Autism Knows No Borders

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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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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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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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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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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Discover what’s possible when we grow stronger together. 

This week’s episode is part 2 of our 2022 Highlights. Today we’ll continue to review some of our favorite moments from this year’s episodes, specifically from 110 to 126. 

A huge thank you to our guests for sharing their stories, to our listeners for your continued support, and to our team for all the work behind the scenes. 

Special thanks to podcast team member Anh Ngoc for helping put this highlights episode together, and to our Global Autism Community moderators, Liz Castillo, Michelle Vinokurov, Corben Havener, and Mary Johnston for monitoring posts daily and keeping our online space safe and respectful. 

From all of us at the Global Autism Project, we wish you a happy and safe holiday season, and hope you can spend some quality time with your loved ones. 

Related episodes:

127. Highlights of 2022: Part One, with the Global Autism Community

90. Highlights of 2021: Part One, with the Global Autism Community 

91. Highlights of 2021: Part Two, with the Global Autism Community 

41. Highlights of 2020, with the Global Autism Community

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Discover what’s possible when we grow stronger together. 

We reached the end of 2022! To celebrate, we’ll be reviewing some of my favorite moments from this year’s episodes – there were so many that this will have to be a two-parter! Part 1 will highlight episodes 92 through 109, and next week 110 through 126. 

Since we started working on this podcast almost three 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, Rachel Barcellona, 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 2022 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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Discover what’s possible when all minds are put to use. 

Today we’re bringing back a special guest, Dr. Temple Grandin. My first interview with Dr. Grandin was almost two years ago. She has since released a new book, Visual Thinking: The Hidden Gifts of People Who Think in Pictures, Patterns, and Abstractions. 

Dr. Grandin is well known for both her pioneering autism advocacy and her lifelong dedication to animal welfare. Through groundbreaking research aimed at understanding her own autistic mind, Dr. Grandin propelled the awareness of autism during a time when very little was known of it. She is an incredible source of hope for children with autism, their parents, and, ultimately, anyone with a dream. 

Dr. Grandin became an internationally recognized leader in animal-handling innovations after developing a corral that improved the quality of life of cattle by reducing stress. She has consulted with the USDA and major corporations such as McDonalds, Wendy’s, Burger King, Whole Foods, and Chipotle. Today, half of the cattle in North America are handled in facilities she designed. 

Dr. Grandin is also a prominent author, having written several books on autism and animal behavior. She has been featured on various media outlets and programs, including NPR, the BBC, Larry King Live, 2020, Sixty Minutes, and TED, to name a few. In 2010, HBO produced an Emmy Award-winning movie about her life, and later that year, she was highlighted in TIME magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the World. In 2016, she was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. These days, Dr. Grandin continues to write and teaches Animal Science at Colorado State University. 

In this conversation, we discuss:

• Object visualizers vs visual-spatial thinkers
• Temple’s ability to think in pictures
• How to screen for visual thinkers at school
• The loss of skilled workers
• How complementary thinkers can work together
• How to improve the school system and properly educate different thinkers
• How parents can encourage the development of skills in visual thinkers
• Executive functioning
• Reading graphic novels
• How to solve the world’s biggest problems
• Advice for visual thinkers 

Related episode:

39. Why the World Needs All Kinds of Minds, with Dr. Temple Grandin

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Discover what’s possible when you balance your body and stretch your mind. 

Cheryl Albright is an occupational therapist, certified yoga instructor, and autism sibling. She is the owner of Soul to Soul Yoga, a studio offering yoga therapy for adults and children of all abilities. 

In today’s conversation, we discuss:

• What occupational therapy is
• How Cheryl became involved in the field
• Why she applies a trauma-informed approach when treating children with autism
• The benefits of practicing yoga and self-regulation techniques

For more information about Cheryl Albright and her work, please visit her websites:

Special Sib 

Soul to Soul Yoga 

This conversation with Cheryl Albright was originally released on September 24, 2020. 

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Discover what’s possible when you relentlessly shoot for your goals. 

Anthony Ianni is an Autistic Self-Advocate, a sought-after motivational speaker, and a former basketball star. 

As the NCAA’s first Division 1 college basketball player with autism, playing for Michigan State University, Anthony surpassed all limitations that doctors had predicted for his life. He currently works for the Michigan Department of Civil Rights and travels the country as part of the Relentless Tour, advocating against bullying and educating students about autism. Anthony’s memoir, Centered, was released last year.

In this conversation, we discuss:

• How Anthony coped with bullies growing up
• The moment his parents told him about his autism
• Why he was driven to prove others wrong
• Anthony's basketball career and how his autism affected his relationships with his teammates
• Advice for parents who may be concerned that their child is being bullied

For more information about Anthony Ianni and his work, please visit his website Relentless Tour and follow him on Instagram @aigamechanger44. 

This conversation with Anthony Ianni was originally released on October 29, 2020. 

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