Autism Knows No Borders

A Letter to My Autism, with Mary Johnston | Autism Tips & Tools

Did you go through a process to accept your autism diagnosis? What was it like to understand that autism is a part of who you are?

Autistic Self-Advocate Mary Johnston shares a very moving poem she wrote, titled “A Letter to My Autism” that describes her experience.

In Autism Tips & Tools, we highlight the best practical guidance from previous episodes of Autism Knows No Borders. Whether you’re a self-advocate, a family member, or a service provider, there’s something here for you!

This conversation with Mary Johnston was originally released on August 25, 2022.

Would you like to hear Mary talk about derealization and how she processes her feelings? Click the link below for the full conversation and be sure to subscribe to hear more from people connected to autism inspiring change and building community. 

Derealization and Processing Feelings, with Mary Johnston

Let’s work together to transform how the world relates to autism.

Read the rest of this entry »

Navigating Neurodivergence, Part 1 with Dr. Shelby Dorsey

Discover what’s possible when you speak your truth.

How do autism and ADHD interact in everyday life?

Whether you know from personal experience, or you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to live with both diagnoses, you’ll want to listen to this episode with BCBA Dr. Shelby Dorsey, a late-diagnosed autistic ADHDer and mother of two neurodivergent children.

This episode is part one of our conversation with Shelby Dorsey, and we discuss:

• What it was like for Shelby to receive her diagnoses later in life
• How she felt misunderstood growing up
• Understanding autistic strengths and challenges
• How society responds differently to people with autism vs ADHD
• Thriving in social interactions and personal relationships as an autistic individual
• Why Shelby values authenticity over social pleasantries
• How her family operates in a flexible, non-traditional way to accommodate their neurodivergent needs 

To learn more about Dr. Shelby Dorsey and her work, you can follow her on Instagram @drshelbydorsey.

Read the rest of this entry »

Black Women in ABA, with Crystal Thompson and Brandy Collins | Autism Tips & Tools

Are you or anyone you know a woman entrepreneur, or a Black-American business owner? Have you or they ever felt like you’ve had to prove yourself in your field?

Crystal Thompson and Brandy Collins talk about their experiences as female, Black-American business owners in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis. 

Welcome to Autism Tips & Tools, where we highlight the best practical guidance from previous episodes of Autism Knows No Borders. Whether you’re a self-advocate, a family member, or a service provider, there’s something here for you!

This conversation with Crystal Thompson and Brandy Collins was originally released on May 25, 2023.

Crystal and Brandy are members of our SkillCorps® Alumni community. If you’d like to learn more about our SkillCorps® program, please visit globalautismproject.org/skillcorps. We’re currently accepting applications for travel in 2026! 

Would you like to hear Brandy and Crystal discuss the stigma around autism within the Black-American community? Click the link below for the full conversation and be sure to subscribe to hear more from people connected to autism inspiring change and building community. 

Growth, Diversity, and Cultural Humility, with Brandy Collins and Crystal Thompson

Let’s work together to transform how the world relates to autism.

Read the rest of this entry »

Autism in the Arts, with the Global Autism Community

Discover what’s possible when art becomes your voice.

Whether through visual arts, music, dance, or theatre, art can foster community, self-expression, and personal growth. In today’s roundtable discussion, Global Autism Community members share their experiences with art. This roundtable was facilitated by community moderator Adrian Sanchez, and features Autistic Self-Advocates Robert Schmus and Sara van Koningsveld.

Among other things, we discuss:

• Art as a vital outlet for self-expression
• How creativity can help autistic individuals articulate their feelings
• Famous autistic artists paving the way for representation in the arts
• Ways to turn art into a career
• Imposter syndrome as a common challenge for artists
• Accessibility in art education
• Art as a tool for positive change

Join us today at community.globalautismproject.org. Let’s work together to transform how the world relates to autism. 

Read the rest of this entry »

Why Do With Not For, with Molly Ola Pinney | Autism Tips & Tools

What does it mean to do with and not for?

The CEO of the Global Autism Project, Molly Ola Pinney, talks about how creating sustainable change begins with listening – from building local capacity of autism services with our international partners to understanding the needs of the Autistic community. 

Welcome to Autism Tips & Tools, where we highlight the best practical guidance from previous episodes of Autism Knows No Borders. Whether you’re a self-advocate, a family member, or a service provider, there’s something here for you!

This conversation with Molly Ola Pinney was originally released on April 15, 2021.

Would you like to get more practical insights into our framework for decision-making? Click the link below for the full conversation and be sure to subscribe to hear more from people connected to autism inspiring change and building community. 

Do With Not For, with Our CEO Molly Ola Pinney

Let’s work together to transform how the world relates to autism.

Read the rest of this entry »

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Part 2 with Dr. Steven C. Hayes

Discover what’s possible when you flex your mind. 

How can we stay in the present moment and open our mind to difficult thoughts and feelings?

If you want to know how to enhance your emotional and cognitive flexibility, stay with us for this episode with Dr. Steven C. Hayes.

Steven Hayes is a clinical psychologist, a researcher, the originator of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Relational Frame Theory, and a co-developer of Process-Based Therapy. He has spent the past four decades studying how to ease human suffering and is one of the most cited psychologists in the world, having published 47 books and nearly 700 scientific articles.

This episode is part two of my conversation with Steven Hayes. We discuss:

• How Acceptance and Commitment Therapy can help autistic people 
• Where the concept of “normal” came from and how it’s been harmful to the autistic community
• Why Steven thinks Behavior Analysts should care about ACT
• How ACT can help families
• Tips for clinicians seeking to integrate ACT into their practice

To learn more about Dr. Steven Hayes and his work, please visit  advocacy work, please visit stevenchayes.com.

Read the rest of this entry »

Autism in the Basketball Weight Room, with Anthony Ianni | Autism Tips & Tools

How might autism change team dynamics in sports?

Anthony Ianni talks about how being autistic affected his relationship with his teammates. Anthony Ianni is an Autistic Self-Advocate, motivational speaker, and former basketball star. Anthony was the first ever NCAA Division I college basketball player with autism, playing for Michigan State University.

Welcome to Autism Tips & Tools, where we highlight the best practical guidance from previous episodes of Autism Knows No Borders. Whether you’re a self-advocate, a family member, or a service provider, there’s something here for you!

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

Would you like to hear about how Anthony’s experiences being bullied compelled him to become a motivational speaker? Click the link below for the full conversation and be sure to subscribe to hear more from people connected to autism inspiring change and building community. 

Bullying, Breakthroughs, and Basketball, with Anthony Ianni

Let’s work together to transform how the world relates to autism.

Read the rest of this entry »

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Part 1 with Dr. Steven C. Hayes

Discover what’s possible when you flex your mind. 

How can we navigate life’s inevitable challenges more effectively?

If you’d like to know how to be flexible and adapt to changing circumstances, instead of rigidly resisting them, stick around for this episode with Dr. Steven C. Hayes. 

Steven Hayes is a clinical psychologist, a researcher, the originator of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Relational Frame Theory, and a co-developer of Process-Based Therapy. He has spent the past four decades studying how to ease human suffering and empower people towards a life based on their own values.

With 47 books and nearly 700 scientific articles published, Dr. Hayes is one of the most cited psychologists in the world, and his work has been celebrated with several prestigious awards.

This episode is part one of my conversation with Steven Hayes. We discuss:

• How Acceptance and Commitment Therapy works
• The true meaning of acceptance
• Psychological flexibility and self-awareness as key to well-being and personal growth
• The importance of honoring your own personal journey

To learn more about Dr. Steven Hayes and his work, please visit  advocacy work, please visit stevenchayes.com.

Read the rest of this entry »

What Does “Neurodiversity-Affirming” Mean? with the Global Autism Community | Autism Tips & Tools

Our Global Autism Community members talk about what affirming means to them, and how masking affects autistic individuals.

Welcome to Autism Tips & Tools, where we highlight the best practical guidance from previous episodes of Autism Knows No Borders. Whether you’re a self-advocate, a family member, or a service provider, there’s something here for you!

This roundtable discussion was originally released on October 5, 2023.

Would you like to hear about best practices, client dignity, and how to create inclusive environments that respect the autonomy and individuality of autistic individuals? Click the link below for the full conversation and be sure to subscribe to hear more from people connected to autism inspiring change and building community. 

Neurodiversity-Affirming Practices, with the Global Autism Community

Let’s work together to transform how the world relates to autism.

Read the rest of this entry »

Life with Profound Autism, Part 2 with Eileen Lamb

Discover what’s possible when you acknowledge those who can’t speak for themselves.

Does the social model of disability work for people with profound autism?

Stay with us if you’d like to hear Eileen Lamb, an Autistic Self-Advocate and the mother of a boy with profound autism, share her ideas on this topic.

This episode is part 2 of my conversation with Eileen, and we also discuss:

• Her role as the Senior Director of Social Media at Autism Speaks
• The controversy around Autism Speaks and how this organization has evolved in the last decade
• Why Eileen thinks it’s important to make a distinction between different degrees of autism
• Black-and-white thinking
• Eileen’s tips for other autistic self-advocates

To learn more about Eileen Lamb and her advocacy work, please visit The Autism Cafe.

Read the rest of this entry »