Discover what’s possible when people connected to autism inspire change and build community
Episodes
Thursday Dec 16, 2021
Thursday Dec 16, 2021
Discover what’s possible when change inspires community.
We made it to the end of 2021! To celebrate, we’ll be reviewing some of my favorite moments from this year’s episodes. This will be a two-parter due to the volume of content. Part 1 will highlight episodes 42 to 71, and next week we’ll review from 72 to 89.
Since we started working on this podcast almost two years ago, we’ve brought on a wide range of guests, including prominent self-advocates, such as Dr. Temple Grandin, Dr. Stephen Shore, Dr. Kerry Magro, Dani Bowman, and Anthony Ianni; parents like Tiffany Hammond and Bobby Rubio; some of our Global Autism Project partners, such as Yaser Aljaaidi from Saudi Arabia and Pooja Panesar from Kenya; and other professionals in the field, such as Dr. Megan Miller from the DoBetter Movement and Camille Proctor from The Color of Autism.
If you’ve been listening to our podcast for a while, this 2021 recap will bring you back to the heartfelt stories we’ve been hearing from our guests. And if you’re joining us for the first time, welcome! This episode will give you a good idea of what Autism Knows No Borders is all about.
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Thursday Dec 09, 2021
Thursday Dec 09, 2021
Discover what’s possible when you’re true to yourself.
This week’s episode is a recording of one of our Global Autism Community exclusive events.
The topic of this roundtable discussion was Masking and Authenticity. Participating in this event were autism self-advocates Thomas Iland, Michael Gilberg, Terra Vance, Kate Jones, Jeff Snyder, and David Sharif, as well as community members Colleen Dorsey, Danielle Terrell, and Kia Burton.
In today’s conversation, we discuss:
- What masking means to different people and its potential dangers
- Situations in which people might feel the need to mask
- Autistic values
- Being authentic
To learn more about the participants in this discussion, please visit:
Thomas Iland - thomasiland.com
Michael Gilberg - michaelgilbergesq.com
Terra Vance - neuroclastic.com
Kate Jones - neuroclastic.com
Jeff Snyder - Going the Distance Blog
David Sharif - IG @david_thetraveler
Roundtable 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 Dec 02, 2021
Thursday Dec 02, 2021
Discover what’s possible when information fuels advocacy.
Camille Proctor is the mother of a 15-year-old autistic boy and the founder of The Color of Autism, a non-profit organization committed to educating and assisting African American families with autistic children.
In this conversation, we discuss:
- Camille’s son and his interests
- Her ideas to reduce the stigma of autism in the Black community
- Religion’s role in denying autism
- The difficulty of getting a diagnosis
- How to overcome distrust in the healthcare system
- Harmful stereotypes of autistic black people
- What made Camille decide to start the Color of Autism and the different programs they offer
- Experiences specific to Black families
- Ideas to include more Black people in autism research
- How to successfully teach police officers about autism
- Advice for parents who want to be better allies to their autistic children
To learn more about Camille Proctor and her work, please visit thecolorofautism.org.
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Friday Nov 26, 2021
Friday Nov 26, 2021
Discover what’s possible when you become a better leader.
If you’re a professional in the field of autism services, or interested in leadership in general, this bonus episode is for you.
The Global Autism Project is committed to up-leveling the leadership capacity of those in this field. This is the only way we’re going to make the difference we want to see in the world: all children with autism having access to quality services.
Now, for the first time ever, our training is available completely online in our Leadership Series!
In this episode, you'll hear directly from other graduates how this training has transformed their lives.
Even if you’re still not sure these courses are for you, you can download the FREE Failproof Feedback Checklist so that you never have to fear feedback again.
Are you ready to take bold action to improve the way you lead? Are you ready to take charge of your life?
Grab your Leadership Series course today at leadership.globalautismproject.org!
As a valued podcast listener, take advantage of the promo code autismpodcast for an extra 10% off!
Wednesday Nov 24, 2021
Wednesday Nov 24, 2021
Discover what’s possible when you break the overwhelm cycle.
Today we’re bringing back three special guests: the CEO of the Global Autism Project, Molly Ola Pinney; our partner from Saudi Arabia, Yaser Aljaaidi; and the founder of the DoBetter Movement, Dr. Megan Miller.
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 teachers and therapists.
In today’s conversation, we discuss:
- 2019’s Global Summit in Bali, Indonesia
- Yaser and Megan’s takeaways from that experience
- Burnout and overwhelm in the field of autism services
- Changing what’s not working in your life
- The evolution of Leadership Academy, a leadership training program created by the Global Autism Project
To learn more about the Global Autism Project’s history and mission, please listen to my conversation with Molly Ola Pinney in episode 2.
To hear more about Yaser Aljaaidiand his work in Saudi Arabia, listen to episode 25.
For more information about Dr. Megan Miller and the DoBetter Movement, check out episode 35.
This week we will be offering Black Friday deals for the Global Autism Leadership Series! These unique courses will never be sold at this low price again! Be sure to visit leadership.globalautismproject.org to grab your course today!
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Thursday Nov 18, 2021
Thursday Nov 18, 2021
Discover what’s possible when the right tools are in your box.
This week’s episode is a recording of one of our Global Autism Community exclusive events! The topic of this roundtable discussion was Coping with Stress and Sensory Overload.
Participating in this event were autism self-advocates Thomas Iland, Robert Schmus, Mary Johnston, and David Sharif, as well as community members Colleen Dorsey, Danielle Terrell, and Kia Burton.
In today’s conversation, we discuss:
- Triggers in public spaces
- Making stores more neurodiverse-friendly
- Halloween for children with disabilities
- Workplace stressors
- Requesting accommodations
- Conflicts with other people
- The Spoon Theory
- Tips for travelers
Roundtable 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.
To learn more about the panelists in this discussion, please visit:
Thomas Iland - thomasiland.com
Robert Schmus - schmus898@gmail.com
Mary Johnston - IG @autisticrainbow15
David Sharif - IG @david_thetraveler
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Thursday Nov 11, 2021
Thursday Nov 11, 2021
Discover what’s possible when you redesign the approach.
Originally from Australia and currently living in the US, Lois Letchford is the mother of three young men, two of whom are on the autism spectrum. She has also personally struggled with dyslexia her entire life; however, she now uses it to her advantage as a literary spokesperson for learners who have fallen behind in the traditional classroom.
In her book Reversed: A Memoir, Lois tells the story of her son’s journey of learning to read. Through coaching and workshops at international conferences, TV appearances, and radio stations, she teaches educators and parents how to create flexible learning environments using comprehensive and innovative teaching methods.
In this conversation, we discuss:
- What dyslexia is and how it affects Lois’ life
- Her sons’ autism and their interests
- How a teacher’s negative comment pushed her to become a reading specialist
- Some of the biggest mistakes educators make when teaching kids how to read
- The Deficit Theory
- Her teaching philosophy: MAPS
- Thinking outside of the box to teach autistic children how to read
- Tips to identify trauma in the learning environment
To learn more about Lois Letchford, please visit loisletchford.com.
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Thursday Oct 28, 2021
Thursday Oct 28, 2021
Discover what’s possible when your response is in line with your truest intentions.
With over 20 years of experience working with neurodiverse individuals, Lafaya Mitchell is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and the creator of The Lafaya Way, a relational approach that helps to build bridges for effective interactions in difficult relationships and social situations. She is also the mother of three children, two of whom are autistic.
In this conversation, we discuss:
- The types of families that seek her services
- The four core strategies of The Lafaya Way
- What she calls the “emotion soaking phenomenon”
- How a parent’s past experiences might impact their ability to make decisions now
- The different levels of acceptance and how they are tied to a parent’s personal growth
- Some common struggles of parents trying to understand their child’s needs
- The hidden effects of family dynamics
- Why the expression “problem child” is problematic
- Cultural sensitivity and how the Black community responds to her program
- One of the most rewarding experiences she’s ever had working with children on the spectrum
To learn more about Lafaya, please visit lafayaway.com.
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Thursday Oct 21, 2021
Thursday Oct 21, 2021
Discover what’s possible when we expand the meaning of independence.
We’ve received great feedback about our previous Global Autism Community episodes, so we’ve decided to release another one!
The topic of this roundtable discussion was Preparing for Adulthood, and its diverse panel included Dani Bowman, Robert Schmus, Cheryl Albright, and Cammie McGovern.
Dani is an autism self-advocate, animator, illustrator, teacher, and public speaker; Robert is an autism self-advocate, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and writer; Cheryl is an occupational therapist, certified yoga instructor, and autism sibling. Cammie is the mother of a 25-year-old autistic adult and has recently published a book titled Hard Landings: Looking into the Future of a Child with Autism.
Other community members who participated in this event were Jeff Snyder, David Sharif, Kia Burton, and Karen Shapiro.
As with previous community-event recordings, the sound quality is a bit inconsistent because we hadn’t originally planned it as a podcast episode. However, we’ve done our best to improve it, and I assure you that the stories and perspectives shared are really worth listening to.
In today’s conversation, we discuss:
- Support and programs to help transition into adulthood
- Essential skills that children and adolescents ought to learn
- Different adult services available across the US
- Living independently versus in communities
- Applying for college or a job
- Financial planning and budgeting
To learn more about the panelists in this discussion, please visit:
Dani Bowman - danibowman.com
Robert Schmus - schmus898@gmail.com
Cheryl Albright - Soul to Soul Yoga
Cammie McGovern - cammiemcgovern.com
Roundtable 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 Oct 14, 2021
Thursday Oct 14, 2021
Discover what’s possible when rehabilitation fits the crime.
Tom Oliver is an autism self-advocate, a TEDx Speaker, and an aspiring lawyer from Australia who has dedicated his career to helping autistic individuals caught up in the justice system.
In this conversation, we discuss:
- Autism acceptance in Australia
- Tom’s finding out about his diagnosis
- How autism affects his everyday life
- How Tom became interested in the law
- Three characteristics that are underlying causes of crimes among autistic people
- Challenges autistic people may face in the prison system
- Ideas to mitigate injustices against autistic individuals
To learn more about Tom Oliver, please visit tomoliver.biz.
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