Discover what’s possible when people connected to autism inspire change and build community
Episodes
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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Thursday Sep 29, 2022
Thursday Sep 29, 2022
Discover what’s possible when difference becomes an asset.
Haley Moss is an attorney, author, artist, speaker, and autism self-advocate. At only 30 years old, she has already published four books. The first is titled Middle School: The Stuff Nobody Tells you About, the second is A Freshman Survival Guide for College Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders: The Stuff Nobody Tells you About, the third is Great Minds Think Differently, and her most recent is The Young Autistic Adult's Independence Handbook.
Her writing and artwork have been featured throughout media outlets such as The Huffington Post, Teen Vogue, and CNN, to name a few. Haley also hosts a podcast called Spectrumly Speaking, with Dr. Lori Butts.
In this conversation, we discuss:
- How Haley navigated social norms during her school days
- What a sensory overload experience feels like for her
- How her strengths as an autistic person have advanced her career
- The history of the Americans with Disabilities Act
- Why employers need to strive for inclusion and accessibility in the workplace
- Benevolent ableism
- The effects of social media on the neurodiversity movement
- Whether autism is a disorder or a difference
- The dangers of eugenics
To learn more about Haley Moss and her work, please visit her website haleymoss.net and follow her on Instagram @haleymossart.
This conversation with Haley Moss was originally released on Jul 16, 2020.
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Thursday Sep 22, 2022
Thursday Sep 22, 2022
Discover what’s possible when conversations move forward.
This week’s episode is a recording of one of our Global Autism Community exclusive events.
The theme of this roundtable discussion was Controversial Topics. It was hosted live at The 1 in 44 Tour virtual summit, organized by Sara Bradford of The SJ Childs Show.
Participating in this event were Autistic Self-Advocates Stephanie De Kremer, Ryan Litchfield, Michael Gilberg, Jeff Snyder, and Robert Schmus, along with community members Karen Shapiro, Ben Sharif, and Danielle Terrell.
In today’s conversation, we discuss:
- Person-first (vs.) identity-first language
- The puzzle piece symbol
- Applied Behavior Analysis, or ABA for short
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 Sep 08, 2022
Thursday Sep 08, 2022
Discover what’s possible when someone lifts her mask and embraces true beauty.
Rachel Barcellona is an Autism Self-Advocate, model, author, singer, actress, and pageant winner. She is also a SkillCorps Alumni, having traveled with the Global Autism Project on a volunteer trip to the Czech Republic in 2018.
Since getting diagnosed at three years old, Rachel tried to fit in with neurotypical society. However, she always felt that she was different. Encounters with bullies throughout her life, and many years of suffering from depression, motivated her to create an online platform called The Ability Beyond Disabilities. Rachel encourages others to focus on what they can do rather than on what they can not.
As a multi-title beauty queen, Rachel wants to change people’s views on pageantry, from the image of brainless barbie dolls to that of strong women striving to make a difference.
In this episode, Rachel and I discuss some of the different perspectives within the #ActuallyAutistic movement. We also talk about the appropriateness of the puzzle piece symbol, the use of person-first or disability-first language, and the media’s portrayal of autism.
To learn more about Rachel Barcellona, you can follow her on Instagram @rachelbarcellona and visit her website: rachelbarcellona.com.
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Thursday Sep 01, 2022
Thursday Sep 01, 2022
Discover what’s possible when communication is made available.
An educator, designer, and social entrepreneur from Sydney, Australia, Chris McDonald is the Founder and CEO of PicSeePal, a light-tech communication tool for all ages, abilities, and settings.
In today’s conversation, we discuss:
- The level of autism acceptance and inclusion in Australia
- Why Chris is passionate about working with the autistic population
- PicSeePal’s mission and overall vision
- Communication as a human right
- Limitations of high-tech devices
- Some do’s and don’ts of using Augmentative Alternative Communication, or AAC
- Advice for parents and teachers who feel stuck when their students aren’t progressing
To learn more about Chris and his work, please visit picseepal.com.
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Thursday Aug 25, 2022
Thursday Aug 25, 2022
Discover what’s possible when you learn to accept yourself.
Mary Johnston is a 21-year-old Autistic Self-Advocate from New Hampshire. She 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 recently joined the moderator team to help ensure our space remains safe and respectful.
In today’s conversation, we discuss:
- Mary receiving her diagnosis at 12 years old
- Receiving occupational therapy and speech therapy in school
- Coping with bullying and how she processes her feelings
- Her autistic strengths
- A poem she wrote titled “A Letter to My Autism”
- Service animals and our shared love for dogs
- Sensory struggles related to lights, sounds, and close proximity to other people
- Challenges with finding employment
- Her dream job
- Derealization, anxiety, and depression
- What she likes about being a community moderator for the Global Autism Community
- Puzzle piece representation
- Advice for other autistic women
To learn more about Mary, please visit Autistic Rainbow 15.
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Thursday Aug 18, 2022
Thursday Aug 18, 2022
Discover what’s possible when the learning environment is set up for growth and success.
Sasha Long is a former special education teacher, a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, and the Founder and President of The Autism Helper, a company that shares resources and strategies online for parents and teachers of children with autism. Sasha has a unique perspective with experience on both sides of collaborative efforts.
In this conversation, we discuss:
- How to improve communication between teachers and specialists
- Her leadership style as a business owner
- Some of the common challenges faced by teachers
- The importance of empowering paraprofessionals in the classroom
For more information about Sasha Long and her work, please visit: The Autism Helper.
This conversation with Sasha Long was originally released on October 8, 2020.
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Thursday Aug 11, 2022
Thursday Aug 11, 2022
Discover what’s possible when you’re ready to have fun.
This week’s episode is a recording of one of our Global Autism Community exclusive events!
The topic of this roundtable discussion was Summer Travel and Holidays. It was hosted by community moderator Corben Havener. Corben is an Autistic Self-Advocate from Indiana who joined our moderator team this last June.
Participating in this event were community members Danielle Terrell, Liz Castillo, and myself.
In today’s conversation, we discuss:
- Dealing with hot weather and changing temperatures
- Amusement parks and roller coasters
- Accommodations such as sensory-processing break areas
- Tips for traveling by plane and car
- Challenges with fireworks during holidays
- Interruptions in routines
- Summer camps
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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