Discover what’s possible when people connected to autism inspire change and build community
Episodes
Thursday Mar 16, 2023
Thursday Mar 16, 2023
Discover what’s possible when you share the end goal.
Harald Neerland is the President of Autism Europe, an international association whose main objective is to advance the rights of autistic people and their families and help them improve their quality of life. Originally from Norway, Harald is also a father of a young autistic woman.
In today’s conversation, we discuss:
- Harald’s daughter’s strengths, interests, and living situation
- How Harald assesses her quality of life
- The level of awareness and services available in Norway
- Inclusion vs integration
- Describing autism based on level of need rather than diagnostic criteria
- Autism Europe’s mission, policy work, and research initiatives
- Why researchers and practitioners need to work together
- Bringing mental and somatic health to the forefront of the political discussion
- Objectives Harald wants to complete before the end of his term
To learn more about Harald Neerland and his work, please visit autismeurope.org.
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Thursday Mar 09, 2023
Thursday Mar 09, 2023
Discover what’s possible when sustainability is made essential.
Today we’re bringing back our CEO Molly Ola Pinney and our first Global Autism Project partner, Pooja Panesar from Kaizora in Nairobi, Kenya.
For almost 20 years, the Global Autism Project has been providing sustainable clinical, administrative, and leadership training to autism centers around the world seeking guidance. Our SkillCorps® volunteer program is an opportunity for self-advocates and professionals to travel to our international partner sites and collaborate with their local communities.
If you’d like to learn more about the Global Autism Project’s history and mission, please listen to our conversation with Molly in episode 2. To learn more about Pooja and her work at Kaizora, listen to episode 9 with her co-director Brooke Jedidah.
In this conversation, we discuss:
- The early days of partnership between Molly and Pooja
- Sustainable support
- How SkillCorps® is different from voluntourism or white saviorism
- What Pooja likes to share about Kenyan culture with SkillCorps® teams
- Advice for future SkillCorps® travelers
To learn more about our organization and the work we do, please visit globalautismproject.org.
This conversation with Molly and Pooja was originally released on August 26, 2021.
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Thursday Feb 23, 2023
Thursday Feb 23, 2023
Discover what’s possible when peers connect.
Originally from France, Stephane Guidon is an Autistic Self-Advocate currently living in the UK. He works for the National Autistic Society as a Senior Branch Engagement officer and Project Lead. The National Autistic Society is the largest autism charity in the UK, dedicated to creating a society that works for autistic people.
In today’s conversation, we discuss:
- Stephane’s journey of self-discovery
- His autistic strengths
- How he relates to his autistic son
- Autism awareness in France
- Stephane’s role at the National Autistic Society
- Key components of a successful peer group
To learn more about Stephane Guidon and his work, please visit our show notes at autism.org.uk.
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Thursday Feb 16, 2023
Thursday Feb 16, 2023
Discover what’s possible when you start to examine your own biases.
Maria Davis-Pierre is a mother to an 8-year-old girl on the autism spectrum, a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, and the Founder and CEO of Autism in Black Inc., an organization dedicated to raising autism awareness and reducing the stigma within the Black community. Maria is also a coach, speaker, advocate, and author. She has been featured in Forbes, the New York Times, and Counseling Today, and her book The Self-Care Affirmation Journal was published in 2018.
In today’s conversation, we discuss:
- The challenges Maria faced when receiving her daughter’s diagnosis
- Why Maria started Autism in Black
- How Parent-Child Interaction Therapy can benefit families who are dealing with behavioral challenges
- How religion, misunderstanding of autism, and distrust of the health care system contribute to misdiagnosis
- The lack of research on autism in the Black community and why this problem leads to culturally-insensitive assessments and treatment plans
- Maria's experiences as a Black parent, including dealing with stress and being judged according to stereotypes
For more information about Maria Davis-Pierre, please visit autisminblack.org and follow her on Instagram @autisminblack.
This conversation with Maria Davis-Pierre was originally released on February 4, 2021.
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Thursday Feb 09, 2023
Thursday Feb 09, 2023
Discover what’s possible when you move towards independence.
This week’s episode is a recording of one of our Global Autism Community exclusive events!
The topic of this roundtable discussion was Transitioning into College, and it was hosted by community moderator Liz Castillo.
Liz began her involvement with the Global Autism Project in 2017 as a SkillCorps volunteer in Kenya, followed by trips to India, Nigeria, Czech Republic, and Poland. She has also completed our Leadership Academy program, served as a SkillCorps mentor to future travelers, and managed our social media and donor communications. Thank you, Liz, for your dedication to our mission and our community.
Also participating in this event were Autistic Self-Advocates Corben Havener and Andrew Bennett, and community member Sofia Matalonga.
What you’ll hear today is the first half hour of this roundtable discussion. Unfortunately, there was a technical error and the rest of the event wasn’t recorded. We thought it was still worth releasing, and I believe you’ll find many of the participant’s insights interesting.
In today’s conversation, we discuss:
- Transitioning from living at home to living in dorms
- Support available at school
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 Feb 02, 2023
Thursday Feb 02, 2023
Discover what’s possible when you trust the process.
In today’s episode, we’re continuing to share our recent SkillCorps trip to ASHA, our Global Autism Project partners in Bangalore, India. In our previous episode, I spoke with the staff at the school, and this week you’ll hear from our SkillCorps volunteers.
Our team had a virtual reunion three weeks after returning from our trip. We reviewed what we had learned and reminisced about some of our experiences.
In today’s conversation, we discuss:
- Moments from the trip that surprised, inspired or moved our SkillCorps volunteers
- How we immersed ourselves in Indian culture
- Community outreach
- Each team member’s personal and professional growth
- Advice for future SkillCorps travelers
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Thursday Jan 26, 2023
Thursday Jan 26, 2023
Discover what’s possible when every child becomes your own.
These next two episodes will highlight our Global Autism Project partner site ASHA, from Bangalore, India. ASHA means “hope” in their local language, and it also stands for Academy for Severe Handicaps and Autism. The Global Autism Project has been partners with ASHA since 2018.
For almost 20 years, the Global Autism Project has been providing sustainable clinical, administrative, and leadership training to autism centers around the world seeking guidance. Our SkillCorps® volunteer program has been an opportunity for self-advocates and professionals to travel to our international partner sites and collaborate with their local teachers and therapists.
If you follow our work closely, you may already know that last October we sent 8 teams back in the field for the first time since the start of the pandemic. We were thrilled to see our partners all over the world again!
Our host Rachel led the SkillCorps trip to ASHA and documented some moments throughout the trip. Next week, we'll share stories from our SkillCorps volunteers.
In today’s episode, you’ll hear excerpts from conversations with ASHA's staff about:
- Services provided at ASHA
- Collaboration among local staff
- Teaching Indian culture through art, music, and dance
Related Episodes:
71. Changing Perspectives in India, with Jayashree Ramesh
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Thursday Jan 19, 2023
Thursday Jan 19, 2023
Discover what’s possible when love transforms grief into acceptance.
Jamiel Owens is the host and creator of The Ausome Show, a co-host of The Ben & Jay Show, and an all-around public server. As the father of a 12-year-old boy with autism, Jamiel encourages other fathers to open up about their feelings regarding their children’s diagnoses.
In today’s conversation, discuss:
- What it was like for Jamiel to learn about his son’s autism
- How he’s evolved as a father
- What Jamiel's son has taught him about life
- The challenges of raising an autistic child in the Black community
- Possible solutions that could help improve communication between law enforcement and families impacted by disabilities
For more information about Jamiel Owens and his work, please visit his Instagram accounts @theausomeshow and @benandjshow.
This conversation with Jamiel Owens was originally released on August 27, 2020.
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Thursday Jan 12, 2023
Thursday Jan 12, 2023
Discover what’s possible when social barriers are removed.
Kaelynn Partlow is an Autistic Self-Advocate and a Registered Behavior Technician, or RBT for short. She recently appeared on the second season of the Netflix reality series, Love on the Spectrum.
In this conversation, we discuss:
- How autism affects Kaelynn’s everyday life
- Kaelynn’s thoughts on how autism was represented on Love on the Spectrum
- Why she thinks autistic people struggle to find love
- What Kaelynn learned about herself from her experience on the show
- Tips for other autistic people in the dating scene
- Kaelynn’s job as an RBT
- Social skills programs
- Neurodiversity-affirming practices
- Greg Hanley’s Skill-Based Treatment
- Kaelynn’s ideas to improve the field
- Advice for other practitioners working with autistic individuals
To learn more about Kaelynn Partlow, follow her on Instagram: @kaelynnvp.
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Thursday Jan 05, 2023
Thursday Jan 05, 2023
Discover what’s possible when connections go deeper.
This week’s episode features our recent cohort of Global Autism Community moderators: Self-Advocates Michelle Vinokurov, Corben Havener, and Mary Johnston.
In June 2022, Michelle, Corben, and Mary joined our team of moderators, which also included Liz Castillo, who was unable to join this recording. The team usually meets to discuss the community’s monthly theme and decide which subtopics they will post about each week. Throughout each month, the moderators take turns monitoring posts daily to ensure that our online space remains safe and respectful.
We are currently taking applications for our next round of moderators to join our team! If you’re interested in developing your leadership skills, expanding your network as an advocate, and stepping outside of your comfort zone, follow the link below to join our team.
In today’s conversation, we discuss:
- Proud moments of 2022
- The team’s experiences as community moderators
- Goals and priorities for 2023
- Advice for future moderators of our community
Apply to join our team here ->>> Global Autism Community Moderator Application
This is a unique opportunity to grow personally, develop professionally, and make meaningful connections!
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