Discover what’s possible when people connected to autism inspire change and build community
Episodes
Thursday Jul 07, 2022
Thursday Jul 07, 2022
Discover what’s possible when curiosity sparks creation.
Today Cassie Harden Scott is back on the show. You may remember her from episode 23 with Rusty Hornig-Rohan and episode 42 with the rest of the Global Autism Project staff.
As our Director of Outreach, Cassie works closely with our international partners to help spread autism awareness and acceptance in their communities. She also designs all of our organization’s branding to make sure our messaging is consistent across our programs.
In today’s conversation, we discuss:
- Why logos are important
- Different iterations of the Global Autism Project’s branding over the years
- The puzzle piece controversy
- Cassie’s creative process designing our new logo and the meaning behind it
- Two upcoming series of this podcast led by Molly and Cassie
To learn more about Cassie and her work, please visit globalautismproject.org.
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Thursday Jun 30, 2022
Thursday Jun 30, 2022
Discover what’s possible when all notes are heard.
Today we’re featuring two members of the ASD Band, lead vocalist Rawan Tuffaha and drummer Spenser Murray, joined by their manager, Andrew Simon.
Comprised of musicians on the autism spectrum, the ASD Band was formed by Canadian charity Jake’s House to raise awareness and highlight strengths related to autism. If you’d like to learn more about Jake’s House, please listen to episode 44 featuring its co-founder, David Bodanis: Support Across the Lifespan at Jake's House in Canada.
The ASD Band has performed with Roger Hodgson of Supertramp, and their covers of Shawn Mendes, Sonny & Cher, and Marvin Gaye are available on streaming platforms. In the intro, you'll hear a short sample of the band performing “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.”
In today’s conversation, we discuss:
- The serendipitous creation of the ASD Band
- Rawan and Spenser's musical influences
- How autism helps their musical abilities
- Misconceptions about autism
- Tips for people on the spectrum who may be interested in joining a band
For more information about the ASD Band, please visit:
Spenser’s YouTube: PlayerPunk6
Rawan’s YouTube: Rawan Singer 77
This conversation with ASD Band was originally released on March 4, 2021.
The band's story has been made into a feature-length documentary called OKAY! (The ASD Band Film).
The film premiered at the Hot Docs International Festival last April, where it came in 2nd place for Rogers Audience Award for Best Canadian Documentary, and was also accepted and presented at Doc Edge Festival in New Zealand.
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Thursday Jun 23, 2022
Thursday Jun 23, 2022
Discover what’s possible when you're given a hand to hold.
Today we are joined by the CEO of the Global Autism Project, Molly Ola Pinney, and Sensory Integration Therapist, Anna Tuzova. Anna is a Ukrainian refugee currently living in Poland.
If you've been following our work closely, you'll know that a few weeks ago Molly visited Poland with a small team to learn how to best support Ukrainian families with autistic loved ones. Since then, we’ve been in direct communication with hundreds of families who need help. Families who have spent weeks in bomb shelters with their children, have had harrowing experiences trying to escape to safety, and are now just wanting to get their children back on track.
The stats are staggering. Over 105,000 families with autistic loved ones are fleeing Ukraine. The immediate needs of this community include housing and specialized services for their children. Unfortunately, the capacity of nearby countries to support these needs is extremely limited, and as such, families are left with little to no resources or hope.
Sadly, this war is not over. In a lot of ways, the struggles of these families have just begun, as they work to rebuild their lives in a new place.
There is a small window of time in which we can easily connect with those who fled Ukraine. Each day that these families are left in limbo, the children experience severe regression and the parents continue to feel lost, helpless, and powerless.
Families are constantly requesting educational services and continuation of care for their autistic loved ones. These would allow parents to start work and provide a routine and basic sense of normalcy for the entire family.
Our organization is on a mission to solve this urgent need now. We have several projects already in the works that will allow us to begin services and recreation opportunities for hundreds of Ukrainian families right away.
You can donate directly to our podcast community fundraising page at: give.globalautismproject.org/podcast
In today’s conversation, Molly, Anna, and I discuss:
- Anna’s life before the war
- Leaving Ukraine and settling in Poland
- Anna’s hopes for the future
- How the Global Autism Project is taking action
- Opportunities for those who want to get involved
- Advice for Ukrainian families with autistic loved ones
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Thursday Jun 16, 2022
Thursday Jun 16, 2022
Discover what’s possible when learning doesn’t hurt.
Ann Beirne is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst with over two decades of experience working with children and families in a variety of settings. She is the co-author of Understanding Ethics in Applied Behavior Analysis: Practical Applications, now in its second edition. The book invites the perspectives of those within and outside the field of behavior analysis to offer commentary on topics including collective bargaining, moral philosophy, neurodiversity, compassionate care, and ethics in research.
Brian Middleton is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst as well as an Autistic Self-Advocate. He is the creator of the Bearded Behaviorist, an initiative dedicated to the dissemination of behavior science and the inclusion of trauma-informed care standards in applied behavior analysis and other human services.
In today’s conversation, we discuss:
- The history of the Judge Rotenberg Center
- The use of contingent electric skin shock
- Physical and psychological side effects caused by receiving contingent electric shock
- Behavioral principles of reinforcement and punishment
- The Stanford Prison Experiment
- A timeline of legal events leading up to the recent conference at ABAI Boston
- Advice for people who are eager to take action
The Global Autism Project unequivocally condemns the use of painful aversive procedures under any circumstances, including the use of contingent electric skin shock. In accordance with the United Nations, we believe that the use of CESS is torturous and inhumane, and we advocate for the discontinuation of this concerning and unethical practice.
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Thursday Jun 09, 2022
Thursday Jun 09, 2022
Discover what’s possible when wellness starts at bedtime.
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, producing more sustainable results over time.
In today’s conversation, we discuss:
- The correlation between autism and poor sleep
- Common sleep-related behaviors
- Myths about sleep struggles
- How a sleep-deprived child can affect the family as a whole
- How sleep contributes to learning and memory consolidation
- Why we shouldn’t set alarm clocks to wake up
- The importance of a consistent bedtime routine
- Tips to help balance screen dependency
- Day-time napping
- Recovering from sleep-debt
To learn more about Emily and her work, please visit readysetsleep.com.
What tips are you taking away from this episode? Let us know over in our online Global Autism Community.
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Thursday Jun 02, 2022
Thursday Jun 02, 2022
Discover what’s possible when innovation brings connection.
Richard Schreiber is the father of a 16-year-old autistic girl, Katarina, and the Founder of the NYC Autism Community Group in Manhattan, which was created to help parents with children on the spectrum navigate their day-to-day challenges. With a background in tech, Richard’s passion is to bring innovation and career opportunities to autistic individuals so they can better themselves and live the lives they deserve.
In today’s conversation, we discuss:
- Richard receiving his daughter’s diagnosis
- Services she received growing up, including ABA and medical intervention
- A memorable moment when Katarina proved others around her wrong
- How Richard and his wife are preparing their daughter for adulthood
- What he’s learned about himself from being a father
- How society can move towards more acceptance and inclusion
- Support and resources offered at the NYC Autism Community Group
- The NYC Autism Tech, Careers & Innovation Expo, which, due to unforeseen circumstances, has been postponed until September this year
To learn more about Richard and his work, please visit nycautismcommunity.org.
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Thursday May 26, 2022
Thursday May 26, 2022
Discover what’s possible when walls are broken down with vulnerability.
Russell Lehmann is a motivational speaker, poet, author, and autism self-advocate. In 2018, Russell was awarded Reno-Tahoe’s “Most Outstanding Young Professional Under 40.” He has already published two books. The first is called Inside Out: Stories and Poems from an Autistic Mind, and the second is On the Outside Looking In. Russell leans on writing as an outlet for his pain. Stay tuned until the end of the conversation to hear him recite one of his poems.
Growing up as a social recluse with no one to trust, Russell decided to use the stories of his struggles to connect with an audience and initiate vulnerable dialogue. Public speaking gave him a purpose to be a voice for the unheard.
Russell travels the world spreading hope, awareness, and compassion, while also striving to erase the stigma and stereotypes associated with having a disability. Individuals diagnosed with autism are at a higher risk of developing co-morbid mental health disorders. Russell aims to shift society’s perspective on invisible disabilities.
In this conversation, we discuss:
- Ableism
- Identity labels
- What he's learned about himself through public speaking
- How he feels misunderstood
- How his obsessive-compulsive disorder impacted his life as a child
- How he copes with his symptoms today
To learn more about Russell Lehmann and his work, please visit: The Autistic Poet.
This conversation with Russell Lehmann was originally released on May 14, 2020.
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Thursday May 19, 2022
Thursday May 19, 2022
Discover what’s possible when you’re the one behind the wheel.
Andrew Arboe is an autistic self-advocate and the Founder of Driving with Autism, an educational program that helps autistic individuals and their families navigate the way towards becoming a driver. Andrew is also the Director of Community Outreach of Planning Across the Spectrum. You might remember episode 59 with their Founder, Andrew Komarow.
In today’s conversation, we discuss:
- Andrew learning about his diagnosis
- Andrew’s autistic strengths and how autism affects his everyday life
- Why he decided to start Driving with Autism
- Common barriers autistic people face when it comes to driving
- How to limit sensory overload while driving
- Tips for autistic drivers, including what to do if you get pulled over
- Advice for parents whose autistic adolescents are getting ready to drive
To learn more about Andrew Arboe, please visit autismdriving.com.
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Thursday May 12, 2022
Thursday May 12, 2022
Discover what’s possible when community becomes family.
This week we are celebrating the 2-year anniversary of our podcast, as well as the 1-year anniversary of our online community!
It’s been an eye-opening journey that continues to surprise, inspire, and move us. 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 with your perspectives.
Our online Global Autism Community has been alive and growing for one year! Whether they’re autistic individuals, family members, or service providers, our community members have the possibility to share insights, learn different perspectives, and gain momentum to create real change in their own communities. Most importantly, they continue to build strong relationships with each other and feel that they’re not alone.
Today you’ll hear about how the vision for the community came to be, along with direct testimonials from our community members about how they’ve benefited from engaging in our online space.
Thank you to our community moderators who monitor posts daily to ensure that our online space remains safe and respectful. This last year, our moderator team included David Sharif, Jeff Snyder, Kia Burton, and Liz Castillo.
Other team members who help make this podcast happen are our visual creators, Trang Tran and Anh Ngoc, and our sound designer and editor, Marc Aliana.
I’d like to take this moment to reset our intentions for the podcast. There are countless meaningful stories we still want to share with you. We’re going to continue elevating autistic voices and do our best to make sure their perspectives are heard. The world needs access to these important messages so that, together, we can spread awareness, acceptance, and hope.
We want to thank you for your continued encouragement. And, if you’re a new listener, Welcome!
We’ll be re-releasing older episodes throughout the next few months so that you can catch up on any episodes that you might have missed.
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Friday May 06, 2022
Friday May 06, 2022
Discover what’s possible when you’re defined by your determination, dedication, and devotion.
It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that we release this episode. On April 23rd, we lost one of our most dedicated community members, David Sharif, to an epileptic seizure.
David made a huge positive impact in this world, inspiring everyone around him. He was a dear colleague, genuine friend, and all-around great human. David had a heart of gold and went out of his way to check on others’ comfort and well-being.
Graduating from high school as valedictorian, David prided himself on being a motivational speaker, world traveler, and basketball lover. David was committed to his work as an autistic self-advocate and loved to share his personal experiences to help educate others.
Taking on many roles over the past year in our Global Autism Community, David served as our community moderator, appeared several times as a guest on this podcast, and was preparing to travel to Kenya later this year as a volunteer with our SkillCorps® program.
Our team is still processing what it means to no longer have David here with us. We cannot express in words how much he will be missed. For now, we send our thoughts and support to David’s family.
Since first coming on the podcast in September 2020, David shared many insights and personal experiences with us. He was deeply passionate about empowering others through his own story.
To highlight David's advocacy, we’ve compiled several excerpts from various episodes that he was part of. Topics include:
- Overcoming obstacles
- Requesting accommodations at school and work
- Coping with stress and sensory overload
- Masking and authenticity
- Special interests
Our Global Autism Community held a memorial event for David last Tuesday. In this episode, you'll also hear some stories and memories of David that we shared.
The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, friends and family of David make donations to the Global Autism Project. We are honored to continue David's advocacy efforts of promoting autism awareness and acceptance worldwide.
You can make a donation here: David Sharif Memorial Donation
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