Autism Knows No Borders

Discover what’s possible when you work kinder, not harder. 

Today we’re bringing back the CEO and Founder of the Global Autism Project, Molly Ola Pinney, along with the organization’s Head of University and Training Programs, Ann Beirne.

For the past several months, Ann and I have been working together on a very special project. We’ve developed Responsive Skills Training, a curriculum for entry-level autism service providers that teaches the required skills for the RBT, IBT, and ABAT credentials. 

This course was co-created with the Autistic community to transform the way in which services are provided across the world. Our committee of contributors included prominent self-advocates, such as Temple Grandin and Stephen Shore, different family members, like parents and siblings, and a wide range of professionals, including speech therapists, occupational therapists, and transition specialists. 

Our purpose with Responsive Skills Training, or RST for short, is to give entry-level service providers a more well-rounded understanding of autism by hearing directly from those with lived experiences. 

In today’s conversation, we discuss: 

• Why we decided to create RST
• The needs of the international community
• The importance of listening to autistic voices
• Reforming Applied Behavior Analysis to include neurodiversity-affirming practices
• The process of co-creating RST with a committee of contributors 

After the conversation with Molly and Ann, you’ll also hear testimonies from several RST contributors about why they decided to join this project. These were recorded in the field during our last SkillCorps volunteer trip to Kenya in March. 

Featured RST contributors:

Andrew Bennett, Autistic Self-Advocate, BCaBA (US)

Mafer Chang, Director/Founder of Centro Enigma (Ecuador)

Alexis Sevieri, Sibling Advocate, RBT (US)

Laura Leonard, BCBA (US)

Sangeeta Jain, Vice Principal of SOREM (India)

To learn more about the Global Autism Project’s Responsive Skills Training, please visit globalautismproject.org/rst. 

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Discover what’s possible when education is informed by science. 

Michael John Carley is an autism self-advocate, author, and consultant. This pioneer in the world of autism advocacy was one of two people on the spectrum to address the US Congress in their first-ever hearings on autism. The truth is I could spend the rest of this episode listing Michael’s accolades, but I really want you to listen to our conversation, so here’s my best effort to sum up his career highlights. 

Michael was the Founder of GRASP — the largest organization in the world comprised of adults on the autism spectrum — and the Founding Executive Director of ASTEP, now called Integrate, whose mission is to help organizations identify, recruit, and retain professionals on the autism spectrum. He has presented at almost 150 conferences, hospitals, universities, health care organizations, school districts, and Fortune 1000 companies. 

Michael has appeared in a wide variety of media outlets such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, BBC News, and NPR, to name a few. He has participated in a TED Talk and was featured in the documentaries On the Spectrum and Off the Rails. His articles and columns have been published in magazines such as Autism Spectrum News, the Huffington Post, and Sinkhole. He has also published two books and is currently waiting to publish a third. His first book is titled Asperger’s from the Inside Out, and the second, Unemployed on the Autism Spectrum: How to Cope Productively with the Effects of Unemployment and Jobhunt with Confidence. 

Before his career in autism advocacy, Michael was a playwright in New York, as well as the United Nations Representative of Veterans for Peace, having spent time in Cuba, Bosnia, and Iraq. 

In this conversation, we discuss:

• Michael’s journey of discovering his diagnosis, which came shortly after his son’s
• How autism impacts his daily life
• What Michael thinks is the only detriment for people on the spectrum
• The importance of support groups being led by autistic people
• How to process unemployment in a healthy way
• The need for a comprehensive sexual education curriculum for young people with autism

For more information about Michael John Carley and his work, please visit michaeljohncarley.com. 

This conversation with Michael John Carley was originally released on August 6, 2020. 

Michael's latest publication, The Book Of Happy, Positive, And Confident Sex For Adults On The Autism Spectrum And Beyond! was released in 2021 and has since been globally celebrated. This is a book that gives autistic people permission to seek pleasure without shame. 

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Discover what’s possible when progress starts at home. 

Lenora Edwards is a Certified Speech Language Pathologist with over 10 years of experience treating children and adults. She is the Chief Knowledge Officer at Better Speech, a US-based, online service provider with 150 speech therapists working with individuals of all ages. 

In today’s conversation, we discuss:

• Benefits and considerations of delivering services online
• What a typical online session looks like
• The various populations Lenora works with
• The difference between a speech delay and a speech disorder
• Common speech difficulties among autistic people
• What Lenora enjoys about working with autistic people
• Common misconceptions about speech therapy
• How to encourage families to use Alternative Augmentative Communication with their autistic loved ones
• Advice for parents who want to improve their children’s language skills at home

To learn more about Lenora Edwards and her work, please visit: betterspeech.com

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Discover what’s possible when authenticity gets the part. 

Dr. Kerry Magro is an autism self-advocate, international motivational speaker, best-selling author, entertainment consultant, and non-profit founder. 

Kerry is the author of the Amazon Best-Seller Defining Autism From The Heart, Autism and Falling in Love, and I Will Light It Up Blue. He also contributed to College for Students with Disabilities: We Do Belong (featuring other prominent advocates such as Temple Grandin and Stephen M. Shore), presented a TEDx talk titled “What happens to children with autism when they become adults?”, and currently blogs for several organizations, including Autism Speaks and The Mighty. 

As an entertainment consultant, Kerry has worked on the films Jane Wants a Boyfriend and Joyful Noise, starring Queen Latifah and Dolly Parton, as well as on the HBO series Mrs. Fletcher. 

His non-profit organization, KFM Making a Difference, aims to break down barriers for people with special needs by granting college scholarships to adults with autism. 

In this conversation, we discuss:

• How autism has impacted Kerry’s life
• How to prepare for transitioning to adulthood
• Autism representation in the media
• Common challenges people on the spectrum face when looking for a partner 

For more information about Kerry and his work, please visit: 

Kerry's website: kerrymagro.com 

Kerry's FB page: Kerry’s Autism Journey 

This conversation with Dr. Kerry Magro was originally released on March 18, 2021. 

Kerry's latest book, Autistics on Autism: Stories You Need to Hear About What Helped Them While Growing Up and Pursuing Their Dreams was released last year and has reached the Amazon Best-Seller List for Special Needs Parenting.

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Discover what’s possible when travel is made accessible. 

Dawn Barclay has dedicated over 30 years to working in different areas of the travel industry. Her recent book, Traveling Different: Vacation Strategies for Parents of the Anxious, the Inflexible, and the Neurodivese, offers helpful tips to soothe children’s travel anxieties. Dawn also writes fiction as D. M. Barr and holds leadership roles in several writer organizations. 

In today’s conversation, we discuss:

• Why Dawn thinks everyone should travel
• Common struggles families face when traveling
• Practical tips to create a sense of routine, minimize sensory overload, and make a trip enjoyable for the whole family
• Advice for traveling by plane, cruise ship, or car
• Uncommon vacation ideas that might be suitable for families with autistic loved ones
• The importance of building itineraries that include special interests
• Lessons Dawn learned from traveling with her own children
• The difference between a ‘Certified Autism Center’ and an ‘Autism Friendly’ establishment
• How to introduce the idea of traveling and prepare children for a trip ahead of time

To learn more about Dawn Barclay, please visit dawnbarclayink.com.

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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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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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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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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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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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