Autism Knows No Borders

Discover what’s possible when understanding leads to acceptance.

Have you ever wondered how ADHD and autism can affect family dynamics? Whether you’re part of a neurodiverse family or know someone who is, you’ll want to listen to this episode with Jheri South. 

Jheri South is a behavioral coach and the mother of seven neurodivergent children, five being on the autism spectrum. Diagnosed with ADHD at age 40, Jheri specializes in coaching teens and parents to navigate ADHD, autism, parenting, and anxiety with mindset, strategy, and community.

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

• Jheri’s journey of understanding her ADHD
• How her experience with her own neurodivergent children  shapes her coaching approach
• The importance of education and awareness in fighting the stigma surrounding autism and ADHD
• How societal misconceptions can make it hard for parents to accept their children’s diagnoses
• Overlapping characteristics of ADHD and autism
• Why ADHD and Autism are underdiagnosed in females
• Mental health and suicidal ideation among neurodivergent adolescents

To learn more about Jheri South and her work, please visit: IG @msjherisouth

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How can autistic people limit sensory overload and manage fatigue while driving?

Andrew Arboe, Autistic Self-Advocate and Founder of Driving with Autism, shares his ideas on these topics. Driving with Autism is an educational program that guides autistic individuals and their families on their way from the passenger’s seat to becoming drivers.

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 Andrew Arboe was originally released on May 19, 2022.

Would you like to hear Andrew’s tips on what to do when you get pulled over? 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. 

Tips for Autistic Drivers, with Andrew Arboe

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

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Discover what’s possible when all minds are put to use. 

 

This episode is part two of our conversation with pioneering autism advocate and internationally recognized leader in animal handling innovations, Dr. Temple Grandin, which was originally released on December 15, 2022. 

 

In this episode, we discuss:

 

• How parents can encourage the development of skills in visual thinkers
• Life skills and executive functioning
• Graphic novels
• How to solve the world’s biggest problems
• Dr. Grandin’s advice for other visual thinkers

For more information about Dr. Grandin and her work, please visit: 

https://www.templegrandin.com/  

https://www.grandin.com/

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How can autism affect eating disorders?

Livia Sara, Autistic Self-Advocate and eating disorder survivor, talks about how to reframe eating disorders when they’re intertwined with autism.

Livia is an author and the host of the podcast Liv Label Free. Her publications include Rainbow Girl, a memoir, and a cookbook titled Nourishing Neurodiversity. She is also a 1:1 coach for autistic people recovering from an eating disorder.

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 Livia Sara was originally released on January 25, 2024.

Would you like to know what eating disorders can be linked to autism, and hear Livia’s tips for autistic people recovering them? 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. 

Eating Disorder Recovery, with Livia Sara

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

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Discover what’s possible when all minds are put to use. 

What’s the difference between object visualizers and visual-spatial thinkers? And how can these two kinds of brains work together?

In this episode, Dr. Temple Grandin discusses these and other topics featured in her book Visual Thinking: The Hidden Gifts of People Who Think in Pictures, Patterns, and Abstractions. 

This episode is part one of our conversation with Dr. Temple Grandin, which was originally released on December 15, 2022. 

Dr. Temple Grandin is well known for both her pioneer work as an autism advocate and her lifelong dedication to animal welfare. Through groundbreaking research aimed at understanding her own autistic mind, and by being one of the first adults to publicly disclose that she was autistic, 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 anyone with a dream.

In this conversation, we discuss:

• Object visualizers vs visual-spatial thinkers
• Temple’s ability to think in pictures
• The importance of hands-on learning
• How to screen for visual thinkers at school
• The need for skilled workers
• How complementary thinking styles can work together
• How to improve the school system and properly educate different kinds of thinkers

For more information about Dr. Grandin and her work, please visit: 

https://www.templegrandin.com/  

https://www.grandin.com/

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How can a student who was once abused in classrooms learn to become comfortable in them?

Maharani Putri Kusuma, Rani for short, shares this success story about one of her students.

Rani is the owner and co-founder of Rumah Tiara, an autism center in Jakarta, Indonesia. A former Global Autism Project Partner, Rani had been receiving training from us since 2013. Over the years, we have sent 13 SkillCorps® volunteer teams to Rumah Tiara to provide sustainable hands-on training. 

For this interview, Rani was joined by Vya Mawarni, a former therapist at Rumah Tiara who interpreted from Bahasa to English for us. 

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 Maharani Putri Kusuma was originally released on July 2, 2020.

Would you like to know what autism services are available for families in countries like Indonesia? 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. 

Community Outreach in Indonesia, with Maharani Putri Kusuma

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

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Discover what’s possible when challenges are weaved with joys.

How do you find balance in caregiving? Whether you know from personal experience or through someone else in your life, you’ll want to listen to this episode with Kelley Coleman. 

Kelley Coleman is the mother of two boys, one of whom has multiple disabilities (including a yet-undiagnosed genetic syndrome, cerebral palsy, autism, CVI, epilepsy, and more). Her book Everything No One Tells You About Parenting a Disabled Child: Your Guide to the Essential Systems, Services, and Supports offers practical tips for parenting a disabled child.

This episode is part two of our conversation, and we discuss:

• • Tips for parents going out in public with their disabled children
  • The role of community support
  • How to find balance between juggling the paperwork and still enjoying being a mom
  • Insights for policymakers
  • Empowering parents with expertise
  • Encouragement for parents who are just starting on their journey of disability

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What are some autistic characteristics that can be strengths in photography?

Alfie Bowen, an Autistic Self-Advocate, wildlife photographer, author and activist, talks about how to capture the perfect shot and how nature has positively impacted his mental health. Alfie uses art to highlight animal emotion and help people to connect with the natural world.

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 Alfie Bowen was originally released on August 5, 2021.

Would you like to know how, as a child, Alfie overcame feeling like an alien, and the social skills he’s had to teach himself? 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. 

Connecting to Nature Through Wildlife Photography, with Alfie Bowen

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

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Discover what’s possible when challenges are woven with joys.

Have you found it challenging to navigate all the paperwork to get the support your autistic child needs? Whether you know from personal experience or through someone else in your life, you’ll want to listen to this episode with Kelley Coleman. 

Kelley Coleman is the mother of two boys, one of whom has multiple disabilities (including a rare genetic syndrome, cerebral palsy, autism, CVI, epilepsy, and more). Her book Everything No One Tells You About Parenting a Disabled Child: Your Guide to the Essential Systems, Services, and Supports offers practical tips for parenting a disabled child.

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

• Kelley’s journey of understanding disability
• How to explain disability to siblings
• What Kelley has learned about herself as a mother
• The importance of celebrating small victories
• What inspired Kelley to write her book
• Surprising facts about the healthcare system
• Mistakes Kelley has made that other parents can learn from
  

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Are you a late-diagnosed autistic, or are you considering getting an evaluation?

Autistic Self-Advocate and podcast host Sara Bradford talks about why she decided to seek an autism diagnosis as one of her new year’s goals.

The following clip is from a roundtable discussion with our Global Autism Community where community members shared their personal and professional goals for the new year.

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 our Global Autism Community was originally released on February 11, 2022.

Would you like to learn new strategies to stay motivated and meet your milestones? 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. 

Setting Goals, with the Global Autism Community

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

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