. Both of these phenomenal leaders are Co-Directors of Kaizora Center for Neurodevelopmental Therapies in Nairobi, Kenya and Kaizora Child Development Center in Dar Es Salam, Tanzania.
Over the years, Kaizora has established itself as the leading autism center in Africa. In April of 2019, Pooja and Brooke merged their services to provide affordable packages under one roof. Today, both of their centers in Kenya and Tanzania offer a range of services, including Applied Behavior Analysis, Speech Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Special Education, and Vocational Training.
Back in 2010, when Kaizora was just Pooja, and the Global Autism Project was just our CEO Molly Ola Pinney, the two entrepreneurs supported each other to create what partnership with the Global Autism Project looks like today. You can hear Molly’s side of the story in episode 2.
In this conversation, we discuss:
- The understanding of autism in Kenya and Tanzania
- The challenges of educating families about evidence-based interventions
- The importance of interdisciplinary collaboration
- Pooja and Brooke’s leadership styles and how they work together to balance out their strengths
- Insights on how to run a business with the right mindset and an open heart
- The impact of Covid-19 on services offered at Kaizora
Click here to learn more about Pooja, Brooke, and their team: Kaizora.
This conversation with Pooja Panesar and Brooke Jedidah was originally released on May 14, 2020.
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Thursday Oct 20, 2022
Thursday Oct 20, 2022
Discover what’s possible when parents mobilize to build a community of ambassadors.
Mafer Chang is the founder of Centro Enigma, an autism center in Ecuador.
The Global Autism Project has been partnered with Centro Enigma since 2018. We have since sent 4 SkillCorps teams to collaborate with their teachers and provide training in Applied Behavior Analysis, or ABA.
Since opening her first center in Guayaquil in 2015, Mafer has expanded her reach to two other cities, Samborondon and Manta. She had plans to open a fourth center in Portoviejo this April, however that has been put on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic.
When this episode was recorded on March 20th, Ecuador was on their 5th day of mandated lockdown. Mafer had just closed Centro Enigma a few days before and was transitioning to offer online services for families.
In this episode, we discuss:
- What services are available for children with autism in Ecuador
- How it’s not easy for parents to differentiate between services that are evidence based and those that are not
- Some of the myths surrounding ABA in her community
- How Mafer’s journey to become a certified Behavior Analyst has been affected by the international process changes made by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (or BACB)
- Some of the breakthroughs Mafer had during the early years of developing Centro Enigma, including learning how to motivate and retain therapists
- Community outreach across Ecuador
- How Mafer empowers parents to be involved in their children’s therapy from day one
You can learn more about Mafer Chang and her work here: Centro Enigma.
This conversation with Mafer Chang was originally released on May 27, 2020.
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Thursday Oct 13, 2022
Thursday Oct 13, 2022
Discover what’s possible when capabilities are more than meets the eye.
Tiffany Joseph is an Autistic Self-Advocate, a single mother of three, and the digital creator behind the IG account Nigh Functioning Autism. She uses her platform to promote the changes she wants to see in the world regarding disability and intersectionality. Tiffany sometimes uses an Alternative Augmentative Communication device, or AAC for short.
Before our interview, I sent Tiffany a list of questions so she could prepare her responses in writing. The voice you’ll hear for most of Tiffany’s side of the conversation is her AAC reading her responses out loud. In instances when she wanted to add more to her response, or answer a follow-up question I asked, you’ll hear Tiffany using her spoken voice, or "mouth words."
After the recording, Tiffany mentioned that her mouth words work better some days than others, and that that day happened to be one that she felt comfortable answering some questions off-script.
In today’s conversation, we discuss:
- Internalized ableism
- Coping with bullying
- The inclusion of Asperger’s diagnosis under the umbrella of autism
- Aspie supremacy
- Finding community online
- Tiffany’s AAC journey
- The different apps she uses depending on the situation
- Misconceptions about AAC
- Some of Tiffany’s ideas to improve the education system
- Why she chose her IG account name Nigh Functioning Autism
- The intersectionality of being Black and Autistic
- What she thinks true inclusion should look like
To learn more about Tiffany and her work, please visit Nigh.Functioning.Autism.
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Thursday Oct 06, 2022
Thursday Oct 06, 2022
Discover what’s possible when you turn your vision into reality.
Today we’re bringing back the CEO and Founder of the Global Autism Project, Molly Ola Pinney.
For almost 20 years, the Global Autism Project has been providing sustainable training, coaching, and community for center directors, therapists, and caregivers around the world.
As we enter our second decade, our organization is opening its doors to new forms of collaboration!
In today’s conversation, we discuss:
- The Global Autism Project’s new Affiliate program and what affiliates will get access to
- A sneak peek into the training we’re offering for free
- The four pillars of success for any autism center or school
- How Molly herself has experienced transformation from implementing some of the lessons included in our training
- Advice for service providers who want to start or scale their business
Do you work with autistic individuals? Are you thinking of starting your own center, or maybe wanting to scale your business to be able to serve more families?
Click here to discover your impact and join us for a FREE TRAINING!
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